NCCER BOILERMAKER EXAM ACTUAL EXAM 2026 | ALL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS | VERIFIED ANSWERS | UPDATED VERSION
Question 1
Which organization requires a person to be specifically trained in order to operate personal
lifting equipment such as aerial lifts or scissor lifts?
A) OSHA
B) ANSI
C) NFPA
D) ASME
E) NIOSH
Correct Answer: A) OSHA
Rationale: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard 1926.453
requires that all personnel operating aerial lifts be trained by a qualified person to
recognize and avoid hazards associated with the equipment.
Question 2
In which of the following environments would the usage of a Ring Type Joint (RTJ) Gasket most
likely be found?
A) Low pressure water systems
B) High pressure steam or process systems
C) Instrument air lines
D) Gravity-fed drainage systems
E) Low-temperature refrigeration lines
Correct Answer: B) High pressure system
Rationale: RTJ gaskets are heavy-duty, metallic gaskets designed for high-pressure and
high-temperature applications. They fit into a machined groove on the flange face to create
a metal-to-metal seal.
Question 3
All of the following are examples of common internal manway hardware used in vessels except:
A) Football washer
B) Slide fastener
C) Half washer
D) Belleville washer
E) Shoulder bolt
Correct Answer: B) Slide fastener
Rationale: Football washers, half washers, and Belleville (spring) washers are specific
hardware used to secure trays and internal components. A slide fastener is a general term
(like a zipper) and is not standard vessel internal hardware.
Question 4
What type of wrench is specifically designed to measure exactly how much force or tension is
being applied to a fastener?
, 2
A) Combination wrench
B) Crescent wrench
C) Torque wrench
D) Impact wrench
E) Pipe wrench
Correct Answer: C) torque
Rationale: A torque wrench allows the boilermaker to tighten bolts to a specific foot-pound
or Newton-meter setting, ensuring uniform compression on gaskets and preventing bolt
failure.
Question 5
Which piping fitting is designed to make it easy to disassemble threaded piping without having
to cut the pipe?
A) Coupling
B) Union
C) Tee
/D) Nipple
E) Elbow
Correct Answer: B) union
Rationale: A union consists of three parts (two ends and a nut) that allow a pipe run to be
disconnected easily for maintenance or equipment replacement.
Question 6
What is the primary purpose of a gasket in a flanged connection?
A) To create a seal between two stationary parts
B) To fill an excessive gap caused by misalignment
C) To hold bolts on the proper spacing
D) To prevent gouging of flange faces
E) To provide electrical insulation between pipes
Correct Answer: A) to create a seal between 2 stationary parts
Rationale: Gaskets are made of compressible material that fills the microscopic
irregularities of the flange faces to prevent the leakage of fluids or gases.
Question 7
What is the first and most important consideration when selecting or making a gasket for a
specific application?
A) Outside diameter of the flange
B) Material compatibility with the process fluid
C) Inside diameter of the flange
D) The bolt circle diameter
E) The thickness of the flange
, 3
Correct Answer: B) Material compatibility
Rationale: If a gasket material is not compatible with the chemicals or temperature of the
system, it will degrade, leading to a catastrophic failure or leak, regardless of how well it
fits.
Question 8
In order to get a heat exchanger bundle to line up with the shell side gasket, the best tool to use to
provide precise leverage for lifting the bundle is a:
A) Pipe jack
B) Flange spreader
C) Finger wedge
D) Drift pin
E) Come-along
Correct Answer: D) Drift pin
Rationale: Boilermakers use drift pins (tapered pins) to align bolt holes in flanges or to
provide leverage when positioning heavy components like exchanger bundles.
Question 9
How often should you perform a visual inspection of any type of rigging device (slings, shackles,
etc.)?
A) Daily
B) Before each use
C) Monthly
D) Annually
E) Only after a heavy lift
Correct Answer: B) before each use
Rationale: Safety regulations require that rigging be inspected before every lift to check for
nicks, frays, heat damage, or deformation that could lead to a dropped load.
Question 10
The effectiveness of a ring gasket may be affected by all of the following factors except:
A) Torque applied to the bolts
B) The number of bolts in the flange
C) System operating temperature
D) Flange face condition
E) System pressure
Correct Answer: B) number of bolts
Rationale: While the number of bolts is determined by the flange class/standard, the
integrity of the seal itself is primarily dependent on the torque (clamping force),
temperature, and pressure compatibility.
