CFB Quality Control & Inspection 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a field inspection, you discover that anchor bolt placement deviates 1.5 inches from the plan location. What is the FIRST action you should take?
- Immediately halt work and notify the engineer of record (Correct answer)
- Allow work to continue since the deviation is minor
- Adjust the bolt yourself to the correct position
- Document and proceed without notification
Correct answer: Immediately halt work and notify the engineer of record
Any structural anchor bolt deviation must be reported to the engineer of record before work continues to determine if it is acceptable or requires correction.
Question 2: Which document serves as the primary reference for acceptable weld quality in structural steel construction?
- AISC 360
- AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code (Correct answer)
- IBC Chapter 17
- ASTM A36
Correct answer: AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code
AWS D1.1 is the industry standard that defines weld acceptance criteria, procedures, and qualification requirements for structural steel.
Question 3: A field builder notices that freshly placed concrete has a slump of 7 inches when the specification allows a maximum of 5 inches. What does this indicate?
- The concrete is too stiff and may be difficult to place
- The concrete contains excess water and may have reduced strength (Correct answer)
- The concrete mix is within acceptable range
- The concrete has too much aggregate
Correct answer: The concrete contains excess water and may have reduced strength
Slump exceeding the specified maximum typically indicates excess water, which reduces the water-cement ratio and can significantly lower compressive strength.
Question 4: What is the purpose of a pre-installation conference for a critical building component?
- To assign blame for future defects
- To allow subcontractors to request change orders
- To review installation requirements and coordinate all parties before work begins (Correct answer)
- To satisfy a contract requirement with no practical benefit
Correct answer: To review installation requirements and coordinate all parties before work begins
Pre-installation conferences ensure all parties understand the product requirements, site conditions, and installation procedures before work starts, preventing costly errors.
Question 5: When inspecting masonry mortar joints, which condition is considered a defect requiring correction?
- Concave-tooled joints
- Raked joints deeper than 3/4 inch in an exposed wall (Correct answer)
- Struck joints flush with the masonry face
- Joints with full mortar bedding
Correct answer: Raked joints deeper than 3/4 inch in an exposed wall
Raked joints deeper than 3/4 inch weaken the mortar bond and allow water infiltration, and are specifically prohibited in weather-exposed masonry by most codes.
Question 6: A special inspector is required to be present during which of the following operations according to IBC Chapter 17?
- Installation of non-structural interior partitions
- Placement of high-strength concrete with design strength ≥ 5,000 psi (Correct answer)
- Painting of structural steel after erection
- Installation of standard wood framing
Correct answer: Placement of high-strength concrete with design strength ≥ 5,000 psi
IBC Chapter 17 mandates continuous special inspection for high-strength concrete (≥5,000 psi) because mix consistency and placement are critical to achieving design strength.
Question 7: Which sampling method is used to collect a representative concrete sample from a ready-mix truck for making test cylinders?
- Take the sample from the very first portion discharged
- Composite sample taken from the middle 10-90% of the load per ASTM C172 (Correct answer)
- Sample from the last portion of the load discharged
- Any convenient portion of the load
Correct answer: Composite sample taken from the middle 10-90% of the load per ASTM C172
ASTM C172 requires a composite sample taken from the middle portion of the batch (after the first 10% and before the last 10% is discharged) for representative results.
CFB Quality Control & Inspection 2
During a field inspection, you discover that anchor bolt placement deviates 1.5 inches from the plan location.
What is the FIRST action you should take?