West Virginia Piping Contractor Examination

Under the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board definition, which work belongs to the Piping Contractor classification rather than the Plumbing Contractor classification?

• AInstalling process, power-plant, air, oil, gasoline, or chemical piping and boilers or pr…
• BExtending a private water-service line and building drain that serve only plumbing fixtur…
• CSetting plumbing appliances and fixture trim adjacent to a dwelling
• DInstalling water closets, lavatories, and building sanitary vents inside a residence

Which joining methods does the West Virginia Piping Contractor classification expressly include?

• AFusion of polyethylene gas service only
• BLead-and-oakum caulked joints only
• CSoldered copper DWV and hub-and-spigot cast-iron soil pipe only
• DThread, weld, solvent weld, or mechanical methods

Which ASME piping code is the usual standard for process and chemical plant piping?

• AASME B16.5 Pipe Flanges
• BASME B31.1 Power Piping
• CASME B31.3 Process Piping
• DASME B31.9 Building Services Piping

Which ASME code governs power piping such as boiler-external steam and feedwater lines in a generating station?

• AASME B31.3 Process Piping
• BASME B31.4 Liquid Pipeline Transportation
• CASME B31.1 Power Piping
• DASME B31.8 Gas Transmission

In North American pipe specifications, what does NPS stand for?

• ANormal Pressure Series
• BNational Pipe Standard
• CNominal Pipe Size
• DNon-Pressurized System

For common carbon-steel pipe, which wall designation matches Schedule 40?

• AStandard wall
• BExtra-strong (XS) wall
• CDouble extra-strong (XXS) wall
• DThin-wall / light wall

A gate valve on a process line is intended primarily for which service?

• AAutomatic prevention of reverse flow
• BRelieving overpressure to a flare or drain
• CFine throttling at a mid-stroke disc position
• DFull-open or full-closed isolation with a nearly unobstructed bore

Which valve type is the usual choice when a piping specification calls for manual throttling or regulating of flow?

• AGate valve
• BSwing check valve
• CGlobe valve
• DBlind flange

What is the function of a check valve in a process or power piping system?

• ATo isolate a line for blinding during a turnaround
• BTo mix two process streams in a controlled ratio
• CTo allow flow in one direction and automatically stop reverse flow
• DTo reduce downstream pressure to a set value

Which fitting changes pipe size on a straight run?

• ACoupling
• BUnion
• CReducer
• D90-degree elbow

Why is a gasket placed between two pipe-flange faces?

• ATo electrically bond the two flanges in every service
• BTo increase the pressure class of the flanges by one rating
• CTo fill surface imperfections and form a compressible leak-tight seal under bolt load
• DTo align the bolt holes so a drift pin is never needed

What is the included thread angle of American National Standard Taper Pipe Threads (NPT)?

• A45 degrees
• B55 degrees
• C60 degrees
• D75 degrees

A 45-degree offset must move a run 10 inches off the original centerline. Using the standard 45-degree travel constant, what is the center-to-center travel of the diagonal piece before fitting takeout?

• A14.14 inches
• B20 inches
• C7.07 inches
• D10 inches

What is the center-to-end takeout of a long-radius 90-degree butt-weld elbow on 6-inch NPS pipe?

• A4 inches
• B12 inches
• C6 inches
• D9 inches

Two 4-inch long-radius 90-degree butt-weld elbows are 48 inches center-to-center. What is the cut length of the pipe between them?

• A48 inches
• B42 inches
• C36 inches
• D54 inches

Using the standard long-radius rule of thumb, what is the center-to-end takeout of an 8-inch 45-degree long-radius elbow?

• A12 inches
• B8 inches
• C5 inches
• D2.5 inches

A process line has a design pressure of 200 psig. Using the common ASME B31.1 / B31.3 hydrostatic multiplier, what minimum hydrostatic test pressure should the crew plan, ignoring temperature correction?

• A200 psig
• B220 psig
• C300 psig
• D400 psig

The same 200 psig design line will be pneumatically leak-tested because water cannot be used. Using the common ASME B31.3 pneumatic multiplier, what minimum test pressure should be used, ignoring other limits?

• A150 psig
• B200 psig
• C220 psig
• D300 psig

Why do piping codes and NCCER testing modules prefer a hydrostatic test over a pneumatic test whenever water can be used?

• APneumatic tests are banned on every B31 piping system
• BWater always finds leaks faster than air, so hold time can be skipped
• CWater is nearly incompressible, so a rupture releases far less stored energy than compres…
• DA hydrotest never requires vents, drains, or supports

Which standard covers dimensions and pressure-temperature ratings of steel pipe flanges NPS 1/2 through 24?

• AASME B16.9
• BASME B16.11
• CASME B16.5
• DASME B36.10

Factory-made wrought steel butt-weld elbows, tees, and reducers are dimensioned to which standard?

• AASME B16.9
• BASME B16.11
• CMSS SP-58
• DASME B16.5

Which carbon-steel pipe specification is seamless pipe intended for high-temperature service?

• AASTM A312, which is austenitic stainless-steel pipe
• BASTM A536, which is ductile-iron castings
• CASTM A53, which is welded or seamless general-purpose pipe, often available galvanized
• DASTM A106, which is seamless carbon-steel pipe for high-temperature service

On a steam or condensate header that must stay drainable, which reducer orientation is used so liquid cannot pocket?

• AA coupling in place of any reducer
• BConcentric reducer with the centerlines aligned
• CEccentric reducer installed flat-on-bottom
• DEccentric reducer installed flat-on-top

How should flange bolts be tightened to compress a gasket evenly?

