CSLB C-53 Swimming Pool (Trade Exam) — All Questions
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107 questions
When must pool plumbing be pressurized or full of water under one city's guide?
- a.After the deck is poured
- b.After the final inspection
- c.At the time of inspections✓
- d.For one hour once a year
The guide requires plumbing pipes to be pressurized or full of water for any inspection, so the test condition must be in place when the inspector arrives. One hour once a year is not a rule in the guide, and waiting until after the final inspection or the deck pour is too late because the pipes are concealed by then.City builder guide (Menifee)
What water test pressure does one city require for pool plumbing at inspection?
- a.At least 35 psi✓
- b.At least 5 psi
- c.At least 1 psi
- d.At least 150 psi
The guide requires plumbing pressurized with water to a minimum of 35 psi during the inspection. The figures 5 psi and 1 psi fall below that minimum, and 150 psi is not the figure the guide gives.City builder guide (Menifee)
One city's checklist specifies a pressure test of 50 psi for how long on water lines?
- a.1 minute
- b.15 hours
- c.15 minutes✓
- d.15 seconds
The guideline is a minimum 50 psi for 15 minutes for water lines and 10 psi for 15 minutes for gas lines. One minute and 15 seconds are too short to show a leak, and 15 hours is far longer than the checklist calls for.City of Dublin checklist
What is the gas line test requirement in the same checklist?
- a.10 psi for 15 min✓
- b.100 psi for 1 hour
- c.1 psi for 1 minute
- d.50 psi for 10 hours
The checklist gives 10 psi for 15 minutes for the gas line. The 50 psi figure belongs to water lines, and 100 psi for an hour, 1 psi for a minute and 50 psi for 10 hours are not combinations the checklist lists.City of Dublin checklist
How deep must pool plumbing be buried in one city's guide?
- a.At least 1 inch to the top of the pipe
- b.At least 12 inches to the pipe top✓
- c.At least 6 feet to the top of the pipe
- d.At least 3 inches to the top of the pipe
The guide requires pipes buried at least 12 inches deep measured from the top of the pipe to finished grade. One inch and 3 inches are shallower than the minimum, and 6 feet is far deeper than the guide asks.City builder guide (Menifee)
How may plastic pool plumbing be bent in one city's guide?
- a.With approved devices, not a torch✓
- b.By stepping on the pipe until it bends
- c.By soaking the pipe in acid to soften it
- d.With a propane torch held under the pipe
Bending is performed only with approved devices designed for bending or heating the pipe, and torch heating is not allowed. Stepping on the pipe crushes or kinks it, acid attacks the plastic, and a propane torch is the prohibited method.City builder guide (Menifee)
Which gas pipe material is allowed underground when marked, labeled and listed?
- a.Copper tubing lacking a listing
- b.Galvanized steel left uncoated
- c.Polyethylene✓
- d.Uncoated black iron
PE marked, labeled and listed for the use is allowed with a tracer wire. Uncoated black iron cannot be buried, and unlisted copper tubing and uncoated galvanized steel are not the material the guide allows for this use.City builder guide (Menifee)
How deep is PE gas piping buried in the same guide?
- a.At least 2 inches
- b.At least 6 feet
- c.At least 5 inches
- d.18 inches or more✓
The PE gas pipe must be buried at least 18 inches measured from the top of the pipe to finished grade. Two inches and 5 inches are far too shallow, and 6 feet is deeper than the guide requires.City builder guide (Menifee)
What minimum tracer wire is installed with plastic gas pipe?
- a.18 AWG yellow✓
- b.4 AWG green
- c.12 AWG white
- d.Bare wire
A minimum 18 AWG yellow tracer wire is installed for the entire length, terminating above grade at both ends. Green and white are not the stated color, and bare wire is not the stated insulated yellow wire.City builder guide (Menifee)
What is the test pressure for gas piping in the guide that lists 15 psi?
- a.150 psi held for one minute
- b.15 psi, bled to 10, no drop✓
- c.Atmospheric pressure checked with soap
- d.1 psi watched for a full week
The gauge is pressurized to 15 psi, bled to 10 psi and monitored for 15 minutes with no drop. A one-minute test at 150 psi, a soap check at atmospheric pressure and a week at 1 psi are not the procedure in the guide.City builder guide (Menifee)
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Which statement applies to underground PVC conduit in one city's guide?
