2nd Fireman's license exam UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Question: How often should boilers be inspected in Massachusetts?
Correct Answer: Boilers over 15 PSI, unless otherwise exempt, shall be inspected internally and externally
at least once a year.
Question: At what pressure and how often should air tanks be inspected?
Correct Answer: A compressed air tank operating at over 50 PSI must be inspected once every two years.
Question: How is boiler horsepower determined in Massachusetts?
Correct Answer: 1. By referring to the manufacturers tag. 2. By dividing the steam output, in pounds per
hour, by 34.5. 3. By dividing the BTU/hr input by 41,840
Question: By dividing the BTU/hr output by 33,475 4. What can you do with a second class fireman's
license?
Correct Answer: To operate any boiler or boilers under the engineer or fireman in direct charge thereof.
Question: Which air conditioning units require inspection?
Correct Answer: Refrigeration equipment of over 20 tons capacity, unless exempt, requires annual
inspection.
Question: What is the definition of a boiler?
Correct Answer: A boilers is a closed vessel in which water, under pressure, is converted into steam
through the application of heat for external use to itself.
Question: What is the definition of a pressure vessel?
Correct Answer: A pressure vessel is a closed vessel which receives its pressure from a source external to
itself.
Question: How often is the engineer in charge required to visit the plant?
Correct Answer: The engineer in charge shall make daily visits and leave written instructions daily to the
operators under their purview.
Question: A boiler plant has (2) 500 BHP boilers and a 50 HP steam turbine. What license is required to be
the engineer in charge?
Correct Answer: A second class engineers license is required. Due to the aggregate 1000 BHP.
Question: Describe a non-continuous attendance plant.
Correct Answer: A noncontinuous plant has a boiler or boilers whose aggregate horsepower is higher than
251 but not more than 500. There must be a remote monitoring station in place which has the ability to shut
down the boiler or boilers The operator is required to inspect the boiler or boilers 4-6 times a shift or every
2 hours.
Question: How many BTUs are in one Boiler Horsepower?
Correct Answer: There are 33,475 BTUs (output) in one Boiler Horsepower.
Question: What are some boilers in Massachusetts which do not require a licensed operator?
, Correct Answer: Any boilers whose safety valve(s) are set to lifts at a pressure below 15PSI. A boiler of
less than 9 horsepower or having no more than 4 square feet of grate heating surface. Railway locomotives
or fire engine boilers, boilers in steam powered motor vehicles, portable boilers brought into the
commonwealth during periods of emergency, boilers on federal property, boilers used for agriculture use.
Question: What set of regulations pertain to pollution laws in Massachusetts?
Correct Answer: 310 CMR, Section 7
Question: What constitutes an opacity violation?
Correct Answer: When emissions have a shade, density or appearance equal to or greater than No. 1 of the
chart for a period or aggregate period of time more than 6 minutes in an hour.
Question: Where would you find instructions on how to prepare a boiler for internal inspection?
Correct Answer: 522 CMR
Question: What information is on a boiler certificate of inspection?
Correct Answer: 1. Name of owner and user 2. The location 3. The number of the boiler 4. The date of
inspection 5. Maximum pressure at which can be operated 6. Signature of inspector.
Question: Where would you find instructions on safety valve placement if you install an air compressor
that discharges to two receivers?
Correct Answer: 522 CMR 7.03 Safety valve is installed on the discharge pipe from the compressor as
close to the compressor as possible.
Question: Name 3 different boiler inspectors.
Correct Answer: 1. MA state inspectors 2. Insurance Inspectors 3. Shop inspectors
Question: When should the annual external boiler inspection be made?
Correct Answer: When the boiler is on the line and within 6 months of the internal inspection.
Question: What is required when the engineer in charge leaves a job?
Correct Answer: They must notify the Department of Fire Services-Division of inspectors in writing
within 7 calendar days.
Question: Describe a hydrostatic test.
Correct Answer: remove or gag safety valve(s) valve out the gauge glass, fill boiler with clean treated
water (70-120°f) until water comes out the vent, close vent and increase pressure with pump until reaching
1 times the MAWP , hold this pressure as long as directed by authorized inspector, reduce pressure to
MAWP for a close visual inspection of boiler. Upon completion remove pressure and restore water level to
NOWL.
Question: List 4 methods used to classify boiler types.
Correct Answer: Fire tube water tube direction of axis (horizontal or vertical) According to use Location
of furnace Operating pressure
Question: What is a fire tube boiler?
Correct Answer: Products of combustion inside of tubes which are surrounded by water
Question: What is a water tube boiler?
