Just trying something new. I would like to start a page that is about plumbing code variences from area to area. All input is welcome. The way it will work: I will ask a question. Its multiple choice, a,b,c,d. then come back after awhile and give the answer stated in the answer sheet. The questions will be from a test quiz for journeyman and master applicants. Hope to hear some back and forth on this. And if you like it, let me know. If little to no response, I won't carry on with it.

Im starting from beginning of quiz sheet. One question a day, answer on the next day. I did not wright the questions, or the answers, I'm just passing them along. Take care.

#1... building sewers shall be tested by completely filling the sewer with water from the ______________.

A. lowest to highest point.
B. lowest to at least a 5-foot head.
C. lowest to at least a 10 foot head.
D. lowest to at least ground level.

Good luck and please let me know what the codes are in your area, if they differ from the answer I give.

Ok, seeing a lack of interest. Just take a guess. And if anyone can tell me what foot head means, I would appreciate it.

MGD, I think we only have 3-4 actual plumbers here and Tom's been retired for some time. Is more of a lack of plumbers than interest. I don't know much about code so I'm no help, sorry.

The answer is C... ;)

Sorry MGD, been running so much I couldn't stop to answer your PM. I will chat with Tom and get back to you soon...

MARK

Lee;
I passed your idea up to the super mods for a opinion. Still waiting to hear. I have no problem with this if it's OK upstairs. The answer to your question would be "C" lowest to 10 feet or over. Head pressure's measured in feet. One foot of liquid is equal to .434 PSI. Regards, Tom

MGD: as Tom said, "head" is counted from the highest point of sloping drain. It is applied in tests of new drain/vent installations. Gravity of 10' high water lever pushes on new joints and tests them for leaks.

Okay, here's the answer this quiz gives.

A. When I went through this, I also gave the answer C. This is a little confusing, because in a later question that is basically the same, the answer is indeed Ten foot head. The only reason I can think of that would make the answer A instead of C. is that even if you get a ten foot head pressure, there may still be joints above level of water. On to the next one, and thanks for the replies.


#2. except for plastic piping systems, hot and cold water piping may be tested with_______.

A. 40 psi air or 150 psi water for 10 minutes.
B. 35 psi air for at least 15 minutes.
C. 50 psi air or the working pressure of the water in the system for at least 15 minutes.
D. 100 psi air for at least 10 minutes.

Hey Lee...

Building sewer drain pipe is usually an underground pipe and underground typically gets tested separately from above ground piping... so test to 10 foot head should really be the correct answer.. in my opinion... ;)

The answer to the second question is D...except in my area we test to 125 P.S.I... :)

MARK

Quote:

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The only reason I can think of that would make the answer A instead of C. is that even if you get a ten foot head pressure, there may still be joints above level of water. On to the next one

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Not the way it works down here. We fill out stacks from the roof,(no joints above that.). This gives us more then a 10 foot head but our code calls for at least a 10 foot head it doesn't say we can't use a larger head. We fill our stacks at quitting time let it set overnight and call the inspection for the next day.

Quote:

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#2. except for plastic piping systems, hot and cold water piping may be tested with_______.

A. 40 psi air or 150 psi water for 10 minutes.
B. 35 psi air for at least 15 minutes.
C. 50 psi air or the working pressure of the water in the system for at least 15 minutes.
D. 100 psi air for at least 10 minutes.

---

None of the above in my area! The night before when we fill the stacks for inspection we also pressure up the water pipe and let that set over night.
Twice over the years I had to make solder connections under the slab to water pipes.
Both times the inspector made me air pressure the pipes to 125 PSI and hold it over night.
But hey! Like Bob pointed out I've been retired for twenty years. Times change. Regards, Tom

I completely agree with you guys. Many of these questions vary from my actuall code book.

The answer to this one is,, C. Seems a little low to me.

May be time to start looking for a new quiz.lol.


Okay, Im going to do two here.

#3. The required clearance in front of a two inch cleanout is __________.

A. 8"
B. 12"
C. 18"
D. 24"

#4. A stack, as defined in the code, is ________.

A. the main vent
B. any vertical vent
C. the vertical main of soil, waste, or vent piping that extends one or more stories
D. the horizontal main of soil, waste, or vent stack.

Hi again... ;)

Considering that so many water systems that we work on exceed 100 P.S.I. and need to be regulated down to 50-60 P.S.I... I am surprised by that answer... but as you've said before, "white bread or whole wheat"... ;)

This time I'll go with...


#3... B

#4... C


MARK

Quote:

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#3. The required clearance in front of a two inch cleanout is __________.

A. 8"
B. 12"
C. 18"
D. 24"

#4. A stack, as defined in the code, is ________.

