Exam Cheat Sheet · Quick Reference
South Carolina Marine
South Carolina · 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
180 min
Administered by
PSI Services Contractor
Format
Reference materials allowed
South Carolina State Portion 50 questions
Safety - Marine
6 Q · 12%
Marine operations safety requirements (OSHA 1926 Subpart O)Floating cranes and cranes on barges — stability, list, trim, and free surface effectMarine hoisted personnel transfer and hoisting over waterCofferdams — controlled flooding, guardrails, evacuation warnings, and proximity to navigation channelsCaissons — compressed air medical requirements, man locks, and decompression proceduresSubaqueous excavation notification and tolerance zone requirements (SC 811)Underground construction hoisting — personnel hoists, cage requirements, and shaft safetyDiving operations — pre-dive, in-dive, post-dive procedures and dive team qualifications
Miscellaneous Engineering - Pile Driving
25 Q · 50%
Pile types and classifications (timber, concrete, steel, sheet piles)Pile load transfer mechanisms (friction piles vs. end-bearing piles)Pile-driving hammer types (single-acting, double-acting, diesel, hydraulic, vibratory)Hammer selection criteria and Engineering News pile formulaPile driving support systems (fixed leads, swing leads, templates, batter piles)Jetting, spudding, and preaugering techniquesSite investigation and test pile programs for bearing capacityCompressed air systems for pile-driving hammers (pressure loss, hose and pipe sizing)
Concrete
15 Q · 30%
Concrete mix design and proportioning (water-cementitious materials ratio, aggregate sizing, admixtures)Properties of fresh concrete (workability, slump, bleeding, air content, consistency)Batching, mixing, transporting, and handling ready-mixed concreteSubgrade preparation, formwork, and concrete placement proceduresCuring methods and materials (moist curing, membrane compounds, temperature requirements)Concrete durability (freeze-thaw resistance, sulfate attack, permeability, abrasion resistance)Steel reinforcement — types, grades, placement, cover, and splicing requirementsOSHA safety requirements for concrete and masonry construction operations
Concrete - Reinforcing Steel
4 Q · 8%
Reinforcing bar types, grades, and identification markingsBar sizes, dimensions, and standard ASTM specificationsConcrete cover requirements for different structural membersPlacement tolerances for reinforcing bars in structural membersTypes of bar splices: lap, mechanical, and weldedBar supports: types, sizes, and placement requirementsTying and securing reinforcing bars to prevent displacementSafety precautions for handling, hoisting, and placing reinforcing steel
Key Distinctions
Isolation jointvsContraction joint
Isolation joints separate a placement from other parts of the structure (at floor-to-wall, column, and footing junctions) and extend the full depth of the slab with a premolded 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)Flash set (quick set)vsFalse set
Flash set occurs when the proper amount or form of calcium sulfate is not available to control C₃A hydration, giving rapid workability loss with considerable heat that cannot be dispelled by further mixing without adding water, whereas false set comes from rapid crystallization of secondary gypsum (too much gypsum dehydrated to plaster during finish milling).
Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th ed., Chapter 2 - Portland, Blended, and Other Hydraulic Cements, Page 48 (16th ed.: Page 134)Ownership costvsOperating cost
Major repairs and overhauls are ownership costs because they extend service life (an investment in a new machine), while fuel, lubricants, and tires are operating costs.
Construction Equipment Guide, Chapter 2, Page 80Leasing equipment (operating lease)vsDirect ownership
An operating lease is an operating expense rather than a liability (off-balance-sheet financing), so it preserves bonding capacity, while ownership gives tax depreciation shield, guaranteed availability, and control of mechanical condition but its debt liability can reduce bonding capacity.
Construction Equipment Guide, Chapter 2 - Equipment Economics, Lease considerationsType III portland cementvsType I portland cement
Type III is chemically similar to Type I but ground to a finer particle size to give higher early strength (early form removal, quick service, shorter cold-weather curing).
Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th ed., Chapter 2 - Portland, Blended, and Other Hydraulic Cements, Page 26 (16th ed.: Page 113)Type II(MH) portland cementvsType V portland cement
Type II(MH) limits the heat index (C₃S + 4.75 C₃A) to a maximum of 100 to generate heat more slowly for mass elements, while Type V is for severe sulfate exposure with C₃A limited to not more than 5%.
Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th ed., Chapter 2 - Portland, Blended, and Other Hydraulic Cements, Page 30 (16th ed.: Page 112)Fly ash in a mixvsSilica fume in a mix
Fly ash generally reduces water demand (about 1% to 10% less at normal dosages for a given slump, similar to a water reducer) while silica fume increases water demand.
Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th ed., Chapter 3 - Supplementary Cementitious Materials, Page 67 (16th ed.: Page 155)Silica fume for chloride resistancevsClass F fly ash / slag cement for chloride resistance
Silica fume dramatically reduces chloride penetrability, reaching very low penetrability by 28 days, whereas Class F fly ash and slag show only slight early-age improvement and reach very low values at about one year.
Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th ed., Chapter 3 - Supplementary Cementitious Materials, Page 74 (16th ed.: Pages 161-162)Membrane-forming curing compound (fall paving)vsPlastic sheet curing (fall paving)
Membranes remain intact until abraded by traffic, preventing adequate air drying before winter deicer exposure, so plastic sheets that allow drying at the end of curing are preferable where deicers will be used.
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% from bank to loose, while solid rock swells as much as 65% bank-to-loose and 20 to 40% from bank to placement in an embankment (cohesive soil shrinks 10–30% bank to compacted).
Construction Equipment Guide, Chapter 4 - Soil and Rock, Volumetric MeasureStandard 100-ft cross-section spacingvs25-ft cross-section spacing
Regular ground surfaces use 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 3.2Pressure method for air content (ASTM C231)vsConcrete with lightweight/porous aggregate
The pressure method is based on Boyle's law and compresses air in aggregate pores too, so it is not suitable for concrete made with some lightweight or very porous aggregates.
Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th ed., Chapter 20 - Test Methods, Page 431 (16th ed.: Page 509)Recycled-concrete aggregate (RCA)vsConventional natural aggregate
RCA has significantly lower specific gravity and much higher absorption (typically 3% to 10%) because of the porous old cement paste, requiring added water or prewetting for the same workability.
Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th ed., Chapter 5 - Aggregates for Concrete, Page 97 (16th ed.: Pages 184-185)Key Terms
Competent person OSHA 1926 CFR 29, Page 31
Per 29 CFR 1926.32(f), one 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).
Daily excavation inspection 29 CFR 1926, §1926.651(k)(1)
Per 29 CFR 1926.651(k)(1), a competent person inspects for evidence of possible cave-ins, indications of failure of protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions, before work starts and as needed through the shift and after every rainstorm or other hazard-increasing occurrence.
Fire extinguisher requirement (1926.150(c)(1)(i)) OSHA 1926.150(c)(1)(i)
An extinguisher rated not less than 2A must be provided for each 3,000 square feet of protected building area, or major fraction thereof.
Fire alarm system (1926.150(e)) OSHA 1926.150(e)(1) and (e)(2)
An employer-established alarm system (telephone, siren, etc.) by which site employees and the local fire department can be alerted for an emergency, with alarm code and reporting instructions conspicuously posted at phones and employee entrances.
First aid kit inspection (1926.50) OSHA 1926 CFR 29, Page 33
Kit contents must be checked by the employer before being sent out on each job and at least weekly on each job so expended items are replaced.
Danger sign (1926.200(b)(2)) OSHA 1926 CFR 29, Page 201
A sign with red as the predominating color for the upper panel, black outline on the borders, and a white lower panel for additional sign wording.
Portable ladder access extension (1926.1053(b)(1)) 29 CFR 1926, §1926.1053(b)(1)
When a portable ladder is used for access to an upper landing surface, the side rails must extend at least 3 feet (0.9 m) above that landing surface.
Tolerance zone (SC Section 58-36-20(21)(a)) SC 811 Excavator Manual (2026), Page 28 (Tolerance Zone & Safe Digging Practices)
When the facility diameter is known, the zone extending one-half of the known diameter plus 24 inches on either side of the designated center line of the underground facility.
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 with 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 under slabs on ground to slow the movement of water vapor through the floor; used where an impermeable floor covering is likely 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.
