Sprinkler Fitter - Exam Information
Table of Contents
Self-Assessment
This tool can be used to reflect on your own experience and knowledge in the trade compared with what is on the exam.
Exam Breakdown
Each Red Seal exam's questions are developed to assess the activities laid out in the Red Seal Occupational Standard. This trade's Red Seal exam has 120 questions Footnote *, which are distributed as follows:
Major Work Activity A - Performs common occupational skills - 25 questions
Major Work Activity B - Installs water supply - 18 questions
Major Work Activity C - Installs piping - 32 questions
Major Work Activity D - Installs and lays out fire protection systems and devices - 26 questions
Major Work Activity E - Inspects, tests and maintains (itm) fire protection systems - 19 questions
Types of Exam Questions
All Red Seal exam questions are written in multiple-choice format. A multiple-choice question consists of question followed by four possible responses (A, B, C, D). Every question has exactly one correct answer and three incorrect options. They are not misleading or trick questions, but the incorrect options are not always obvious.
There are three types of questions that you will see on Red Seal Exams:
- Knowledge and Recall
- Procedural and Application
- Critical Thinking
Knowledge and Recall
This type of question tests your ability to recall and understand definitions, facts and principles.
For this trade, between 10 and 20% of questions that are this type.
Example of a Knowledge and Recall Question:
On which type of sprinkler system is a detector wire installed as a system activation device?
- Dry.
- Wet.
- Antifreeze.
- Pre-action.
Answer: D
Procedural and Application
This type of question tests your ability to apply your knowledge of procedures to a situation.
For this trade, between 75 and 85% of questions are this type.
Example of a Procedural and Application Question:
What is done to prepare the pipe ends of a CPVC pipe?
- Deburr and clean.
- Bevel and clean.
- Deburr and bevel.
- Deburr and solder.
Answer: C
Critical Thinking
This type of question tests your ability to interpret data, solve problems and arrive at valid conclusions.
For this trade, less than 10% of questions are this type.
Example of a Critical Thinking Question:
A single interlock preaction system trips during a fire. What is the cause?
- Loss of air in sprinkler piping branch lines.
- Activation of sprinkler on branch line.
- Activation of low pressure alarm.
- Activation of fire detection system.
Answer: D
Try more sample questions for this trade and check out the Exam Preparation Guide. It will give you practical insights on what goes into Red Seal exams, and how you can best prepare yourself to do well.
Acronyms
The following acronyms used in this trade may be on its Red Seal exam. They will also be provided with the exam sitting.
- °C
- degree Celsius
- °F
- degree Fahrenheit
- AHJ
- authority having jurisdiction
- cm
- centimetre
- CMSA
- control mode specific application
- CO₂
- carbon dioxide
- CPVC
- chlorinated polyvinyl chloride
- ESFR
- early suppression fast response
- FDC
- fire department connection
- FHC
- fire hose cabinet
- ft.
- foot
- gal.
- gallon
- gpm
- gallons per minute
- hr
- hour
- in.
- inch
- kg
- kilogram
- kPa
- kilopascal
- L/min
- litres per minute
- lb.
- pound
- lb./ft.
- pounds per foot
- m
- metre
- m²
- square metre
- mm
- millimetre
- NFPA
- National Fire Protection Association
- OHS
- Occupational Health and Safety
- OS&Y
- outside screw and yoke
- PPE
- personal protective equipment
- psi
- pounds per square inch
- PVC
- polyvinyl chloride
- SDS
- safety data sheet
- sq. ft.
- square foot
- WHMIS
- Workplace Hazardous Material Information System
For more information about exam preparation materials contact your provincial/territorial apprenticeship office.