NCCER BOILERMAKER EXAM READY - VERIFIED QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS - COMPREHENSIVE LATEST VERSION
2026/2027
1. Which organization requires persons to be trained before operating
personal lifting equipment? ANSWER : OSHA (Occupational Safety and
Health Administration)
2. What is the minimum safe distance from an energized electrical line
when rigging? ANSWER : 10 feet for lines up to 50kV
3. What type of fire extinguisher is used for Class B fires (flammable
liquids)? ANSWER : CO2 or dry chemical extinguisher
4. When working inside a confined space, what must be posted at the
entrance? ANSWER : Entry permit and atmospheric testing results
5. How often must entry permits be updated during normal working
hours? ANSWER : At the end of each shift change
6. What is the maximum number of people allowed to tie off to a vertical
lifeline? ANSWER : Two people maximum
7. What does "Lockout/Tagout" primarily prevent? ANSWER :
Unexpected startup of equipment or release of stored energy
8. Which gas is most dangerous when working in confined spaces due to
displacement of oxygen? ANSWER : Nitrogen
9. What PPE is required when grinding or cutting metal? ANSWER :
Safety glasses with side shields, face shield, and hearing protection
10. What is the proper procedure when a fitting stops on the second thread
during assembly? ANSWER : Stop immediately - something is wrong (cross-
threading or wrong size)
11. What hazard is associated with asbestos exposure? ANSWER :
Respiratory disease and lung cancer
,12. What type of respirator is required when working with toxic fumes?
ANSWER : Supplied-air respirator or appropriate cartridge respirator
13. What is the minimum number of bolts required to remain when hot
bolting an 8-bolt flange? ANSWER : 4 bolts (50%) must remain
14. What must be done before furnace fittings are ground for tube
replacement? ANSWER : The inside of the fitting must be inspected
15. What is the first step before cutting into any tank or vessel? ANSWER
: Determine the contents and ensure proper isolation
16. What color tag indicates a scaffold is safe to use? ANSWER : Green tag
17. What is the maximum allowable acetylene pressure for safe operation?
ANSWER : 15 PSI
18. Why should you "crack" the cylinder valve before connecting a
regulator? ANSWER : To clean the valve of foreign matter and debris
19. What type of gloves are required when handling hot materials?
ANSWER : Heat-resistant leather gloves
20. What is the minimum clearance required around fire extinguishers?
ANSWER : 3 feet in all directions
21. What must be locked out before removing a tube from a reboiler?
ANSWER : Feed water pumps and all energy sources
22. What is the primary purpose of a safety data sheet (SDS)? ANSWER :
To provide hazard information and safe handling procedures
23. What type of ladder should be used for electrical work? ANSWER :
Non-conductive fiberglass ladder
24. What is the proper way to secure scaffold boards to a platform?
ANSWER : #9 tie wire
25. What must be checked before entering a vessel? ANSWER : Oxygen
levels, toxic gases, and flammable atmosphere
26. What is the maximum safe working load for a chain hoist without
certification? ANSWER : Must be clearly marked on the equipment
27. What should be done if a gas leak is detected? ANSWER : Shut off gas
supply and ventilate the area
, 28. What type of footwear is required in industrial boiler work? ANSWER
: Steel-toed safety boots
29. What is the minimum distance required between welding operations
and combustibles? ANSWER : 35 feet or proper fire watch
30. What must be in place before hydrotesting any vessel? ANSWER :
Pressure relief device and proper barriers**
MODULE 2: WELDING BASICS (Questions 31-60)
31. What does SMAW stand for? ANSWER : Shielded Metal Arc Welding
32. What type of welding uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode?
ANSWER : GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding) or TIG welding
