West Virginia Structural Steel Erection Contractor Examination

On a structural drawing, what does the designation W21×44 identify?

• AA wide-flange shape about 21 inches deep that weighs 44 pounds per foot
• BA 21-foot-long beam that is 44 inches deep
• CA plate 21 inches wide by 44 inches long
• DA joist 21 inches deep with chord section 44

What unit weight of structural steel do ironworkers use when converting volume to shipping weight?

• A490 pounds per cubic foot
• B150 pounds per cubic foot
• C625 pounds per cubic foot
• D200 pounds per cubic foot

A W21×44 beam is 36 feet long. What is the approximate shipping weight of the beam alone, ignoring connections and paint?

• A792 pounds
• B1,188 pounds
• C1,584 pounds
• D2,112 pounds

Which document does the raising gang primarily use in the field to locate piece marks, sequence, and field-bolt counts?

• AThe approved erection drawings
• BThe mill test report for each heat
• CThe concrete rebar placing drawings
• DThe painting specification only

A beam is drawn 4-1/2 inches long on a structural plan at a scale of 1/8 inch = 1 foot 0 inches. What is the true length?

• A18 feet 0 inches
• B27 feet 0 inches
• C36 feet 0 inches
• D54 feet 0 inches

An erection drawing shows eight simple-span beams. Each end is a 5-bolt single-plate shear connection. How many high-strength bolts are required for those beams, ignoring column splices and bracing?

• A40 bolts
• B64 bolts
• C80 bolts
• D120 bolts

A rectangular roof is 90 feet by 120 feet. Type B deck has 36-inch coverage and will be furnished in 20-foot sheets. Ignoring waste, how many sheets are required to cover the roof?

• A90 sheets
• B120 sheets
• C150 sheets
• D180 sheets

A beam-to-column connection on the structural drawings shows a full-depth end plate with a complete-joint-penetration flange weld and a bolted web. What type of connection is this?

• AA moment connection intended to transfer bending into the column
• BA simple shear (pinned) connection
• CA slip-critical bracing connection only
• DA joist seat connection

Which designation is a rectangular hollow structural section?

• AL4×4×3/8
• BC12×20.7
• CHSS 6×6×3/8
• DPL 1/2×12×1′-4

An estimate includes six W18×35 beams, each 28 feet long, plus a 5 percent allowance for connection material. What is the approximate steel weight for that line item?

• A4,900 pounds
• B5,880 pounds
• C6,174 pounds
• D7,056 pounds

Which ASTM specification is the usual modern grade for rolled wide-flange (W) shapes with a 50 ksi minimum yield?

• AASTM A992
• BASTM A36
• CASTM A307
• DASTM A53

Unless the drawings specify another grade, what is the specified minimum yield stress of ASTM A36 plate commonly used for connection material?

• A36 ksi
• B50 ksi
• C70 ksi
• D120 ksi

Under OSHA 1926.755, what is the minimum number of anchor rods required to anchor a structural column?

• ATwo anchor rods
• BThree anchor rods
• CFour anchor rods
• DSix anchor rods

OSHA requires each column anchor-rod assembly, including the base-plate weld and foundation, to resist a minimum eccentric gravity load of which magnitude and location?

• A300 pounds at 18 inches from the extreme outer face of the column at the top of the shaft
• B200 pounds at 12 inches from the face of the column at mid-height
• C500 pounds at the base-plate centroid
• D1,000 pounds applied axially at the base plate

During final placing of a solid-web beam, when may the load be released from the hoisting line?

• AAfter the member is secured with at least two bolts per connection, of the size and stren…
• BAs soon as one drift pin is in a hole at one end
• CAfter every bolt in the connection has been fully pretensioned
• DAfter the beam has been field-welded at both flanges

When a competent person requires plumbing-up equipment, when must it be in place?

• ABefore the structure is loaded with construction material such as joists, deck bundles, o…
• BOnly after the roof deck is complete
• COnly during high-strength bolt pretensioning
• DAfter the controlling contractor accepts the frame

Two beams share common holes through a column web (a double connection). Before the first beam’s shared bolts are removed so the second beam can be entered, OSHA requires which of the following?

