Exam Cheat Sheet · Quick Reference
Alabama Marine Construction Contractor
Alabama · PSI Services Contractor
Verified, not estimated. Every figure below is drawn from the official exam structure we maintain — question counts, passing standard and topic weighting. Practice questions are grounded in the source law with statute citations. We omit any figure we can't verify rather than guess at it.
Total questions
50
Passing score
70%
Exam time
120 min
Administered by
PSI Services Contractor
Format
Reference materials allowed
Alabama State Portion 50 questions
Safety
6 Q · 12%
Fall protection systems and requirements (guardrail, safety net, personal fall arrest)Personal protective equipment selection and useCranes and derricks — safe operation, load charts, and riggingConfined spaces — permit-required entry procedures and atmospheric monitoringFire protection and prevention on construction sitesExcavation and trenching safety (shoring, sloping, and cave-in protection)Scaffolding — erection, capacity, and fall protection requirementsBlasting and explosives handling, storage, and transport
Miscellaneous Engineering – Pile Driving
25 Q · 50%
Types of piles and their classifications (timber, concrete, steel, sheet, composite)Pile-driving hammers: types, selection, and energy outputPile-driving equipment operation and driving proceduresDriving stresses and pile cushion requirements for concrete pilesSheet pile installation methods and cofferdam applicationsAir compressors and compressed-air systems for pile-driving hammersCrane selection and configuration for pile-driving operationsEquipment economics and ownership/operating costs for pile-driving equipmentSoil and rock properties, swell and shrinkage factors, and compaction for marine and foundation workExcavator, dozer, scraper and hauling equipment production and cycle-time estimatingCrane selection, load charts, lift planning and rigging for marine constructionDewatering and compressed air: pumps, air compressors and pneumatic tools
+3 more
Concrete
15 Q · 30%
Cement types and properties (portland, blended, hydraulic)Concrete mix design and proportioning (water-cementitious materials ratio, aggregate selection, air content)Durability and exposure categories (freeze-thaw, sulfate attack, chloride corrosion, permeability)Admixtures for concrete (air-entraining, water-reducing, accelerating, retarding, supplementary cementitious materials)Placing, finishing, and consolidation of concrete (subgrade preparation, depositing, formwork pressure)Curing methods and materials (wet curing, membrane curing, curing duration and temperature effects)Hot and cold weather concreting precautionsConcrete testing methods (slump, air content, compressive strength, density, fresh concrete sampling)
Concrete - Reinforcing Steel
4 Q · 8%
Reinforcing bar types, grades, and ASTM specificationsBar identification markings and size designationsConcrete cover requirements and placement tolerancesBar supports: types, selection, and placementSplice types: lap, mechanical, and welded splicesPlacing reinforcing bars in footings, walls, and columnsCoated reinforcing steel: epoxy, galvanized, and handling requirementsInspection of placed reinforcing steel
Key Distinctions
Isolation jointvsContraction joint
Isolation joints separate a placement from other parts of the structure (floors at walls, columns, footings) and extend the full depth of the slab with a premolded joint filler, while contraction joints extend only about one-quarter of the concrete thickness.
Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th ed., Chapter 9 - Properties of Concrete, Page 184 (16th ed.: Page 282)Equipment ownership costvsEquipment operating cost
Major repairs and overhauls are ownership costs because they extend service life and act as an investment in a new machine, whereas fuel, lubricants, and tires are operating costs.
Construction Equipment Guide, Chapter 2, Page 80Operating leasevsDirect ownership
An operating lease is an operating expense (off-balance-sheet financing) that typically does not hurt bonding capacity, while ownership gives tax depreciation shield, guaranteed availability, and control of mechanical condition but carries debt liability that can reduce bonding capacity.
Construction Equipment Guide, Chapter 2 - Equipment Economics, Lease considerationsRated load on outriggers or rubber tires (85% of tipping load)vsRated load crawler-mounted (75% of tipping load)
Per PCSA standards, machines on outriggers and rubber-tire-mounted machines are limited to 85% of tipping load at specified radii, while crawler-mounted machines are limited to 75%.
