FDNY E13 Underwater Blasting Exam

FDNY E13 Underwater Blasting Exam Practice Questions And Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf

• Which document grants legal authority to perform underwater

blasting in New York City waters?

• State environmental waiver
• Local business license
• FDNY blasting permit
• Harbormaster verbal approval

Rationale: Underwater blasting in NYC requires an FDNY blasting

permit issued after review of safety and regulatory compliance.

• The primary purpose of a pre-blast survey for an underwater blast is

to:

• Test explosives on site
• Identify underwater hazards and nearby structures/occupants
• Determine the weather for the day
• Estimate the cost of operations 1 / 4

Rationale: A pre-blast survey documents nearby structures, marine

life, vessels, and seabed conditions to plan safety zones and mitigation.

• Which professional is typically responsible for designing an

underwater blast plan?

• Site foreman
• Local dive shop owner
• Qualified blasting engineer or licensed blaster with underwater

experience

• Harbor patrol officer

Rationale: Blast plans require technical knowledge; a qualified

blasting engineer or licensed underwater blaster prepares the design and safety measures.

4. Before conducting underwater blasting, notification must be given to:

• Only the hire company’s office
• FDNY, local marine authorities, and nearby stakeholders
• Random contractors in the area
• Only the dive team

Rationale: Notifications ensure coordination with regulators,

maritime traffic control, and affected parties for safety and legal compliance.

• What is a key environmental concern specific to underwater blasting?
• Air contamination only 2 / 4

• Soil erosion on land only
• Marine life injury from shock waves and debris
• Electromagnetic interference

Rationale: Underwater blasts generate pressure waves and debris

that can injure fish and marine mammals; mitigation and monitoring are required.

• For underwater blasting, which piece of PPE is essential for surface

personnel handling charges (non-diving)?

• Baseball cap
• Flame-resistant clothing and hearing protection
• Regular street clothes
• Sandals

Rationale: Handling explosives requires flame-resistant clothing,

hearing protection, and other PPE to reduce injury risk.

• When planning an underwater blast, which factor most affects

propagation of the pressure wave?

• Color of explosives
• Daylight hours
• Water depth and seabed substrate
• Latitude of the site

Rationale: Depth and substrate (mud, sand, rock) influence how

pressure waves travel and reflect, affecting safe standoff distances. 3 / 4

• An exclusion zone for vessels during underwater blasting is established

primarily to:

• Provide an audience for the operation
• Increase project speed
• Ensure public and vessel safety from shock waves and flying debris
• Block fishing activities permanently

Rationale: Exclusion zones prevent vessels and personnel from

entering areas where blast effects could be hazardous.

• Which tool is commonly used to determine precise charge placement

underwater (non-actionable level)?

• Hammer and chisel only
• Underwater survey instruments and dive positioning systems
• Visual estimates from shore
• Cellphone GPS alone

Rationale: Underwater surveys use positioning systems and diver

navigation to ensure correct charge placement per the blast plan.

10. Post-blast inspections should include:

• Nothing — operations end after detonation
• Only paperwork filing
• Visual and sonar surveys for debris and unexploded ordnance
• Immediate resumption of construction without checks

Rationale: Inspections verify fragmentation, debris removal needs,

• / 4