• AAt least one wrench-tight bolt remaining on the first member, or a seat or equivalent dev…
• BBoth beams hanging on a single drift pin
• CRelease of the first beam’s hoisting line before any bolt is installed
• DRemoval of all bolts so the second beam can slide in freely

AISC Code of Standard Practice limits the angular variation of an individual column shipping piece to 1/500 of the distance between working points. For a 30-foot shipping piece, what is that plumbness tolerance?

• A0.72 inch
• B0.36 inch
• C1.20 inches
• D2.00 inches

ASTM A6 mill camber (or sweep) for a rolled W-shape is 1/8 inch times the length in feet divided by 10. What is the mill camber tolerance for a 40-foot W-shape?

• A1/4 inch
• B3/8 inch
• C1/2 inch
• D3/4 inch

A 45-foot beam is specified with 1-1/2 inches of induced camber. Under the AISC Code of Standard Practice, what is the fabrication tolerance on that camber?

• AMinus 0 / plus 1/2 inch
• BMinus 1/2 inch / plus 1/2 inch
• CMinus 1/2 inch / plus 0
• DMinus 1 inch / plus 1 inch

Per OSHA 1926.755, columns shall be set on which of the following?

• ALevel finished floors, pre-grouted leveling plates, leveling nuts, or shim packs adequate…
• BLoose gravel packed under the base plate
• CWood blocking left in place for the life of the structure
• DUnfinished, unleveled concrete with the base plate cocked

Each column splice must be designed to resist the same OSHA erection load used for column anchorage. What is that load?

• AA 300-pound eccentric gravity load 18 inches from the extreme outer face at the top of th…
• BThe full design gravity load of the finished building
• CA 50-pound hand-line load at the splice
• DWind load only, with no gravity component

For multi-story steel erection, OSHA 1926.754(b)(2) limits unfinished bolting or welding above the foundation or uppermost permanently secured floor to which of the following, unless the design maintains integrity?

• AFour floors or 48 feet, whichever is less
• BTwo floors or 20 feet, whichever is less
• CSix floors or 72 feet, whichever is less
• DEight floors with no height cap

During multi-story erection, a fully planked or decked floor or nets must be maintained within which distance directly under the work, unless the design maintains integrity?

• ATwo stories or 30 feet, whichever is less
• BOne story or 15 feet, whichever is less
• CFour stories or 48 feet, whichever is less
• DEight stories with no nets required

IBC 2018 Chapter 22 adopts which standard for the design, fabrication, and erection of structural steel buildings?

• AAISC 360
• BACI 318 only
• CASME B31.1
• DNFPA 70

Under IBC 2018 Section 1705.2.1, special inspections and nondestructive testing of structural steel elements are performed in accordance with which document?

• AThe quality-assurance inspection requirements of AISC 360
• BThe erector’s daily crane log only
• COSHA 1926 Subpart R alone
• DThe paint manufacturer’s product data sheet

In addition to the 1/500 shipping-piece rule, the AISC Code of Standard Practice limits displacement of an exterior column from the established building line, in the first 20 stories, to which envelope?

• A1 inch toward and 2 inches away from the building line
• B1/2 inch toward or away from the building line
• C2 inches toward and 1 inch away from the building line
• D3 inches in any direction

A bent anchor rod must be heated and straightened before the column is set. Who must approve that field modification?

• AThe project structural engineer of record
• BThe crane operator
• CAny journeyman connector on the raising gang
• DThe concrete finisher who placed the footing

What does OSHA 1926.754(a) require throughout steel erection?

• AThat structural stability be maintained at all times during the erection process
• BThat only one crane operate on the site at a time
• CThat every beam be pretensioned before the next piece is flown
• DThat decking be installed before any column is plumbed

Except where constructibility does not allow, perimeter columns must extend how far above the finished floor so perimeter safety cables can be installed before the next tier is erected?

• A12 inches
• B24 inches
• C48 inches
• D96 inches

In the AWS electrode classification E7018, what do the '70' and the '18' indicate?

• A70 ksi minimum tensile strength; low-hydrogen potassium iron-powder coating, all-position
• B70 percent iron powder; 18-inch electrode length
• C70 amperes; 18-volt arc
• D70 ksi yield of the base metal; 18-pass maximum

Immediately after a hermetically sealed can of low-hydrogen electrodes (such as E7018) is opened, AWS D1.1 requires the electrodes to be stored how?

