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LOUISIANA (NEW ORLEANS) 661-LA SECOND CLASS STATIONARY BOILERS
PRACTICE EXAM Complete 200-Question Practice Exam with Correct Answers &
Detailed Rationales 2026 Edition – Based on ASME Boiler Code & New Orleans
Stationary Engineer Requirements
EXAM TYPE: 661 - LA Second Class Stationary Boiler Operator Certification REGULATORY AUTHORITY: City of New Orleans – Board of Examiners of Steam Boilers (pursuant to LA R.S. 33:4814) JURISDICTION: Municipalities with population over 50,000 (New Orleans) may regulate stationary steam boilers and certify engineers CODE REFERENCES: ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, National Board Inspection Code (NBIC), NFPA 85 (Boiler Combustion Control Systems)
IMPORTANT EXAM INFORMATION
ItemDetails License TypeSecond Class Stationary Boiler Operator Regulating BodyNew Orleans Board of Examiners of Steam Boilers Legal AuthorityLA R.S. 33:4814 (Municipal regulation of steam boilers)
| Certificate Validity | Annual renewal required | | Certificate Posting | Must be posted conspicuously in engine room | | Inspection Authority | Board may conduct trials, subpoena witnesses, administer oaths |
SECTION 1: BOILER WATER TREATMENT & FEEDWATER SYSTEMS (Questions 1-40)
QUESTION 1 Which water quality parameter is most critical in causing scale formation in boiler systems? A) pH B) Hardness (mineral content) C) Alkalinity D) Conductivity ANSWER: B) Hardness (mineral content) RATIONALE: High levels of calcium and magnesium (i.e., hardness) precipitate as scale on heat transfer surfaces, insulating the metal and reducing efficiency.
QUESTION 2
QUESTION 4
What is "carryover" in boiler operation? A) Water droplets carried with steam B) Excess chemical additives C) Unburned fuel particles in flue gas D) Scale deposits on boiler tubes ANSWER: A) Water droplets carried with steam RATIONALE: Carryover refers to water droplets that are carried with the steam, affecting steam quality and potentially causing damage to downstream equipment.
QUESTION 5 Maintaining which parameter is crucial for preventing corrosion in boiler water? A) High conductivity B) Low dissolved oxygen C) High pH fluctuations D) Elevated hardness ANSWER: B) Low dissolved oxygen
RATIONALE: Low dissolved oxygen levels minimize corrosion of boiler metal surfaces by reducing the oxygen available for oxidation reactions.
QUESTION 6 In feedwater treatment, a "softening" process is used primarily to remove: A) Dissolved gases B) Iron and manganese C) Calcium and magnesium ions D) Organic impurities ANSWER: C) Calcium and magnesium ions RATIONALE: Water softening exchanges calcium and magnesium ions with sodium to reduce hardness, preventing scale formation.
QUESTION 7 Which instrument is used to continuously monitor the water level in a boiler? A) Manometer B) Sight glass C) Thermocouple
A) It minimizes the formation of carryover B) It prevents scale and corrosion C) It increases steam pressure D) It improves fuel combustion efficiency ANSWER: B) It prevents scale and corrosion RATIONALE: Maintaining the proper pH helps prevent both scale formation (from alkaline conditions) and corrosion (from acidic conditions).
QUESTION 10 Which treatment method is most effective for removing suspended solids from boiler water? A) Chemical softening B) Filtration or clarification C) Deaeration D) pH adjustment ANSWER: B) Filtration or clarification RATIONALE: A clarifier or filter removes suspended and particulate matter from the water before it enters the boiler system.
QUESTION 11
What is the main function of a chemical dosing pump in a boiler feed system? A) To increase water pressure B) To inject precise amounts of treatment chemicals C) To remove dissolved gases D) To measure water temperature ANSWER: B) To inject precise amounts of treatment chemicals RATIONALE: An automatic dosing pump precisely injects chemicals into the feedwater based on set parameters and water quality readings.
QUESTION 12 High conductivity in boiler water typically indicates: A) Low dissolved solids B) High concentration of dissolved minerals C) Proper chemical treatment D) Insufficient blowdown ANSWER: B) High concentration of dissolved minerals RATIONALE: Higher conductivity means more dissolved ions are present in the water, indicating concentration of total dissolved solids.
ANSWER: B) The removal of a portion of the water to control impurities RATIONALE: Blowdown is used to remove a portion of the water containing high concentrations of dissolved solids that have concentrated during operation.
QUESTION 15 How does continuous blowdown benefit boiler operation? A) It reduces fuel consumption B) It minimizes salt concentration buildup C) It increases steam pressure D) It enhances combustion efficiency ANSWER: B) It minimizes salt concentration buildup RATIONALE: Continuous blowdown helps keep dissolved solids at acceptable levels, reducing scaling and maintaining water quality.
