Materials and Foundations
Referenced material standards
Chapters 17 through 23 map each material to its standard: concrete to ACI 318, masonry to TMS 402/602, steel to AISC 360, wood to NDS, plus Chapter 26 for plastics and Chapter 24 for glass. Questions rarely ask you to design; they ask which standard governs and what quality-assurance step applies.
Special inspections
Chapter 17 requires a statement of special inspections prepared by the registered design professional and performed by an approved agency. Triggers include certain concrete, masonry, structural steel welding and high-strength bolting, and deep foundations. A frequent trap: special inspection is not the same as the code official's inspections under Chapter 1 - both occur.
Soils and foundations
Chapter 18 governs. A geotechnical report is required in defined circumstances (Section 1803). Footings must bear on undisturbed soil or engineered fill, extend at least 12 inches below the undisturbed ground surface, and be placed below the frost line. Foundation walls, anchorage of the superstructure, dampproofing of below-grade walls, and drain tile all live here.
Moisture and durability
Wood in contact with the ground must be naturally durable or preservative-treated; concrete cover over reinforcement protects against corrosion; masonry requires flashing and weep provisions coordinated with Chapter 14.
Worked rule of thumb
When a stem question says "minimum footing embedment," the answer pairs two ideas: at least 12 inches below undisturbed ground and below the local frost depth, whichever is deeper. Frost depth is determined locally, not by the IBC.
Traps
Confusing the special inspector with the building official, assuming a fixed frost depth nationwide, and forgetting that concrete compressive strength minimums and cover requirements come from the referenced standard as modified by Chapter 19.