- a.18 inches, or 12 if protected✓
- b.On the surface of the yard soil
- c.Buried without cover or conduit
- d.Buried 1 inch deep in the soil
The guide requires 18 inches, and permits 12 inches if covered with 2 inches of concrete or if the circuit is GFCI protected. Conduit on the soil surface, conduit buried without cover and conduit 1 inch deep all violate the minimums.City builder guide (Menifee)
Which wiring type is described for outdoor installations?
- a.Unrated lamp cord run outdoors
- b.Telephone wire in a PVC pipe
- c.Dry-location NM cable in conduit
- d.Wire rated for wet locations✓
Outdoor wiring is rated for wet and damp use, such as THWN. NM cable, lamp cord and telephone wire are not rated for it.City builder guide (Menifee)
Under the Electrical Code summary, which underground wiring is not permitted within 5 feet of the pool wall?
- a.Wiring not feeding pool equipment✓
- b.Wiring that supplies the pool pump
- c.Wiring that supplies the pool heater
- d.Wiring that supplies the pool lights
Underground wiring is not permitted under pools or within 5 feet horizontally unless it supplies permitted pool equipment. The pump, light and heater circuits are permitted equipment.City electrical handout (Menifee), 2022 CEC §680.10
What do light niches and conduits require at pre-gunite?
- a.Installation after the final inspection
- b.Skipped installation, because niches are optional
- c.Installation before the shell is sprayed✓
- d.Installation after the plaster is done
Light niches and conduits are installed at the pre-gunite stage because they are cast into the shell. Installing them after the final inspection or after the plaster is too late, and they are not optional.City builder guide (Menifee)
Why is the electrical rough inspection made before covering?
- a.It lets the owner choose the paint color
- b.It saves time for the inspector on site
- c.Concealed wiring cannot be checked✓
- d.It matches the order of the tile work
A rough inspection precedes covering because concealed wiring cannot be checked, and the party who conceals it bears the cost of uncovering. Paint color, inspector convenience and tile order have nothing to do with it.City electrical handout (Menifee)
What do two balanced suction outlets per pump provide?
- a.A faster fill rate for the pool
- b.Cleaner water chemistry in the pool
- c.A quieter pump on the equipment pad
- d.A flow path if one is blocked✓
Two balanced outlets 3 feet apart reduce the chance that one body can block all suction and keep a flow path open. They do not speed filling, change water chemistry or quiet the pump.Health and Safety Code §115928
What suction piping velocity applies between two outlets in a public pool in normal operation?
- a.3 feet per second✓
- b.1 foot per second
- c.12 feet per second
- d.20 feet per second
Velocity in the suction piping between the outlets is not to exceed 3 feet per second in normal operation or 6 feet per second if one outlet is blocked. The higher values exceed it.2025 CBC §3137B.1
Which gunite strength does the shotcrete association recommend for pool dry-mix shotcrete?
- a.At least 1,000 psi at 7 days
- b.At least 10,000 psi at 28 days
- c.At least 4,000 psi at 28 days✓
- d.At least 500 psi at 28 days
The association's FAQ recommends a minimum 28-day compressive strength of 4,000 psi for dry-mix shotcrete. The figures 1,000 psi at 7 days and 500 psi at 28 days are too low, and 10,000 psi is not the association's figure.American Shotcrete Association Pool FAQ
What air supply should the shotcrete contractor's compressor provide?
- a.At least 100 cfm at 60 psi
- b.At least 20 cfm at 5 psi
- c.At least 40 cfm at 20 psi
- d.385 cfm or more at 120 psi✓
The FAQ recommends a compressor able to produce at least 385 cubic feet per minute at 120 psi. The figures 100 cfm at 60 psi, 20 cfm at 5 psi and 40 cfm at 20 psi all supply less air at lower pressure.American Shotcrete Association Pool FAQ
Who is recommended to place the shotcrete?
- a.The homeowner with a video guide
- b.An unsupervised new helper
- c.A tile setter between jobs
- d.An ACI-certified shotcrete nozzleman✓
The FAQ recommends an ACI-certified nozzleman. A new unsupervised helper, the owner and a tile setter lack that certification.American Shotcrete Association Pool FAQ
Why should a bonding agent not be used on a shotcrete joint?
