FLORIDA UNDERGROUND UTILITY
CONTRACTOR EXAM STUDY GUIDE
2026/2027 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE
1. According to OSHA Subpart P, at what depth is a professional engineer required to design
the protective system for a trench?
A. 10 feet or greater
B. 15 feet or greater
C. 20 feet or greater
D. 25 feet or greater
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: OSHA regulations state that protective systems for excavations
greater than 20 feet in depth must be designed by a registered professional engineer.
2. In Florida, according to Rule 62-555.314, what is the minimum horizontal separation
required between a new water main and an existing or proposed gravity sanitary sewer?
A. 3 feet
B. 10 feet
C. 6 feet
,D. 15 feet
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Florida Administrative Code requires a 10-foot horizontal
separation between water mains and sanitary sewers to prevent cross-contamination.
3. When installing a silt fence for erosion control, how deep must the bottom of the filter
fabric be buried in the ground?
A. 2 inches
B. 18 inches
C. 12 inches
D. 6 inches
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Standard BMPs for silt fence installation require the fabric to be
trenched 6 inches deep to prevent water from undermining the fence.
4. Which soil classification is characterized by a cohesive strength of 0.5 tons per square foot
(tsf) or less?
A. Type A
B. Type B
C. Solid Rock
D. Type C
, Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Type C soil is the least stable, includes granular soils and
cohesive soil with an unconfined compressive strength of 0.5 tsf or less.
5. According to the Florida Trench Safety Act, what must be provided to the owner on the
project bid form?
A. The name of the competent person
B. The insurance premium for the project
C. The cost of compliance with trench safety standards
D. A map of all underground utilities
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The Florida Trench Safety Act requires contractors to specify the
cost of compliance with trench safety standards in their bids.
6. When performing a hydrostatic pressure test on a new water main, what is the standard
test duration required by AWWA C600?
A. 1 hour
B. 2 hours
C. 4 hours
D. 24 hours
Answer: B
CONTRACTOR EXAM STUDY GUIDE
2026/2027 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE
1. According to OSHA Subpart P, at what depth is a professional engineer required to design
the protective system for a trench?
A. 10 feet or greater
B. 15 feet or greater
C. 20 feet or greater
D. 25 feet or greater
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: OSHA regulations state that protective systems for excavations
greater than 20 feet in depth must be designed by a registered professional engineer.
2. In Florida, according to Rule 62-555.314, what is the minimum horizontal separation
required between a new water main and an existing or proposed gravity sanitary sewer?
A. 3 feet
B. 10 feet
C. 6 feet
,D. 15 feet
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Florida Administrative Code requires a 10-foot horizontal
separation between water mains and sanitary sewers to prevent cross-contamination.
3. When installing a silt fence for erosion control, how deep must the bottom of the filter
fabric be buried in the ground?
A. 2 inches
B. 18 inches
C. 12 inches
D. 6 inches
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Standard BMPs for silt fence installation require the fabric to be
trenched 6 inches deep to prevent water from undermining the fence.
4. Which soil classification is characterized by a cohesive strength of 0.5 tons per square foot
(tsf) or less?
A. Type A
B. Type B
C. Solid Rock
D. Type C
, Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Type C soil is the least stable, includes granular soils and
cohesive soil with an unconfined compressive strength of 0.5 tsf or less.
5. According to the Florida Trench Safety Act, what must be provided to the owner on the
project bid form?
A. The name of the competent person
B. The insurance premium for the project
C. The cost of compliance with trench safety standards
D. A map of all underground utilities
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The Florida Trench Safety Act requires contractors to specify the
cost of compliance with trench safety standards in their bids.
6. When performing a hydrostatic pressure test on a new water main, what is the standard
test duration required by AWWA C600?
A. 1 hour
B. 2 hours
C. 4 hours
D. 24 hours
Answer: B
