SHI Professional Standards & Competencies 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under OSHA general industry standards, which fall protection system is typically required when working on a roof at heights above 6 feet?
- Safety nets only
- Guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems (Correct answer)
- Safety shoes and hard hats only
- Buddy system with verbal alerts
Correct answer: Guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems
OSHA 1926.502 requires guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems for roof work at heights exceeding 6 feet.
Question 2: When sizing a solar thermal system for a residential application, an installer should reference which standard for domestic hot water load estimates?
- NEC Article 690
- ASHRAE 90.2 or SRCC OG-300 guidelines (Correct answer)
- NFPA 70E
- UL 1741
Correct answer: ASHRAE 90.2 or SRCC OG-300 guidelines
ASHRAE 90.2 and SRCC OG-300 provide standardized methods for estimating residential domestic hot water loads and sizing solar thermal systems.
Question 3: A solar thermal installer's liability insurance typically does NOT cover:
- Property damage caused during installation
- Injuries to subcontractors classified as employees without separate coverage (Correct answer)
- Third-party bodily injury
- Damage to client's existing roof from installation
Correct answer: Injuries to subcontractors classified as employees without separate coverage
Standard general liability policies typically exclude employee injuries; workers' compensation insurance is required separately to cover worker injury claims.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes the purpose of a commissioning checklist in solar thermal installations?
- It replaces the need for a building permit
- It systematically verifies that all system components are correctly installed and operating as designed (Correct answer)
- It is used only for warranty registration
- It documents only the collector orientation
Correct answer: It systematically verifies that all system components are correctly installed and operating as designed
A commissioning checklist ensures every installation step has been completed correctly and that the system performs as specified before handover to the client.
Question 5: When working with pressurized solar thermal systems, installers must ensure that:
- Pressure is tested only after the system is fully filled with glycol
- Relief valves are installed, tested, and set to manufacturer-specified pressure ratings (Correct answer)
- Pressure gauges are optional for small residential systems
- The expansion tank can be omitted if glycol concentration is high
Correct answer: Relief valves are installed, tested, and set to manufacturer-specified pressure ratings
Properly rated and tested pressure relief valves are mandatory safety devices that prevent system damage and protect against dangerous pressure buildup.
Question 6: A solar heating contractor's scope of work agreement with a client should clearly define:
- Only the final price with no itemization
- Project scope, materials, timelines, payment terms, warranty provisions, and change order procedures (Correct answer)
- Verbal agreements confirmed by handshake only
- Manufacturer contact information exclusively
Correct answer: Project scope, materials, timelines, payment terms, warranty provisions, and change order procedures
A comprehensive written contract protects both parties by clearly defining expectations, deliverables, and procedures for resolving changes or disputes.
Question 7: In the context of solar thermal certification, 'competency' refers to:
- Holding the most certifications possible
- The demonstrated ability to perform installation tasks safely, correctly, and consistently to industry standards (Correct answer)
- Speed of installation completion
- Passing a written test without field experience
Correct answer: The demonstrated ability to perform installation tasks safely, correctly, and consistently to industry standards
Competency in solar thermal installation means demonstrating consistent, safe, and accurate performance of all required tasks according to established professional standards.
SHI Professional Standards & Competencies 3
Under OSHA general industry standards, which fall protection system is typically required when working on a roof at heights above 6 feet?