ICC B1 cheat sheet

A permit is required before construction, alteration, repair, or change of occupancy unless the code specifically exempts the work.

Required inspections include foundation, framing, and final; concealed work must be inspected and approved before it is covered.

Approved construction documents and the permit must be available on the job site for the inspector.

Work must not proceed past a required inspection until that inspection has been approved.

A stop-work order may be issued for unsafe work or for work that does not conform to approved plans.

Materials and appliances must be approved and installed per manufacturer instructions; alternatives require approval.

Corrections listed on an inspection report must be completed and reinspected.

A certificate of occupancy is required before a new building is occupied.

Habitable rooms must have at least 70 square feet of floor area and no horizontal dimension less than 7 feet.

Ceiling height is at least 7 feet in habitable rooms and 6 feet 8 inches in bathrooms, toilet rooms, and corridors.

Natural light requires glazing area at least 8 percent of the floor area; operable ventilation requires at least 4 percent.

Emergency escape openings must be at least 5.7 square feet, 20 inches wide, 24 inches high, and have a sill no more than 44 inches above the floor.

Stairways must be at least 36 inches wide with 6 feet 8 inches of headroom, risers no more than 7.75 inches, and treads at least 10 inches.

Handrails are 34 to 38 inches above the stair nosing; guards are at least 36 inches high with openings less than 4 inches.

Landings are required at the top and bottom of stairs and must be at least 36 inches long and as wide as the stairway.

Smoke alarms are required in sleeping rooms and adjacent areas; carbon monoxide alarms are required where the code specifies.

Footings must be at least 12 inches wide and 6 inches thick unless engineered otherwise.

Footing bottoms must extend below the frost line and bear on undisturbed soil or engineered fill.

Anchor bolts must be at least 1/2 inch diameter, embedded 7 inches, spaced no more than 6 feet, and within 12 inches of plate ends.

Sill plates in contact with concrete or masonry must be decay-resistant or treated wood.

Foundation walls must be sized for soil pressure and height, with reinforcement as shown on approved plans.

Foundation drainage must divert water away from footings; footing drains and gravel are installed where required.

Backfill only after the foundation inspection and after required waterproofing or dampproofing is complete.

Pier and column footings must be sized for the load and supported on stable soil.

Floor joists must be sized per the span tables and bear at least 1.5 inches on wood supports and 3 inches on masonry or concrete.

Notches and holes in sawn joists are limited; holes must not exceed one-third of the joist depth.

Bridging or blocking is required where span tables or manufacturer instructions require it.

Subfloor panels must be rated for the joist spacing and fastened per the scheduled nailing.

Floor design live load is commonly 40 psf for habitable areas and 30 psf for sleeping rooms.

Joists must not be cut, notched, or drilled in a way that violates the span table or an approved engineered design.

Draftstopping is required in concealed floor/ceiling spaces at the locations and intervals specified by code.

Engineered floor members must be installed per the manufacturer's published instructions.

Exterior wall stud size and spacing must comply with the tables; 2x4 at 16 inches and 2x6 at 24 inches are common.

Top plates must be doubled and lapped at corners and intersections; bottom plates must be anchored.

Headers must be sized for the opening span and supported by king and jack studs.

Braced wall lines must use approved bracing methods and provide the required bracing length.

Fireblocking is required at concealed spaces, including between floor and wall cavities and at wall intersections.

Gypsum wallboard must be of the required thickness and fastened at the scheduled spacing.

A weather-resistive barrier is required behind exterior wall coverings and must be lapped and integrated with flashing.

Exterior siding must maintain clearance above grade and from roofs, and openings must be flashed.

Fasteners for exterior finishes must be corrosion-resistant.

Ceiling joists and rafters must be sized per the span tables and connected to resist outward thrust.

Rafter ties are required in the lower third of the attic unless a ridge beam or engineered design is used.

Collar ties, where required, are installed in the upper third of the rafter span.

Attic access openings must be at least 22 by 30 inches with at least 30 inches of headroom.

Attic ventilation must be at least 1/150 of the attic area, or 1/300 where a vapor retarder is installed.

Roof slope and ceiling height must provide required clearances and drainage.

Ceiling joists must bear and be fastened per the schedule, with lateral ties at walls.

Fireblocking is required at concealed roof/ceiling spaces as specified by code.

Roof coverings require a minimum slope; asphalt shingles generally require at least 2:12.

Slopes from 2:12 to 4:12 require double underlayment for asphalt shingles.

Underlayment must be installed over the roof deck before the roof covering.

An ice barrier is required at eaves in areas subject to ice damming.

Flashing is required at valleys, sidewalls, eaves, ridges, and penetrations.

Drip edge is required at eave and gable edges.

Fasteners must be corrosion-resistant and penetrate the sheathing as required.

Roof coverings must be listed and installed per manufacturer instructions for the roof slope.

Chimneys must extend at least 3 feet above the roof and 2 feet above anything within 10 feet.

Masonry chimneys require at least 2 inches of clearance from combustible materials.

Flues must be lined and sized for the appliance; clay tile or a listed liner is used.

Fireplace hearth extension must be at least 16 inches in front and 8 inches at the sides.

Where the fireplace opening exceeds 6 square feet, the hearth extension must be at least 20 inches in front.

Fireplace dampers and smoke chambers must be constructed as required by code.

Factory-built fireplaces must be listed and installed per manufacturer instructions.

Chimneys must be supported on a foundation or structural support.