P99 Form – Fill Out and Use

EXAM SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR

P-99 CERTIFICATE OF FITNESS

Save time and submit application online!

Applicants who submitted and paid online for an exam before arriving at the FDNY will not need to wait in line to enter the FDNY.

It can take about 30 minutes to complete. Completing application and paying online will eliminate waiting outside in the long lines.

Simplified instructions for online application and payment can be found here:

http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/fdny/downloads/pdf/business/fdny-business-cof-individuals-short.pdf

Create an Account and Log in to:

http://fires.fdnycloud.org/CitizenAccess/SAML/NYCIDLogin.aspx

REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATE OF FITNESS APPLICATION

General requirements:

Review the General Notice of Exam:

http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/fdny/downloads/pdf/business/general-notice-of-exam-cof.pdf

Special requirements for the P-99 Certificate of Fitness: None.

Application fee (Cash is NO LONGER ACCEPTED):

Pay the $25 application fee online or in person by one of the following methods:

•Credit card (American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or Visa)

•Debit card (MasterCard or Visa)

•In person: Personal or company check or money order (made payable to the New York City Fire Department)

A convenience fee of 2% will be applied to all credit card payments.

For fee waivers submit: (Only government employees who will use their COF for their work- related responsibilities are eligible for fee waivers.)

•A letter requesting fee waiver on the Agency’s official letterhead stating applicant full name, exam type and address of premises; AND

•Copy of identification card issued by the agency

REQUIREMENTS FOR ALTERNATIVE ISSUANCE PROCEDURE (AIP)

The P-98 Certificate of Fitness can be obtained by the alternative issuance procedure. Qualified applicants should review and complete the P-99 Certificate of Fitness Alternative Issuance Procedure Application Affirmation Form:

https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/fdny/downloads/pdf/business/cof-p99-aip.pdf

The AIP applicants must submit the application, required documents and payment on FDNY Business:

https://fires.fdnycloud.org/

EXAM INFORMATION

The P-99 exam will consist of 35 multiple-choice questions, administered on a “touch screen” computer monitor. It is a time-limit exam. Based on the amount of the questions, you will have 53 minutes to complete the test. A passing score of at least 70% is required in order to secure a Certificate of Fitness.

Call (718) 999-1988 for additional information and forms.

Please always check for the latest revised booklet at FDNY website before you take the exam.

http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/fdny/downloads/pdf/business/cof-p99-noe-study-materials.pdf

RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS

General renewal requirements:

Review the General Notice of Exam:

https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/fdny/downloads/pdf/business/general-notice-of-exam-cof.pdf

Special renewal requirements. P-99 Certificate of Fitness: None

QUESTIONS?

FDNY Business Support Team: For questions, call 311 and ask for the FDNY Customer Service Center or send an email to FDNY.BusinessSupport@fdny.nyc.gov.

This Study Material contains some of the information you will need to prepare for the Consolidated examination for the certificate of Fitness for Complex-wide Low PSI Oil Burner Operator (P-14), Supervisor of Low PSI Oil Burner (P-16), and Mobile Emergency Low PSI Oil Burner Operator (P-20). The study material includes information taken, for the most part, from relevant sections of the Building Code of New York. Other information describes the proper operation and maintenance of low PSI oil burner systems.

All questions on the Certificate of Fitness examination are multiple choice, with four alternative answers to each question. Only one answer is correct for each question. If you do not answer a question, or if you mark more than one alternative your answer will be scored as incorrect. A score of 70% correct is required on the examination in order to qualify for the Certificate of Fitness. Read each question carefully before marking your answer. There is no penalty for guessing.

SAMPLE EXAM QUESTIONS

The following questions represent the “format” of the exam questions,

not the content of the real exam.

1.Which of the following are allowed to be used while taking a Certificate of Fitness examination at 9 Metro Tech Center?

I. cellular phone

II. study material booklet

III.reference material provided by the FDNY IV. mp3 player

A. III only

B. I, II, and III

C. II and IV

D. I only

Only reference material provided by the FDNY is allowed to be used during Certificate of Fitness examinations. Therefore, the correct answer would be A. You would touch “A” on the computer terminal screen.