CORRECT ANSWERS | VERIFIED ANSWERS | UPDATED VERSION
Question 1
Which organization requires a person to be specifically trained in order to operate personal
lifting equipment such as aerial lifts or scissor lifts?
A) OSHA
B) ANSI
C) NFPA
D) ASME
E) NIOSH
Correct Answer: A) OSHA
Rationale: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard 1926.453
requires that all personnel operating aerial lifts be trained by a qualified person to
recognize and avoid hazards associated with the equipment.
Question 2
In which of the following environments would the usage of a Ring Type Joint (RTJ) Gasket most
likely be found?
A) Low pressure water systems
B) High pressure steam or process systems
C) Instrument air lines
D) Gravity-fed drainage systems
E) Low-temperature refrigeration lines
Correct Answer: B) High pressure system
Rationale: RTJ gaskets are heavy-duty, metallic gaskets designed for high-pressure and
high-temperature applications. They fit into a machined groove on the flange face to create
a metal-to-metal seal.
Question 3
All of the following are examples of common internal manway hardware used in vessels except:
A) Football washer
B) Slide fastener
C) Half washer
D) Belleville washer
E) Shoulder bolt
Correct Answer: B) Slide fastener
Rationale: Football washers, half washers, and Belleville (spring) washers are specific
hardware used to secure trays and internal components. A slide fastener is a general term
(like a zipper) and is not standard vessel internal hardware.
Question 4
What type of wrench is specifically designed to measure exactly how much force or tension is
being applied to a fastener?
, 2
A) Combination wrench
B) Crescent wrench
C) Torque wrench
D) Impact wrench
E) Pipe wrench
Correct Answer: C) torque
Rationale: A torque wrench allows the boilermaker to tighten bolts to a specific foot-pound
or Newton-meter setting, ensuring uniform compression on gaskets and preventing bolt
failure.
Question 5
Which piping fitting is designed to make it easy to disassemble threaded piping without having
to cut the pipe?
A) Coupling
B) Union
C) Tee
/D) Nipple
E) Elbow
Correct Answer: B) union
Rationale: A union consists of three parts (two ends and a nut) that allow a pipe run to be
disconnected easily for maintenance or equipment replacement.
Question 6
What is the primary purpose of a gasket in a flanged connection?
A) To create a seal between two stationary parts
B) To fill an excessive gap caused by misalignment
C) To hold bolts on the proper spacing
D) To prevent gouging of flange faces
E) To provide electrical insulation between pipes
Correct Answer: A) to create a seal between 2 stationary parts
Rationale: Gaskets are made of compressible material that fills the microscopic
irregularities of the flange faces to prevent the leakage of fluids or gases.
Question 7
What is the first and most important consideration when selecting or making a gasket for a
specific application?
A) Outside diameter of the flange
B) Material compatibility with the process fluid
C) Inside diameter of the flange
D) The bolt circle diameter
E) The thickness of the flange
, 3
Correct Answer: B) Material compatibility
Rationale: If a gasket material is not compatible with the chemicals or temperature of the
system, it will degrade, leading to a catastrophic failure or leak, regardless of how well it
fits.
Question 8
In order to get a heat exchanger bundle to line up with the shell side gasket, the best tool to use to
provide precise leverage for lifting the bundle is a:
A) Pipe jack
B) Flange spreader
C) Finger wedge
D) Drift pin
E) Come-along
Correct Answer: D) Drift pin
Rationale: Boilermakers use drift pins (tapered pins) to align bolt holes in flanges or to
provide leverage when positioning heavy components like exchanger bundles.
Question 9
How often should you perform a visual inspection of any type of rigging device (slings, shackles,
etc.)?
A) Daily
B) Before each use
C) Monthly
D) Annually
E) Only after a heavy lift
Correct Answer: B) before each use
Rationale: Safety regulations require that rigging be inspected before every lift to check for
nicks, frays, heat damage, or deformation that could lead to a dropped load.
Question 10
The effectiveness of a ring gasket may be affected by all of the following factors except:
A) Torque applied to the bolts
B) The number of bolts in the flange
C) System operating temperature
D) Flange face condition
E) System pressure
Correct Answer: B) number of bolts
Rationale: While the number of bolts is determined by the flange class/standard, the
integrity of the seal itself is primarily dependent on the torque (clamping force),
temperature, and pressure compatibility.
