PEI IMA Grade 9 study guide
PEI IMA Grade 9 · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The PEI IMA Grade 9 credential is a professional certification for individuals working with fuel storage, dispensing, and related facility systems, administered by the Petroleum Equipment Institute (PEI). It is aimed at technicians, installers, inspectors, and site managers who need to demonstrate competence across the full lifecycle of fueling infrastructure - from structural and building design through dispensing equipment, electrical controls, fire and environmental protection, installation practices, inspection and maintenance, and the codes and standards that govern the work. The PEI IMA Grade 9 study guide has 7 sections and about 3,099 words.
01Building and Structure Design
Building and Structure Design (Domain 1) tests the physical envelope around the fuel system: island and canopy layout, tank foundations and anchorage, secondary containment structures, and the separation distances that keep dispensers away from buildings, property lines and ignition sources. Expect plan-view and section-view questions that require you to turn NFPA 30, NFPA 30A and PEI RP100/RP200 provisions into dimensions, elevations and details.
477 words, about 2 min02Fuel Storage and Dispensing Systems
Fuel Storage and Dispensing Systems (Domain 2) covers the path fuel takes from the delivery truck to the nozzle: fill and vent components, overfill and spill protection, the pump and piping arrangement, and the safety devices inside a dispenser. Questions mix component identification with operating limits and failure symptoms.
450 words, about 2 min03Electrical and Control Systems
Electrical and Control Systems (Domain 3) tests hazardous-area classification, wiring methods, bonding and grounding, and the control chain from the tank monitor to the dispenser. The recurring theme is that a spark in the wrong place ignites vapor, and the code rules exist to keep sparks out of that place.
470 words, about 2 min04Fire Safety and Environmental Protection
Fire Safety and Environmental Protection (Domain 4) tests the measures that prevent ignition and release, and the obligations once product escapes. It combines NFPA 30A fire rules with the EPA underground storage tank and SPCC framework, and questions often hinge on notification timelines and on the difference between containment and cleanup.
428 words, about 2 min05Installation and Construction Practices
Installation and Construction Practices (Domain 5) tests the field execution that determines whether the design works: excavation and dewatering, bedding and backfill, tank anchorage, piping slope and support, and the tightness and continuity tests that must pass before backfill and again after repairs. The exam favors sequencing and acceptance-criteria questions.
453 words, about 2 min06Inspection, Testing and Maintenance
Inspection, Testing and Maintenance (Domain 6) tests cadence and acceptance criteria: what is tested, how often, what counts as a pass, and what record proves it. Federal requirements in 40 CFR 280.35 and 280.36 set the floor, and PEI RP1200 describes how to perform the tests.
404 words, about 2 min07Codes, Standards and Regulatory Compliance
Codes, Standards and Regulatory Compliance (Domain 7) tests whether you can name the governing document for a situation and recognize where a voluntary standard becomes enforceable through adoption. Expect scenario questions: a task, a location, and four plausible documents.
417 words, about 2 min