IBC Quality Assurance & Compliance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under IBC Section 1705, which structural element requires special inspection during placement of concrete?
- Concrete with design compressive strength above 5,000 psi (Correct answer)
- All concrete regardless of strength
- Only post-tensioned concrete
- Concrete in non-structural applications only
Correct answer: Concrete with design compressive strength above 5,000 psi
IBC Section 1705.3 requires special inspection for concrete with a specified compressive strength exceeding 5,000 psi.
Question 2: Who is responsible for preparing the Statement of Special Inspections under IBC Chapter 17?
- The building official
- The registered design professional in responsible charge (Correct answer)
- The special inspector
- The contractor
Correct answer: The registered design professional in responsible charge
IBC Section 1705.1 requires the registered design professional in responsible charge to prepare the Statement of Special Inspections.
Question 3: What action must a special inspector take when they observe work that does not conform to the approved construction documents?
- Stop work immediately and notify the contractor only
- Document the nonconformance and notify the contractor and the building official (Correct answer)
- Allow work to continue and note it in the final report
- Notify only the owner in writing
Correct answer: Document the nonconformance and notify the contractor and the building official
IBC Section 1705.1.1 requires special inspectors to report nonconforming work to the contractor AND the building official.
Question 4: Under IBC Chapter 17, periodic special inspection differs from continuous special inspection in that periodic inspection:
- Is performed only once at project completion
- Is performed at intervals sufficient to observe the work being performed (Correct answer)
- Requires a licensed engineer on-site at all times
- Applies only to soil and foundation work
Correct answer: Is performed at intervals sufficient to observe the work being performed
Periodic special inspection requires the inspector to be present at intervals to observe critical phases rather than being present continuously.
Question 5: The IBC requires a final report of special inspections to be submitted to the building official by whom?
- The general contractor
- The owner's representative
- The approved agency or special inspector of record (Correct answer)
- The structural engineer of record
Correct answer: The approved agency or special inspector of record
IBC Section 1705.1.1 requires the approved agency or special inspector of record to submit the final report to the building official.
Question 6: Under IBC Chapter 17, which of the following welding operations on structural steel requires continuous special inspection?
- Single-pass fillet welds not exceeding 5/16 inch
- Complete joint penetration groove welds (Correct answer)
- Welding of studs when used for structural diaphragm action
- All welding operations regardless of type
Correct answer: Complete joint penetration groove welds
IBC Table 1705.2.2 requires continuous special inspection for complete joint penetration (CJP) groove welds due to their structural criticality.
Question 7: When an approved fabricator's quality control program is accepted by the building official, which IBC provision applies?
- All special inspections are waived automatically
- The fabricator's quality control may substitute for special inspections at the fabricator's facility (Correct answer)
- The owner is relieved of all inspection responsibilities
- Only shop drawings are required instead of inspections
Correct answer: The fabricator's quality control may substitute for special inspections at the fabricator's facility
IBC Section 1705.2.1 allows approved fabricators with accepted quality control programs to substitute those controls for special inspections at their facility.
IBC Quality Assurance & Compliance 2
Under IBC Section 1705, which structural element requires special inspection during placement of concrete?