OBC House Exam flashcards
OBC House Exam · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Occupancy classification
- A code category assigned to a building based on its use, which establishes allowable height and area, egress requirements, and required fire protection features.
- Type of construction
- A classification from Type I through Type V that sets permitted height, stories, and fire-resistance ratings for structural elements based on combustibility and protection.
- Certificate of occupancy
- A document issued after final inspection confirming that the building complies with the approved plans and may be legally occupied for its stated use.
- Change of occupancy
- A change in how a building is used, which triggers review of egress, fire protection, and structural adequacy under the existing building code.
- Dead load
- The permanent weight of the structure itself plus fixed finishes, partitions, and equipment that remain in place throughout the building's life.
- Live load
- The load produced by occupancy and use, including people, furniture, and movable equipment, determined from code tables by occupancy type.
- Frost depth
- The depth to which soil freezes in winter; footings must extend below this level or be engineered to resist frost heave.
- Soil bearing capacity
- The maximum pressure soil can support without excessive settlement, established by geotechnical testing or by presumptive code values when testing is absent.
- Shear wall
- A wall designed to resist lateral loads from wind or earthquakes by transferring them through the diaphragm to the foundation.
- Water-resistive barrier
- A membrane behind cladding that sheds bulk water to the exterior and protects sheathing from moisture intrusion, installed with lapped courses.
- Flashing
- A material installed at joints and penetrations to direct water away from the building, required at roof intersections, valleys, and window openings.
- Air barrier
- A continuous system of sealed materials that limits uncontrolled air movement through the envelope, reducing energy loss and moisture transport.
- Vapor retarder
- A material that restricts vapor diffusion through an assembly, placed according to climate to keep condensation from forming within the wall.
- Weep hole
- A small opening at the base of a masonry veneer or cavity wall that allows trapped moisture to drain to the exterior.
- Manual J
- A residential load calculation method that determines heating and cooling requirements from envelope, climate, and occupancy inputs before equipment selection.
- GFCI protection
- A device that interrupts a circuit when it detects a ground fault, required in bathrooms, kitchens, garages, outdoors, and near water sources.
- AFCI protection
- A device that detects arc faults in branch circuit wiring and de-energizes the circuit, required on dwelling unit branch circuits by the electrical code.
- Trap seal
- The water in a plumbing trap that blocks sewer gas from entering the building, maintained by proper venting and fixture use.
- Temperature relief valve
- A safety device on a water heater that opens at excessive temperature or pressure and must discharge to a safe, unobstructed location.
- Means of egress
- A continuous, unobstructed path from any point in a building to the public way, consisting of exit access, exit, and exit discharge.
- Occupant load
- The number of people calculated for a space by dividing floor area by the code occupant load factor, used to size egress capacity.
- Firestop
- A listed material or system installed to seal a penetration through a fire-resistance-rated assembly and maintain its rating.
- Travel distance
- The measured path length from the most remote point in a space to an exit, limited by code based on occupancy and sprinkler protection.
- Blower door test
- A diagnostic test that pressurizes a building to measure air leakage, reported in air changes per hour at a specified pressure difference.
- Duct leakage test
- A measurement of air escaping from ductwork at a specified pressure, reported per unit of conditioned floor area to verify energy code compliance.
- Commissioning
- A quality process that verifies building systems are installed and perform according to design intent and the owner's requirements.
- Lighting power density
- The maximum allowed lighting wattage per square foot for a space type, used by energy codes to limit lighting energy use.
- Accessible route
- A continuous path connecting accessible elements and spaces that meets minimum width, slope, and surface requirements for wheelchair users.
- Van-accessible space
- A wider parking space with an adjacent access aisle designed for vehicles equipped with wheelchair lifts or ramps.
- Area of refuge
- A designated space protected from fire where occupants who cannot use stairs may wait for assistance during an emergency evacuation.
- Rough-in inspection
- An inspection of plumbing, mechanical, and electrical work performed after installation but before concealment by insulation or wall finishes.
- Special inspection
- An inspection of specific structural or fire-protective work performed by a qualified inspector beyond the standard building department inspections.