CITY OF NEW ORLEANS — MECHANICAL
LICENSING BOARD
641 LA Third Class Stationary Boiler Engineer
Licensing Examination
,Question 1: What legal requirement must be satisfied before a safety valve
setpoint can be altered or adjusted on a power boiler?
A. The safety valve spring can be compressed using spacers if boiler pressure is
under 50 psig
B. The plant manager can authorize the change in writing without re-inspection
C. Adjustments must be performed by an authorized manufacturer representative or
NBIC 'VR' stamp holder
D. The shift engineer can adjust the setpoint screw using standard hand tools
Answer: C (Adjustments must be performed by an authorized manufacturer
representative or NBIC 'VR' stamp holder)
Rationale: ASME Section I and NBIC rules require that safety valve repairs or setpoint
adjustments be completed by certified organizations holding a National Board 'VR' (Valve
Repair) stamp.
Question 2: A New Orleans Third Class Stationary Engineer is conducting
shift operations involving controlling silica levels and preventing carryover
in high-pressure steam boilers. Operating parameters indicate a deviation
from normal tolerances. Which engineering procedure or safety standard
must be followed?
A. Isolate the main steam safety valve using a shut-off valve installed upstream.
B. Bypass the automatic low-water cut-off switch and operate the burner on manual
control.
C. Increase fuel firing rate to maximum capacity while closing the boiler vent valve.
D. Execute standard operating procedure regarding controlling silica levels and
preventing carryover in high-pressure steam boilers in strict compliance with ASME
Code and New Orleans Mechanical Code.
Answer: D (Execute standard operating procedure regarding controlling silica
levels and preventing carryover in high-pressure steam boilers in strict compliance
with ASME Code and New Orleans Mechanical Code.)
Rationale: High silica concentration forms extremely hard scale on heat transfer surfaces
and leads to silica carryover into steam turbines.
,Question 3: A New Orleans Third Class Stationary Engineer is conducting
shift operations involving preventing water hammer in steam mains using
proper drip legs and steam traps. Operating parameters indicate a deviation
from normal tolerances. Which engineering procedure or safety standard
must be followed?
A. Bypass the automatic low-water cut-off switch and operate the burner on manual
control.
B. Isolate the main steam safety valve using a shut-off valve installed upstream.
C. Execute standard operating procedure regarding preventing water hammer in
steam mains using proper drip legs and steam traps in strict compliance with ASME
Code and New Orleans Mechanical Code.
D. Increase fuel firing rate to maximum capacity while closing the boiler vent valve.
Answer: C (Execute standard operating procedure regarding preventing water
hammer in steam mains using proper drip legs and steam traps in strict
compliance with ASME Code and New Orleans Mechanical Code.)
Rationale: Water hammer occurs when steam propels slugs of condensate down piping
at high velocity, threatening to rupture fittings and valves.
Question 4: What is the function of a soot blower in a coal or oil-fired boiler?
A. To clean soot and ash deposits off the exterior of boiler tubes using steam or
compressed air blasts
B. To inject chemical neutralizing agents into the furnace throat
C. To increase combustion air pressure entering the burner windbox
D. To blow heavy bottom sludge out of the lower mud drum
Answer: A (To clean soot and ash deposits off the exterior of boiler tubes using
steam or compressed air blasts)
Rationale: Soot blowers direct high-pressure steam or air jets onto heating surfaces to
clean insulating soot buildup and restore heat transfer efficiency.
, Question 5: What device protects a steam boiler furnace against flame
failure by automatically shutting off the main fuel supply valve within
seconds of losing ignition?
A. High-limit pressure control switch
B. Flame Safeguard / Flame Scanner (Photocell or Flame Rod)
C. Low-water fuel cut-off float
D. Thermal expansion safety link
Answer: B (Flame Safeguard / Flame Scanner (Photocell or Flame Rod))
Rationale: Flame safeguard controls monitor the burner flame and immediately shut off
the safety shutoff fuel valve upon flame failure.
Question 6: What is the purpose of performing annual internal and external
boiler inspections under New Orleans Code?
A. Isolate the main steam safety valve using a shut-off valve
B. Bypass the low-water cut-off
C. Execute standard operating procedure regarding performing annual internal and
external boiler inspections under New Orleans Code in strict compliance with ASME
Code and New Orleans Mechanical Code
D. Increase fuel firing rate to maximum
Answer: C (Execute standard operating procedure regarding performing annual
internal and external boiler inspections under New Orleans Code in strict
compliance with ASME Code and New Orleans Mechanical Code)
Rationale: Annual boiler inspections ensure structural integrity, verifying safety valve
setpoints, firetubes/watertubes condition, and safety control cut-offs.