- a.It slows the nozzle operator down
- b.It changes the shell's final color
- c.It interferes with natural bonding✓
- d.It costs too much per bucket
The guidance says no bonding agent should be used because it interferes with the natural bonding characteristics of shotcrete. Cost, color and nozzle speed are not reasons.American Shotcrete Association Pool FAQ
What surface condition is best for placing shotcrete on existing concrete?
- a.Standing water on top
- b.Frozen at the surface
- c.Bone dry and dusty
- d.Saturated surface dry✓
The surface is brought to SSD: damp but with no free water. Dry, flooded or frozen surfaces do not bond well.American Shotcrete Association Pool FAQ
What roughness amplitude does the FAQ recommend for a surface receiving shotcrete?
- a.About 1/16 inch or more✓
- b.A perfectly smooth finish
- c.About 1/1000 inch
- d.About 3 inches deep
The recommended amplitude is +/- 1/16 inch or more. A smooth surface has none, 3 inches is excessive, and 1/1000 inch is not roughened.American Shotcrete Association Pool FAQ
What does the code require for a construction joint older than 8 hours?
- a.Painting with a sealer
- b.Leaving it untouched
- c.Cleaning with air and water✓
- d.Covering with plastic sheet
Joints over 8 hours old are thoroughly cleaned with air and water before shotcrete is applied. Sealer, plastic and no treatment do not prepare the surface.2025 CBC ch. 19 (shotcrete)
Which water is not recommended for mixing shotcrete?
- a.Clean municipal water
- b.Potable water
- c.Water meeting the standard for mixing
- d.Brackish or salt water✓
Brackish or salt water should not be used because chlorides cause rapid setting and later corrosion. Clean municipal water, potable water and water meeting the mixing standard are all acceptable.American Shotcrete Association Pool FAQ
What is the minimum curing period the association recommends?
- a.7 days✓
- b.1 year
- c.1 hour
- d.1 day
ASA recommends at least 7 days of curing to control shrinkage. The shorter periods are below that, and a year is excessive.American Shotcrete Association Pool FAQ
What happens when a shell is not cured in hot, dry or windy weather?
- a.More cracking and lost strength✓
- b.Higher strength from fast drying
- c.A concrete that stays unchanged
- d.Water in the pool turning blue
Lack of curing increases shrinkage and cracking and keeps the concrete from reaching maximum strength. Fast drying does not strengthen it, the change is real, and water color is unrelated.American Shotcrete Association Pool FAQ
What does the code require of shotcrete above sags and sloughs?
- a.Left in place as it was shot
- b.Painted over once it has hardened
- c.Sanded after the shell has cured
- d.Removed and replaced when plastic✓
Shotcrete above sags and sloughs shall be removed and replaced while still plastic. Painting, leaving it and later sanding keep the defect.2025 CBC ch. 19 (shotcrete)
What does the Building Code require of preconstruction testing for shotcrete?
- a.Skipped tests before work starts
- b.Tests on the tile setting bed
- c.Tests after the pool is full
- d.Tests of shotcrete mockup panels✓
The code calls for preconstruction tests of one or more shotcrete mockup panels. Skipping the tests, testing the tile setting bed and testing after the pool is full each skip or misplace the required testing.2025 CBC §1908
Which standard does the Building Code name for shotcrete?
- a.ASTM F2208 for pool alarms
- b.ANSI/APSP-16 for drain covers
- c.ACI 318 and ACI 506R✓
- d.NSF/ANSI 50 for pool equipment
The code says shotcrete shall be in accordance with ACI 318 and the provisions of ACI 506R. ASTM F2208 covers pool alarms, ANSI/APSP-16 covers drain covers, and NSF/ANSI 50 covers pool equipment.2025 CBC §1908.1
A weekend joint is left glazed and dry before the Monday shot. What is wrong?
- a.The shell was cured for too long
- b.The joint was cleaned too thoroughly
- c.Gloss was left, surface not dampened✓
- d.Glaze was removed from the surface
A joint must be clean, free of laitance, with gloss removed and dampened. Glaze interferes with bond, while a clean joint, long curing and removing glaze are correct.American Shotcrete Association Pool FAQ
What is a reason expansion or contraction joints may be used in a large shotcrete pool?
