EBPHI NHIE Exam Questions

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121.

Electrical service entrance clearance over a balcony is:

  • 10’ for 3’ past edge

  • 8’ for 3’ past edge

  • 14’ in any direction

  • 18” for up to 6’

Correct answer: 10’ for 3’ past edge

There are many clearance requirements for electrical service entrance cables which should be known to home inspectors. 

8' for 3' past the roof edge clearance is required above low-slope roofs. Clearance of 14' in any direction applies to the requirements above a diving board, platform, and ladders within 10' of the edge of a pool. 18" for up to 6' applies to the clearance requirement of overhanging eaves.

122.

What is the minimum slope for earth or porous surface grading to drain away from a house?

  • > 5/8” fall per foot

  • > 1/4” fall per foot

  • 2% slope

  • There is no industry standard

Correct answer: > 5/8” fall per foot

Earth or porous surface grading should slope at least > 5/8” fall per foot away from a house. Diverting water away from the building is essential in preventing damage to the foundation.

123.

During the inspection of the foundation, a horizontal crack is found at the foundation. What is the most appropriate response?

  • Horizontal cracking is an indication of excessive horizontal earth pressure; recommend further evaluation by a qualified structural engineer

  • The building is in imminent danger of collapse and should be condemned; the building authority and fire department were made aware of the situation prior to the completion of the home inspection

  • Cracking in a foundation wall is normal and should be monitored

  • There is nothing to report

Correct answer: Horizontal cracking is an indication of excessive horizontal earth pressure; recommend further evaluation by a qualified structural engineer

Overstating (as in the condemning statement) or understating (by saying that cracking is normal) are both inappropriate responses to the condition. Horizontal cracks can be a serious structural concern and should be referred to an engineer to determine the cause and appropriate repair.

124.

Safety glass is required in all the following EXCEPT:

  • A door with an opening that is 3"

  • A sidelight within 24" of the door and less than 60" above the floor

  • Railings

  • Any glass adjacent to stairways or landings and ramps within 36" horizontally of the walking surface

Correct answer: A door with an opening that is 3"

Safety glass is typically required where there is the opportunity for a walk-through or fall hazard to occur (sliding glass doors, stairwells, guardrails, etc.). 

Door openings that have glass are typically at eye level so that the occupant can see out to know who is at the door, or so that the person entering can see that no one is in the path of the opening.

125.

The component of a central air conditioning system which produces condensate is:

  • The evaporator coil

  • The condenser coil

  • The compressor

  • The accumulator

Correct answer: The evaporator coil

The evaporator coil is the unit located at the air handler; it produces condensate when heat is removed from the air flowing over it.

The accumulator is found near the compressor in the condenser unit and serves to protect the compressor. 

126.

Alternate Current (A/C) is: 

  • The flow of electricity reversing direction at a frequency of 60 cycles per second

  • The opposition of a material to the flow of electricity

  • The amount of electricity moving through a conductor

  • The measurement of the amount of electricity moving through a conductor

Correct answer: The flow of electricity reversing direction at a frequency of 60 cycles per second

Alternate Current (A/C) is the flow of electricity reversing direction at a frequency of 60 cycles per second. 

Current is the amount of electricity moving through a conductor. Resistance is the opposition of a material to the flow of electricity. Ampere refers to the measurement of the amount of electricity moving through a conductor.

127.

Prefabricated wood I-joists should have the large holes located:

  • At the middle of the web

  • At the ends of the web only

  • Anywhere in the web or stringers

  • No boring is allowed

Correct answer: At the middle of the web

Installation and boring locations will be specifically determined by the manufacturer. However, there are some general rules regarding notching and boring of I-joists and engineered lumber that should be known.

128.

How many feet from the building should the grading slope away?

  • 10'

  • 8'

  • 6'

  • 4'

Correct answer: 10'

Good water management practices include sloping the earth away from the foundation at least 6" within the first 10'. Hard surfaces are recommended to slope a minimum of 2% (or 1/4" per foot) away from the building.

129.

Which of these are intended to protect children from electric shock?

  • Tamper-Resistant Receptacles

  • Overcurrent Protection Device

  • Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters

  • Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters

Correct answer: Tamper-Resistant Receptacles

Tamper-Resistant Receptacles are intended to protect small children from shock. 

An Overcurrent Protection Device is the technical description for a circuit breaker or fuse protecting the circuit. Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) breakers or receptacles protect the home from fires created by damage to conductors along the circuit. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) receptacles or breakers protect an individual from shock. 

130.

A ladder is required when a window well is deeper than how many inches from the exterior ground level?

  • 44"

  • 36"

  • 78"

  • 26"

Correct answer: 44"

Proper egress out of the building is determined by emergency personnel being able to enter the building, as well as by occupants being able to easily escape. 

There are multiple measurements that a home inspector should be aware of when it comes to safety. 36" is the minimum width of the well opening, 26" is the minimum width required on a spiral staircase, and 78" is the minimum height of an egress door.

131.

What is dead load?