• AOnly the two bolts nearest the gasket outer edge
• BIn a continuous clockwise circle, one pass to final torque
• CIn a star or criss-cross pattern, usually in several passes of increasing torque
• DTop bolt first to final torque, then the bottom bolt, then the sides

A pipe guide is installed so that the line can do which of the following?

• AMove along its axis for thermal growth while being kept from moving sideways
• BRemain completely fixed in all six degrees of freedom
• CCarry the entire thrust of a relief-valve discharge without an anchor
• DMove in every direction including lift-off from the support

What is the purpose of an expansion loop or expansion joint in a hot process or steam line?

• ATo filter scale and rust from the stream
• BTo serve as the hydrostatic test manifold
• CTo increase fluid velocity by adding extra pipe length
• DTo absorb thermal expansion and contraction so nozzles, anchors, and joints are not overl…

Before production welding on code piping, what document tells the welder the process, filler, preheat, and essential variables that must be followed?

• AA toolbox talk with no written procedure
• BA purchase order for the pipe
• CThe welding procedure specification (WPS), used by a welder qualified to that procedure
• DThe mill test report only

On an industrial job, what is the first document a fitter should use to decide pipe material, schedule, flange class, and allowed joint type for a given line number?

• AThe paint color on an adjacent abandoned pipe
• BA vendor catalog page for the cheapest fitting
• CThe project piping specification or line class for that line number
• DThe nearest similar line in another unit

What information is an isometric (iso) drawing intended to show a pipefitter?

• AA three-dimensional view of one line or spool with dimensions, elevations, welds, and bil…
• BThe process control narrative with no dimensions
• CThe civil grading plan for the whole site
• DOnly the electrical single-line for the unit

What is the standard taper of NPT pipe threads?

• A1 inch per foot
• B2 inches per foot
• C1/8 inch per foot
• D3/4 inch per foot (1 in 16)

When calculating the cut length of threaded pipe between two fittings, how is thread engagement handled after takeouts are subtracted?

• AThe pipe is always cut 6 inches long regardless of engagement
• BThread engagement is ignored because NPT has no makeup
• CThread engagement is added back so the pipe is long enough to make up into both fittings
• DThread engagement is subtracted a second time

What is the correct sequence for a pressure-rated PVC solvent-weld joint?

• AUse metal-pipe thread compound in place of solvent cement
• BDry-fit only, then tighten with a pipe wrench; no primer or cement
• CCut square and deburr, clean, apply primer, apply the matching solvent cement, insert wit…
• DHeat the socket with a torch and push the pipe in dry

A 45-degree rolling offset has a 9-inch set and a 12-inch roll. What is the true offset, and what is the center-to-center travel?

• ATrue offset 15 inches; travel 21.21 inches
• BTrue offset 21 inches; travel 15 inches
• CTrue offset 108 inches; travel 152 inches
• DTrue offset 10.5 inches; travel 10.5 inches

A simple offset of 8 inches will be made with 22-1/2-degree fittings. Using the standard 22-1/2-degree travel constant 2.613, what is the center-to-center travel before takeout?

• A8.00 inches
• B11.31 inches
• C20.90 inches
• D16.00 inches

A carbon-steel process line is designed for 150 psig. What minimum hydrostatic test pressure should be used at ambient temperature if the specification follows the 1.5× rule and no temperature correction applies?

• A150 psig
• B165 psig
• C225 psig
• D300 psig

During a hydrostatic test, why must high-point vents be opened while the line is being filled?

• ATo drain the line before the pump is started
• BTo let the relief valve chatter as a pressure signal
• CTo raise the test pressure above the pump rating
• DTo remove trapped air so the line is liquid-full; trapped air stores energy and can hide…

When the design temperature is much higher than the hydrostatic-test temperature, why may the required test pressure be higher than 1.5 times the listed design pressure?

• ABecause water always freezes in a hot-service line
• BBecause allowable stress at the cooler test temperature is higher, so codes raise test pr…
• CBecause the gauge must always read 3,000 psig
• DBecause pneumatic tests use a 2.5 multiplier that is copied onto the hydrotest

ASME B16.11 Class 3000 socket-weld fittings are generally matched to which pipe wall?

• ASchedule 10 / light wall
• BSchedule 40 / standard wall
• CSchedule 80 / extra-strong wall
• DSchedule 5S stainless only

What is the reliable way to identify carbon-steel pipe that has already been painted on the rack?

• AAssume every gray pipe is A106 Grade B Schedule 40
• BRead the mill markings (specification, grade, size, schedule or wall, heat number) and ma…
• CUse only the paint color, because color codes never get oversprayed
• DCut a coupon from every joint and send it to a lab before fabrication

How does a P&ID differ from a piping isometric?

• AA P&ID shows process function, equipment, valves, and instruments without fabrication dim…
• BThey are two names for the same drawing
• CA P&ID replaces the piping specification
• DA P&ID is a dimensioned fabrication drawing; an isometric shows only instruments

In the 1G pipe-welding position, how is the pipe placed?

• AAxis vertical and fixed with a horizontal circumferential weld
• BAxis locked at 45 degrees with no rotation
• CAxis horizontal and fixed so the welder works overhead, vertical, and flat
• DAxis horizontal and rolled so each pass can stay in the flat position

What is the 5G pipe-welding position?

• APipe axis horizontal and fixed; the welder travels around through overhead, vertical, and…
• BPipe axis horizontal and rolled to keep every pass flat
• CPipe axis vertical and fixed
• DPipe axis at 45 degrees and rolled toward the operator

Why is a 6G coupon the usual all-position pipe-welder qualification test?

• AThe pipe is rolled so every pass is flat, which is the easiest position
• BThe pipe is fixed at about 45 degrees, so one coupon includes flat, horizontal, vertical,…
• CThe pipe stands vertical and only a horizontal bead is required
• D6G allows the welder to skip the root pass