Antique Show Boiler Operator's Certificate of Qualification syllabus

Effective: December 2018
 

General information

This edition of harmonized requirements for the Antique Show Boiler Operator’s examination Body of Knowledge (Examination Syllabus) was developed in cooperation with:

• ABSA the pressure equipment safety authority
• Technical Safety BC
• Technical Safety Authority of Saskatchewan
• Manitoba Office of the Fire Commissioner

In addition to the regulatory authorities, this syllabus had also included input from the historical boiler association (from their respective jurisdictions).

This Body of Knowledge (Examination Syllabus) is intended to assist candidates in their preparation for writing the Antique Show Boiler-Traction Engine Operator’s Certificate of Qualification examination that has been approved by the Safety Manager. Before undertaking the examination, the candidate should be familiar with the operation and maintenance of steam traction engines in general.

The operation of steam locomotives is not covered by this document. A steam locomotive operating on a railroad is subjected to the provincial legislation.
 

Certification requirement

A historic boiler that is operating in a display or for the purpose of entertainment must be supervised by a person who holds an Antique Show Boiler Operator’s certificate of qualification.
 

Supervision

A steam power traction engine that is operating in a display or for the purpose of entertainment must be supervised by a person who holds an Antique Show Boiler-Traction Engine Operator’s certificate of qualification.
 
During the operation of the Antique Show boiler, the certified operator must:

1. provide constant supervision of the boiler,

2. put the boiler into a safe shutdown condition before leaving it,

3. update and maintain the log book,

4. ensure the boiler is supervised in accordance with the recommendations set out in the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section VII,

5. ensure that an accurate record is kept of the boiler’s checks as set out in the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section VII, and

6. notify the owner of the boiler and the Safety Manager of any unsafe condition, accident or fire involving the boiler.
    

Eligible to write

To qualify to take an Antique Show Boiler Operator’s Certificate of Qualification, an applicant must

1. be the owner of, or be designated in writing by the owner to be responsible for the operation and maintenance of, an antique show boiler,

2. provide evidence, satisfactory to a provincial safety manager, that the applicant has experience with the construction, repair, operation and maintenance of antique show boilers, and

3. satisfy a safety officer that the applicant has a thorough knowledge of the
   (i)    operation of the plant for which the applicant is responsible, and
   (ii)    duties and responsibilities of a plant operator.
    

Eligible for certification

For a candidate to qualify for an Antique Show Boiler Operator’s Certificate of Qualification they must:

1. pass the Antique Show Boiler Operator’s Certificate of Qualification examination,

2. complete 100 hours of supervised operation experience, and

3. pass a practical examination that is satisfactory to the Safety Officer regarding the safe operation of Antique Show boiler
    

Practical time requirements

The practical training time requirements is 100 hours on Antique Show boiler, of which at least 50% of the time shall be while the plant is under steam and in operation, the remainder of the required time may include maintenance, start-up or lay up of the Antique Show boiler.
 

Proof of practical experience must be provided by

Completing and forwarding the Evaluation Form (FRM1206) and Plant Operating Experience form (FRM1026) signed by the certified steam traction power plant operator of the Antique Show boiler upon which the experience was gained.

Forwarding training records showing dates, type of experience gained, signatures of the steam plant owners and certified steam traction plant operator, (if not one and the same) that documents the candidate’s experience. Attach these to the application form.
 

Antique Show Boiler practical test

Tasks to be performed by the operator before the Technical Safety BC Boiler Safety Officer.

1. Bring the traction engine up to operating pressure, this may be required from a cold start.

2. Maintain the boiler level using both types of feeding devices.

3. (i)    Demonstrate the procedure in testing the safety valve, or
   (ii)    Explain the procedure in testing the safety valve.

4. Boiler blowoff, monitor boiler water in sight glass. Use tri-cocks if installed

5. Operate engine on level, uphill and downhill terrain.

6. (i)    Demonstrate the emergency shutdown of the traction engine, or
   (ii)    Explain the emergency shutdown of the traction engine.
    

