STEAMFITTER PIPEFITTER GLOSSARY OF TERMS
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
*A.B.S.A.* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Alberta Boiler Safety Association
*A.I.S.I.* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅American Iron and Steel Institute
*A.P.I.* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅American Petroleum Institute
A.S.H.R.A.E. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and
Air Conditioning
*A.S.M.E* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅American Society of Mechanical Engineers
*A.S.T.M.* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅American Society for Testing and Materials
*Absolute Pressure* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Pressure above zero pressure, the sum of
gauge and atmospheric Pressure.
Accumulator (steam) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A pressure vessel containing water and
steam that is used to store heat of steam for use at a later period and at some lower pressure.
Acidity (boiler water) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The amount of free carbon dioxide,
mineral acids and salts (especially sulfates of iron and aluminum) which hydrolyze to give
hydrogen ions in water. Reported in milliliters per liter of acid or parts per million (ppm) as
calcium carbonate; or pH value less then 7, the measure of hydrogen ion concentrate.
Aeration (water) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Intimate mixing of water and air. Increases
the content of dissolved gasses in the water, particularly oxygen. Used to oxidize dissolved
materials in water for removal in a water treatment system.
,*Air* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Mixture of oxygen. nitrogen and other gases which,
with varying amounts of water vapor, forms the atmosphere of the earth.
Air Binding - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The hindering of gas or liquid by the presence of
air.
Air change (factor) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Pertaining to heat loss - a factor used to
determine the amount of heat required to replace that lost by infiltration. It is based on the heat
required to raise the temperature of 1 cubic ft. of air 1 degree Fahrenheit (0.018 Btu per cubic
foot times the volume times the air changer per hour required - Btuh). See Infiltration and
crackage.
*Air Charger Valve* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Same function as airtrol tank fitting,
except it also allows drainage of a cushion tank.
Air conditioning - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The process of treating air so as to
simultaneously control its temperature, humidity, cleanliness and distribution to meet the
requirements of a conditioned space.
Air deficiency - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Insufficient air, in an air-fuel mixture, to supply
oxygen theoretically required for complete oxidation of the fuel.
Air eliminator - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅- Hydronic - See the definition of air scoop
-Steam - An oversized air vent consisting of a larger chamber in which condensate may
accumulate. Air in the system is eliminated through the vent. This vent is filled with a check to
prevent the re-entry of air. Any air in the system will pass through the air eliminator and then to
the atmosphere. The air eliminator is also equipped with a float mechanism which will shuf off
the vent so no condensate will be lost.
Air film - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A layer of air, clinging electrostatically to the surface
of a material. Considered in heat loss and heat gain calculations as an insulating layer where the
Velocity of air across the material surface is less the 15 mph.
,*Air fuel ratio* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The ratio of the weight or volume of air to
fuel.
Air infiltration - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The leakage of air into a setting or duct
(A.S.M.E)
Air infiltration - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅In heating and cooling calculations, any air
entering the conditioned space by any path other than through a controlled intake air duct.
Air purge - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The removal of undesired matter by replacement
with air.
*Air scoop* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅a device installed in the hot water supply main at
or near the heating source to separate and direct the air to a cushion tank or automatic air vent.
Also called a line scoop.
Air separating tank - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The part of a vacuum pump that separates
air from condensate and discharges it to the atmosphere.
*Air vent* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A valve opening in the top of the highest drum of a
boiler or pressure vessel for venting air. Also a device (manual or automatic) used to remove air
from a steam or hot water heating system. It is usually located at the highest point in the system.
*Airtrol tank fitting* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A device installed on the bottom of a
cushion tank with a tube or tubes extending up into the tank. its purpose is to simultaneously
allow expanded and contracted water to flow to and from the tank and to discourage the escape
or withdrawal of air from the tank. (Airtrol is a trade name used by the Armstrong co. and is
widely used in industry.)
Algae - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Slime like bacterial contamination usually found in
above ground water sources.
, Alkalinity (boiler water) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Having a pH Value above 7.
*Alternating current* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Flow of electric charge that periodically
reverses.
*Allowable working pressure* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The maximum pressure for
which a system or any component of a system was designed and constructed for.
*Altitude gauge* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A pressure gauge, calibrated in feet, which
indicates the height of the water in the system above the gauge; usually found as combination
pressure, altitude and temperature gauge.
*Ambient temperature* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The temperature of the air
surrounding the equipment.
Ampere (Amp) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A common unit of electric current, a flow of
one coulomb of change per second, or 6.2 x 10^18 electrons per second: one ampere of current
will pass through a given point in one second with an electromotive force of one volt against a
resistance of 1 ohm.
Anchor - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅a device to secure pipe in a fixed location. used to
control the linear direction of expansion and contraction.
Ancillary equipment - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Equipment and piping that is installed to
assist the main boiler to perform its function
ex. Chemical feed pot
Aneroid - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Containing no liquid or actuated without the use of
liquid.