33. What is the combined groove angle for an open root weld on plate?
ANSWER : 30 degrees
34. What is "back gouging"? ANSWER : Removing metal from the other
side of a welded joint
35. What is the most important factor when fitting up thick wall boiler
tubing? ANSWER : The inside diameter must match up
36. What is the best tool to prepare XXH 2-inch tubing for welding?
ANSWER : Milling motor
37. What is the typical procedure to install tubes in a steam drum?
ANSWER : TIG welding
38. What is the purpose of preheating metal before welding? ANSWER :
To reduce cracking and improve weld quality
39. What does a "Rosebud" tip on an oxyacetylene torch do? ANSWER :
Heating metal
40. What is meant by "overheating" metal with an oxyacetylene torch?
ANSWER : Heating to a temperature that impairs the metal properties
41. What gas passes through the center of a cutting torch tip? ANSWER :
Oxygen
42. What does the grooved nut on an acetylene regulator indicate?
ANSWER : Left-hand thread for acetylene use only
AND ANSWERS - COMPREHENSIVE LATEST VERSION
2026/2027
1. Which organization requires persons to be trained before operating
personal lifting equipment? ANSWER : OSHA (Occupational Safety and
Health Administration)
2. What is the minimum safe distance from an energized electrical line
when rigging? ANSWER : 10 feet for lines up to 50kV
3. What type of fire extinguisher is used for Class B fires (flammable
liquids)? ANSWER : CO2 or dry chemical extinguisher
4. When working inside a confined space, what must be posted at the
entrance? ANSWER : Entry permit and atmospheric testing results
5. How often must entry permits be updated during normal working
hours? ANSWER : At the end of each shift change
6. What is the maximum number of people allowed to tie off to a vertical
lifeline? ANSWER : Two people maximum
7. What does "Lockout/Tagout" primarily prevent? ANSWER :
Unexpected startup of equipment or release of stored energy
8. Which gas is most dangerous when working in confined spaces due to
displacement of oxygen? ANSWER : Nitrogen
9. What PPE is required when grinding or cutting metal? ANSWER :
Safety glasses with side shields, face shield, and hearing protection
10. What is the proper procedure when a fitting stops on the second thread
during assembly? ANSWER : Stop immediately - something is wrong (cross-
threading or wrong size)
11. What hazard is associated with asbestos exposure? ANSWER :
Respiratory disease and lung cancer
,12. What type of respirator is required when working with toxic fumes?
ANSWER : Supplied-air respirator or appropriate cartridge respirator
13. What is the minimum number of bolts required to remain when hot
bolting an 8-bolt flange? ANSWER : 4 bolts (50%) must remain
14. What must be done before furnace fittings are ground for tube
replacement? ANSWER : The inside of the fitting must be inspected
15. What is the first step before cutting into any tank or vessel? ANSWER
: Determine the contents and ensure proper isolation
16. What color tag indicates a scaffold is safe to use? ANSWER : Green tag
17. What is the maximum allowable acetylene pressure for safe operation?
ANSWER : 15 PSI
18. Why should you "crack" the cylinder valve before connecting a
regulator? ANSWER : To clean the valve of foreign matter and debris
19. What type of gloves are required when handling hot materials?
ANSWER : Heat-resistant leather gloves
20. What is the minimum clearance required around fire extinguishers?
ANSWER : 3 feet in all directions
21. What must be locked out before removing a tube from a reboiler?
ANSWER : Feed water pumps and all energy sources
22. What is the primary purpose of a safety data sheet (SDS)? ANSWER :
To provide hazard information and safe handling procedures
23. What type of ladder should be used for electrical work? ANSWER :
Non-conductive fiberglass ladder
24. What is the proper way to secure scaffold boards to a platform?
ANSWER : #9 tie wire
25. What must be checked before entering a vessel? ANSWER : Oxygen
levels, toxic gases, and flammable atmosphere
26. What is the maximum safe working load for a chain hoist without
certification? ANSWER : Must be clearly marked on the equipment
27. What should be done if a gas leak is detected? ANSWER : Shut off gas
supply and ventilate the area
, 28. What type of footwear is required in industrial boiler work? ANSWER
: Steel-toed safety boots
29. What is the minimum distance required between welding operations
and combustibles? ANSWER : 35 feet or proper fire watch
30. What must be in place before hydrotesting any vessel? ANSWER :
Pressure relief device and proper barriers**
MODULE 2: WELDING BASICS (Questions 31-60)
31. What does SMAW stand for? ANSWER : Shielded Metal Arc Welding
32. What type of welding uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode?
ANSWER : GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding) or TIG welding
33. What is the combined groove angle for an open root weld on plate?
ANSWER : 30 degrees
34. What is "back gouging"? ANSWER : Removing metal from the other
side of a welded joint
35. What is the most important factor when fitting up thick wall boiler
tubing? ANSWER : The inside diameter must match up
36. What is the best tool to prepare XXH 2-inch tubing for welding?
ANSWER : Milling motor
37. What is the typical procedure to install tubes in a steam drum?
ANSWER : TIG welding
38. What is the purpose of preheating metal before welding? ANSWER :
To reduce cracking and improve weld quality
39. What does a "Rosebud" tip on an oxyacetylene torch do? ANSWER :
Heating metal
40. What is meant by "overheating" metal with an oxyacetylene torch?
ANSWER : Heating to a temperature that impairs the metal properties
41. What gas passes through the center of a cutting torch tip? ANSWER :
Oxygen
42. What does the grooved nut on an acetylene regulator indicate?
ANSWER : Left-hand thread for acetylene use only
