TCFP HAZMAT OPERATIONS 2026 EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
TEXAS COMMISSION ON FIRE PROTECTION (TCFP) CERTIFICATION
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS OPERATIONS LEVEL | NFPA 470 | VERIFIED
INTRODUCTION / EXAM OVERVIEW
This comprehensive practice examination is designed for fire protection and hazmat responders
preparing for the TCFP (Texas Commission on Fire Protection) Hazardous Materials
Operations (HazMat Ops) Certification Exam for the 2026 testing cycle. This certification
validates competency at the Operations Level as defined by NFPA 470 (formerly NFPA 472/1072)
and OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120 (HAZWOPER) .
Section 1: Hazardous Materials Recognition and Identification (Q 1-35)
Q1: A truck carrying gasoline displays a placard with a red diamond and the number 3 at the
bottom. This indicates:
A. Flammable solid (Class 4)
B. Flammable liquid (Class 3) [CORRECT]
C. Oxidizer (Class 5)
D. Corrosive (Class 8)
Rationale:
• DOT hazard class 3 (flammable liquids) has a red placard with the number 3 at the
bottom. Gasoline is a Class 3 flammable liquid (flash point <141°F). Class 4 is flammable
solid (red/white stripes), Class 5 is oxidizer (yellow), Class 8 is corrosive (black/white).
Q2: According to NFPA 704, a material with a health hazard rating of 4 indicates:
A. Can cause significant injury with short-term exposure
B. Can be fatal with short-term exposure (severe hazard) [CORRECT]
C. Slight hazard, no serious injury
D. No health hazard
Rationale:
• NFPA 704 diamond: Health (blue) – 4 = can be fatal with short-term exposure (e.g.,
hydrogen cyanide, phosgene). 3 = can cause serious or permanent injury. 2 = can cause
temporary incapacitation. 1 = can cause irritation. 0 = no health hazard.
,Q3: The Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) is primarily intended for use during:
A. Long-term remediation operations
B. The initial response phase (first 30-60 minutes) [CORRECT]
C. Criminal investigation
D. Environmental impact assessment
Rationale:
• The ERG is designed for use by first responders during the initial phase of a hazmat
incident (typically first 30-60 minutes). It provides initial isolation distances, protective
action distances, emergency actions, firefighting, spill/leak control, and first aid guidance.
Q4: The blue section of the ERG is organized by:
A. UN/NA number
B. Material name (alphabetical) [CORRECT]
C. Placard type
D. Hazard class
Rationale:
• The ERG has four color-coded sections: Yellow (UN/NA number index), Blue (material
name alphabetical index), Orange (guides 111-174), Green (initial isolation and protective
action distances for TIH and water-reactive materials). The yellow and blue sections direct
you to the orange guide.
Q5: A fixed facility storage tank displays an NFPA 704 diamond with a "W" with a slash through
it in the white section. This indicates:
A. The material reacts with water
B. The material reacts unusually or violently with water (use no water) [CORRECT]
C. The material is radioactive
D. The material is an oxidizer
Rationale:
• The white section of the NFPA 704 diamond indicates special hazards. W with a slash
means use no water (water-reactive). OX indicates oxidizer, SA indicates simple
asphyxiant, ALK indicates alkali, ACID indicates acid.
Q6: The UN number 1203 corresponds to:
A. Diesel fuel
B. Gasoline (petrol) [CORRECT]
,C. Propane
D. Hydrochloric acid
Rationale:
• UN 1203 is the standard four-digit identification number for gasoline (petrol) in the DOT
system. Diesel fuel is UN 1202, propane is UN 1978, hydrochloric acid is UN 1789.
Q7: Which of the following is classified as a Class 9 (Miscellaneous Hazardous Material)?
A. Gasoline
B. Acetone
C. Lithium batteries [CORRECT]
D. Anhydrous ammonia
Rationale:
• Lithium batteries are Class 9 (miscellaneous hazardous materials) due to electrical,
chemical, and fire hazards. Gasoline is Class 3, acetone is Class 3, anhydrous ammonia is
Class 2.3 (poison gas).
Q8: The proper shipping name for a hazardous material can be found in which section of the
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)?