2.If the screen on your computer terminal freezes during your examination, who should you ask for help?

A.the person next to you

B.the firefighters

C.the examiner in the testing room

D.the computer help desk

If you have a computer related question, you should ask the examiner in the testing room. Therefore, the correct answer would be C. You would touch “C” on the computer terminal screen.

3.If you do not know the answer to a question while taking an examination, who should you ask for help?

A. the person next to you B. the firefighters

C. the examiner in the testing room

D. you should not ask about test questions since FDNY staff can not assist applicants

You should not ask about examination questions or answers since FDNY staff cannot assist applicants with their tests. Therefore, the correct answer would be D. You would touch "D" on the computer terminal screen.

EXTRACTIONS FROM THE BUILDING CODE OF NEW YORK

BUILDING CODE OF NEW YORK SUBCHAPTER 14

HEATING AND COMBUSTION EQUIPMENT

General requirements. All heating, combustion, and cooking equipment shall be installed with adequate clearances from combustible construction. Either the equipment shall be provided with insulation or the building construction shall be fire protected, so that during operation the surface of combustible construction materials will not be raised to a temperature higher than 170˚ Fahrenheit. Equipment shall be so that the means of access for ordinary operation and maintenance will not be hazardous.

Inspections and tests. (a) Acceptance tests. Boilers shall not be placed in operation upon completion of construction until they have been inspected and tested and an equipment use permit has been issued by the commissioner. (b) Periodic boiler inspections. All boilers shall be inspected at least once a year including chimney connections. (c) Owners annual statement. The owner of each boiler that is subject to periodic inspections shall file an annual written statement with the commissioner, specifying the location of each boiler and arrangement for inspection.

Fuel burning and fuel storage installations. (a) Field Tests. (1) All liquid fuel piping and fuel oil storage tanks shall be hydrostatically tested for tightness by the contractor who made the installation before the work is closed in and before the system is operated. The piping shall be tested at one- half times the maximum working pressure applicable to that part of the piping system but at a pressure less than the test pressure required for the storage tank. The minimum pressure for testing tanks shall be one and on-half times the maximum working pressure applicable to the tank but in no case for less than twenty-five psi. The hydrostatic pressure shall be maintained until all joints and connections have been visually inspected for leaks, but in no case for less than one-half hour. A record shall be kept of the pressure test showing the name of the contractor and the pressure at which the piping and the tank were tested. (2) Gas distribution piping shall be tested for tightness by the contractor who made the installation before the work is closed in and before the system is operated. (b) Instruction Cards. For oil burning systems, cards giving complete instructions for the care and operation of the system shall be furnished and shall be permanently located in an easily visible and accessible location near the equipment.

Licenses and certificates. Every stationary oil-fired device, equipment or system that is not fully automatic or requires preheating of the oil shall be operated by or under the personal supervision of a person holding a certificate of fitness or a person holding a high-pressure boiler operating engineer’s license issued by the Department of Buildings. In addition to providing personal supervision, such person shall be present at the device, equipment or system during startup. A stationary oil-fired device, equipment or system that is subject to annual inspection pursuant to Article 303 of Title 28 of the Administrative Code may be operated under the general supervision of a certificate of fitness holder or a high-pressure boiler operating engineer license holder.

Operators inspection after repairs. After any repairs are made to a boiler or fuel burning equipment for which licensed or qualified operators are required, such operators shall check the

repairs, together with the functioning of all control devices and the positioning of the valves. These licensed or qualified operators also shall be present during the starting of the operation of the equipment and shall be responsible for the proper and safe operation of such equipment.

Abatement of air contaminants. All heating and combustion equipment that is fired with solid, liquid, or gas fuels including all rubbish burners and incinerators, shall comply with the requirements of the air pollution control code.

Equipment classification. (1) Low temperature equipment. Equipment whose products of combustion at the point of leaving the equipment have a temperature of 600˚ Fahrenheit or less under normal conditions. (2) Medium temperature equipment. Equipment whose products of combustion at the point of leaving the equipment have a temperature between 600˚ and 1000˚ Fahrenheit under normal operating conditions. (3) High temperature equipment. Equipment whose products of combustion at the point of leaving the equipment have a temperature of 1000˚ Fahrenheit or greater under normal operating conditions.