CORRECT Answers
Question: How often should boilers be inspected in Massachusetts?
Correct Answer: Boilers over 15 PSI, unless otherwise exempt, shall be inspected internally and externally
at least once a year.
Question: At what pressure and how often should air tanks be inspected?
Correct Answer: A compressed air tank operating at over 50 PSI must be inspected once every two years.
Question: How is boiler horsepower determined in Massachusetts?
Correct Answer: 1. By referring to the manufacturers tag. 2. By dividing the steam output, in pounds per
hour, by 34.5. 3. By dividing the BTU/hr input by 41,840
Question: By dividing the BTU/hr output by 33,475 4. What can you do with a second class fireman's
license?
Correct Answer: To operate any boiler or boilers under the engineer or fireman in direct charge thereof.
Question: Which air conditioning units require inspection?
Correct Answer: Refrigeration equipment of over 20 tons capacity, unless exempt, requires annual
inspection.
Question: What is the definition of a boiler?
Correct Answer: A boilers is a closed vessel in which water, under pressure, is converted into steam
through the application of heat for external use to itself.
Question: What is the definition of a pressure vessel?
Correct Answer: A pressure vessel is a closed vessel which receives its pressure from a source external to
itself.
Question: How often is the engineer in charge required to visit the plant?
Correct Answer: The engineer in charge shall make daily visits and leave written instructions daily to the
operators under their purview.
Question: A boiler plant has (2) 500 BHP boilers and a 50 HP steam turbine. What license is required to be
the engineer in charge?
Correct Answer: A second class engineers license is required. Due to the aggregate 1000 BHP.
Question: Describe a non-continuous attendance plant.
Correct Answer: A noncontinuous plant has a boiler or boilers whose aggregate horsepower is higher than
251 but not more than 500. There must be a remote monitoring station in place which has the ability to shut
down the boiler or boilers The operator is required to inspect the boiler or boilers 4-6 times a shift or every
2 hours.
Question: How many BTUs are in one Boiler Horsepower?
Correct Answer: There are 33,475 BTUs (output) in one Boiler Horsepower.
Question: What are some boilers in Massachusetts which do not require a licensed operator?
, Correct Answer: Any boilers whose safety valve(s) are set to lifts at a pressure below 15PSI. A boiler of
less than 9 horsepower or having no more than 4 square feet of grate heating surface. Railway locomotives
or fire engine boilers, boilers in steam powered motor vehicles, portable boilers brought into the
commonwealth during periods of emergency, boilers on federal property, boilers used for agriculture use.
Question: What set of regulations pertain to pollution laws in Massachusetts?
Correct Answer: 310 CMR, Section 7
Question: What constitutes an opacity violation?
Correct Answer: When emissions have a shade, density or appearance equal to or greater than No. 1 of the
chart for a period or aggregate period of time more than 6 minutes in an hour.
Question: Where would you find instructions on how to prepare a boiler for internal inspection?
Correct Answer: 522 CMR
Question: What information is on a boiler certificate of inspection?
Correct Answer: 1. Name of owner and user 2. The location 3. The number of the boiler 4. The date of
inspection 5. Maximum pressure at which can be operated 6. Signature of inspector.
Question: Where would you find instructions on safety valve placement if you install an air compressor
that discharges to two receivers?
Correct Answer: 522 CMR 7.03 Safety valve is installed on the discharge pipe from the compressor as
close to the compressor as possible.
Question: Name 3 different boiler inspectors.
Correct Answer: 1. MA state inspectors 2. Insurance Inspectors 3. Shop inspectors
Question: When should the annual external boiler inspection be made?
Correct Answer: When the boiler is on the line and within 6 months of the internal inspection.
Question: What is required when the engineer in charge leaves a job?
Correct Answer: They must notify the Department of Fire Services-Division of inspectors in writing
within 7 calendar days.
Question: Describe a hydrostatic test.
Correct Answer: remove or gag safety valve(s) valve out the gauge glass, fill boiler with clean treated
water (70-120°f) until water comes out the vent, close vent and increase pressure with pump until reaching
1 times the MAWP , hold this pressure as long as directed by authorized inspector, reduce pressure to
MAWP for a close visual inspection of boiler. Upon completion remove pressure and restore water level to
NOWL.
Question: List 4 methods used to classify boiler types.
Correct Answer: Fire tube water tube direction of axis (horizontal or vertical) According to use Location
of furnace Operating pressure
Question: What is a fire tube boiler?
Correct Answer: Products of combustion inside of tubes which are surrounded by water
Question: What is a water tube boiler?
