Ten Ironworker questions in the format of the Red Seal exams: four options, one correct answer, no trick questions. Ironworker is three Red Seal trades, each with its own 120-question exam: Generalist (420B in Ontario), Structural/Ornamental (420A) and Reinforcing (452A, Reinforcing Rodworker in Ontario). Every question below is labelled with the exams it belongs to. They are free to use, print and share, and there is nothing to sign up for on this page.
01How to use these
The questions come from the TicketPrep Ironworker bank and follow the Generalist exam's blocks in order and roughly in the proportion the Red Seal Program publishes for that exam: A (performs common occupational skills), B (performs rigging, hoisting and positioning, and mobilization, erection, and demobilization of cranes), C (fabricates and installs reinforcing materials), D (performs pre-stressing/post-tensioning), E (performs erection, assembly and installation), F (performs maintenance and upgrading). Four are on all three exams, three on the Generalist and Reinforcing exams and three on the Generalist and Structural/Ornamental exams. If you write Structural/Ornamental or Reinforcing, the questions labelled for your exam are the ones to time yourself on. Answer each one before opening the explanation. Every explanation covers all four options, because, in the Red Seal Program's words, the incorrect options on the exam are not always obvious, and knowing why they are wrong is most of the skill.
- Pace. The Red Seal Exam Preparation Guide gives four hours of writing time; each of the three Ironworker exams has 120 questions, so that is about 2 minutes per question. Try these at that pace.
- Print. The printed version shows the questions and the answer key without the explanations, so it works as a handout. The explanations are on the web page. Download PDF
- Mark. The Red Seal Exam Preparation Guide gives the pass mark as 70 percent; seven of ten here is the same bar.
02The questions
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Three ironworkers will work on one span of a horizontal lifeline strung along a roof beam of a warehouse. The lifeline's label reads: maximum two workers per span. How should they tie off?
- All three tie off once the line is tensioned tighter.
- All three tie off, spaced well apart along the span.
- Two tie off to it; the third uses a separate anchor.
- Two tie off to it; the third clips to its end anchor.
Show the answer
C. Correct. The two-worker limit comes from the system's design: a third worker on the span adds forces and deflection the lifeline and its end anchors were not designed for. The third ironworker ties off to a separate rated anchor or another span with room.
Why not the others
A. Tightening a lifeline does not raise its rating; a tighter line passes higher forces to the end anchors in a fall. The span takes two users, so the third ties off to a separate rated anchor.
B. Spacing workers apart does not change the system's rating; the lifeline and its end anchors are designed for two users per span. The third worker ties off to a separate rated anchor.
D. The end anchor is part of the same lifeline system, so a third connection there still loads it beyond its two-worker design. The third worker needs a separate rated anchor.
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A synthetic web sling's tag lists rated capacities of 3 100 lb vertical, 2 500 lb choker and 6 200 lb basket. What leg angle does the 6 200 lb basket rating assume?
- Both legs vertical, at 90 deg to the horizontal.
- Both legs at 60 deg from the horizontal.
- Both legs at 45 deg from the horizontal.
- Any leg angle, provided both legs are equal in length.
Show the answer
A. Correct. The basket figure on a tag is twice the vertical rating (2 x 3 100 = 6 200 lb), which holds only when both legs hang vertically. With the legs inclined, the basket capacity is reduced by the ratio of vertical height to leg length.
Why not the others
B. At 60 deg the two legs would carry less than twice the vertical rating (each leg is reduced by vertical height over leg length). A basket rating of exactly 2 x 3 100 lb assumes vertical legs.
C. At 45 deg the basket capacity would be well under 6 200 lb. A rating of exactly twice the vertical figure assumes both legs hang vertically.
D. Equal legs keep the load level, but the leg angle still governs capacity: the lower the angle, the lower the capacity. The tag's basket figure assumes vertical legs.
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A 3 600 lb (1 636 kg) steel canopy frame at a stadium is lifted level on a two-leg bridle, with both legs carrying the load. Each leg is 10 ft long and the hook is 8 ft above the pick points. What is the tension in each leg?
- 1 800 lb
- 2 250 lb
- 3 000 lb
- 4 500 lb
Show the answer
B. Correct. Sling tension = W / number of slings x L / vertical L = 3 600 / 2 x 10 / 8 = 1 800 x 1.25 = 2 250 lb per leg. Choose legs rated for at least this tension in the hitch they are used in.