A. the main vent
B. any vertical vent
C. the vertical main of soil, waste, or vent piping that extends one or more stories
D. the horizontal main of soil, waste, or vent stack.

---

#3. The required clearance in front of a two inch cleanout is 12 inches
#4. A stack, as defined in the code, is . The vertical main of soil, waste, or vent piping that extends one or more stories.

Teacher! When do the report cards come out?

I'm actually just the student on these. Studying up for my masters. All I want my report card to say in the end is PASS.

You guys nailed it. Answers.. #3.. b #4.. c.


Here we go..

#5. Under no circumstances may gas appliance pressure regulators be vented______.

A. to the atmosphere
B. to the combustion chamber near the pilot
C. to the gas utilization equipment flue or exhaust system
D. using black iron pipe.

Can I play?

If so my answer would be ----------- B

Good luck on the test .Mark

Here in city to do plumbing you need 10 yrs exp in trade. Before you can apply
Written test is next.
Then there is a line drawing of a multi story unit and you size and layout the complete dwv.

Then last you have to wipe a lead joint. Even though it is no longer used it can make or break the final outcome. Masters

I took the test 19 years ago so things may have changed since then.

We don't pipe for gas much in my area so I'll pass on this one but something caught my eye,

Quote:

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Then last you have to wipe a lead joint. Even though it is no longer used it can make or break the final outcome. Masters

---

Ya still got to wipe a joint? Over 60 years ago when I took took the test you had to wipe a lead joint. Back then we formed oour shower pans out of sheet lead and if the shower was a large one we had to join two sheets together by wiping them. The las time I formed a lead shower pan was in a Gulf Side Mansion out on Longboat Key in the 70's. A pricey island off Sarasota where even the cheap homes start at a million.
I'm surprised that they still make you do that. Regards, Tom

For the journeyman license here, takes a five year apprenticeship, then jouneyman test is a closed book code test, doll house rough in with pvc, solder joint with 45 offsets by math. Then drawing in pipe sizes and correct connections on a three story house. At least that's what it was then.

Masters is an open book code test, with a portion of closed book. Use to have to do estimating, but that was eliminated two years ago. Sounds like there is a grease trap(or grease interceptor) drawing to vent and drain. No hands on for masters, or so I've been told. After acquiring my jouneymans, I need to have five more years in the trade before taking masters. (need to have masters to run own a plumbing business in my state). Im over due, could have taken it last fall, but my procrastination gets to me. So I'm looking at taking it this summer. Have to drive 500 miles to take the test. I was kind of hoping they would get the computer testing in acted by now, but its not looking promising. So for now, I will just study the code book, and all state amendments, repractice my offset math and hope for the best.

csavage1, yes any one is welcome to play. Codes will vary from area to area, so just answer as you see fit, and please let me know if your code varies. Im under upc,(I know Tom hates this, but I got to follow the rules, and actually my states amendments are much more forgiving, if not my city adopted codes).

The answer given on this quiz is C.

Ive seen some old furnaces that actually came from the factory with a regulator vent piped right up next to pilot.


Okay, vacation time, I'm going camping tonight with my girls, maybe even the next night(depends on them, lol). Ill be back sometime this weekend to continue the,, fun?? Have a great weekend guys.

Have a great time Lee. I still have my paddles, Tops and a few wiping cloths in the garage along with some of my fathers old plumbing tools including a white gasoline furnace and lead pot and a portable pipe vice plus stocks and dyes up to 2".
Any body out there into antiques? Cheers, Tom

Thanks, we had a blast camping.

Now, uuuhhgg. Back to study.

#6. aboveground schedule 40 pvc and abs dwv plastic piping installed horizontally shall be supported at intervals of not ot exceed_________.

A. 4 feet
B. 6 feet
C. 10 feet
D. 12 feet.

B - 6 feet apart

5 foot intervals for cast Iron. 10 feet for plastic in my area. SPC.

Ok, just to clarify, I fall under upc(2006 edition). Will be adopting 09 within the next year.

06 UPC states this answer(as does this quiz). I actually had to look this one up because I also thought it was 6 feet(and Milo, thanks for joining the discussion, as I believe you also fall under upc)

Answer for this one is,, A, four feet.

I will try to give UPC reference(when I can actually find them). I would like to give other code reference, but I just don't have the time or access to all code books.

Here's the 06 upc reference. Table 3-2.

Tom, from what I have read in my book, you are correct about cast iron. But there are some variances. My book says horizontal cast iron must be supported at every joint. So if they are five foot lengths, then every five foot, but if they are smaller pipes, they do come in ten footers, which means they can be hung every ten foot. I haven't dealt with much new cast at all, so I have no idea what lengths they come in( or used to come in). I know that most of the cast I've torn out was five foot lengths, which means five foot hanger would make sense.

Its too late but I was ready to post A every 4 feet will give you 2 per 10 ft.