QUESTION 16 In water treatment, the term "cycle of concentration" refers to: A) The number of times the water is recycled B) The ratio of dissolved solids in boiler water versus feedwater
C) The dilution factor of chemical additives D) The frequency of blowdown operations ANSWER: B) The ratio of dissolved solids in boiler water versus feedwater RATIONALE: The cycle of concentration indicates how concentrated the dissolved solids have become relative to the makeup water.
QUESTION 17 The term "makeup water" in boiler terminology means: A) Water used for cleaning the boiler B) The water added to compensate for blowdown and evaporation losses C) Condensate returned from the steam system D) Treated water stored for emergency use ANSWER: B) The water added to compensate for blowdown and evaporation losses RATIONALE: Makeup water replaces water lost due to evaporation, blowdown, and leaks to maintain proper water level.
QUESTION 18 Why is proper feedwater treatment important for boiler efficiency?
QUESTION 20
An alarm indicating low water level in a boiler is most directly related to: A) Feedwater pump failure B) Excessive scale formation C) Faulty chemical dosing D) Over-burner operation ANSWER: A) Feedwater pump failure RATIONALE: A low-water alarm typically warns that the feedwater system is not supplying enough water to maintain safe operating levels.
SECTION 2: BOILER OPERATION, START-UP & SHUTDOWN (Questions 41-80)
QUESTION 21 What is the first step in preparing a boiler for start-up? A) Open the fuel supply B) Check water level and ensure proper water treatment C) Light the burner
D) Open the main steam stop valve ANSWER: B) Check water level and ensure proper water treatment RATIONALE: Before any start-up procedure, the operator must verify that the boiler has the proper water level and that water treatment parameters are within specifications.
QUESTION 22 Why must the boiler be warmed up slowly during start-up? A) To save fuel B) To prevent thermal stress and damage C) To allow time for water treatment chemicals to work D) To check all instruments ANSWER: B) To prevent thermal stress and damage RATIONALE: Slow warm-up allows for even expansion of boiler components, preventing thermal stress that can cause cracking or failure.
QUESTION 23 When taking a boiler offline for maintenance, the first step is to:
QUESTION 25
What is the purpose of "blowing down" the gauge glass? A) To clean the glass B) To verify that the water level reading is accurate C) To drain water from the boiler D) To test the low-water cutoff ANSWER: B) To verify that the water level reading is accurate RATIONALE: Blowing down the gauge glass confirms that water and steam passages are clear and that the water level indicated is accurate.
QUESTION 26 How often should the water column and gauge glass be blown down? A) Daily B) Weekly C) Monthly D) Annually ANSWER: A) Daily RATIONALE: Water columns and gauge glasses should be blown down daily (at least once per shift) to verify water level accuracy and prevent sediment buildup.
QUESTION 27
What is the purpose of a low-water fuel cutoff? A) To prevent overfiring B) To shut off the fuel supply if water level drops too low C) To control steam pressure D) To regulate feedwater flow ANSWER: B) To shut off the fuel supply if water level drops too low RATIONALE: The low-water fuel cutoff is a critical safety device that shuts off the fuel supply when water level falls below safe operating limits.
QUESTION 28 During boiler start-up, the main steam stop valve should be: A) Fully open B) Fully closed C) Cracked open slightly to allow warm-up D) Left as found
C) To test safety valves D) To drain the boiler ANSWER: A) To remove soot from tubes and heating surfaces RATIONALE: Soot blowing removes soot and ash deposits from boiler tubes and heating surfaces, restoring heat transfer efficiency.
SECTION 3: BOILER MAINTENANCE & INSPECTION (Questions 81-120)
QUESTION 31 How often should safety valves be tested? A) Daily B) Weekly C) Monthly D) Annually ANSWER: C) Monthly RATIONALE: Safety valves should be tested monthly by manually lifting the test lever to ensure they operate freely and will open at the set pressure.
QUESTION 32
What is the purpose of a hydrostatic test? A) To test water treatment chemicals B) To verify boiler integrity under pressure C) To measure water level D) To test combustion efficiency ANSWER: B) To verify boiler integrity under pressure RATIONALE: A hydrostatic test uses water under pressure to verify the integrity of the boiler and its pressure parts, typically after repairs or at inspection intervals.
QUESTION 33 What is the minimum pressure for a hydrostatic test on a new boiler? A) 1.0 times MAWP B) 1.5 times MAWP C) 2.0 times MAWP D) 3.0 times MAWP ANSWER: B) 1.5 times MAWP
