B1 · area 07 · subtopic 0703
Exterior Construction
3 percent of the B1 Residential Building Inspector exam. At 60 questions, that is roughly 1 to 2 questions, each with about 120 seconds of budget including the lookup.
- Exam
- B1
- Area
- Public Safety and Special Construction
- Weight
- 3%
- Questions
- ~1 to 2
What this subtopic covers
Exterior stairs, ramps, porches, decks and balconies open to the weather: designed loads, suitable materials, and required slope, width, tread, riser, headroom, guardrail and handrail dimensions.
How to drill it
- Find the chapter of the International Residential Code that carries this subject and read it once for structure, not retention: what lives here, what gets sent elsewhere, which tables exist.
- Write your own plain-language phrases for what this subtopic covers, then note the code's terms beside them. Mismatches between the two columns are exactly where exam questions cost you time.
- Run timed lookups: pick a requirement named in the descriptor above, start a stopwatch, find the governing text in your book, stop. Log the seconds. Past two minutes is a miss even when the answer is right.
- Weight your reps to the number above. Roughly 1 to 2 questions means this subtopic deserves repeated timed reps inside its area session.
2024 International Residential CodeThe book that sits on the table for two hours. Match it to the version you register for.Check priceNearby traps in area 07
basement bedroom window is filed under means of egress, emergency escape and rescue openings, subtopic 0701.
stair step height and handrail is filed under exit stairways and ramps, subtopic 0702.
tempered glass near a door is filed under safety glazing, subtopic 0706.
The rest of area 07: Public Safety and Special Construction (17%)
| Subtopic | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| 0701 | Means of Egress | 4% |
| 0702 | Exit Stairways and Ramps | 3% |
| 0704 | Smoke Detectors | 2% |
| 0705 | Flamespread of Insulation and Finishes | 2% |
| 0706 | Safety Glazing | 3% |
The kit that goes on the table
2024 IRCThe book itself
2021 IRCIf you register on 2021
2024 Fast-TabsPlace them yourself
Construction Master ProFeet-inch math, no errorsMatch the book and tabs to the edition you register for.Confirm which, first.
The 120-second study sheet
One page: every topic weight on all four residential exams, the plain-language to code-language glossary, and the two-week study sequence. Free, straight to your inbox.
No spam, no selling your address. One useful sheet and occasional exam-prep notes.