- a.Joints add color to the shell finish
- b.Joints increase rebound during shooting
- c.Shrinkage and movement need joints✓
- d.Joints reduce the steel needed in the shell
Contraction and expansion joints are common in liquid-containing concrete structures to handle shrinkage and temperature movement. Color, rebound and steel quantity are not reasons.American Shotcrete Association Pool FAQ
Under Title 8's silica rule, what dust control method is specified for wet-method tasks?
- a.A fan aimed at the neighboring yard
- b.Water that minimizes visible dust✓
- c.Compressed air blown across the work
- d.Dry sweeping with a stiff broom
Wet methods apply water at flow rates sufficient to minimize visible dust. Dry sweeping, compressed air and fans raise dust.Title 8 §1532.3(c)(2)(B)
What does the association say about the pool design relative to cast concrete?
- a.Shotcrete pools lack a cover rule for steel
- b.Shotcrete pools skip the reinforcement
- c.Shotcrete pools skip a real design
- d.It should match cast concrete design✓
The FAQ states the design for a shotcrete pool should be the same as for a cast concrete pool. So shotcrete pools do not lack a cover rule for steel, do not skip reinforcement and do not skip a real design.American Shotcrete Association Pool FAQ
A 6-foot-deep pool hole in Type C soil is cut as a simple slope. How far back does the top edge sit on one side?
- a.9 feet✓
- b.12 feet
- c.6 feet
- d.4.5 feet
Type C is 1-1/2 horizontal to 1 vertical, so a 6-foot depth needs 9 feet of run on each side. Six feet is the Type B slope, 4.5 feet is the Type A slope, and 12 feet applies 2 to 1, which is not a table value.Title 8 §1541.1 App. B
A competent person finds Type A soil in an 8-foot excavation. Which simple slope applies?
- a.1 horizontal to 1 vertical
- b.3/4 horizontal to 1 vertical✓
- c.2 horizontal to 1 vertical
- d.1-1/2 horizontal to 1 vertical
Type A allows 3/4:1. The 1:1 slope is Type B, 1-1/2:1 is Type C, and 2:1 is not a table value.Title 8 §1541.1 App. B
A 3-foot-deep utility trench for pool plumbing shows no sign of cave-in to a competent person. What applies?
- a.No protective system under 5 feet✓
- b.A trench permit is needed first
- c.A shield is needed at any depth
- d.Sloping at 1-1/2 to 1 is needed
Excavations less than 5 feet deep with a competent person's finding of no indication of cave-in need no protective system. A shield, a fixed slope and a permit are not triggered at that depth.Title 8 §1541.1(a)
Rod readings are 5.10 at the benchmark and 4.30 at the bond beam stake. Where is the stake?
- a.0.80 foot higher✓
- b.4.30 feet above the benchmark
- c.Level with the benchmark reading
- d.0.80 foot lower than the benchmark
A smaller reading means a higher point, so the stake is 5.10 − 4.30 = 0.80 foot higher. A lower stake would read larger, 4.30 is a reading and not a height, and unequal readings are not level.CSLB C-53 outline (Lay out and set forms)
A rectangular layout has sides of 15 and 36 feet. What diagonal shows the corners are square?
- a.36 feet
- b.39 feet✓
- c.45 feet
- d.51 feet
The diagonal is the square root of (15² + 36²) = the square root of 1,521 = 39 feet. Fifty-one feet adds the sides, 45 is not derived from them, and 36 is one side.CSLB C-53 outline (Lay out and set forms)
Wall bars run every 12 inches along a 24-foot wall, with a bar at each end. How many bars are needed?
- a.12 bars
- b.25 bars✓
- c.24 bars
- d.288 bars
A 24-foot wall at 1-foot spacing has 24 spaces and 25 bars, counting both ends. The figure 24 omits the end bar, 12 divides by two, and 288 converts feet to inches.CSLB C-53 outline (Steel placement and bonding)
Which fitting is included in the bonded metal of a pool light?
- a.A polymer lens held by the ring
- b.Metal forming shells and brackets✓
- c.A plastic niche gasket in the wall
- d.A rubber cord grip on the fixture
The bonding list includes the metal forming shells and mounting brackets of lighting fixtures. Plastic gaskets, rubber grips and polymer lenses are not conductive parts.City bonding handout (Menifee), 2022 CEC §680.26
Why does the shotcrete association prefer non-contact lap splices in some pools?