Examination information

     
To book the exam, submit completed application along with clear copies of prerequisites. Examination application (FRM-1004) and fees must be received and approved before the registration cut-off date in order to reserve an examination date, subject to seating availability. Read the examination scheduling policy here
 

Reference materials

• Legislation of the governing jurisdiction
• CSA B51-15
• National Board Inspection Code 2017
• ASME Section I, and Section VII
• Training manuals from a recognized training institution
   

Certificate renewal

An Antique Show Boiler Operator’s Certificate of Qualification expires 3 years from the date of issue.
 

Body of knowledge (examination syllabus)

The topics that follow are intended to be a study guide and do not imply that additional knowledge obtained from experience is not needed to successfully challenge the examination. The candidate is expected to understand, identify and describe the function and use as indicated in each of the topics listed below.

Historical boiler – A steam boiler of riveted or welded construction, including steam tractors, traction engines, hobby steam boilers, portable steam boilers, steam locomotive boilers, and other such boilers built prior to 1955 that is preserved, restored, and maintained for demonstration, viewing, or educational purposes. (CSA B51-14)

As per BC Reg. 104/ 2004 "antique show boiler" means a boiler forming part of a traction engine, threshing machine, steam locomotive, steam crane, donkey boiler plant or other plant of historical interest. Technical Safety BC has established this Syllabus to identify the examination subjects for the Antique Show Boiler Operator’s Examination.

Objective

Operators responsible for the operation of steam-powered traction engines should have the knowledge and ability to apply that knowledge in the following areas:

1. Legislation of the governing jurisdiction

2. Basic calculations

3. Types of Boilers

4. Process for determining the maximum allowable pressure allowed in the boiler

5. Operation

6. Inspection

7. Non-destructive testing

8. Pressure testing

9. Certification

10. Controls and Safety devices

11. Pressure relief devices

12. Water treatment and maintenance of water treatment

13. Causes of Corrosion
     

The examination shall be based on the following topics

1. Repair requirements legislation

1. Act and Regulation applicable sections of the governing jurisdiction

2. CSA B-51

3. ASME Section 1, Section VII

4. National Board Inspection Code

5. CRN (Canadian Registration Number)

6. Registration

7. Certificate of Inspection Permit

8. Operator Certification

9. Log Book

2. Safety

The candidate is expected to be able to fully explain the dangers associated with the operation of a steam traction plant and all its components, and state the precautions to be taken thus minimizing or preventing such dangers.

1. Low water level

2. High water level

3. Broken governor belt

4. Braking

5. Broken gauge glass

6. Piping failure

7. Safety valve stuck open or stuck closed

8. Leaking Hand hole gasket

9. Tightening of components under pressure

10. Fusible plug activation

11.  Driving on grades

12. Putting out fire in the furnace

13. Burns

14. Cuts

15. Fires due to sparks

16. Driving in public demonstration

17. Chemical handling

18. Use of personal protective equipment

3. Calculations

1. Conversion from Imperial units to Metric units and visa-versa in particular for pressure, temperature and linear measurement.

2. Engine horsepower

3. Heating surface

4. Thermodynamics

1. Temperature

2. Measurement of heat (BTU, KW)

3. Specific heat

4. Sensible heat

5. Latent heat

6. Vapourization

7. Expansion properties of water to steam

8. Pressure and its effects

9. Heat characteristics and methods of heat transmission (radiation, conduction, convection)

10. Steam (wet steam, dry steam, saturated steam, superheated steam)

11. Condensate

5. Boilers

1. Firetube

2. Watertube

3. Locomotive Type

4. Vertical

5. Advantages and disadvantages of each type of boiler

6. Boiler parts and terminology: Shell, tubes, heads, stays, fusible plug, firebox, smokebox, tubesheet, crown sheet, telltale holes, combustion chamber, combustion arch, mudring, smoke stack, dome, siphon, ash pit, grates, maximum allowable working pressure (MAWP), spark arrester, hand holes, man hole, washout plugs, grates, ash pan, dampers

