Ironworker (Structural/Ornamental) - Exam Information

Self-Assessment
Exam Breakdown
Types of Exam Questions
Math Formulas
Acronyms

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 National Occupational Analysis. This trade's Red Seal exam has 120 questions^{Footnote *}, which are distributed as follows:

Block A - Occupational skills - 14 questions

Task 1 Interprets occupational documentation

4 questions

Task 2 Communicates in the workplace

2 questions

Task 3 Uses and maintains tools and equipment

5 questions

Task 4 Organizes work

3 questions

Block B - Rigging and hoisting - 30 questions

Task 5 Selects rigging equipment

14 questions

Task 6 Uses hoisting and lifting equipment

16 questions

Block C - Cranes - 16 questions

Task 7 Assembles and erects cranes

10 questions

Task 8 Disassembles cranes

6 questions

Block D - Erection, assembly and installation - 48 questions

Task 9 Installs primary and secondary structural members

24 questions

Task 10 Installs ornamental components and systems

14 questions

Task 11 Installs conveyors, machinery and equipment

10 questions

Block E - Maintenance and upgrading - 12 questions

Task 12 Repairs components

6 questions

Task 13 Decommissions, disassembles and removes structural, mechanical and miscellaneous components

6 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 50 and 60% of questions that are this type.

Example of a Knowledge and Recall Question:

Which type of drawings indicate piece numbers for assembly of structural steel buildings?

Architectural.
Mechanical.
Structural.
Erection.

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 35 and 45% of questions are this type.

Example of a Procedural and Application Question:

What is the procedure for off-loading a trailer of structural steel?

Verify bill of lading, select proper rigging, then place in staging area.
Verify bill of lading, shake out steel, then remove load binders.
Position trailer, place in staging area, then remove load binders.
Position trailer, attach rigging, then calculate weight of steel.

Answer: A

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:

What length of 3/4-in. bolt is required to fasten a double connection through the web of a column when the beam end connections are 5/8 in. each and the web thickness is 1/2 in.?

3 1/2 in.
3 in.
2 1/5 in.
2 in.

Answer: B

Math Formulas

Formulas [PDF, 87 KB]

The following formulas used in this trade may be needed to answer some questions on its Red Seal exam. They will also be provided with the exam sitting.

Measurement unit abbreviations

ft.: foot
ft³: cubic foot
in.: inch
lb.: pound

Constants

$π = 3. 1416$

$1 ft. \times 1 ft. \times 1 in. of steel plate = 40.8 lb.$

$Density of steel = 490 lb./ft³$

$Theoretical mechanical advantage of pulley = 1:X$

Formulas

Formulas
Descriptions	Full	Abbreviated
$Area of a circle$	$π \times {radius}^{2}$	$π r^{2}$
$Circumference$	$π \times diameter$	$π D$
$Force$	$area \times pressure$	$A \times P$
$Lead line pull$	$\frac{total load weight}{number of parts of line} \times friction per part of line$	$\frac{W}{N} \times f$
$Number of wire rope clips$	$(3 \times diameter of rope) + 1 to next whole number$	$3 D + 1$
$Pythagorean theorem$	${(side a)}^{2} + {(side b)}^{2} = {(side c)}^{2}$	$a^{2} + b^{2} = c^{2}$
$Sling tension$	$\frac{weight}{number of slings} \times \frac{length}{vertical length}$	$\frac{W}{# slings} \times \frac{L}{vert. L}$
$Spacing between clips$	$6 \times diameter$	$6 D$
$Theoretical mechanical advantage$	$\frac{effort length}{resistance height}$	$\frac{L_{e}^{}}{H_{r}^{}}$
$Working load limit$	${diameter}^{2} \times 2 000$	$D^{2} \times 2 000$

Turn of nut rotation from snug tight condition

Turn of nut rotation from snug tight condition
Bolt length	Flat surfaced under bolt head and nut	1 face normal to bolt axis, other sloped not more than 1:20	Both faces sloped not more than 1:20 from normal to bolt axis
$\leq 4 D$	$1 / 3 turn$	$1 / 2 turn$	$2 / 3 turn$
$4 D \leq 8 D$	$1 / 2 turn$	$2 / 3 turn$	$5 / 6 turn$
$8 D \leq 12 D$	$2 / 3 turn$	$5 / 6 turn$	$1 turn$

Acronyms

Acronyms [PDF, 62 KB]

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
ASME: American Society of Mechanical Engineers
ASTM: American Society for Testing and Materials International
AWS: American Welding Society
BTM.: bottom
CCOHS: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
CSA: Canadian Standards Association
CWB: Canadian Welding Bureau
D.L.: dead load
d_b: bar diameter
DO: ditto
DTI: direct tension indicator
DWG: drawing
ft.: foot
HS: high strength
HSS: hollow structural section
in.: inch
IWRC: independent wire rope core
kg: kilogram
lb.: pound
lb./ft²: pounds per square foot
lb./in²: pounds per square inch
L.L.: live load
LOTO: lock out/tag out
m: metre
m²: square metre
MEWP: mobile elevating work platform
min.: minimum
mm: millimetre
N.T.S.: not to scale
o/c: on centre
OHS: Occupational Health and Safety
OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration
PPE: personal protective equipment
rpm: revolutions per minute
RT: rough terrain
SDS: safety data sheet
STL.: steel
t: ton
TMA: theoretical mechanical advantage
TYP.: typical
U.S.: underside
WHMIS: Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System
WWF: welded wide flange

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.

For more information about exam preparation materials contact your provincial/territorial apprenticeship office.

Ironworker (Structural/Ornamental) - Exam Information

Table of Contents

Knowledge and Recall

Procedural and Application

Critical Thinking

Measurement unit abbreviations

Constants

Formulas

Turn of nut rotation from snug tight condition