Why not the others
A. This is the vertical share, 3 600 / 2 = 1 800 lb, with the angle left out. Inclined legs carry more: 1 800 x 10 / 8 = 2 250 lb.
C. This uses the horizontal distance from the hook to a pick point (6 ft, from 10 squared minus 8 squared) in place of the vertical height: 1 800 x 10 / 6 = 3 000 lb. The ratio is leg length over vertical height: 1 800 x 10 / 8 = 2 250 lb.
D. This applies the angle factor to the whole load without dividing by the two legs: 3 600 x 10 / 8 = 4 500 lb. Each leg carries half: 1 800 x 1.25 = 2 250 lb.
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On the mobile crane hand signal chart used on site, the signaller clasps both hands together in front of the body. What does this signal mean?
- Dog everything: stop and secure all motions.
- Use the main hoist for the next motion.
- Move slowly on the motion that follows.
- Retract the telescoping boom on the next motion.
Show the answer
A. Correct. Clasped hands in front of the body is 'dog everything': the operator stops and secures every motion (hoist, boom, swing) and waits, for example while the crew changes rigging or clears a hazard.
Why not the others
B. The main hoist is called by tapping a fist on top of the head, then giving the regular signals. Clasped hands mean dog everything.
C. Move slowly is shown by holding one hand still in front of the hand giving the motion signal. Clasped hands mean dog everything.
D. Retract is shown with both fists in front of the body, thumbs pointing toward each other. Clasped hands mean dog everything.
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A 25M L-bar for a wind turbine foundation has straight legs of 400 mm and 1 000 mm with one 90° bend. Using cut length = all lengths + 2 bar diameters per bend, with db taken as 25 mm, what is the cut length?
- 1 350 mm
- 1 400 mm
- 1 450 mm
- 1 500 mm
Show the answer
C. Correct. All lengths = 400 + 1 000 = 1 400 mm; one bend adds 2 × 25 = 50 mm; cut length = 1 450 mm.
Why not the others
A. This subtracts the bend allowance: 1 400 − 2 × 25 = 1 350 mm. The rule adds 2 db per bend: 1 400 + 50 = 1 450 mm.
B. This is the leg total with no bend allowance. Add 2 bar diameters for the one bend: 1 400 + 2 × 25 = 1 450 mm.
D. This adds 100 mm, as if the bar had two bends (or 4 db for its one bend). An L-bar has one bend: 1 400 + 2 × 25 = 1 450 mm.
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On the two-way bottom mat of an office-tower slab, which tie is normally used at most intersections to keep the bars from being displaced?
- Saddle tie.
- Single (snap) tie.
- Wrap and single tie.
- Wrap and saddle tie.
Show the answer
B. Correct. The single, or snap, tie is the normal tie for securing a crossing against displacement, and it is the quickest to make, which matters on a mat with thousands of intersections. Heavier ties are kept for the places that need them.
Why not the others
A. A saddle tie is used particularly in footings and mats to hold the bent ends of bars in position. The ordinary crossings of a slab mat take the single (snap) tie.
C. The wrap and single tie is normally used on wall reinforcement, where it keeps the horizontal bars from shifting. A slab mat needs only the single (snap) tie at most crossings.
D. The wrap and saddle tie is for heavy bars pre-assembled into units that are lifted by crane, where the ties take a lot of strain. A slab mat built in place uses the single (snap) tie.
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What does the bursting steel placed behind a group of stressing anchorages do?
- Holds the anchors at profile height until the pour.
- Supports the strand tails while the stressing jack is fitted.
- Locks the anchors to the edge form so they cannot rotate.
- Resists the splitting tension behind the anchors.
Show the answer
D. Correct. The concentrated anchor force spreads into the concrete and creates tension that tries to split it behind the anchorages. Bursting steel is non-prestressed reinforcement placed and tied there, as detailed, to resist it.
Why not the others
A. Anchors are held by fixing them to the edge form; tendons are held at profile by chairs and support bars. Bursting steel is there to resist the splitting tension the anchor force causes behind the anchors.
B. The strand tail projects through the pocket and needs no support for the jack. Bursting steel is reinforcement that resists the splitting (bursting) tension behind the anchors.
C. The anchor is fastened to the edge form with its pocket former; that is a forming detail. Bursting steel stays in the slab to resist the splitting tension from the anchor force.
