Page 1 of 115
NYC High Pressure Plant Tender exam COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS LATEST
UPDATE THIS YEAR-JUST RELEASED
Summarized Exam Coverage (NYC High Pressure Plant Tender)
The exam tests safe, efficient operation of high-pressure boilers (above 15 psi steam / 160 psi water),
auxiliary equipment, combustion controls, water treatment, fuel systems (gas/oil), emergency
procedures, NYC Mechanical Code, ASME Boiler Code Section VI & VII, low-water cutoffs, safety valves,
gauge glasses, feedwater regulators, combustion analyzers, lockout/tagout, and logbook recordkeeping.
1. During a routine inspection, you notice the water level in the gauge glass is steady but the low-water
cutoff fails to trip when you blow down the glass. What is your immediate action?
A) Add chemical treatment
B) Shut the boiler down and lockout
C) Increase feedwater pressure
D) Bypass the cutoff for 30 minutes
Answer: B
Immediate shutdown prevents a dry-fire explosion; a failed low-water cutoff is a critical hazard.
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2. A high-pressure steam boiler’s safety valve pops open at 160 psi and closes at 155 psi. What is the
blowdown percentage?
A) 2.5%
B) 3.125%
C) 5%
D) 6.25%
Answer: B
*Blowdown = (pop–reseat)/pop × 100 = (5/160)×100 = 3.125%; typical range is 2–4%.*
3. You smell natural gas near the burner front while the boiler is running. What should you do first?
A) Open windows
B) Shut the main gas valve and ventilate
C) Call the supervisor
D) Relight the pilot
Answer: B
Eliminate the gas source immediately; ventilation reduces explosion risk—no ignition sources.
, Page 3 of 115
4. When a boiler is in normal operation, the try cocks are used to:
A) Blow soot from tubes
B) Verify gauge glass accuracy
C) Lower boiler pressure
D) Add feedwater
Answer: B
Try cocks provide manual water level verification if the gauge glass is questionable.
5. Your logbook shows feedwater oxygen level consistently above 0.05 cc/L. Which problem is most
likely?
A) Deaerator failure
B) High steam demand
C) Low firing rate
D) Scale on tubes
Answer: A
*High dissolved oxygen causes pitting; deaerator should reduce O₂ to <0.005 cc/L.*
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6. A sudden drop in steam pressure occurs while the boiler is firing at maximum rate. The draft gauge
shows less negative furnace pressure. What is the most probable cause?
A) Plugged economizer
B) Induced draft fan failure
C) High water level
D) Safety valve stuck open
Answer: B
ID fan loss reduces draft, lowers combustion air, and drops steam production.
7. You are required to conduct a bottom blowdown on a high-pressure boiler. Which sequence is
correct?
A) Open quick-open, then slow-open; close slow-open, then quick-open
B) Open slow-open, then quick-open; close quick-open, then slow-open
C) Open both fully, wait 10 sec, close both together
D) Open slow-open halfway, wait, then fully open quick-open
Answer: A
Quick-open first protects the slower valve from erosion; closing reverse prevents wire-drawing.
NYC High Pressure Plant Tender exam COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS LATEST
UPDATE THIS YEAR-JUST RELEASED
Summarized Exam Coverage (NYC High Pressure Plant Tender)
The exam tests safe, efficient operation of high-pressure boilers (above 15 psi steam / 160 psi water),
auxiliary equipment, combustion controls, water treatment, fuel systems (gas/oil), emergency
procedures, NYC Mechanical Code, ASME Boiler Code Section VI & VII, low-water cutoffs, safety valves,
gauge glasses, feedwater regulators, combustion analyzers, lockout/tagout, and logbook recordkeeping.
1. During a routine inspection, you notice the water level in the gauge glass is steady but the low-water
cutoff fails to trip when you blow down the glass. What is your immediate action?
A) Add chemical treatment
B) Shut the boiler down and lockout
C) Increase feedwater pressure
D) Bypass the cutoff for 30 minutes
Answer: B
Immediate shutdown prevents a dry-fire explosion; a failed low-water cutoff is a critical hazard.
, Page 2 of 115
2. A high-pressure steam boiler’s safety valve pops open at 160 psi and closes at 155 psi. What is the
blowdown percentage?
A) 2.5%
B) 3.125%
C) 5%
D) 6.25%
Answer: B
*Blowdown = (pop–reseat)/pop × 100 = (5/160)×100 = 3.125%; typical range is 2–4%.*
3. You smell natural gas near the burner front while the boiler is running. What should you do first?
A) Open windows
B) Shut the main gas valve and ventilate
C) Call the supervisor
D) Relight the pilot
Answer: B
Eliminate the gas source immediately; ventilation reduces explosion risk—no ignition sources.
, Page 3 of 115
4. When a boiler is in normal operation, the try cocks are used to:
A) Blow soot from tubes
B) Verify gauge glass accuracy
C) Lower boiler pressure
D) Add feedwater
Answer: B
Try cocks provide manual water level verification if the gauge glass is questionable.
5. Your logbook shows feedwater oxygen level consistently above 0.05 cc/L. Which problem is most
likely?
A) Deaerator failure
B) High steam demand
C) Low firing rate
D) Scale on tubes
Answer: A
*High dissolved oxygen causes pitting; deaerator should reduce O₂ to <0.005 cc/L.*
, Page 4 of 115
6. A sudden drop in steam pressure occurs while the boiler is firing at maximum rate. The draft gauge
shows less negative furnace pressure. What is the most probable cause?
A) Plugged economizer
B) Induced draft fan failure
C) High water level
D) Safety valve stuck open
Answer: B
ID fan loss reduces draft, lowers combustion air, and drops steam production.
7. You are required to conduct a bottom blowdown on a high-pressure boiler. Which sequence is
correct?
A) Open quick-open, then slow-open; close slow-open, then quick-open
B) Open slow-open, then quick-open; close quick-open, then slow-open
C) Open both fully, wait 10 sec, close both together
D) Open slow-open halfway, wait, then fully open quick-open
Answer: A
Quick-open first protects the slower valve from erosion; closing reverse prevents wire-drawing.
