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Maryland Stationary Engineer Grade 2Exam
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST
UPDATE THIS YEAR
Summarized Exam Coverage – MD Stationary Engineer Grade 2
Key Technical Areas — The exam tests boiler operations, steam cycles, water treatment, safety devices
(safety valves, low-water cutoffs, gauge glasses), combustion theory, feedwater systems, pumps, valves,
thermodynamics (saturated steam, enthalpy, latent/sensible heat), ASME Code, and Maryland state
regulations.
1. A stationary engineer is assigned to a plant with three boilers rated at 150 HP, 150 HP, and 200 HP.
What is the total horsepower, and which license grade is required to act as shift engineer?
A) 400 HP, Grade 2
B) 500 HP, Grade 2
C) 500 HP, Grade 1
D) 400 HP, Grade 1
Answer: B – Grade 2 covers 300–499 HP. The total is 500 HP, which requires a Grade 1 license .
2. A boiler operator notices black smoke coming from the stack during routine operation. What is the
most likely cause of this condition?
A) Excess combustion air (too much oxygen)
B) Incomplete combustion caused by insufficient air or poor fuel atomization
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C) Low water level in the boiler drum
D) High feedwater temperature
Answer: B – Black smoke is unburned carbon (soot), indicating incomplete combustion, often due to
lack of combustion air or poor fuel/air mixing .
3. A steam boiler is operating at 200 PSI. What is the absolute pressure in PSIA? (Assume atmospheric
pressure is 14.7 PSI)
A) 185.3 PSIA
B) 200.0 PSIA
C) 214.7 PSIA
D) 250.0 PSIA
Answer: C – Absolute pressure = gauge pressure + atmospheric pressure = 200 + 14.7 = 214.7 PSIA .
4. During a routine inspection, a stationary engineer finds that the low-water fuel cutoff is not
responding when the water level is lowered. What is the most appropriate immediate action?
A) Continue operation and note the issue in the logbook
B) Shut down the boiler and repair or replace the low-water cutoff before returning to service
C) Increase the feedwater pressure to maintain a higher water level
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D) Bypass the cutoff to keep the boiler running
Answer: B – The low-water cutoff is a primary safety device; a malfunction requires immediate
shutdown and repair .
5. What is the primary purpose of a steam siphon (pigtail) installed on a pressure gauge?
A) To increase the pressure reading at the gauge
B) To protect the internal Bourdon tube from live steam by creating a water seal
C) To drain condensate back into the boiler
D) To vent air from the gauge line
Answer: B – The syphon (pigtail) traps condensate, forming a water seal that prevents high-temperature
steam from directly contacting and damaging the sensitive Bourdon tube .
6. A Maryland stationary engineer holds a Grade 2 license. What is the maximum boiler horsepower this
engineer is authorized to supervise without a Grade 1 on site?
A) 100 HP
B) 299 HP
C) 499 HP
D) 500 HP
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Answer: C – Grade 2 license permits supervision of plants with boilers up to 499 HP; 500 HP or more
requires a Grade 1 engineer .
7. A fire-tube boiler is being started up from a cold condition. What is the first and most critical action
before introducing fuel and ignition?
A) Open the main steam stop valve
B) Verify the correct water level in the gauge glass
C) Blow down the safety valve
D) Close all blowdown valves
Answer: B – Ensuring the boiler has the proper water level prevents overheating and catastrophic tube
failure before firing .
8. A steam boiler experiences sudden drops in water level accompanied by violent hammering in the
steam supply line. What is the most likely cause?
A) Low fuel pressure
B) Carryover of water into the steam line (priming or foaming)
C) A failed feedwater pump
D) Excessive blowdown
Maryland Stationary Engineer Grade 2Exam
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST
UPDATE THIS YEAR
Summarized Exam Coverage – MD Stationary Engineer Grade 2
Key Technical Areas — The exam tests boiler operations, steam cycles, water treatment, safety devices
(safety valves, low-water cutoffs, gauge glasses), combustion theory, feedwater systems, pumps, valves,
thermodynamics (saturated steam, enthalpy, latent/sensible heat), ASME Code, and Maryland state
regulations.
1. A stationary engineer is assigned to a plant with three boilers rated at 150 HP, 150 HP, and 200 HP.
What is the total horsepower, and which license grade is required to act as shift engineer?
A) 400 HP, Grade 2
B) 500 HP, Grade 2
C) 500 HP, Grade 1
D) 400 HP, Grade 1
Answer: B – Grade 2 covers 300–499 HP. The total is 500 HP, which requires a Grade 1 license .
2. A boiler operator notices black smoke coming from the stack during routine operation. What is the
most likely cause of this condition?
A) Excess combustion air (too much oxygen)
B) Incomplete combustion caused by insufficient air or poor fuel atomization
, Page 2 of 124
C) Low water level in the boiler drum
D) High feedwater temperature
Answer: B – Black smoke is unburned carbon (soot), indicating incomplete combustion, often due to
lack of combustion air or poor fuel/air mixing .
3. A steam boiler is operating at 200 PSI. What is the absolute pressure in PSIA? (Assume atmospheric
pressure is 14.7 PSI)
A) 185.3 PSIA
B) 200.0 PSIA
C) 214.7 PSIA
D) 250.0 PSIA
Answer: C – Absolute pressure = gauge pressure + atmospheric pressure = 200 + 14.7 = 214.7 PSIA .
4. During a routine inspection, a stationary engineer finds that the low-water fuel cutoff is not
responding when the water level is lowered. What is the most appropriate immediate action?
A) Continue operation and note the issue in the logbook
B) Shut down the boiler and repair or replace the low-water cutoff before returning to service
C) Increase the feedwater pressure to maintain a higher water level
, Page 3 of 124
D) Bypass the cutoff to keep the boiler running
Answer: B – The low-water cutoff is a primary safety device; a malfunction requires immediate
shutdown and repair .
5. What is the primary purpose of a steam siphon (pigtail) installed on a pressure gauge?
A) To increase the pressure reading at the gauge
B) To protect the internal Bourdon tube from live steam by creating a water seal
C) To drain condensate back into the boiler
D) To vent air from the gauge line
Answer: B – The syphon (pigtail) traps condensate, forming a water seal that prevents high-temperature
steam from directly contacting and damaging the sensitive Bourdon tube .
6. A Maryland stationary engineer holds a Grade 2 license. What is the maximum boiler horsepower this
engineer is authorized to supervise without a Grade 1 on site?
A) 100 HP
B) 299 HP
C) 499 HP
D) 500 HP
, Page 4 of 124
Answer: C – Grade 2 license permits supervision of plants with boilers up to 499 HP; 500 HP or more
requires a Grade 1 engineer .
7. A fire-tube boiler is being started up from a cold condition. What is the first and most critical action
before introducing fuel and ignition?
A) Open the main steam stop valve
B) Verify the correct water level in the gauge glass
C) Blow down the safety valve
D) Close all blowdown valves
Answer: B – Ensuring the boiler has the proper water level prevents overheating and catastrophic tube
failure before firing .
8. A steam boiler experiences sudden drops in water level accompanied by violent hammering in the
steam supply line. What is the most likely cause?
A) Low fuel pressure
B) Carryover of water into the steam line (priming or foaming)
C) A failed feedwater pump
D) Excessive blowdown