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A guy for a 12.0 m stadium column is attached 11.0 m above the base plate and anchored 8.0 m out on level ground at base-plate height. Ignoring sag and the rope in the terminations, how long is the guy, to the nearest 0.1 m?
- 7.5 m
- 13.6 m
- 14.4 m
- 19.0 m
Show the answer
B. Correct. The guy is the hypotenuse of a right triangle with sides 11.0 m and 8.0 m: sqrt(11.0^2 + 8.0^2) = sqrt(185) = 13.60 m, so 13.6 m. Add the length the terminations take when cutting the cable.
Why not the others
A. This subtracts the squares: sqrt(11.0^2 - 8.0^2) = sqrt(57) = 7.5 m. The guy is the hypotenuse, so the squares add: sqrt(121 + 64) = 13.6 m.
C. This uses the full 12.0 m column height instead of the 11.0 m attachment height: sqrt(144 + 64) = 14.4 m. The guy ends at its attachment: sqrt(11.0^2 + 8.0^2) = 13.6 m.
D. This adds the two sides, 11.0 + 8.0 = 19.0 m. The guy runs on the diagonal: sqrt(11.0^2 + 8.0^2) = 13.6 m.
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On a pre-engineered warehouse, which of these members is a secondary member?
- A purlin.
- A rigid-frame rafter.
- A main-frame column.
- A roof truss.
Show the answer
A. Correct. Purlins, like girts, braces and joists, are secondary members: they are carried by the primary frame and support the roof cladding.
Why not the others
B. The rafter of a rigid frame is part of the primary frame that carries the roof and its secondary framing down to the columns.
C. Columns are primary members; they carry the frame's loads to the foundations.
D. Trusses are primary members, carrying the roof framing between columns or walls.
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The four bolts in a shear connection between a pipe-rack beam and its column are corroded and will all be replaced while the beam stays loaded, as the engineer has allowed. How are the bolts changed?
- Every second bolt first, then the other two.
- All together, with drift pins holding the holes in line.
- Two at a time, working down from the top bolt of the joint.
- One at a time, each new bolt in before the next comes out.
Show the answer
D. Correct. A loaded connection needs nearly all of its bolts to carry the beam. Changing one bolt at a time, with each new bolt tightened before the next old one comes out, means the joint is never short more than one bolt, so three of the four are always carrying the beam.
Why not the others
A. Pulling every second bolt takes two of the four out at once and halves the connection while the beam is loaded. Bolts are changed one at a time so the joint is never short more than one bolt.
B. Drift pins align holes; they are not relied on to carry a loaded beam, and taking every bolt out at once leaves the connection on pins alone. Bolts are changed one at a time.
C. Two at a time takes half of a four-bolt joint out of a loaded connection at once. One at a time keeps three of the four bolts working throughout.
03Answer key
| Question | Answer | Work activity | Exams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | C | Performs common occupational skills | All three exams |
| Q2 | A | Performs rigging, hoisting and positioning, and mobilization, erection, and demobilization of cranes | All three exams |
| Q3 | B | Performs rigging, hoisting and positioning, and mobilization, erection, and demobilization of cranes | All three exams |
| Q4 | A | Performs rigging, hoisting and positioning, and mobilization, erection, and demobilization of cranes | All three exams |
| Q5 | C | Fabricates and installs reinforcing materials | Generalist and Reinforcing exams |
| Q6 | B | Fabricates and installs reinforcing materials | Generalist and Reinforcing exams |
| Q7 | D | Performs pre-stressing/post-tensioning | Generalist and Reinforcing exams |
| Q8 | B | Performs erection, assembly and installation | Generalist and Structural/Ornamental exams |
| Q9 | A | Performs erection, assembly and installation | Generalist and Structural/Ornamental exams |
| Q10 | D | Performs maintenance and upgrading | Generalist and Structural/Ornamental exams |
04More free questions
For the exams themselves, the Ironworker Red Seal exam guide covers all three breakdowns, the formula sheets and which exam is written where, and the Ironworker Red Seal practice exam page describes the full TicketPrep Ironworker question bank. The same free format is available for the other 15 trades, plus the free guides on the pass mark, question counts, exam day and how to study.
How these questions are written and checked: how our questions are made. Found a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.
05Questions by exam block
Working on one part of the exam? Each of the Generalist exam's six blocks has its own page with five more free questions, the tasks the block covers and their weights. The Structural/Ornamental and Reinforcing exams are built from the same blocks under their own letters, and each page says which exams use it.