Minnesota Special Engineer Boiler
License Practice Exam Questions, Special
Boiler License Practice Exam Minnesota,
Safe Boiler Operation Fundamentals—
Special Engineer's Guide for the State of
Minnesota, Practice Test #1, Special
Boiler License Study... with correct
answers 2025/2026
For the purpose of rating boiler horsepower for an Engineers License only, how many square
feet of boiler surface shall be equivalent to one boiler horsepower on a boiler? - Correct
answer10 Sq. Ft. Heating Surface
,What is meant by the term "Low Pressure Boiler"? - Correct answerBoilers operating at a steam
or other vapor pressure of 15psig or less, or a hot water or other liquid boiler in which the
pressure does not exceed 160 psig or a temperature of 250 degrees F.
A person holding a current State of Minnesota Special Engineers License could be in charge of,
or a shift engineer in what size plant(s)? - Correct answerHigh and Low pressure boilers not to
exceed a total of 50 boiler horsepower, or a shift engineer in a 100 horsepower plant.
Special Engineer may serve as an apprentice of what size water/liquid or steam/vapor boiler? -
Correct answerIn any plant regardless of size under the direct supervision of a properly licensed
engineer.
The purpose of low water cut out on a steam or hot water boiler is to what? - Correct
answerShut off the burner when a low water condition exists.
The valve or valves that must relieve all excess pressure on a steam or hot water boiler are
what? - Correct answerSafety valve and/or an ASME approved safety relief valve.
A Tri indicator could be found on a: - Correct answerHot water boiler
A tri indicator would inform the boiler operator of what? - Correct answerThe TEMPERATURE of
the water, the PRESSURE of the water in PSIG, and the ALTITUDE of water in feet.
What is the destructive force in a steam or hot water boiler explosion? - Correct answerThe
instant release of energy stored in the water as heat.
An ASME approved safety relieve calve used on a hot water boiler is tested at the factory on
what? - Correct answerSteam first then hot water.
Some of the things you could find on a steam boiler (or hot water boiler) are what? - Correct
answerLow water cut off, safety valve or safety relief valve, pressure gauge.
,What devices would only be found on a steam boiler? - Correct answerSteam pressure gauge,
tricocks, Pressuretrols
An expansion tank or compression tank would be used in what? - Correct answerHot water
boiler
What is the purpose of the expansion tank? - Correct answerTo provide for expansion and
contraction of the water volume as its temperature varies.
On a hot water boiler, what is the purpose of the vent valve? - Correct answerTo make sure
there is water inside the boiler and to vent any trapped air.
If the safety valve or ASME safety relief valve leaks you would do what? - Correct answerHave
the valve repaired or replaced.
Tri cocks or gauge cocks are sued on a steam boiler to indicate? - Correct answerThe true water
level inside the boiler.
On a steam or hot water boiler, the safety valve or safety relief valve could be tested by? -
Correct answerWhen the boiler is running lifting the lever on the valve or raising the pressure
until they operate.
Before starting a steam or hot water boiler you should check for what? - Correct answerWater
in the boiler.
True or False: Bottom blow down valves are used for both steam and hot water. - Correct
answerTrue
Safety valves or safety relief valves should be manually tested at least...? - Correct
answerMonthly
, The low water cut out is one of the most important electrical/mechanical devices on your boiler.
How often should you test it? - Correct answerDaily
What device must be located between a hot water boiler and the expansion tank? - Correct
answerA shut off valve so the expansion can be isolated and drained during operation of the
boiler.
On a hot water boiler, every time the burner operates the safety relief valve opens. Why? -
Correct answerThe expansion tank is water logged, or the isolating valve for the expansion tank
is closed.
An Aquastat is used on a...? - Correct answerHot water boiler
To reduce thermal shock on hot water boilers, what devices are used? - Correct answerLow limit
or low fire hold control, three way valve, run around pump.
On a steam boiler the control named operator will... - Correct answerOn pressure decrease:
Start. On pressure increase: Stop.
On a hot water boiler the control called the operator will... - Correct answerOn temperature
decrease: Start. On temperature increase: Stop.
On a steam boiler what is a siphon or pigtail used for? - Correct answerTo protect the steam
gauge from too high of temperature.
What is one reason causing the expansion tank to fill with water? - Correct answerAir leaks from
the gauge glass fitting.
What would you do if you cam into a boiler room and found no water in the boiler? - Correct
answerShut off the burner and allow boiler to cool.