Construction Equipment Guide, Chapter 16 - Cranes, RATED LOADS FOR LATTICE- AND TELESCOPING-BOOM CRANESType III portland cementvsType I portland cement
Type III is chemically similar to Type I but ground finer to give high early strength for early form removal and quick service, and it permits a shorter curing period in cold weather.
Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th ed., Chapter 2 - Portland, Blended, and Other Hydraulic Cements, Page 26 (16th ed.: Page 113)Type V portland cementvsType II(MH) portland cement
Type V is for severe sulfate exposure (high sulfate resistance from C3A not more than 5%), while Type II(MH) is a moderate-heat cement that generates heat more slowly by limiting the heat index (C₃S + 4.75 C₃A) to a maximum of 100 for mass elements.
Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th ed., Chapter 2 - Portland, Blended, and Other Hydraulic Cements, Page 26 (16th ed.: Page 113)Fly ashvsSilica fume
Adding fly ash generally reduces water demand (and decreases air content unless the air-entraining admixture is adjusted), whereas silica fume increases water demand.
Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th ed., Chapter 13 - Specifying, Designing, and Proportioning Concrete Mixtures, Page 270 (16th ed.: Page 363)Calcium chloride acceleratorvsNon-chloride accelerator
Calcium chloride is an effective set accelerator but chlorides accelerate corrosion of reinforcing steel (and it is not an effective antifreeze, lowering the freezing point only a few degrees), so non-chloride accelerators are more appropriate in steel-reinforced concrete.
Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th ed., Chapter 6 - Chemical Admixtures for Concrete, Page 129 (16th ed.: Pages 222-223)Set-retarding admixturevsAccelerating admixture
A set retarder extends the period concrete remains plastic to offset hot-weather setting and prevent cold joints, while an accelerator shortens setting time for cold-weather or early-strength needs.
Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th ed., Chapter 6 - Chemical Admixtures for Concrete, Page 130 (16th ed.: Page 221)Membrane-forming curing compoundvsPlastic sheet curing
For fall paving where deicers will be used, membrane-forming compounds remain intact until abraded by traffic and prevent adequate air drying before winter, so plastic sheets, which allow drying when curing ends, are preferable.
Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th ed., Chapter 11 - Durability, Page 221 (16th ed.: Page 326)Cohesive soil swell (bank to loose)vsSolid rock swell
Cohesive soils swell about 40% between bank and loose states, while solid rock swells as much as 65% bank-to-loose and 20 to 40% from bank to placement in an embankment.
Construction Equipment Guide, Chapter 4 - Soil and Rock, Volumetric MeasureAverage-end-area volume method (±1.0%)vsTrapezoidal area formula (±0.5%)
The average-end-area method gives volumes generally slightly in excess of actual with a precision of ±1.0%, while the trapezoidal formula for area is more precise at about ±0.5%.
Construction Equipment Guide, Chapter 3 - Planning for Earthwork Construction, Volume CalculationLow-slope roof fall protection (slope ≤ 4 in 12)vsSteep roof fall protection
On low-slope roofs with unprotected edges 6 ft or more above lower levels, a combination of warning line system and safety monitoring system is permitted along with guardrail, safety net, or personal fall arrest systems, while guardrails with toeboards are required for steep roofs under §1926.501(b)(11).
29 CFR 1926, §1926.501(b)(10)Standard 100-ft cross-section spacingvs25-ft cross-section spacing
Regular ground surfaces are sectioned at the standard 100-ft station spacing, but tight curves or rapid topography changes such as swales and drop-offs often warrant 25-ft spacing.
Construction Equipment Guide, Chapter 3 - Planning for Earthwork Construction, Volume Calculation / Example 3.2Key Terms
Competent person OSHA 1926 CFR 29, Page 31
Per 29 CFR 1926.32(f), one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions that are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them (no specific degree, years of experience, or certificate required).
Danger sign OSHA 1926 CFR 29, §1926.200(b)(1)
Per §1926.200(b), a sign used only where an immediate hazard exists, having red as the predominating color for the upper panel, black outline on the borders, and a white lower panel for additional wording.
