International Boiler Operator Licenses

Qualifications
Education: Must be able to understand and read English
Minimum age - Adult –
Exam Type: 100 questions multiple choice
Writing Time: 3 hrs.
Test Computerized and or Written:
Steam Plant Operations 8th Edition by Woodruff and Lammers (Excluding Chapters 9
&10) is the primary reference document.
Special Oil Well Boiler Operator, by Power Engineering training systems.
Boiler Operator Workbook by American Technical Publishers
Low Pressure Boiler Book by American Technical Publishers
Experience: Must have not less than one month of boiler operations training from
approved technical school.
Must have experience in the operation of, boilers for a period of not less than
one month.
Must have experience in the design, construction, repair or maintenance of
equipment directly related to boiler accessories and/or fittings for a period of
not less than one month.

The license has been developed due to an identified need for a nationally available course
to train Operators. There are hundreds of Operators throughout West Indies, who have
varying levels of Competence. It is critical that they find the means to complete this boiler
training to ensure the safety of the equipment and the building occupants where they are
employed. This course covers the necessary information required for exams and to be
certified to operate a boiler.

The topics presented in this program are designed to provide Practical information and
competency skills in areas relating to the Principles of Operation, Water Chemistry, Safe
Practices, Maintenance, Troubleshooting and Handling Emergency Conditions for safe
operation.

The Boiler Operator License Syllabus is designed to determine if individuals have such
knowledge and an understanding of the problems and solutions related to steam boiler
applications. This syllabus provides a list of specific topics in which the Engineers,
Technicians and Operators should be Competent.

People qualified with this unit are able to: carry out preliminary start-up procedures on a
steam boiler; prepare steam boiler for operation; operate steam boiler; shutdown lay up
steam boiler and complete documentation. You will have a solid knowledge of boiler
systems, the components and accessories used in these systems, how and why boiler
systems work, and an understanding of present dangers if not operating your system
safely.

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 International Boiler Operator Licenses

Syllabus

1. Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Legislation:

a) Knowledge of the Safety Standards Act and Power Engineers, Boiler, Pressure
Vessel Safety Regulation applicable sections.
b) Responsibilities of the boiler operator license holder.
c) Responsibility to report any accident and incidents.
d) Log books and records, why signed and dated, and their use.

2. Principles of Thermodynamics
a) Knowledge of the conversion for Fahrenheit and Celsius temperature scales.
b) Describe the three methods of heat transfer, sensible and latent heat;
vaporization.
c) Properties of steam and water (relationship of pressure to boiling point;
expansion properties of steam).
d) Temperature measurement.

3. Description of Boilers
a) Water tube, Fire tube, horizontal furnace type boiler, including package boiler.
b) Methods and purpose of staying flat boiler surfaces.
c) Definitions of the terms: one-pass, two-pass, three-pass, and four pass with
reference to the horizontal furnace boiler; and
d) Materials of construction.

4. Fittings
a) Knowledge of how fittings are installed in order to comply with the Regulations.
b) Thorough knowledge of construction of gauge glass and water column; and
c) Understanding the purpose of operation of all fittings (including safety valves
and all automatic controls such as low-water fuel cut off, high pressure limit
control, and flame failure device).

5. Combustion:
a) Working knowledge of fuels and combustion equipment and controls.
b) Thorough knowledge of methods of lighting gas and oil-fired boilers.
c) Methods of cleaning oil and gas burners.
d) Requirements for proper combustion of fuels; and
e) Causes of furnace explosions.

6. Pumps and Injectors

a) Terms and theory of pumping.
b) Types of pumps.
c) Pump parts (casing; impellers; wearing rings; gears; pistons; cylinders; suction
and discharge valves).
d) Pump operation and maintenance (priming, cavitation, flexible couplings,
mechanical seals, packing procedures, general operation and maintenance;
trouble shooting).

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 International Boiler Operator Licenses

7. Control
a) Explain the terms "shrink" and "swell" and their associated control problems.
b) Explain the principle of operation of a programmed control on an automatic
packaged type boiler.

8. Standard Boiler Operating Practices

Describe the routine boiler operation, maintenance, emergency procedures and
troubleshooting:
a) Taking over a shift:
I. Communication with Boiler Operator Relieved.
II. Confirming Boiler Water Level.
III. Water Column and Glass Gauge Blowdown.
IV. Bottom Blowdown.
V. Running Auxiliaries.
VI. Maintaining a Boiler Room Log.
b) Boiler Start-Up Procedures for
I. Cold Plant Start-Up Procedures.
II. Live Plant Start-Up Procedures.
c) Flame Scanner Testing.
d) Low Water Fuel Cutoff Test.
e) Testing Steam Traps.
f) Safety Valve Try Lever Test.
g) Hydrostatic Test.
h) Shutdown Procedures.
i) Preparing for a Boiler Inspection.
j) Troubleshooting a Boiler.
k) Boiler Lay-Up.
l) Identify the problems caused by the following and indicate how these Abnormal
Boiler Conditions should be handled:
I. Low Water Condition.
II. Boiler Overpressure.
III. Flame Failure.
IV. Feedwater Pump Failure.
V. Steambound Feedwater Pump.
VI. Furnace Explosion.
VII. High Water Condition.

9. Water Treatment
a) Water and its impurities.
b) Understanding water pH.
c) Boiler water corrosion.
d) Boiler water conditioning.
e) Boiler water problems smudge & foaming.
f) Sampling methods.
g) Testing procedures and terminology (pH; hardness; total alkalinity; sodium
sulphite; phosphate; dissolved solids test).
h) Implementing a water treatment program.

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 International Boiler Operator Licenses

10. Fire Prevention and Plant Safety

a) Knowledge of fire fighting equipment.
b) Safe storage of flammable materials.
c) Good housekeeping rules applicable to boiler room operation.
d) Responsibilities of a plant safety committee; and
e) Boiler Operator plant safety procedures.

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