# 🏗️ FRIDAY MORNING CRAM SHEET — VA HIC EXAM
**Print this. Read once in the parking lot. Walk in. Pass.**
**Test date:** 2026-05-08 · **Owner:** Michael A. Howard

---

## 🚨 THE 4 STUBBORN RULES — review these FIRST

| # | Rule | Lock |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drywall ceiling SCREW max | **12"** (walls 16, ceiling nails 7, wall nails 8) |
| 2 | Slab + base | **3 ½" slab over 4" base** |
| 3 | Vertical siding furring | **HORIZONTAL @ 12"** (opposite of siding direction) |
| 4 | Untreated wood above earth | **6"** above earth, **2"** above concrete |

---

## 📐 EGRESS PACKAGE — say it ONCE out loud
**"Width 20 · Height 24 · Sill 44 · Area 5.7 above / 5 grade"**
- Width: 20" min
- Height: 24" min
- Max sill height: 44"
- Net clear area: 5.7 sf above-grade / 5 sf grade-floor
- Window well: 9 sf, 36" projection, 36" width

## 🪜 STAIR PACKAGE
- Riser max: **7 ¾"** (variation max 1 ½")
- Tread min: **10"** (variation max 3/8")
- Handrail height: **34" to 38"**
- Guard height: **36" min**
- Stairway min width: **36"**

## 🔨 ANCHOR BOLTS — "1/2 — 6 — 7"
- ½" diameter min
- 6 ft on center max
- 7" embedment in concrete
- Min **2 bolts per plate piece**, within **12" of each end**

## 🧱 JOIST BEARING
- Wood/metal support: **1 ½"**
- Masonry/concrete support: **3"**
- Memory: "Wood 1.5, masonry 3 — twice on masonry"

## 🪵 JOIST NOTCHES & HOLES (R502.8.1)
- End notch (over support): **¼ depth max**
- Top/bottom notch NOT at support: **1/6 depth max, NOT in middle 1/3 span**
- Hole edge clearance: **lesser of 2" OR 1/3 depth**
- Hole diameter: **max 1/3 depth**

## 🏠 2021 IRC CLIMATE ZONE 4 (Virginia) — R-VALUES
- **Ceiling: R-60** (or R-49 with attic-eave exception)
- **Wall: R-20+5ci OR R-13+10ci OR R-0+15ci** (continuous required)
- **Floor: R-19**
- **Slab edge: R-10ci, 4 ft**
- **Crawl space wall: R-10ci or R-13**
- **Basement wall: R-10ci or R-13**
- **Window U-factor: 0.30**
- **SHGC: 0.40**

## 🧯 SPF FOAM R-VALUES
- Closed-cell: **R-6 to R-7 per inch**
- Open-cell: **R-3.5 to R-4 per inch**
- Memory: "Closed denser, more R"

## 🚧 OSHA FALL PROTECTION (29 CFR 1926.501)
- Construction: **6 ft** trigger
- (4 ft = general industry / 1910)

## 🚪 PANIC HARDWARE (USBC §1008.1.9)
- Max unlatching force: **15 lbs**
- Mount height: **>34" but <48"**
- Bar length: **≥ ½ door leaf width**
- Required: Group A or E with **50+ occupants** (Group H always)
- Pre-2006 USBC: 100+ occupants

## 🎨 APWA UTILITY COLORS — "Blue drinks, Purple stinks"
- 🔴 RED = Electric power
- 🟡 YELLOW = Gas / oil / petroleum
- 🟠 ORANGE = Communications / signal
- 🔵 BLUE = Potable water
- 🟣 PURPLE = Reclaimed / irrigation
- 🟢 GREEN = Sewer / drain
- 🩷 PINK = Temporary survey
- ⚪ WHITE = Proposed excavation
- **Miss Utility = 811** (national) / 1-800-552-3120 (VA)

## 🏗️ HIC SCOPE — what's IN, what's OUT
**INCLUDES** (no separate license):
- Repairs/improvements to existing dwellings & townhouses
- Masonry (BRK), Painting (PTC), Roofing (ROC)
- Decks, patios, driveways, utility outbuildings — IF no permit per USBC

**EXCLUDES**:
- Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC, Gas Fitting
- New construction beyond existing structure (need RBC for that)

Memory: **"HIC = fix it. RBC = build it."**

## 🪟 SAFETY GLAZING (R308.4) — required at:
- All swinging/sliding/bifold doors
- Within 24" arc of door, bottom edge <60" above floor
- Tubs/showers/saunas/hot tubs (bottom <60" above standing surface)

## 🔥 ASPHALT SHINGLES
- Min slope: **2:12** with double underlayment / **4:12+** standard
- Ice barrier: from eave to **24" inside ext wall line**
- Nails: galvanized/SS/copper, **12 ga shank, 3/8" head**
- Standard fasteners: **4 nails per shingle** (slopes <21:12)
- High-wind/steep: **6 nails per shingle**

## 🧱 MASONRY VENEER
- Air space behind: **1" min**
- Tie spacing: **24" o.c. horiz/vert** (≤2.67 sf per tie)
- Weep holes: **3/16" min, 33" o.c. max**, head joints above flashing
- Flashing: turns up **6" into framing**
- **Modular brick** = 3 courses + 3 mortar joints = **8"**
- **Type N mortar:** 1 cement : 1 lime : 6 sand
- **Chimney 3-2-10 rule:** 3 ft above roof penetration, 2 ft above any structure within 10 ft

## 🏠 DRYWALL FASTENERS (Table R702.3.5)
- **Screws:** ceiling **12"** / walls **16"** ← TRAP
- **Nails:** ceiling **7"** / walls **8"**
- Garage-to-dwelling wall: **5/8" Type X on garage side**
- Tub/shower behind tile: **cement board** (NOT greenboard)

## 📌 TRIM CORNERS
- **INside = COPE**
- **OUTside = MITER**

## ⚠️ THE CODE-MAX TRAP
When the question asks **"MAXIMUM allowed by code"** → pick the **BIGGEST** option in the table.
- 2×4 stud supporting 1 floor + roof + ceiling = **24" o.c. MAX**
- (16" is typical builder default but NOT the code MAX)

---

## 🎯 TEST-DAY DISCIPLINE — re-read in the parking lot

1. **SLOW DOWN.** 2.4 min/Q. Don't finish before 90 min.
2. **FLIP THE IRC** for every numerical question. Open-book is your edge.
3. **FIRST INSTINCT RULE.** Lock confident answers. MARK uncertain ones.
4. **DO NOT change a confident answer** without IRC evidence.
5. **Last 15-20 min** — review only the MARKED questions.

## 📋 BRING TO TEST CENTER
- ✅ 2 valid forms of ID (1 govt-issued with photo + signature)
- ✅ 2021 IRC tabbed and bound
- ✅ Non-programmable calculator (silent, battery, no alphabet keyboard)
- ❌ NO study guides, sample exams, hats, hoodies, food, drinks, phones
- ❌ NO writing in the IRC during the exam
- ❌ NO Post-It flags (only Avery Swift Tabs / Redi-Tag permanent)

---

**You did 8 weeks of work for this moment. The data says 92-94%. Walk in. Execute. Win.** 🏗️

🔥 **Trajectory: 44% → 94% in 8 weeks.**