7. Auxiliary Components: Safety valve(s), steam pressure gauge, water level indicator, gauge glass, water column, try cocks, blow off valve(s), steam and water valves, whistle, throttle, governor, overspeed trip, feedwater pump. Feedwater injector, safety valve, pressure relief device, oil burners

8. Riveted joints (lap, butt strap)

9. Welding

10. Installation of stays

11. Installation of boiler tubes

12. Piping

13. Pipe fittings: types and application

14. Valves: types, construction and application (gate, globe, plug, etc)

15. Gaskets: types and applications

16. Thermal stress

6. Inspection

1. Manufacturer’s Data Report

2. Specification sheet

3. Canadian Registration Number

4. Certificate of inspection Permit

5. Boiler cleaning and preparation for inspection

6. Visual internal and external

7. Non destructive testing: Ultra-sonics (UT), mag-particle(MPI), liquid penetrant (LPI), radiographic (RT)

8. Using the NDE results to determine the MAWP of the boiler by referencing the principles identified in CSA B51 and NBIC

9. Causes of deterioration and possible failures: corrosion, mechanical damage.

10. Riveted joints: Lap-seam, butt-strap seam and welded seams and their advantages and disadvantages

11. Stay inspection (NDE and hammer test)

12. Weld inspection

7. Operations

1. Pressure relief valve: its purpose, code markings, capacity verification, and certification

2. Boiler startup

3. Boiler shutdown

4. Boiler bottom blowoff (procedure, purpose)

5. Safety Procedures

6. Boiler layup and Storage (wet and dry)

7. Water level: verification of proper level, causes of fluctuation (foaming, priming, incline, tube rupture)

8. Throttle and Governor operation

9. Water Hammer

10. Removing condensate from the engine

11. Thermal Expansion

12. Certificate of Inspection Permit

13. Operator Certification

14. Principles of combustion: fuel (coal, wood, gas, oil), air, ignition, draft systems, furnace door closed, purging, draft control, soot, ash, clinker formation, furnace grate, ash removal, furnace explosions,

15. Starting out, getting off dead centre

16. Driving

17. Hills and grades

18. Stopping

19. Powering a stationary load

20. Water level control

21. Priming and knocking

22. Leaking joint or seam

8. Testing

1. Hydro testing

2. Test pressure verification

3. Test pressure (psi, kPa)

4. Water temperature

9. Water treatment

1. Dissolved gases (oxygen, Carbon dioxide)

2. Dissolved solids

3. Suspended matter

4. pH control

5. Scale formation: calcium, magnesium

6. Sludge

7. Foaming

8. Effects of scale

9. Effects of oil in the water

10. Acidic attack

11. Water testing

12. Oxygen scavenger

13. Selecting a water treatment program

14. Safe handling of water treatment chemicals

15. Purpose of boiler bottom blowoff

10. Steam engines

1. Simple engine

2. Compound engine

3. Engine components (cylinder, crankshaft, connecting rod, crosshead, flywheel, piston, steam chest, valves, lag, lead)

4. Valve gears (Stephenson & Walshaert)

5. Slide valve

6. Lubricants (solid, semi-solid, liquid)

7. Engine dead center

8. Reversing gear

9. Governor

10. Throttling governor

11. Governor problems (belt slipping, stem sticking, gears slipping, bent valve stem, belt breaking)

12. Friction clutch

13. Indicator diagrams

11. Emergency procedures

1. Principle causes of boiler explosions

2. Loss of water level

3. Tube rupture

4. Governor malfunction

5. Stopping and starting

6. Water Hammer

7. Safety valve will not open at the determined maximum allowable pressure of the boiler

8. Safety valve sticks open

9.  Signaling devices and procedures

12. Repairs

1. Standards used for doing repairs: CSA B51, NBIC

2. Code requirements: (ASME)

3. Requirements of the local jurisdiction

4. Inspection and certification requirements

5. Quality control program