Sealing in the mix water Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th ed., Chapter 17 - Curing Concrete, Page 371 (16th ed.: Chapter 18, Page 453)
A curing method that covers concrete with impervious paper or plastic sheets, or applies membrane-forming curing compounds, to reduce loss of mixing water from the surface (as opposed to ponding/fogging, which add moisture).
Station Construction Equipment Guide, Chapter 3 - Planning for Earthwork Construction, GRAPHICAL PRESENTATION OF EARTHWORK
A horizontal distance of 100 feet; adjacent stations are 100 ft apart.
Station yard Construction Equipment Guide, Chapter 3 - Planning for Earthwork Construction, MASS DIAGRAM
A measure of earthwork work equal to the movement of 1 cubic yard through a distance of 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, with its length equal to the maximum economical haul distance for a particular machine type.
Tag line 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 a clamshell bucket from twisting while being hoisted and lowered, requiring no operator control.
Optimum economic life Construction Equipment Guide, Chapter 2, Pages 100-103
The ownership time duration yielding the minimum total hourly cost, found by combining ownership cost per hour (which decreases) with operating cost per hour (which increases).
Bar support height tolerance Placing Reinforcing Bars (10th ed.), Chapter 10 — Bar Supports
Bar support height is measured from the bottom of the leg, sand plate, or runner wire to the underside of the reinforcing bar, and a variation of ±1/8 inch from the specified nominal height is a normal construction tolerance.
Formulas to Know
Concrete volume of footings, piers, and other prisms
Volume (cu yd) = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft) ÷ 27; for a continuous footing, length = outside perimeter = 2 × (L + W). Example: 124 ft × 1.333 ft × 0.833 ft = 137.78 cu ft ÷ 27 = 5.10 cu yd; pier 2.5 × 2.5 × 1 = 6.25 cu ft × 3 = 18.75 ÷ 27 = 0.69 cu ydConcrete for a 4-inch slab using Table 11-1
One cubic yard covers 81 sq ft at 4 in.: cu yd = slab area (sq ft) ÷ 81, rounded UP to whole yards. Example: 30 × 32 = 960 ÷ 81 = 11.85 → 12 cu yd (check: 960 × 0.333 ÷ 27 = 11.85)Concrete in 8-inch foundation walls using the printed table
cu yd = (wall area ÷ 100) × 2.47 cu yd per 100 sq ft, where wall area = perimeter × height. Example: 136 × 8 = 1,088 sq ft ÷ 100 = 10.88 × 2.47 = 26.87 cu yd (check: 1,088 × 0.667 ÷ 27 = 26.86)Wall form contact area
Contact area (sq ft) = 2 (both faces) × perimeter (ft) × height (ft). Example: 2 × 136 × 8 = 2,176 sq ftOrdering rule for a continuous footing
Round the net footing volume UP to the next quarter yard. Examples: 5.10 → 5.25 cu yd; 4.48 → 4.5 cu yd; 7.31 → 7.5 cu yd; 6.91 → 7 cu ydTotal concrete order for multiple elements
Sum the net volumes, then round UP to the next whole yard. Examples: 5.10 + 0.69 + 11.85 = 17.65 → 18 cu yd; 9.38 + 0.59 + 17.38 = 27.36 → 28 cu yd; 6.91 + 0.30 = 7.21 → 8 cu yd; walls + footing summed net: 26.87 + 4.48 = 31.35 cu ydBank yards converted to loose (hauled) yards
Loose cu yd = bank cu yd × (1 + swell). Example at printed 30% swell: 25.19 × 1.30 = 32.74 loose cu ydNumber of truck loads to haul spoil
Loads = loose cu yd ÷ truck capacity, rounded UP (use loose, not bank, volume). Example: 32.74 ÷ 12 = 2.73 → 3 loadsNominal maximum aggregate size limits
Not more than 3/4 of the clear spacing between bars and between bars and forms, 1/5 the narrowest dimension of a vertical member, and 1/3 the depth of a slab; the smallest governs. Example: 4-in. slab → 4 ÷ 3 ≈ 1-1/3 in. governs over 12 ÷ 5 = 2.4 in.8-inch concrete block counts
Three courses stack 2 ft, so courses = height × 3/2 (4 ft → 6 courses); three blocks lay 4 ft, so blocks per course = length × 3/4 (32 ft → 24 blocks)