A. Section 1 (Identification) [CORRECT]
B. Section 4 (First Aid Measures)
C. Section 9 (Physical and Chemical Properties)
D. Section 14 (Transport Information)
Rationale:
• Section 1 of the SDS includes the product identifier, recommended use, supplier
information, and emergency telephone number. Section 14 includes transport hazard
classes, UN numbers, and proper shipping names for transport purposes, but the primary
identification is in Section 1.
Q9: A railcar marked "DOT-111" indicates:
A. A high-pressure tank car for compressed gases
B. A non-pressure tank car for flammable liquids [CORRECT]
C. A cryogenic liquid tank car
D. A hopper car for dry bulk
Rationale:
, • DOT-111 is a non-pressure tank car specification commonly used for flammable liquids
(ethanol, crude oil) and other hazardous materials. DOT-331 is for compressed gases, DOT-
113 is for cryogenic liquids.
Q10: According to DOT regulations, a bulk package containing a hazardous material must
display a placard on:
A. Only the front of the vehicle
B. Only the driver's side
C. All four sides of the vehicle [CORRECT]
D. Only the rear
Rationale:
• 49 CFR 172.504 requires placards to be displayed on all four sides of the vehicle (front,
rear, both sides) for bulk shipments of hazardous materials.
Q11: The "DANGEROUS" placard is used when:
A. Only one hazard class is present
B. Two or more classes of hazardous materials are present in bulk [CORRECT]
C. Only non-bulk packages are present
D. Radioactive materials are present
Rationale:
• The DANGEROUS placard may be used when two or more classes of hazardous materials
are present in bulk quantities, instead of displaying separate placards for each class (though
specific placards are preferred when possible).
Q12: Which ERG section provides initial isolation and protective action distances for toxic
inhalation hazards (TIH)?
A. Yellow pages
B. Blue pages
C. Orange pages
D. Green pages [CORRECT]
Rationale:
• The Green pages (Section 3 of ERG) provide initial isolation distances (circle in all
directions) and protective action distances (downwind evacuation/shelter-in-place
distances) for toxic inhalation hazards (TIH) and certain water-reactive materials.
Q13: A material with a flash point of -20°F (-29°C) is classified as:
A. Combustible liquid
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
TEXAS COMMISSION ON FIRE PROTECTION (TCFP) CERTIFICATION
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS OPERATIONS LEVEL | NFPA 470 | VERIFIED
INTRODUCTION / EXAM OVERVIEW
This comprehensive practice examination is designed for fire protection and hazmat responders
preparing for the TCFP (Texas Commission on Fire Protection) Hazardous Materials
Operations (HazMat Ops) Certification Exam for the 2026 testing cycle. This certification
validates competency at the Operations Level as defined by NFPA 470 (formerly NFPA 472/1072)
and OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120 (HAZWOPER) .
Section 1: Hazardous Materials Recognition and Identification (Q 1-35)
Q1: A truck carrying gasoline displays a placard with a red diamond and the number 3 at the
bottom. This indicates:
A. Flammable solid (Class 4)
B. Flammable liquid (Class 3) [CORRECT]
C. Oxidizer (Class 5)
D. Corrosive (Class 8)
Rationale:
• DOT hazard class 3 (flammable liquids) has a red placard with the number 3 at the
bottom. Gasoline is a Class 3 flammable liquid (flash point <141°F). Class 4 is flammable
solid (red/white stripes), Class 5 is oxidizer (yellow), Class 8 is corrosive (black/white).
Q2: According to NFPA 704, a material with a health hazard rating of 4 indicates:
A. Can cause significant injury with short-term exposure
B. Can be fatal with short-term exposure (severe hazard) [CORRECT]
C. Slight hazard, no serious injury
D. No health hazard
Rationale:
• NFPA 704 diamond: Health (blue) – 4 = can be fatal with short-term exposure (e.g.,
hydrogen cyanide, phosgene). 3 = can cause serious or permanent injury. 2 = can cause
temporary incapacitation. 1 = can cause irritation. 0 = no health hazard.
,Q3: The Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) is primarily intended for use during:
A. Long-term remediation operations
B. The initial response phase (first 30-60 minutes) [CORRECT]
C. Criminal investigation
D. Environmental impact assessment
Rationale:
• The ERG is designed for use by first responders during the initial phase of a hazmat
incident (typically first 30-60 minutes). It provides initial isolation distances, protective
action distances, emergency actions, firefighting, spill/leak control, and first aid guidance.