Combustion air. Air supply. Ventilation shall be capable of providing at least thirty-six cfm of air for each gallon of oil per hour required to fire the equipment to gross output. If the ventilation for the purpose of combustion is supplied mechanically, the ventilating system shall be electrically interlocked with the burner so that when the burner is in operation, the ventilating system shall maintain the room in which the equipment is located at a pressure no less than the outdoors atmospheric pressure. Flue dampers. Dampers in flues shall be constructed so that they cannot completely cut off the passage of flue gases at any time. Tight closing dampers may be installed with approved automatic draft and combustion controls.

Fuel oil equipment. General requirements. Fuel oil shall mean hydrocarbon oils with a flashpoint not lower than 100˚ Fahrenheit and marketed under the following commercial grade: range oil or no. 1 fuel oil; diesel oil or no. 2 fuel oil; no. 4 fuel oil; no. 5 fuel oil; no. 6 fuel oil. The use of crankcase refuse oil as fuel oil is prohibited. Piping. Installation of piping and tubing. Overflow pipes, where installed, shall not be smaller in size than the supply pipe. Where a shut-off valve is installed in the discharge line from an oil pump, a relief valve shall be installed in the discharge line between the pump and the first shut-off valve. A relief or pressure regulating valve shall be provided in the oil piping system on the heater side of the shut-off valves. Heating coils in storage tanks. The heating of oil in storage tanks shall be by means of coils using low pressure hot water or steam, or by means of electric heaters approved for use in oil storage tanks. Where a single tank and a single burner are installed, a shut-off valve shall be required in the supply line at the tank and another at the burner.

A remote control shall be provided to stop the flow of oil to any burner. Such control shall be located outside the entrance to the room in which the burner is located and as close to such entrance as practicable, except that when an outside location is impracticable, such control may be located immediately inside the room in which the burner is located, provided such location is accessible at all times. All such controls shall be permanently labeled “remote control for oil burner.” On storage tanks of sixty gallon or less capacity used with manually operated burners, such remote control may be installed in the supply lines between tank and burner. Pressure in a storage tank for the purpose of discharging oil shall be prohibited.

The main fuel valve is electrically operated and will open or close the line leading to the atomizer of the oil burner. It will shut down the burner system if there is a failure of ignition or combustion.

Oil circulates through the system back to the storage tank through the oil return line. The normal oil pressure for no. 6 oil burners is between 30 and 50 psi. A back pressure relief valve is provided for safety if the pressure becomes too great. Additional heaters may be present in the return line to ensure that the oil is maintained at the proper temperature for easy circulation in the system.

DIAGRAM 1 – OIL CIRCULATION

If the proper amount of air has been thoroughly mixed with the oil, and the temperature of the flame is correct, the free carbon burns completely. A correctly adjusted oil burner flame will have an orange colored flame body with small red tips. These tips will be slightly cloudy. A red, smoky flame is an indication of a lack or air. A white, almost dazzling flame is an indication of a great amount of excess air. An insufficient air supply is one cause of dense, black smoke and soot; an excessive air supply can blow out the flame.

The oil spray entering the combustion chamber burns in suspension. If any part of the spray mixture that contacts the walls of the combustion chamber it will cause a smoky fire. Over a period of time carbon deposits may build up in the combustion chamber and cause a burner failure.

Insulating firebrick makes up the walls of the combustion chamber. Insulating firebrick is lightweight firebrick that becomes cherry red 15 seconds after the burner starts. The refractory material in the combustion chamber should be closed to the flame and the oil should be burned by the reflected heat. Reflected heat, which increases combustion efficiency, is heat that is reflected back into the combustion chamber and maintains the fire after the ignition is turned off.

