2024 Edition

Home Inspector Practice Test

This is a practice test for a home inspector certification exam. Requirements for certification as a home inspector in the US vary by state, though you may need to be a member of a national association (NAHI, ASHI, etc.).
 
 

1. What is the minimum allowed slope of graded soil next to a building's foundation, according to the International Residential Code (IRC)?
2. Which of the following is not a solid fuel heating device?
3. Every basement and sleeping room is required to have an easily operable emergency escape window. How large must this window be?
4. The roofing material on a house or other building is considered a part of the roof drainage system.
5. You are inspecting a residential property. You have to observe and/or test all of the readily accessible components of each system. Determine which of the following is not considered to be a readily accessible component of a room.
6. Branch circuits must be installed in several locations in every building. Which of the following is not one of them?
7. The International Residential Code (IRC) requires rafters to be fastened to ridge boards or gusset plates if the pitch of the roof is greater than or equal to a certain angle. What is the angle?
8. If you observe a component, you make a visual examination.
9. How large should the footing or foundation for a masonry fireplace be?
10. You inspect a "representative number" of electrical outlets in a building. What does this mean?
11. How much glazing area should every habitable room in a residential dwelling contain?
12. A "technically exhaustive" inspection uses measurements, tests, calculations and instruments to gather information on the structure under inspection.
13. A builder has added an additional load to a wood truss in the form of a water heater. Under what circumstances does the IRC allow this?
14. How far from the foundation should the roof drainage system discharge water?
15. What is the minimum and maximum pressure for a water supply system in a residential building?
16. A "system" carries out one or more functions in a structure and is composed of at least two interacting or interdependent components.
17. In which of the following locations are ground-fault circuit interceptors (GFCI) required?
18. Which of the following is not a normal operating control?
19. When is an unvented conditioned attic permitted?
20. A "cross connection" is a physical connection between two electrical circuits.
21. Which of the following would not be a structural component of a building?
22. What is the proper slope for a horizontal drain pipe?
23. How far above a showerhead should the waterproof material in a bathroom extend?
24. An on-site water quality test is generally done only on structures that are on a non-municipal water supply.
25. Which of the following is a component of a roof drainage system?
26. Federal and state regulations both require certain warnings to be conspicuous. As a home inspector, you will often have to determine whether or not hazardous components are adequately labeled. Which of the following would a reasonable person consider to be conspicuous?
27. The International Residential Code requires cleanouts for drain pipes to be established at intervals throughout the drain system. What is the maximum allowable distance between cleanouts?
28. A drain with a "functional flow" empties in a reasonable amount of time.
29. What is the minimum slope requirement of a roof with asphalt shingles?
30. How far above grade should a concrete slab extend?