Minnesota Boiler License Practice Exam

Each boiler shall have:

1. Only one safety valve

2. Two safety valves

3. One or more safety valves

4. At least three safety valves

The correct answer is: One or more safety valves

Safety valves are critical components of a boiler system, ensuring that pressure does not exceed safe operating limits. The requirement for each boiler to have one or more safety valves aligns with the fundamental principle of safety in boiler operation. This means that not only can a boiler have a single safety valve, which is often sufficient for smaller boilers, but larger or more critical systems may require additional safety valves to provide redundancies and ensure safety in case one valve fails. Operating guidelines typically state that each boiler needs at least one safety valve that is properly sized for the specific boiler's output and pressure requirements. If the boiler is of a larger capacity or operates at higher pressures, there may be a need for more than one safety valve to ensure adequate relief capacity. The goal is to prevent dangerous situations that could lead to boiler explosions or equipment failures. Thus, the correct choice emphasizes the flexibility in the design of boiler safety systems, recognizing that multiple safety valves can enhance safety, but a boiler must have at least one to meet operational safety standards.