Steamfitter/Pipefitter - Exam Information
Table of Contents
Self-Assessment
This tool can be used to reflect on your own experience and knowledge in the trade compared with what is on the exam.
Exam Breakdown
Each Red Seal exam's questions are developed to assess the activities laid out in the Red Seal Occupational Standard. This trade's Red Seal exam has 130 questions Footnote *, which are distributed as follows:
Major Work Activity A – Performs common occupational skills - 16 questions
Major Work Activity B – Performs layout, fabrication and piping installation - 29 questions
Major Work Activity C – Performs rigging, hoisting, lifting and positioning - 15 questions
Major Work Activity D – Installs, tests, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs low and high pressure steam and condensate systems - 24 questions
Major Work Activity E – Installs, tests, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs heating, cooling and process piping systems - 27 questions
Major Work Activity F – Installs, tests, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs renewable energy systems - 8 questions
Major Work Activity G – Performs commissioning, start-up and turnover - 11 questions
Types of Exam Questions
All Red Seal exam questions are written in multiple-choice format. A multiple-choice question consists of question followed by four possible responses (A, B, C, D). Every question has exactly one correct answer and three incorrect options. They are not misleading or trick questions, but the incorrect options are not always obvious.
There are three types of questions that you will see on Red Seal Exams:
- Knowledge and Recall
- Procedural and Application
- Critical Thinking
Knowledge and Recall
This type of question tests your ability to recall and understand definitions, facts and principles.
For this trade, between 35 and 45% of questions that are this type.
Example of a Knowledge and Recall Question:
Which type of drawing is used for shop assembly?
- Architectural detail drawing.
- Schematic drawing.
- Flow sheet.
- Spool sheet.
Answer: D
Procedural and Application
This type of question tests your ability to apply your knowledge of procedures to a situation.
For this trade, between 45 and 55% of questions are this type.
Example of a Procedural and Application Question:
When a job is complete, what is done with shackles and pins?
- Replace worn pins with bolts, then keep in accessible rigging box.
- Replace worn pins with bolts, then store together in clean, dry environment.
- Remove pins from shackles, then keep in accessible rigging box.
- Place pins in shackles, then store in clean, dry environment.
Answer: D
Critical Thinking
This type of question tests your ability to interpret data, solve problems and arrive at valid conclusions.
For this trade, less than 10% of questions are this type.
Example of a Critical Thinking Question:
There are fluctuations on a test gauge reading during a 24-hour air test. What is the cause?
- Change in elevation.
- Change in volume of system.
- Change in ambient air temperature.
- Test air absorbed by moisture in system.
Answer: C
Try more sample questions for this trade and check out the Exam Preparation Guide. It will give you practical insights on what goes into Red Seal exams, and how you can best prepare yourself to do well.
Math Formulas
The following formulas used in this trade may be needed to answer some questions on its Red Seal exam. They will also be provided with the exam sitting.
Measurement unit abbreviations
- °C
- degree Celsius
- °F
- degree Fahrenheit
- ∆T
- temperature difference
- BTU
- British thermal unit
- Btuh
- British thermal units per hour
- ft.
- foot
- ft²
- square foot
- ft³
- cubic foot
- gal.
- imperial gallon
- gpm
- gallons per minute
- in.
- inch
- in²
- square inch
- kg
- kilogram
- kPa
- kilopascal
- L
- litre
- lb.
- pound
- lbf
- pound‐force
- m
- metre
- m²
- square metre
- m³
- cubic metre
- mm
- millimetre
- psi
- pounds per square inch
- s
- second
- U.S. gal.
- American gallon
Constants
- π
- 3.14
- 1 ft² of equivalence of direct radiation (steam EDR)
- 240 Btuh
- 1 U.S. gal.
- 8.33 lb.
- 12 000 BTU of cooling
- 1 ton
- Pressure head conversion unit
- 0.433 psi/ft.
- Travel offset of a 45° elbow
- 1.414
Conversion factors
| To convert | To | Multiply by |
|---|---|---|
| °C | °F | 1.8 and add 32 |
| kg | lb. | 2.205 |
| kPa | lbf/ft² | 20.88 |
| kPa | lbf/in² (psi) | 0.1450 |
| L | imp. gal. | 0.2200 |
| L/s | gpm | 13.20 |
| m | ft. | 3.281 |
| m² | ft² | 10.76 |
| m³ | ft³ | 35.31 |
| mm | in. | 0.03937 |
General formulas
| Descriptions | Full | Abbreviated |
|---|---|---|
| Expansion | length × temperature difference × coefficient of expansion | |
| Force | pressure × area | |
| gpm | ||
| gpm | ||
| Grade | ||
| Pressure | height × density |
Hydronic thermal formulas
| Descriptions | Full | Abbreviated |
|---|---|---|
| Btuh | gallons per minute × 500 × temp. diff. | |
| gpm | ||
| Temperature difference (△T) |
Area formulas
| Descriptions | Full | Abbreviated |
|---|---|---|
| Circle | ||
| Cylinder (open top) | ||
| Cylinder (totally enclosed) | ||
| Cylinder (totally opened) | π × diameter × height | |
| Rectangle | length × width | |
| Rectangle box (open top) | (length × width) + 2 (width × height) + 2 (length × height) | |
| Rectangle box (totally enclosed) | 2 (length × width) + 2 (width × height) + 2 (length × height) | |
| Sphere | ||
| Triangle | base × height 2 |
Volume formulas
| Descriptions | Full | Abbreviated |
|---|---|---|
| Cylinder | ||
| Rectangle box | length × width × height | |
| Sphere |
Acronyms
The following acronyms used in this trade may be on its Red Seal exam. They will also be provided with the exam sitting.
- °C
- degree Celsius
- °F
- degree Fahrenheit
- AHJ
- authority having jurisdiction
- cm
- centimetre
- CMSA
- control mode specific application
- CO₂
- carbon dioxide
- CPVC
- chlorinated polyvinyl chloride
- ESFR
- early suppression fast response
- FDC
- fire department connection
- FHC
- fire hose cabinet
- ft.
- foot
- gal.
- gallon
- gpm
- gallons per minute
- hr
- hour
- in.
- inch
- kg
- kilogram
- kPa
- kilopascal
- L/min
- litres per minute
- lb.
- pound
- lb./ft.
- livres par pied
- m
- metre
- m²
- square metre
- mm
- millimetre
- NFPA
- National Fire Protection Association
- OHS
- Occupational Health and Safety
- OS&Y
- outside screw and yoke
- PPE
- personal protective equipment
- psi
- pounds per square inch
- PVC
- polyvinyl chloride
- SDS
- safety data sheet
- sq. ft.
- square foot
- WHMIS
- Workplace Hazardous Material Information System
For more information about exam preparation materials contact your provincial/territorial apprenticeship office.