• AIn a holding oven at a temperature of at least 250°F (120°C)
• BIn open shop air beside the welding machine
• CIn a freezer to keep the coating brittle
• DSoaked in water to improve arc starting

For cutting structural steel with an oxyfuel torch, which flame is the normal cutting flame?

• AA strongly carburizing (feathered) flame
• BA strongly oxidizing (harsh, short) flame
• CA neutral flame, with the inner cone and envelope balanced
• DA pure-oxygen jet with the fuel shut off

What is the theoretical throat of an equal-leg 1/4-inch fillet weld?

• A0.125 inch
• B0.250 inch
• C0.354 inch
• D0.177 inch

Per AWS D1.1 minimum fillet-weld size, what is the usual minimum fillet for a joint in which the thinner part is 3/8 inch thick (unless the drawing specifies a larger weld)?

• A1/16 inch
• B1/8 inch
• C3/16 inch
• D3/8 inch

On a welding symbol, a triangular flag at the break of the arrow means the weld is a:

• AShop weld made before shipment
• BWeld that must be back-gouged
• CWeld that is for tack-up only
• DField weld made after the piece is erected

Unless the drawings specify an equivalent, OSHA 1926.757 requires each end of a K-series steel joist to be attached with which minimum weld (or the listed bolted equivalent)?

• AOne 1/16-inch fillet 1/2 inch long
• BTwo 1/4-inch fillet welds 2 inches long, or two 3/4-inch bolts
• CA complete-joint-penetration groove weld across the seat
• DTwo 1/8-inch fillet welds 1 inch long, or two 1/2-inch bolts

A connector is short one F3125 Grade A325 bolt and wants to weld the nut to the remaining stick-out. What is the correct action?

• AWeld the nut; the weld restores pretension
• BWeld only Grade A490 bolts, never A325
• CBurn a slot in the plate and weld a bar across the hole
• DDo not weld the bolt or nut; install the specified bolt using an approved method

Which process is shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) as used for most field structural stick welding?

• AA continuously fed solid wire in an inert gas (GMAW)
• BAn oxyacetylene flame used as the heat source
• CA non-consumable tungsten electrode (GTAW)
• DA covered electrode (stick) with the flux providing the shield

Why does AWS D1.1 require preheat on thicker structural steel for many low-hydrogen procedures?

• ATo make the steel magnetic so the ground clamp holds
• BTo burn mill scale off the entire member before any fit-up
• CTo increase the specified yield strength of A992 steel
• DTo slow the cooling rate and reduce the risk of hydrogen-assisted cracking in the heat-af…

A welding symbol shows a fillet triangle on the arrow side, size 5/16, length 4, and a circle at the bend of the arrow. What weld is required?

• AA 5/16-inch fillet 4 inches long on the arrow side only
• BA 4-inch groove weld with a 5/16-inch root opening
• CA 5/16-inch flare-bevel on the other side only
• DA 5/16-inch fillet 4 inches long, all around the joint

Which practice is prohibited when using oxygen-fuel equipment on a steel job?

• AUsing a flint lighter to light the torch
• BStoring acetylene cylinders valve-end up
• CClosing the oxygen cylinder valve when work stops
• DUsing oxygen to blow dust or dirt off clothing or the body

In the RCSC Specification, what is the snug-tight condition?

• AThe tightness attained with a few impacts of an impact wrench or the full effort of an ir…
• BThe tightness after the turn-of-nut rotation has been applied
• CFinger-tight, with gaps still visible between plies
• DThe tension at which a tension-control spline twists off

Using RCSC turn-of-nut with both faces normal to the bolt axis, how much additional nut rotation is required after snug-tight for a 3/4-inch-diameter bolt that is 3 inches long (bolt length not more than 4d)?

• A1/6 turn (60 degrees)
• B1/2 turn (180 degrees)
• C2/3 turn (240 degrees)
• D1/3 turn (120 degrees)

A 7/8-inch F3125 Grade A325 bolt is 6 inches long. Both outer faces are normal to the bolt axis. After snug-tight, what RCSC turn-of-nut rotation is required?

• A1/3 turn
• B2/3 turn
• C1 full turn
• D1/2 turn

What is the RCSC/AISC specified minimum pretension for a 3/4-inch F3125 Grade A325 bolt?

• A19 kips
• B39 kips
• C51 kips
• D28 kips