We used cast iron in 3 ft , 5ft, 7 ft and 10 ft lengths. Mainly for undergound in slab and we used nohubs clamps.

I forget how much a 10 ft length of 4 inch cast weighs but my body will never forget carrying them over the ditches in Rochester Ny early 80's.

Every 4 feet for plastics in my code book as well, Lee... ;) Every joint for cast iron.

Kind of jumped the gun and gave the answer early yesterday instead of waiting till today, sorry.

Here's today's question.

#7. when sizing a copper fuel-gas piping system that has an inlet pressure of less than 2psi with a pressure drop of 0.3 inch w.c. the maximum cubic feet per hour of gas flow allowed through a 5/8 inch O.D. ACR tube 75 feet in developed length is_______.

A. 13
B. 27
C. 48
D. 68.

I had to just guess on this one, and I got it wrong. Still have a tough time remembering it, good luck.

Answer to # 7 is B.

#8. A type B-W gas vent shall terminate at least ________ feet in vertical height above the bottom of the wall furnace.

A. 4
B. 5.
C. 10
D. 12.

They do get more interesting, or at least I think they do. I would skip some of these, but wheres the fun in that.

B is my shot

Answer is D.

Kind of a trick question. Key words are, bottom of wall furnace. I always think five also, thinking of termination above the top of an applience. I got this one wrong too. Oh well. On to the next.

#9. the maximum horizontal distance of a trap arm is measured from the inner edge of the vent to the ________.

A. weir of trap
B. dip
C. inlet
D. outlet

. The maximum horizontal distance of a trap arm is measured from the inner edge of the vent to the weir of the trap. (A)

Yep, A it is.. See, at least some of our codes read the same. Lol.


I know, I don't like this next question either,, who uses 2 1/2 inch pipe amymore, if they ever did?

#10. The maximum number of lavatories on a 2 1/2 inch horizontal waste line is ________.

A. 8
B. 14
C. 16
D. 24

Well, I might not check in again for a couple days, camping is calling me again. Wife just bought me a new tent, so were going to try it with both girls and mom. Wish us luck. And have a great weekend everyone.

Quote:

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The maximum number of lavatories on a 2 1/2 inch horizontal waste line is ___24_____. At 1/4" fall to the foot.

---

SPC will allow 31 on a drain line that's 1/2" to the foot. (Chapter 13, Table # 1305.2 SPC) Have a great time on your camping trip. Tom

Camping was once again a great time. Even saw fireflys for the first time in my neck of the woods. Ive seen them down south (when I was a kid visiting my dads family) but never in Montana.

Okay, back to the business at hand.

My code states answer B. 14 for horizontal(based on 1/4 inch per foot). 32 for verical.

However, for vent pipe units, it states 24(horizontal and vertical). Table 7-5, UPC.

This is what I was looking for. The differences in codes(and sometimes they are quite significant). Good to know. Thanks for the back and forth Tom.


#11. Sleeves shall be provided to protect all piping through_____and ________walls.

A. floors, concrete
B. concrete, masonry
C. wood, concrete
D. none of the above.

11. Sleeves shall be provided to protect all piping through (B) concrete and masonry walls.

Looks like it just you and me.lol.

Yep, 11 is B.

#12. Pex piping installed horizontally must be supported every_____ inches.

A. 24
B. 32
C. 36
D. 48

I would say A. 24 inches

. Pex piping installed horizontally must be supported every__32___ inches.
With 2 pipe straps at every bend.

All right, here's the answer given in my code(upc). B, 32 inches.

I personally like to hang it every 18 to 24 inces just strictly for appearance. But even then its tough to make this stuff look good when exposed. Don't get me wrong, I love the pex, but I try to use it mosty in concealed or covered areas, and still use copper in mechanical rooms etc, for the looks of it. Now, in crawl spaces, I've been known to go over the 32" code. Sometimes in a tight crawl space i just wanna get that stuff up and get the hell out. lol.

Heres lucky number 13.

#13. the minimum common horizontal waste pipe serving a bathtub, a lavatory, and a kitchen sink shall be at least ________.

A. 1 1/2"
B. 2"
C. 2 1/2"
D. 3"

I'm going with B...

MARK

#13. The minimum common horizontal waste pipe serving a bathtub, a lavatory, and a kitchen sink shall be at least ____2"__.
A lavatory, Bathtub and a kitchen simk add up to 5 fixture units.
A 2" drain line will accept 6 fixture units
Next question!

#13 D 3 inch

Hi all:

Funny, in my area a 2" horizontal drain can have a maximum load of 6 fixture units... ;)

I swear... I wish they could standardize the code a little more.

Love the questions Lee...

MARK

my Bad!! You're right it's 2" I looked at the wrong table in my code book TOM