POWER ENGINEERING: ALBERTA
SAFETY CODES, BOILER TYPES, AND
COMBUSTION FUNDAMENTALS
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS 2026
What is the main purpose of the Safety Codes Act in Alberta? - ANSWERSThe Act
ensures public safety by regulating design, construction, operation, and maintenance of
pressure equipment.
Which organization administers boiler and pressure vessel safety in Alberta? -
ANSWERSThe Alberta Boilers Safety Association (ABSA).
What is considered a "pressure vessel"? - ANSWERSA closed container designed to
hold fluids under pressure greater than atmospheric.
Who is responsible for the safe operation of a boiler plant? - ANSWERSThe Power
Engineer or person in charge of the plant.
What must every pressure vessel have before being operated? - ANSWERSA valid
Certificate of Inspection and registration with ABSA.
What is a Power Engineer? - ANSWERSA person who operates and maintains boilers
and related equipment safely and efficiently.
What are the five classes of Power Engineering certification? - ANSWERS5th, 4th, 3rd,
2nd, and 1st Class (1st is highest).
What are common duties of a 5th Class Power Engineer? - ANSWERSOperate low-
pressure boilers, monitor gauges, perform blowdowns, maintain logs, assist higher-
class engineers.
What is meant by "low pressure steam boiler"? - ANSWERSA boiler operating at
pressures ≤103 kPa (15 psi) for steam or ≤1100 kPa (160 psi) for hot water.
What is a "heating plant"? - ANSWERSA system producing steam or hot water for
heating, not power generation.
What are the two main types of boilers? - ANSWERSFiretube and Watertube boilers.
, How does a firetube boiler work? - ANSWERSHot gases pass through tubes
surrounded by water.
How does a watertube boiler differ? - ANSWERSWater flows inside tubes and hot
gases flow around them.
What is the function of a steam drum? - ANSWERSIt collects and separates steam from
water in the boiler.
What is "boiler horsepower"? - ANSWERSEnergy to evaporate 34.5 lb (15.65 kg) of
water/hour from and at 100°C.
What is the purpose of a safety valve? - ANSWERSTo release pressure automatically if
it exceeds design limit.
What does a pressure gauge measure? - ANSWERSThe internal pressure of the boiler
in kPa or psi.
What is the function of a gauge glass? - ANSWERSShows the water level inside the
boiler.
What is the function of the blowdown valve? - ANSWERSRemoves sludge and
impurities from the boiler bottom.
What is a feedwater stop valve? - ANSWERSA valve that isolates the feedwater line
from the boiler.
What is combustion? - ANSWERSA chemical reaction between fuel and oxygen
producing heat.
What are the three elements of combustion? - ANSWERSFuel, air (oxygen), and heat.
What are the main fuels used in boilers? - ANSWERSNatural gas, fuel oil, and
sometimes coal or biomass.
What is complete combustion? - ANSWERSAll fuel burns with enough air, forming CO₂
and H₂O.
What is incomplete combustion? - ANSWERSInsufficient air causes CO and soot
formation.
Why is excess air required? - ANSWERSEnsures complete fuel combustion.
What is "flame failure"? - ANSWERSWhen the burner flame goes out unexpectedly—
causing automatic fuel shutoff.
SAFETY CODES, BOILER TYPES, AND
COMBUSTION FUNDAMENTALS
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS 2026
What is the main purpose of the Safety Codes Act in Alberta? - ANSWERSThe Act
ensures public safety by regulating design, construction, operation, and maintenance of
pressure equipment.
Which organization administers boiler and pressure vessel safety in Alberta? -
ANSWERSThe Alberta Boilers Safety Association (ABSA).
What is considered a "pressure vessel"? - ANSWERSA closed container designed to
hold fluids under pressure greater than atmospheric.
Who is responsible for the safe operation of a boiler plant? - ANSWERSThe Power
Engineer or person in charge of the plant.
What must every pressure vessel have before being operated? - ANSWERSA valid
Certificate of Inspection and registration with ABSA.
What is a Power Engineer? - ANSWERSA person who operates and maintains boilers
and related equipment safely and efficiently.
What are the five classes of Power Engineering certification? - ANSWERS5th, 4th, 3rd,
2nd, and 1st Class (1st is highest).
What are common duties of a 5th Class Power Engineer? - ANSWERSOperate low-
pressure boilers, monitor gauges, perform blowdowns, maintain logs, assist higher-
class engineers.
What is meant by "low pressure steam boiler"? - ANSWERSA boiler operating at
pressures ≤103 kPa (15 psi) for steam or ≤1100 kPa (160 psi) for hot water.
What is a "heating plant"? - ANSWERSA system producing steam or hot water for
heating, not power generation.
What are the two main types of boilers? - ANSWERSFiretube and Watertube boilers.
, How does a firetube boiler work? - ANSWERSHot gases pass through tubes
surrounded by water.
How does a watertube boiler differ? - ANSWERSWater flows inside tubes and hot
gases flow around them.
What is the function of a steam drum? - ANSWERSIt collects and separates steam from
water in the boiler.
What is "boiler horsepower"? - ANSWERSEnergy to evaporate 34.5 lb (15.65 kg) of
water/hour from and at 100°C.
What is the purpose of a safety valve? - ANSWERSTo release pressure automatically if
it exceeds design limit.
What does a pressure gauge measure? - ANSWERSThe internal pressure of the boiler
in kPa or psi.
What is the function of a gauge glass? - ANSWERSShows the water level inside the
boiler.
What is the function of the blowdown valve? - ANSWERSRemoves sludge and
impurities from the boiler bottom.
What is a feedwater stop valve? - ANSWERSA valve that isolates the feedwater line
from the boiler.
What is combustion? - ANSWERSA chemical reaction between fuel and oxygen
producing heat.
What are the three elements of combustion? - ANSWERSFuel, air (oxygen), and heat.
What are the main fuels used in boilers? - ANSWERSNatural gas, fuel oil, and
sometimes coal or biomass.
What is complete combustion? - ANSWERSAll fuel burns with enough air, forming CO₂
and H₂O.
What is incomplete combustion? - ANSWERSInsufficient air causes CO and soot
formation.
Why is excess air required? - ANSWERSEnsures complete fuel combustion.
What is "flame failure"? - ANSWERSWhen the burner flame goes out unexpectedly—
causing automatic fuel shutoff.