  • The constant load and downward force imposed on a building by building materials and permanently affixed equipment

  • The amount of water vapor that needs to be removed from the air inside a building because of the temperature of the air, including solar heat gain, operation of equipment, and through walls and ceilings

  • The amount of water vapor that needs to be removed from the air inside a building, including from breathing, cooking, bathing, and air infiltration from the exterior

  • The constant load and downward force imposed on a building by occupants and their belongings

Correct answer: The constant load and downward force imposed on a building by building materials and permanently affixed equipment

Sensible load is the amount of water vapor that needs to be removed from the air inside a building because of the temperature of the air, including solar heat gain, operation of equipment, and through walls and ceilings. Latent load is the amount of water vapor that needs to be removed from the air inside a building, including from breathing, cooking, bathing, and air infiltration from the exterior. Live load is the constant load and downward force imposed on a building by occupants and their belongings.

132.

When providing a written report, it is important to identify:

  • The Standards Of Practice under which the home inspection was conducted

  • What everyone was wearing at the time of the inspection

  • Who was home at the time of the inspection

  • When the appointment was scheduled

Correct answer: The Standards Of Practice under which the home inspection was conducted

It is recommended that only one SOP (Standard Of Practice) be referenced, and a copy provided to the client (preferably before the inspection). 

While it may be a good idea to take note of who was present at the time of the inspection, it is not necessary to identify who was home. The date and time of the inspection is necessary to report. However, when the appointment was scheduled is not a requirement.

133.

What is the clearance to combustibles for a single wall vent pipe?

  • 6"

  • 2"

  • 1"

  • 18"

Correct answer: 6"

The insulation collar located in the attic as the vent pipe enters is required to continue a minimum of 2” above the insulation with an opening at the top. 

1” clearance to combustibles is typical for Type B vents. 18” is the clearance to combustibles for a fireplace stove (solid fuel) vent pipe.

134.

Watts are the measurement of: 

  • Power

  • Voltage

  • Resistance

  • Current

Correct answer: Power

135.

When inspecting the exterior gas meter, you notice a yellow wire wrapped around the pipe that has a bare copper end. How would you report this condition?

  • There is nothing to report

  • This is an electrical hazard that should be repaired by a qualified electrician

  • The wire has not been properly terminated and should be bonded to the gas line

  • It is leftover construction debris and should be removed

Correct answer: There is nothing to report

Most jurisdictions use plastic gas lines just below the surface (typically 18" deep) to bring gas to the home. A tracer wire (colored yellow, indicating gas) is wrapped around or laid next to the buried line so that locating of the line is possible. You should find the end of the wire at the surface and there is no condition to be reported.

136.

During an inspection, you find that the patio at the rear of the building has settled, causing an offset crack. No other cracking is found. How would you report this defect?

  • Report the crack as a tripping hazard

  • Refer the defect to a structural engineer

  • Report the crack as a significant issue and give an estimate to repair the crack

  • The crack is not significant enough to warrant reporting

Correct answer: Report the crack as a tripping hazard

While there are no set guidelines as to how large an offset the crack needs to be in order to be considered a trip hazard, it is a good idea to acknowledge the deformation. 

To recommend a structural engineer if no other cracking is evident at the building would be overstating the condition. Inspectors should not perform any work on a building that they have inspected for a minimum of one year (check local regulations for variations).

137.

What is a common indicator of the loss of the hermetic seal of a window?

  • The window will have a foggy or hazy appearance

  • The window will be difficult to open

  • It will not be possible to lock the window

  • The window will not be openable

Correct answer: The window will have a foggy or hazy appearance

A foggy or hazy appearance of a window is usually an indication that the hermetic seal has been compromised. 

Difficulty opening or locking the window could be related to a number of defects, including damaged sash cords, out-of-square openings, improper installation, and so on.

138.

Interior water supply, drain, waste, and vent piping materials should be:

  • Inspected, described, and reported on

  • Inspected

  • Excluded

  • Described

Correct answer: Inspected, described, and reported on

Interior water supply, drain, waste, and vent piping materials should be inspected, described, and reported on per the Standard Of Practice. 

If an item is not inspected for reasons deemed by the inspector, those reasons should be reported on to inform the client that the item was not inspected and why it was not inspected. Any item can be excluded. Excluding systems and components from the inspection is only acceptable if it is requested or agreed to by the client.

139.

A dishwasher should be:

  • Connected to an air gap fitting or high loop to the disposal

  • Connected to the waste side of the garbage disposal

  • Directly connected to the drainage system in the basement

  • Used only after the dinner dishes have been cleared from the table

Correct answer: Connected to an air gap fitting or high loop to the disposal

Air gaps prevent cross-contamination of the dishwasher with waste.

140.

A vent connector should slope upward at no less than how many inches per foot?

  • 1/4"

  • 1/2"

  • 1/8"

  • 1/16"

Correct answer: 1/4"

Vent piping should slope upward at no less than 1/4" per foot to allow for the condensate to drain back down to the furnace. 

Pitching toward the exterior can lead to freezing at the opening and preventing proper exhaust of combustion byproducts.