Emergency action plan (10 or fewer employees) OSHA 1926 CFR 29, §1926.35(e)(3)
Per §1926.35(e)(3), for employers with 10 or fewer employees the plan may be communicated orally and no written plan need be maintained.
Fire alarm system (construction site) OSHA 1926.150(e)(1) and (e)(2)
Per §1926.150(e)(1)-(2), an alarm system such as a telephone system or siren established by the employer so employees on the site and the local fire department can be alerted for an emergency, with the alarm code and reporting instructions conspicuously posted at phones and employee entrances.
Excavation daily inspection 29 CFR 1926, §1926.651(k)(1)
Per §1926.651(k)(1), a competent person's inspection made prior to the start of work, as needed throughout the shift, and after every rainstorm or other hazard-increasing occurrence, looking for possible cave-ins, failure of protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions.
Isolation joint Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th ed., Chapter 9 - Properties of Concrete, Page 184 (16th ed.: Page 282)
A joint that separates a concrete placement from other parts of the structure and permits horizontal and vertical movement, used at junctions with walls, columns, and footings, extending the full slab depth with a premolded joint filler.
Bleeding Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th ed., Chapter 9 - Properties of Concrete, Page 165 (16th ed.: Chapter 12, Page 261)
The development of a layer of water at the top or surface of freshly placed concrete caused by sedimentation of solid particles and simultaneous upward migration of water.
Vapor retarder Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th ed., Chapter 15 - Placing and Finishing Concrete, Page 315 (16th ed.: Pages 413-414)
A polyethylene film or polyolefin sheet placed beneath a slab on ground to slow the movement of water vapor through the floor, used under floors likely to receive an impermeable covering or where vapor could damage moisture-sensitive equipment or materials.
Entrained air voids Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th ed., Chapter 11 - Durability, Page 219 (16th ed.: Page 324)
Empty chambers in the paste where freezing (expanding) and migrating water can enter, relieving hydraulic and osmotic pressures and preventing freeze-thaw damage; on thawing most water returns to the capillaries.
Flowing concrete Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th ed., Chapter 6 - Chemical Admixtures for Concrete, Page 124 (16th ed.: Page 217)
Concrete having a slump greater than 190 mm (7.5 in.) while maintaining cohesive properties, typically produced with high-range water reducers for placement in congested reinforcement with little or no vibration.
Shrinkage-reducing admixture (SRA) Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th ed., Chapter 6 - Chemical Admixtures for Concrete, Page 132 (16th ed.: Page 226)
An admixture that can delay time of set and slow the bleed rate, so premature finishing can trap bleedwater and cause surface delamination.
Recycled-concrete aggregate (RCA) Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th ed., Chapter 5 - Aggregates for Concrete, Page 97 (16th ed.: Pages 184-185)
Crushed old concrete aggregate that has a lower specific gravity and much higher absorption (typically 3% to 10%) than conventional aggregate because of the porous hardened cement paste on the particles, requiring added water or prewetting for equal workability.
Pressure method (ASTM C231) for air content Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th ed., Chapter 20 - Test Methods, Page 431 (16th ed.: Page 509)
An air-content test based on Boyle's law that compresses all air in the sample, including air in aggregate pores, making it unsuitable for concretes made with lightweight or other very porous aggregates.
Sealing in the mix water (curing method) Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th ed., Chapter 17 - Curing Concrete, Page 371 (16th ed.: Chapter 18, Page 453)
Curing by covering concrete with impervious paper or plastic sheets, or applying membrane-forming curing compounds, to reduce loss of mixing water from the surface, as distinguished from ponding/fogging (which add moisture) and accelerated curing (heat and moisture).
Station / station yard Construction Equipment Guide, Chapter 3 - Planning for Earthwork Construction, GRAPHICAL PRESENTATION OF EARTHWORK
A station is a horizontal distance of 100 ft between adjacent stations; a station yard is the work measure of moving 1 cubic yard through one station (100 ft), used in mass diagram analysis.