Q4: The blue section of the ERG is organized by:
A. UN/NA number
B. Material name (alphabetical) [CORRECT]
C. Placard type
D. Hazard class
Rationale:
• The ERG has four color-coded sections: Yellow (UN/NA number index), Blue (material
name alphabetical index), Orange (guides 111-174), Green (initial isolation and protective
action distances for TIH and water-reactive materials). The yellow and blue sections direct
you to the orange guide.
Q5: A fixed facility storage tank displays an NFPA 704 diamond with a "W" with a slash through
it in the white section. This indicates:
A. The material reacts with water
B. The material reacts unusually or violently with water (use no water) [CORRECT]
C. The material is radioactive
D. The material is an oxidizer
Rationale:
• The white section of the NFPA 704 diamond indicates special hazards. W with a slash
means use no water (water-reactive). OX indicates oxidizer, SA indicates simple
asphyxiant, ALK indicates alkali, ACID indicates acid.
Q6: The UN number 1203 corresponds to:
A. Diesel fuel
B. Gasoline (petrol) [CORRECT]
,C. Propane
D. Hydrochloric acid
Rationale:
• UN 1203 is the standard four-digit identification number for gasoline (petrol) in the DOT
system. Diesel fuel is UN 1202, propane is UN 1978, hydrochloric acid is UN 1789.
Q7: Which of the following is classified as a Class 9 (Miscellaneous Hazardous Material)?
A. Gasoline
B. Acetone
C. Lithium batteries [CORRECT]
D. Anhydrous ammonia
Rationale:
• Lithium batteries are Class 9 (miscellaneous hazardous materials) due to electrical,
chemical, and fire hazards. Gasoline is Class 3, acetone is Class 3, anhydrous ammonia is
Class 2.3 (poison gas).
Q8: The proper shipping name for a hazardous material can be found in which section of the
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)?
A. Section 1 (Identification) [CORRECT]
B. Section 4 (First Aid Measures)
C. Section 9 (Physical and Chemical Properties)
D. Section 14 (Transport Information)
Rationale:
• Section 1 of the SDS includes the product identifier, recommended use, supplier
information, and emergency telephone number. Section 14 includes transport hazard
classes, UN numbers, and proper shipping names for transport purposes, but the primary
identification is in Section 1.
Q9: A railcar marked "DOT-111" indicates:
A. A high-pressure tank car for compressed gases
B. A non-pressure tank car for flammable liquids [CORRECT]
C. A cryogenic liquid tank car
D. A hopper car for dry bulk
Rationale:
, • DOT-111 is a non-pressure tank car specification commonly used for flammable liquids
(ethanol, crude oil) and other hazardous materials. DOT-331 is for compressed gases, DOT-
113 is for cryogenic liquids.
Q10: According to DOT regulations, a bulk package containing a hazardous material must
display a placard on:
A. Only the front of the vehicle
B. Only the driver's side
C. All four sides of the vehicle [CORRECT]
D. Only the rear
Rationale:
• 49 CFR 172.504 requires placards to be displayed on all four sides of the vehicle (front,
rear, both sides) for bulk shipments of hazardous materials.
Q11: The "DANGEROUS" placard is used when:
A. Only one hazard class is present
B. Two or more classes of hazardous materials are present in bulk [CORRECT]
C. Only non-bulk packages are present
D. Radioactive materials are present
Rationale:
• The DANGEROUS placard may be used when two or more classes of hazardous materials
are present in bulk quantities, instead of displaying separate placards for each class (though
specific placards are preferred when possible).
Q12: Which ERG section provides initial isolation and protective action distances for toxic
inhalation hazards (TIH)?
A. Yellow pages
B. Blue pages
C. Orange pages
D. Green pages [CORRECT]
Rationale:
• The Green pages (Section 3 of ERG) provide initial isolation distances (circle in all
directions) and protective action distances (downwind evacuation/shelter-in-place
distances) for toxic inhalation hazards (TIH) and certain water-reactive materials.
Q13: A material with a flash point of -20°F (-29°C) is classified as:
A. Combustible liquid