License Practice Exam Questions, Special
Boiler License Practice Exam Minnesota,
Safe Boiler Operation Fundamentals—
Special Engineer's Guide for the State of
Minnesota, Practice Test #1, Special
Boiler License Study... with correct
answers 2025/2026
For the purpose of rating boiler horsepower for an Engineers License only, how many square
feet of boiler surface shall be equivalent to one boiler horsepower on a boiler? - Correct
answer10 Sq. Ft. Heating Surface
,What is meant by the term "Low Pressure Boiler"? - Correct answerBoilers operating at a steam
or other vapor pressure of 15psig or less, or a hot water or other liquid boiler in which the
pressure does not exceed 160 psig or a temperature of 250 degrees F.
A person holding a current State of Minnesota Special Engineers License could be in charge of,
or a shift engineer in what size plant(s)? - Correct answerHigh and Low pressure boilers not to
exceed a total of 50 boiler horsepower, or a shift engineer in a 100 horsepower plant.
Special Engineer may serve as an apprentice of what size water/liquid or steam/vapor boiler? -
Correct answerIn any plant regardless of size under the direct supervision of a properly licensed
engineer.
The purpose of low water cut out on a steam or hot water boiler is to what? - Correct
answerShut off the burner when a low water condition exists.
The valve or valves that must relieve all excess pressure on a steam or hot water boiler are
what? - Correct answerSafety valve and/or an ASME approved safety relief valve.
A Tri indicator could be found on a: - Correct answerHot water boiler
A tri indicator would inform the boiler operator of what? - Correct answerThe TEMPERATURE of
the water, the PRESSURE of the water in PSIG, and the ALTITUDE of water in feet.
What is the destructive force in a steam or hot water boiler explosion? - Correct answerThe
instant release of energy stored in the water as heat.
An ASME approved safety relieve calve used on a hot water boiler is tested at the factory on
what? - Correct answerSteam first then hot water.
Some of the things you could find on a steam boiler (or hot water boiler) are what? - Correct
answerLow water cut off, safety valve or safety relief valve, pressure gauge.
,What devices would only be found on a steam boiler? - Correct answerSteam pressure gauge,
tricocks, Pressuretrols
An expansion tank or compression tank would be used in what? - Correct answerHot water
boiler
What is the purpose of the expansion tank? - Correct answerTo provide for expansion and
contraction of the water volume as its temperature varies.
On a hot water boiler, what is the purpose of the vent valve? - Correct answerTo make sure
there is water inside the boiler and to vent any trapped air.
If the safety valve or ASME safety relief valve leaks you would do what? - Correct answerHave
the valve repaired or replaced.
Tri cocks or gauge cocks are sued on a steam boiler to indicate? - Correct answerThe true water
level inside the boiler.
On a steam or hot water boiler, the safety valve or safety relief valve could be tested by? -
Correct answerWhen the boiler is running lifting the lever on the valve or raising the pressure
until they operate.
Before starting a steam or hot water boiler you should check for what? - Correct answerWater
in the boiler.
True or False: Bottom blow down valves are used for both steam and hot water. - Correct
answerTrue
Safety valves or safety relief valves should be manually tested at least...? - Correct
answerMonthly
, The low water cut out is one of the most important electrical/mechanical devices on your boiler.
How often should you test it? - Correct answerDaily
What device must be located between a hot water boiler and the expansion tank? - Correct
answerA shut off valve so the expansion can be isolated and drained during operation of the
boiler.
On a hot water boiler, every time the burner operates the safety relief valve opens. Why? -
Correct answerThe expansion tank is water logged, or the isolating valve for the expansion tank
is closed.
An Aquastat is used on a...? - Correct answerHot water boiler
To reduce thermal shock on hot water boilers, what devices are used? - Correct answerLow limit
or low fire hold control, three way valve, run around pump.
On a steam boiler the control named operator will... - Correct answerOn pressure decrease:
Start. On pressure increase: Stop.
On a hot water boiler the control called the operator will... - Correct answerOn temperature
decrease: Start. On temperature increase: Stop.
On a steam boiler what is a siphon or pigtail used for? - Correct answerTo protect the steam
gauge from too high of temperature.
What is one reason causing the expansion tank to fill with water? - Correct answerAir leaks from
the gauge glass fitting.
What would you do if you cam into a boiler room and found no water in the boiler? - Correct
answerShut off the burner and allow boiler to cool.