- a.Contact splices are harder to tie
- b.Non-contact splices need fewer inspections
- c.Non-contact splices use less steel
- d.Contact splices are harder to encase fully✓
The statement notes that non-contact lap splices are preferred in some shotcrete applications since contact lap splices are more difficult to encase. Steel quantity, tying effort and inspection counts are not the reason.American Shotcrete Association Position Statement #8
An electrician backfilled a pool pump trench before the inspection. Who bears the cost of uncovering the wiring?
- a.The inspector, as the cause of delay
- b.The homeowner, as the property owner
- c.The utility company serving the lot
- d.The person who concealed the wiring✓
Where wiring is concealed before inspection, the person responsible for concealing it bears the cost of uncovering and replacing the covering. The owner, inspector and utility are not the responsible party.City electrical handout (Menifee), 2022 CEC summary
A pool plumbing pipe must be buried at least 12 inches. From where is that depth measured?
- a.From the centerline of the pipe to grade
- b.From the bottom of the trench to grade
- c.From the bottom of the pipe to finished grade
- d.From the top of the pipe to finished grade✓
The guide measures burial from the top of the pipe to finished grade. The bottom, centerline and trench-bottom measures give a different depth.City builder guide (Menifee)
Shotcrete was placed at 4 p.m. Friday. When does the work edge become a joint more than 8 hours old?
- a.At 8 p.m. on Friday evening
- b.On Monday morning at the start
- c.After midnight Friday✓
- d.At 4 p.m. on Saturday afternoon
Eight hours after 4 p.m. is midnight, and joints over 8 hours old are cleaned with air and water before more shotcrete goes on. At 8 p.m. only 4 hours have passed, and Saturday afternoon and Monday morning are well past the 8-hour mark.2025 CBC ch. 19 (shotcrete)
Which shotcrete mixing water does the association consider acceptable practice?
- a.Clean potable water✓
- b.Water from a stagnant pond
- c.Brackish well water
- d.Salt water from the coast
Brackish or salt water should not be used because chlorides cause rapid setting and later corrosion, so clean water is the practice. Stagnant pond water carries contaminants the mixing standards exclude.American Shotcrete Association Pool FAQ
While an excavation is open, what must be done with subsurface installations that could endanger employees?
- a.Protect, support or remove them as necessary✓
- b.Cover them with loose soil to hide them
- c.Ignore them if the owner has responded
- d.Mark them once and leave them exposed
While the excavation is open, subsurface installations are protected, supported or removed as necessary to safeguard employees. Marking once, covering them with loose soil, or ignoring them after the owner responds does not protect anyone.Title 8 §1541(b)(4)
A pool hole near stored solvents is 6 feet deep and a hazardous atmosphere is possible. What must happen before workers enter?
- a.The crew judges the air by smell
- b.A sign is posted at the top
- c.The atmosphere is tested✓
- d.The excavation is left open overnight
Where oxygen deficiency or a hazardous atmosphere exists or could reasonably be expected, the atmosphere is tested before employees enter excavations greater than 4 feet deep. A sign, a smell test and an overnight airing do not measure the air.Title 8 §1541(g)(1)(A)
A worker at a pool hole beside a public street is exposed to public vehicular traffic. What must the worker wear?
- a.A rubber apron over the clothes
- b.A dust mask with a face shield
- c.A leather tool belt with a safety clip
- d.A reflective or high-visibility warning vest✓
Employees exposed to public vehicular traffic wear warning vests or other garments marked with or made of reflectorized or high-visibility material. A dust mask with a face shield, a rubber apron and a tool belt do not make a worker visible to drivers.Title 8 §1541(d)
A loader operator cannot see the edge of the excavation directly. What does Title 8 call for?
- a.A reminder in the next safety talk
- b.A warning system such as barricades or signals✓
- c.A faster work pace along the edge
- d.A louder back-up horn on the loader
When the operator does not have a clear and direct view of the edge, a warning system such as barricades, hand or mechanical signals or stop logs is used. A louder horn, a faster pace and a reminder talk do not mark where the edge is.Title 8 §1541(f)