Fuel oil comes in several grades, from range oil or no. 1 fuel oil, to diesel oil or no. 2 fuel oil; to the heavier no. 4, no. 5, and no. 6 fuel oils. No. 6 fuel oil (sometimes called “bunker C oil” or residual fuel oil) is the heaviest commercial fuel oil. When cold, it is almost of a solid consistency. It also contains the most sediment. Strainers are required in the oil line to filter out dirt and sediment. The oil in the storage tank is maintained in a preheated condition so that when it is required it can be moved through the piping to the oil burning unit. The storage temperature range is usually just a little above the 100˚ Fahrenheit mark. When using heavy oil such as no. 6 oil, combustion is improved if the temperature of the oil is further increased before atomization and combustion. The fuel temperature is raised to about 180˚ Fahrenheit before it enters the combustion process.

Several conditions can lead to improper operation of the oil burner system and to possibly dangerous situations.

1.A defective oil cut-off valve can lead to after-drip. This is a very common condition. The oil drips into the combustion chamber when the burner is off, and the excessive oil is absorbed by the combustion chamber floor and walls. This cause the burner to be unusually noisy when it starts up or shuts down. It will eventually lead to a carbon deposit build-up and to a less efficient operation of the burner. After-drip is also dangerous in that it may lead to fire on the floor in front of the heating unit.

2.A leaking seal on the oil pump shaft bearing may also cause oil to leak on the floor in front of the heating unit. The leaked oil could become ignited also.

3.Dirty or damaged nozzles or rotary cups can cause improper atomization. This will eventually lead to a carbon deposit build-up in the combustion chamber. Nozzles in the no. 6 oil burner should be cleaned at least once a day.

4.Blockage in the chimney or flue passage will cause the cellar or boiler room to become filled with smoke.

5.Water in the fuel oil or the wrong grade of fuel oil will cause improper atomization.

6.The protective relay is supported to shut down the oil burner if a flame is not established quickly. A delay in ignition is the most common cause for burner puff-back. Puff-back can cause the boiler door to blow open and the smoke pipe to fall down.

10.The photoelectric cell is a flame detection control. It is a device that will shut down an oil burner if a flame is not visible to the scanner or photoelectric cell. A dangerous condition will arise if oil is being pumped into the combustion chamber, but not burning. The atomized, unburned fuel could cause an explosion if a spark or other source of ignition occurred.

11.The aquastat operates the oil burner in the summer for domestic hot water needs.

12.The low water cut-off is an automatic electric control that will shut the burner when the water level is below a safe operating point. A shortage of water in the steam boiler could lead to a dangerous condition.

13.The gauge glass is a device used to indicate the water level of a steam boiler. It is the most important control on the steam boiler. The gauge glass should have water visible when the boiler is in operation.

14.The stack switch (or primary control) is the main combustion controller. It will stop the oil burner and lock it out on safety in case of ignition failure or loss of flame in the combustion chamber. The stack switch operates when there is no heat in the smoke stack. A dangerous condition arises if the oil is being atomized and vaporized in the combustion chamber but no flame exists. A spark could cause an explosion in the combustion chamber.

15.The smoke alarm is a device mounted on the smoke stack or chimney. The smoke alarm will shut down an oil burner and put on an alarm if there is excessive smoke or if the fire is improper. A dangerous condition would exist if all the oil were not being burned or properly atomized, or too much oil was admitted to the combustion chamber. If the condition is not corrected, an explosion may occur. The smoke alarm is also a required combustion and air pollution control.

16.The boiler steam pressure gauge shows the steam pressure inside the steam boiler. The pressure gauge reads in psi (pounds per square inch). It is located on or near the top of the steam boiler. Normal steam pressure for low pressure boilers is less than 15 psi.

17.The safety or pop off valve is a device used to relieve excessive steam pressure. It is located on or near the top of a steam boiler.

18.The pressuretrol (Pressure Control) is an automatic electric control. It is an operating limit control and is a device that will shut down the oil burner when the steam pressure reaches a desired point. A dangerous condition could occur when the steam pressure is rising. If the pressure continued to rise unchecked, the boiler could blow up.

19.The manual reset pressuretrol is a control that will shut down a steam boiler if the pressure continues to rise above the operating pressure control setting. It will lock out the oil burner on safety in case the operating limit pressuretrol (#18) fails to stop the oil burner. This switch will not close again automatically. It must be rest manually.