The B1 exam outline: content areas and weights
The B1 outline gives you a map: seven areas, each with a published weight. Study the heavy areas first and tab your IRC to match.
- Questions
- 60
- Time
- 120 minutes
- Exam fee (paid to ICC, not us)
- $320
What the areas mean in practice
- Wall construction and coverings (27%): wall framing, headers, wall bracing, fireblocking, and exterior coverings and flashing.
- Public safety and special construction (17%): egress, stairs, guards, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and other life-safety provisions. The egress opening check works an escape window through the 2021 and 2024 editions.
- Footings and foundations (16%): soils, footings, foundation walls and drainage.
- Floor construction (14%) and roof and ceiling construction (14%): framing, sheathing and the related connections.
- Building planning (8%): design criteria, room sizes, light and ventilation.
- Code administration (4%): permits, inspections and the inspector's duties.
Terms that look alike are where points go. The IRC terms glossary separates twenty of them, such as rafter ties and collar ties or guards and handrails, with a drawing for each.
Try one question
Question 1 of the free 10-question check on ICC B1. No signup. Then ask Plumb, the AI study assistant, why the answer is right and the others are wrong.
Public Safety and Special Construction
In a new bedroom, the only emergency escape window has a keyed sash lock, with the key hanging on a hook beside the window. What should the inspector do?
Press A-D or 1-4 to choose an answer while this question is on screen.
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How to prepare
- Take the free check and compare each area's score with its weight. For the order from booking to exam day, follow ICC B1 exam prep.
- Tab your IRC with the outline in hand. Open-book time goes to searching, not reading, so a tabbed book pays off.
- Match each area to its IRC chapters with IRC chapters for the B1.
- Practice with the same code edition you will test with (2021 or 2024).
- We cite IRC sections by number only and never reproduce code text. Use your own copy.
To turn the weights into a calendar, enter your exam date and weekly hours in the ICC B1 study plan builder.
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The ICC B1 course
Available now · instant accessLearn how the IRC is laid out, drill finding sections fast, then practice. Written for the 2024 IRC.
- 7modules of lessonsEvery task on the outline
- 4full-length timed exams60 questions in 120 minutes each
- 426practice questionsEach one explained
- 4worked calculationsStep by step
- 8timed code lookups a setFind it fast in IRC, with your median time
- 1week-by-week study planSet to your exam date
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Every answer comes with a full explanation.
Start with the free 10-question check
See which of the seven areas to work on first. Want a taste of the question style? Try the free ICC B1 practice test. Take the free 10-question check. It is weighted to the outline, needs no signup, and explains every answer. The Rafter Tie course turns the result into a study plan built from your exam date, with a lesson for each area and timed practice exams.
Sources
Show the list
- B1 Residential Building Inspector Content Outline, International Code Council.
Exam facts
| Questions | 60 |
| Time | 120 minutes |
| Book | open |
| Question types | multiple choice |
| Passing | scaled score of 75 (National Certification exams) |
| Where you test | PRONTO: in person at 550+ Meazure Learning centers or online remote proctoring, 24/7; pay before scheduling, 365 days to schedule; National exams: up to 6 attempts in 6 months, fee per attempt |
| Exam fee (paid to ICC, not us) | $320 |
| Retakes | National exams: up to 6 attempts in 6 months, fee per attempt (ICC PRONTO page) |
Fee details
320 (catalog price; ICC says members get discounted exam pricing but the catalog does not show the member price)
What the exam covers
| Code Administration | 4% |
| Building Planning | 8% |
| Footings and Foundations | 16% |
| Floor Construction | 14% |
| Wall Construction and Coverings | 27% |
| Roof/Ceiling Construction | 14% |
| Public Safety and Special Construction | 17% |
Sources
Show the 6 sources
- iccsafe.org/wp-content/uploads/b1_content.pdf (checked 2026-10-17)
- iccsafe.org/credentialing/before-exam/ (checked 2026-10-17)
- iccsafe.org/credentialing/pronto/ (checked 2026-10-17)
- iccsafe.org/wp-content/uploads/Current-Certification-Exams-National-Exams.pdf (checked 2026-10-17)
- iccsafe.org/certification-exam-catalog/ (checked 2026-10-17)
- iccsafe.org/professional-development/certification/
Facts come from International Code Council's own documents (sources above); the latest source retrieval was . If something has changed, tell us and we will correct it within 2 business days.
Your next step
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Start the free 10-question checkB1 course with IRC navigation drills. Lessons, timed practice exams and a plan around your exam date. Get B1 course with IRC navigation drills · $99 See the plans or read the free sample lesson.Terms and refunds
Want a timed run? Try the free 25-question mini-mock. The first 5 need no email.
Prefer paper? Free printables
- Print the study checklist (free PDF). Topics to cover, on one printable page. No email.
- Print a class quiz (free PDF). 5 practice questions with an answer key on page 2.
- Print the flashcards as cut-out cards (free PDF). The free flashcard sample, ready to cut and carry.
From the blog
- ICC B1 code administration and building planning
- ICC B1 foundation inspections: footings and walls
- How hard is the ICC B1 exam? What to expect open book