OIC Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield OIC facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Under the Oregon Residential Specialty Code, what is the minimum width for a hallway serving as a means of egress? → 36 inches
2. The OIC ethical duty of 'transparency' requires inspectors to: → Clearly disclose the basis for findings and methodology used
3. If a subject's child interacts with the PI during a surveillance operation, the Oregon PI should: → Disengage politely without gathering intelligence from the minor
4. What is a near-miss report in OIC practice? → Documentation of an event that could have caused harm but did not
5. The Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD) falls under which state agency? → Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services
6. Under Oregon law, an inspector's forensic report must be disclosed to defense counsel as part of discovery under which legal obligation? → Brady v. Maryland and Oregon discovery rules
7. The Oregon Energy Efficiency Specialty Code requires that blower-door testing be performed on new residential construction primarily to verify what? → Building envelope air leakage rates
8. In forensic document examination, which technique is used to detect erasures or alterations on paper without damaging the document? → Infrared reflectography and oblique lighting examination
9. Which of the following populations requires heightened consideration and additional justification before force is used? → Subjects who are pregnant, elderly, juveniles, or in mental health crisis
10. During the 'placement' stage of money laundering, what does the criminal typically do? → Introduces illegal cash into the financial system
11. What role do standard operating procedures play in OIC Surveillance & Intelligence? → Ensuring consistency and quality through documented instructions
12. When inspecting attic ventilation, which ratio of net free ventilating area to attic floor area is commonly recommended when a vapor retarder is installed? → 1:300
13. During a post-flood inspection, the inspector notices the electrical panel is submerged or was recently submerged. The FIRST step is to: → Confirm the power is off before any inspection of the panel
14. What is a needs assessment in OIC Investigation Procedures & Methods practice? → Identifying gaps between current conditions and desired outcomes
15. During a hazardous material spill at an inspected facility, what is the inspector's first priority? → Evacuate the immediate area and call 911
16. Under Oregon code, which inspection must be performed before foundation concrete is poured? → Footing inspection
17. When inspecting a wood deck attached to the house, what is the single most critical structural connection to examine? → The ledger board attachment to the house framing
18. A client instructs an Oregon PI to record a phone call between the PI and a subject without the subject's knowledge. Under Oregon law, this is: → A violation of Oregon's all-party consent wiretapping law
19. What does 'burning a surveillance' mean in professional investigative terminology? → When the subject becomes aware they are being watched, compromising the operation
20. Under Oregon law, which condition makes a confession obtained during interrogation inadmissible? → The confession was obtained through coercion or threats, violating due process
21. What tool is often used to support findings in reports? → Photographs of inspected areas
22. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which Oregon investigative activity requires the PI to have a specific permissible purpose? → Obtaining a consumer credit report on a subject
23. Under Oregon law, how soon must a contractor notify the Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB) after receiving a notice of a safety violation from OSHA? → Within 10 business days
24. During a commercial inspection in Oregon, an inspector finds a fire door propped open with a wooden wedge. Which code standard is most likely being violated? → Oregon Fire Code OFC 703.2 — fire door operation
25. What does ADA compliance refer to in building codes? → Accessibility for individuals with disabilities
26. An inspector notices that the bathroom exhaust fan vents into the attic rather than to the exterior. Why is this a deficiency? → It introduces warm, moist air into the attic, promoting mold growth and wood rot
27. What does '42 U.S.C. § 1983' allow individuals to do in the context of use of force? → Sue government officials for civil rights violations under color of law
28. A fire investigator finds a suspicious burn pattern on a floor. Before sampling, what should be done first? → Photograph and document the pattern in place before disturbing it
29. What is a needs assessment in OIC Evidence Collection & Preservation practice? → Identifying gaps between current conditions and desired outcomes
30. What is the primary purpose of a rapid visual screening (RVS) performed after a seismic event? → Identify buildings with potential collapse risk requiring detailed evaluation