LICENSING BOARD
641 LA Third Class Stationary Boiler Engineer
Licensing Examination
,Question 1: What legal requirement must be satisfied before a safety valve
setpoint can be altered or adjusted on a power boiler?
A. The safety valve spring can be compressed using spacers if boiler pressure is
under 50 psig
B. The plant manager can authorize the change in writing without re-inspection
C. Adjustments must be performed by an authorized manufacturer representative or
NBIC 'VR' stamp holder
D. The shift engineer can adjust the setpoint screw using standard hand tools
Answer: C (Adjustments must be performed by an authorized manufacturer
representative or NBIC 'VR' stamp holder)
Rationale: ASME Section I and NBIC rules require that safety valve repairs or setpoint
adjustments be completed by certified organizations holding a National Board 'VR' (Valve
Repair) stamp.
Question 2: A New Orleans Third Class Stationary Engineer is conducting
shift operations involving controlling silica levels and preventing carryover
in high-pressure steam boilers. Operating parameters indicate a deviation
from normal tolerances. Which engineering procedure or safety standard
must be followed?
A. Isolate the main steam safety valve using a shut-off valve installed upstream.
B. Bypass the automatic low-water cut-off switch and operate the burner on manual
control.
C. Increase fuel firing rate to maximum capacity while closing the boiler vent valve.
D. Execute standard operating procedure regarding controlling silica levels and
preventing carryover in high-pressure steam boilers in strict compliance with ASME
Code and New Orleans Mechanical Code.
Answer: D (Execute standard operating procedure regarding controlling silica
levels and preventing carryover in high-pressure steam boilers in strict compliance
with ASME Code and New Orleans Mechanical Code.)
Rationale: High silica concentration forms extremely hard scale on heat transfer surfaces
and leads to silica carryover into steam turbines.
,Question 3: A New Orleans Third Class Stationary Engineer is conducting
shift operations involving preventing water hammer in steam mains using
proper drip legs and steam traps. Operating parameters indicate a deviation
from normal tolerances. Which engineering procedure or safety standard
must be followed?
A. Bypass the automatic low-water cut-off switch and operate the burner on manual
control.
B. Isolate the main steam safety valve using a shut-off valve installed upstream.
C. Execute standard operating procedure regarding preventing water hammer in
steam mains using proper drip legs and steam traps in strict compliance with ASME
Code and New Orleans Mechanical Code.
D. Increase fuel firing rate to maximum capacity while closing the boiler vent valve.
Answer: C (Execute standard operating procedure regarding preventing water
hammer in steam mains using proper drip legs and steam traps in strict
compliance with ASME Code and New Orleans Mechanical Code.)
Rationale: Water hammer occurs when steam propels slugs of condensate down piping
at high velocity, threatening to rupture fittings and valves.
Question 4: What is the function of a soot blower in a coal or oil-fired boiler?
A. To clean soot and ash deposits off the exterior of boiler tubes using steam or
compressed air blasts
B. To inject chemical neutralizing agents into the furnace throat
C. To increase combustion air pressure entering the burner windbox
D. To blow heavy bottom sludge out of the lower mud drum
Answer: A (To clean soot and ash deposits off the exterior of boiler tubes using
steam or compressed air blasts)
Rationale: Soot blowers direct high-pressure steam or air jets onto heating surfaces to
clean insulating soot buildup and restore heat transfer efficiency.
, Question 5: What device protects a steam boiler furnace against flame
failure by automatically shutting off the main fuel supply valve within
seconds of losing ignition?
A. High-limit pressure control switch
B. Flame Safeguard / Flame Scanner (Photocell or Flame Rod)
C. Low-water fuel cut-off float
D. Thermal expansion safety link
Answer: B (Flame Safeguard / Flame Scanner (Photocell or Flame Rod))
Rationale: Flame safeguard controls monitor the burner flame and immediately shut off
the safety shutoff fuel valve upon flame failure.
Question 6: What is the purpose of performing annual internal and external
boiler inspections under New Orleans Code?
A. Isolate the main steam safety valve using a shut-off valve
B. Bypass the low-water cut-off
C. Execute standard operating procedure regarding performing annual internal and
external boiler inspections under New Orleans Code in strict compliance with ASME
Code and New Orleans Mechanical Code
D. Increase fuel firing rate to maximum
Answer: C (Execute standard operating procedure regarding performing annual
internal and external boiler inspections under New Orleans Code in strict
compliance with ASME Code and New Orleans Mechanical Code)
Rationale: Annual boiler inspections ensure structural integrity, verifying safety valve
setpoints, firetubes/watertubes condition, and safety control cut-offs.
