CMA Building Codes & Regulations 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the IBC, a 'high-rise building' is defined as a structure with an occupied floor more than how many feet above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access?
- 55 feet
- 60 feet
- 75 feet (Correct answer)
- 100 feet
Correct answer: 75 feet
The IBC defines a high-rise building as one with an occupied floor located more than 75 feet above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.
Question 2: The Fair Housing Act (FHA) design and construction requirements apply to:
- All residential buildings regardless of the number of units
- Multifamily dwellings with four or more units built after March 13, 1991 (Correct answer)
- Only federally funded housing projects
- Single-family homes built after 2000
Correct answer: Multifamily dwellings with four or more units built after March 13, 1991
The FHA's design and construction requirements apply to multifamily dwellings of four or more units built for first occupancy after March 13, 1991.
Question 3: In the context of the IBC, a 'common path of egress travel' is measured from:
- The main entrance to the nearest exit stair
- Any point in the occupied area to where the path diverges toward two separate exits (Correct answer)
- The most remote point to the exit discharge
- The center of the floor plate to the nearest exit door
Correct answer: Any point in the occupied area to where the path diverges toward two separate exits
Common path of egress travel is the portion of exit access where occupants are forced to travel in a single direction before reaching a point where two independent exits are available.
Question 4: Which seismic design category (SDC) requires the most stringent structural detailing under ASCE 7?
- SDC A
- SDC C
- SDC D
- SDC F (Correct answer)
Correct answer: SDC F
SDC F represents the highest seismic risk and requires the most stringent detailing and restrictions on structural systems under ASCE 7.
Question 5: A 'Use and Occupancy Classification' under the IBC primarily determines:
- The architectural style requirements for the building
- Allowable construction types, exit requirements, and fire protection features (Correct answer)
- The zoning district in which the building may be located
- The minimum lot size and setback requirements
Correct answer: Allowable construction types, exit requirements, and fire protection features
Occupancy classification drives the IBC requirements for construction type, egress, fire suppression, and occupant load calculations.
Question 6: The 'dead end' corridor limitation under the IBC is intended to:
- Prevent architects from using single-loaded corridor layouts
- Limit the distance occupants may travel before reaching a point with multiple exit choices (Correct answer)
- Require fire-rated construction at all corridor terminations
- Mandate sprinkler heads at the end of every corridor
Correct answer: Limit the distance occupants may travel before reaching a point with multiple exit choices
Dead-end corridor limits ensure that occupants are not trapped in a long corridor with only one direction of travel during an emergency.
Question 7: Under ADA Standards for Accessible Design, the maximum slope of an accessible ramp is:
- 1:8 (12.5%)
- 1:10 (10%)
- 1:12 (8.33%) (Correct answer)
- 1:16 (6.25%)
Correct answer: 1:12 (8.33%)
ADA Standards limit the running slope of accessible ramps to a maximum of 1:12 (one inch of rise for every 12 inches of run).
CMA Building Codes & Regulations 3
Under the IBC, a 'high-rise building' is defined as a structure with an occupied floor more than how many feet above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access?