NICET LEVEL III HYDRAULICS 2026 FINAL
REVIEW EXAM
◉ What does Dry Drilling Method consist of? Answer: Removing
acclimated water and loose material in a relatively dry environment
◉ What are the requirements for Dry Drilling Method? Answer: 1.
12" or less of water at the base of the hole for during a 1 hour period
when a pump isn't permitted
2.Both sides and bottom of the hole remain stable with no signs of
sloughing or swelling over a 4 hour period to completion
3. loose material and water is removed during inspection and prior
to concrete placement
◉ What does Wet Drilling Method consist of? Answer: Using water,
slurry or mineral slurry to maintain hole stability during drilling
operation
◉ What should be done if hole swelling, ground softening or slurry
caking is encountered? Answer: Steel casing is placed to maintain
hole shape.
◉ What are the concrete placement equipment that is used for
drilled shafts? Answer: Tremies and concrete pumps.
,◉ What is the free fall limitation when placing concrete for a drilled
shaft? Answer: Limited to 25' free fall limits for concrete. Contractor
must ensure Concrete is placed in the middle of reinforcement cage
and not segregating against rebar.
◉ What should be restricted when drilling a shaft? Answer:
Activities in 15' proximity or 3 drilled shaft diameter wide. Limit
vibration and active loads in this radius. newly drilled shafts should
remain undisturbed for 20 hours
◉ When sampling slurry, how many samples are taken and where
are the samples taken from? Answer: 4 tests samples should be
taken within 8 hours of slurry use. Samples should be take at the
base of the drilled shaft and 10' above the base
◉ What is the acceptable amount of soil and water to be left in the
drilled shaft prior to concrete placement? Answer: 1/2" of sediment
and reduce water level to 3" or less
◉ When should Drilled Shaft be inspected prior to concrete
placement? Answer: Within 24 hours prior to concrete placement
, ◉ What are the levels of mineral and slurry should be maintained
while drilling shafts? Answer: Slurry level should be maintained at 5'
and 10' with mineral slurry
◉ When placing concrete, how is the steel casing removed? Answer:
Concurrently with concrete
◉ What happens if steel casing becomes bound and cannot be
removed? Answer: 1. Remove concrete shaft, and extend shaft
deeper to compensate loss.
2. Provide straddle shaft to compensate for loss
3. Provide replacement shaft
◉ How should forms be placed for drilled shafts? Answer:
Removable forms should be placed atleast 24" below finished
ground when the top of the shaft is above ground.
◉ What type of concrete is used for drilled shaft? Answer: Class A
concrete should be used, while type S is used for underwater
applications
◉ When is indepth inspection of temporary works is required?
Answer: Inspection should take place not more than 24 hours prior
to concrete pour
REVIEW EXAM
◉ What does Dry Drilling Method consist of? Answer: Removing
acclimated water and loose material in a relatively dry environment
◉ What are the requirements for Dry Drilling Method? Answer: 1.
12" or less of water at the base of the hole for during a 1 hour period
when a pump isn't permitted
2.Both sides and bottom of the hole remain stable with no signs of
sloughing or swelling over a 4 hour period to completion
3. loose material and water is removed during inspection and prior
to concrete placement
◉ What does Wet Drilling Method consist of? Answer: Using water,
slurry or mineral slurry to maintain hole stability during drilling
operation
◉ What should be done if hole swelling, ground softening or slurry
caking is encountered? Answer: Steel casing is placed to maintain
hole shape.
◉ What are the concrete placement equipment that is used for
drilled shafts? Answer: Tremies and concrete pumps.
,◉ What is the free fall limitation when placing concrete for a drilled
shaft? Answer: Limited to 25' free fall limits for concrete. Contractor
must ensure Concrete is placed in the middle of reinforcement cage
and not segregating against rebar.
◉ What should be restricted when drilling a shaft? Answer:
Activities in 15' proximity or 3 drilled shaft diameter wide. Limit
vibration and active loads in this radius. newly drilled shafts should
remain undisturbed for 20 hours
◉ When sampling slurry, how many samples are taken and where
are the samples taken from? Answer: 4 tests samples should be
taken within 8 hours of slurry use. Samples should be take at the
base of the drilled shaft and 10' above the base
◉ What is the acceptable amount of soil and water to be left in the
drilled shaft prior to concrete placement? Answer: 1/2" of sediment
and reduce water level to 3" or less
◉ When should Drilled Shaft be inspected prior to concrete
placement? Answer: Within 24 hours prior to concrete placement
, ◉ What are the levels of mineral and slurry should be maintained
while drilling shafts? Answer: Slurry level should be maintained at 5'
and 10' with mineral slurry
◉ When placing concrete, how is the steel casing removed? Answer:
Concurrently with concrete
◉ What happens if steel casing becomes bound and cannot be
removed? Answer: 1. Remove concrete shaft, and extend shaft
deeper to compensate loss.
2. Provide straddle shaft to compensate for loss
3. Provide replacement shaft
◉ How should forms be placed for drilled shafts? Answer:
Removable forms should be placed atleast 24" below finished
ground when the top of the shaft is above ground.
◉ What type of concrete is used for drilled shaft? Answer: Class A
concrete should be used, while type S is used for underwater
applications
◉ When is indepth inspection of temporary works is required?
Answer: Inspection should take place not more than 24 hours prior
to concrete pour