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
*A.B.S.A.* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Alberta Boiler Safety Association
*A.I.S.I.* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅American Iron and Steel Institute
*A.P.I.* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅American Petroleum Institute
A.S.H.R.A.E. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and
Air Conditioning
*A.S.M.E* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅American Society of Mechanical Engineers
*A.S.T.M.* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅American Society for Testing and Materials
*Absolute Pressure* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Pressure above zero pressure, the sum of
gauge and atmospheric Pressure.
Accumulator (steam) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A pressure vessel containing water and
steam that is used to store heat of steam for use at a later period and at some lower pressure.
Acidity (boiler water) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The amount of free carbon dioxide,
mineral acids and salts (especially sulfates of iron and aluminum) which hydrolyze to give
hydrogen ions in water. Reported in milliliters per liter of acid or parts per million (ppm) as
calcium carbonate; or pH value less then 7, the measure of hydrogen ion concentrate.
Aeration (water) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Intimate mixing of water and air. Increases
the content of dissolved gasses in the water, particularly oxygen. Used to oxidize dissolved
materials in water for removal in a water treatment system.
,*Air* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Mixture of oxygen. nitrogen and other gases which,
with varying amounts of water vapor, forms the atmosphere of the earth.
Air Binding - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The hindering of gas or liquid by the presence of
air.
Air change (factor) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Pertaining to heat loss - a factor used to
determine the amount of heat required to replace that lost by infiltration. It is based on the heat
required to raise the temperature of 1 cubic ft. of air 1 degree Fahrenheit (0.018 Btu per cubic
foot times the volume times the air changer per hour required - Btuh). See Infiltration and
crackage.
*Air Charger Valve* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Same function as airtrol tank fitting,
except it also allows drainage of a cushion tank.
Air conditioning - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The process of treating air so as to
simultaneously control its temperature, humidity, cleanliness and distribution to meet the
requirements of a conditioned space.
Air deficiency - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Insufficient air, in an air-fuel mixture, to supply
oxygen theoretically required for complete oxidation of the fuel.
Air eliminator - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅- Hydronic - See the definition of air scoop
-Steam - An oversized air vent consisting of a larger chamber in which condensate may
accumulate. Air in the system is eliminated through the vent. This vent is filled with a check to
prevent the re-entry of air. Any air in the system will pass through the air eliminator and then to
the atmosphere. The air eliminator is also equipped with a float mechanism which will shuf off
the vent so no condensate will be lost.
Air film - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A layer of air, clinging electrostatically to the surface
of a material. Considered in heat loss and heat gain calculations as an insulating layer where the
Velocity of air across the material surface is less the 15 mph.
,*Air fuel ratio* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The ratio of the weight or volume of air to
fuel.
Air infiltration - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The leakage of air into a setting or duct
(A.S.M.E)
Air infiltration - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅In heating and cooling calculations, any air
entering the conditioned space by any path other than through a controlled intake air duct.
Air purge - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The removal of undesired matter by replacement
with air.
*Air scoop* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅a device installed in the hot water supply main at
or near the heating source to separate and direct the air to a cushion tank or automatic air vent.
Also called a line scoop.
Air separating tank - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The part of a vacuum pump that separates
air from condensate and discharges it to the atmosphere.
*Air vent* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A valve opening in the top of the highest drum of a
boiler or pressure vessel for venting air. Also a device (manual or automatic) used to remove air
from a steam or hot water heating system. It is usually located at the highest point in the system.
*Airtrol tank fitting* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A device installed on the bottom of a
cushion tank with a tube or tubes extending up into the tank. its purpose is to simultaneously
allow expanded and contracted water to flow to and from the tank and to discourage the escape
or withdrawal of air from the tank. (Airtrol is a trade name used by the Armstrong co. and is
widely used in industry.)
Algae - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Slime like bacterial contamination usually found in
above ground water sources.
, Alkalinity (boiler water) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Having a pH Value above 7.
*Alternating current* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Flow of electric charge that periodically
reverses.
*Allowable working pressure* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The maximum pressure for
which a system or any component of a system was designed and constructed for.
*Altitude gauge* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A pressure gauge, calibrated in feet, which
indicates the height of the water in the system above the gauge; usually found as combination
pressure, altitude and temperature gauge.
*Ambient temperature* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The temperature of the air
surrounding the equipment.
Ampere (Amp) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅A common unit of electric current, a flow of
one coulomb of change per second, or 6.2 x 10^18 electrons per second: one ampere of current
will pass through a given point in one second with an electromotive force of one volt against a
resistance of 1 ohm.
Anchor - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅a device to secure pipe in a fixed location. used to
control the linear direction of expansion and contraction.
Ancillary equipment - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Equipment and piping that is installed to
assist the main boiler to perform its function
ex. Chemical feed pot
Aneroid - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Containing no liquid or actuated without the use of
liquid.