Balance line Construction Equipment Guide, Chapter 3 - Planning for Earthwork Construction, Balance Lines
A horizontal line on a mass diagram that intersects the diagram in two places and whose length equals the maximum economical haul distance for a particular machine type.
Optimum economic life Construction Equipment Guide, Chapter 2, Pages 100-103
The ownership time duration yielding the minimum total hourly cost, found where decreasing cumulative ownership cost per hour and increasing cumulative operating cost per hour combine to a minimum.
Tag line (clamshell) Construction Equipment Guide, Chapter 9 - Excavators, Lattice-Boom Clamshells
A small-diameter cable with a spring-tension winder, usually mounted on the lower boom, that prevents the clamshell bucket from twisting while being hoisted and lowered without operator control.
Concrete (mixture proportions) Placing Reinforcing Bars (10th ed.), Chapter 3 — Concrete and Reinforced Concrete - Definitions
A mixture of one part cement, about 1½ to 2½ parts fine aggregate (usually sand), about 3 to 5 parts coarse aggregate (gravel, crushed stone, or blast-furnace slag), and clean water.
Formulas to Know
Engineering News pile formula, safe load (single-acting hammer)
Safe load = (W × h) / (s + 1), where s = penetration in inches per blow; a safety factor of six is built into the equationRoller production in compacted cubic yards per hour
Production (ccy/hr) = [speed (fpm) × width (ft) × lift thickness (ft) × 60 min/hr × efficiency] ÷ number of passesMaximum vibratory roller speed for required impacts per foot
Speed (mph) = [frequency (vpm) ÷ impacts per foot] ÷ 88; e.g., (2,500 ÷ 6) ÷ 88 ≈ 4.7 mphCompacted cubic yards to bank cubic yards
bcy = ccy ÷ shrinkage/conversion factor; e.g., 4,400 ÷ 0.88 = 5,000 bcy and 5,000 ÷ 0.90 = 5,556 bcyAverage-end-area earthwork volume
V = [(A1 + A2) ÷ 2] × L; e.g., [(320 + 480)/2] × 50 ft = 20,000 cu ft (precision ±1.0%, slightly in excess of actual)Self-priming pump suction lift at elevation
Suction lift = 25 ft (sea-level maximum) − 1 ft per 1,000 ft of elevation; e.g., 7,000 ft → 18 ft; 6,000 ft → 19 ftHourly rental rate and rental-vs-ownership breakeven
Hourly rate = monthly rate ÷ 176 hr (daily = 8 hr, weekly = 40 hr); e.g., $3,558 ÷ 176 = $20.22/hr. Breakeven hours = annual ownership cost ÷ hourly rental rate; e.g., $26,304 ÷ $20.22 ≈ 1,300 hr/yrNominal maximum aggregate size limits (ACI 318)
Dmax must not exceed: ¾ × clear spacing between bars and between bars and forms (e.g., ¾ × 32 mm = 24 mm → use next standard size not exceeding it, 19 mm); 1/5 the narrowest dimension of a vertical member (12 in. ÷ 5 = 2.4 in.); and 1/3 the slab depth (4 in. ÷ 3 = 1-1/3 in.) — the smallest governsConcrete volume in cubic yards and ordering rounding
cu yd = (L × W × D in feet) ÷ 27; e.g., pier 2.5 × 2.5 × 1 = 6.25 cu ft × 3 = 18.75 ÷ 27 = 0.69 cu yd. Footing length = outside perimeter = 2 × (L + W). Round a single footing order UP to the next quarter yard (4.48 → 4.5 cu yd); round a summed total order UP to the next whole yard (17.65 → 18 cu yd)Slab and wall quantities from printed tables, plus form contact area
4-in. slab: one cubic yard covers 81 sq ft, so cu yd = area ÷ 81, rounded up to whole yards (1,408 ÷ 81 = 17.38 → 18 cu yd). 8-in. wall: cu yd = (wall area ÷ 100) × 2.47 cu yd per 100 sq ft (1,088 ÷ 100 × 2.47 = 26.87). Wall form contact area = 2 × perimeter × height (2 × 152 × 8 = 2,432 sq ft)