NSC Blueprint Reading & Specifications 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the 'lifting height' specification on a forklift data plate indicate?
- The height of the forklift cab
- The maximum height the forks can reach when fully raised (Correct answer)
- The height at which capacity is rated
- The minimum overhead clearance required
Correct answer: The maximum height the forks can reach when fully raised
Lifting height on the data plate specifies the maximum elevation the forks can reach at full mast extension.
Question 2: On a warehouse floor plan, a column grid reference such as 'B-4' identifies:
- A battery charging station
- The intersection of column row B and column line 4 (Correct answer)
- A bay number for storage
- A blueprint revision number
Correct answer: The intersection of column row B and column line 4
Column grid references use letter rows and number columns to pinpoint a specific structural column location on a blueprint.
Question 3: The 'free lift' specification on a forklift refers to:
- The weight the forklift can lift without a load backrest
- The height forks can raise before the mast begins to extend upward (Correct answer)
- Lifting capacity without using the tilt function
- The unladen weight of the forklift
Correct answer: The height forks can raise before the mast begins to extend upward
Free lift is the distance forks can be raised before the overall height of the mast increases, critical for low-clearance operations.
Question 4: In a blueprint title block, what information is typically NOT found?
- Drawing scale
- Revision history
- Operator safety procedures (Correct answer)
- Drawing number
Correct answer: Operator safety procedures
Title blocks contain administrative information like scale, revision dates, and drawing numbers — not operational safety procedures.
Question 5: A forklift specification shows a 'tilt angle' of 5°/10°. What do these two numbers represent?
- Minimum and maximum load angles
- Forward tilt and backward tilt angles (Correct answer)
- Left and right side tilt angles
- Grade and ramp tilt angles
Correct answer: Forward tilt and backward tilt angles
Tilt angle specifications list forward tilt first and backward tilt second, indicating how far the mast can tilt in each direction.
Question 6: When a blueprint shows 'NTS' near a detail drawing, it means:
- No Through Street — do not use this aisle
- Not To Scale — dimensions cannot be measured from the drawing (Correct answer)
- New Technical Standard applies
- Night Time Schedule for operations
Correct answer: Not To Scale — dimensions cannot be measured from the drawing
NTS means Not To Scale, indicating that the drawing proportions do not accurately represent real dimensions and must be read from written dimensions only.
Question 7: What is the purpose of a load capacity chart (load chart) on a forklift?
- To track the loads carried during a shift
- To show how capacity changes with different lift heights and load centers (Correct answer)
- To document maintenance intervals
- To display approved fork sizes
Correct answer: To show how capacity changes with different lift heights and load centers
A load capacity chart shows how the forklift's safe lifting capacity decreases as lift height increases or load center distance extends.
NSC Blueprint Reading & Specifications 3
What does the 'lifting height' specification on a forklift data plate indicate?