MASSACHUSETTS JOURNEYMAN PIPEFITTER STUDY GUIDE
2025/2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔List two requirements when demolishing a building? - ✔✔1. You must secure a
plumbing permit
2. Must make all connections gas and water tight.
✔✔Storm or sanitary drains shall be installed at a slope that produces a computed
velocity of discharge of not less than - ✔✔two feet per second
✔✔What fitting could you legally install that the branch is larger than the main? - ✔✔4x3
closet bend (The enlargement of a three-inch closet bend or stub to four inches shall not
be considered an obstruction).
✔✔Trenching, Tunneling and Back-filling Where rock is encountered in trenching -
✔✔The rock shall be removed to a point at least three inches below the grade line of
the trench
✔✔Where trenches are excavated below grade such that the bottom of the trench does
not form the bed for the pipe - ✔✔the trench shall be back-filled to grade with sand
tamped in place so as to provide a uniform bearing surface for the pipe between joints.
✔✔Backfilling. 1. Until the crown of the pipe is covered by at - ✔✔at least two feet of
tamped earth considerable care shall be exercised in backfilling trenches
✔✔Meter boxes shall be constructed in such a manner that - ✔✔rats cannot enter a
building by following the water service pipe from the box into the building
✔✔All strainer plates on drain inlets shall be designed and installed so that the diameter
of the opening is no greater than...? - ✔✔1/2"
✔✔Piping in Relation to Footings. (a) Outside of Footings. Piping which is installed
outside of and below a footing shall not - ✔✔destroy the bearing value of the soil
✔✔Through or Under Footings, Foundations or Walls. No pipe shall be installed through
or under a footing, foundation or wall, except when - ✔✔a provision is made in the
footing to carry the building or structural loads without transmitting such loads to the
pipe.
✔✔Sewage Disposal Connections (Buildings). (a) The plumbing of each building shall
have an independent connection to a public sanitary sewer outside of building, unless -
✔✔in the opinion of the Inspector, a single separate connection is not feasible.
,✔✔materials not covered by the standards listed in 248 CMR 10.06 may be used with
the approval of the...? - ✔✔approval of the State Board
✔✔Allowable Materials. (a) When installing fittings or piping for renovations or
alterations within an existing soil stack, waste stack, vent stack or drain, the fitting or
piping shall be of the - ✔✔same material as the existing stack or drain and be compliant
with a joining method outlined in 248 CMR 10.07
✔✔Exception: In new residential construction ____________ pipe may be used
exclusively with PVC
for sound reduction - ✔✔Cast Iron
✔✔Sheet Lead. shall meet the following requirements: 1. For a safe pan the sheet lead
shall not be less than - ✔✔four pounds per square foot
✔✔For vent terminal flashing the sheet lead shall not be less than - ✔✔three pounds
per square foot. 3lbs
✔✔Sheet Copper. Sheet copper shall not be less than - ✔✔12 ounces per square foot
when used in the following applications:
1. safe pan;
2. shower pan;
3. flush tank linings;
4. vent terminal flashing; or
5. general use.
✔✔Floor Flanges. A floor flange used for a toilet or other similar fixture shall conform to
the following requirements - ✔✔-If the flange is composed of brass, the flange shall
have a minimum thickness of 1/8" inch
-If the flange is composed of cast iron the flange shall have a minimum thickness of ¼
inch, and the minimum caulking depth shall be two inches.
✔✔A Brass closet flange shall have a minimum thickness of - ✔✔1/8"
✔✔If the flange is composed of cast iron the flange shall have a minimum thickness of -
✔✔1/4" and the minimum caulking depth shall be two inches
✔✔Cleanout plugs shall meet the following requirements - ✔✔Shall be composed of
brass or plastic
✔✔Building Drains (Inside Building). When the Sanitary Drain or Storm Drain is installed
in a trench excavated to a uniform width and level and the trench will also encompasses
the water service pipe, the drain piping shall be - ✔✔bell and spigot cast iron tarred soil
pipe with lead and oakum joints.
, ✔✔Deflection Test. A test deflecting the free end of a ten-foot length of hubless cast
iron soil pipe joined together with a coupling to a secured length of pipe. The test
assembly shall be subjected to an internal hydrostatic pressure of - ✔✔(10) ten P.S.I.G
and a minimum deflection of one-inch per lineal foot and shall show no visible signs of
leakage.
✔✔Hangers and Supports for hubless cast iron soil piping shall conform to the following
requirements - ✔✔-each change of direction. (ii)
-When joining three or more fittings, there shall be a minimum of one hanger for every
three-feet or part thereof. v
✔✔CPVC (Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride) pipe and fittings may be used in the following
situations - ✔✔for hot and cold water distribution that is located only in the dwelling
portion of a residential dwelling, multiple family dwelling, hotel, motel, inn, condominium
and similar building six stories or 60 feet in height
✔✔The PEX tubing is used for hot and cold water distribution in residential
dwelling/buildings up to and including: - ✔✔three stories in height
✔✔Pex tubing shall NOT be installed any closer than? - ✔✔24" inches to any
connection to a direct fired water heater, or boiler.
✔✔PVC/ABS shall not be used for drains in the following - ✔✔-Commericail Kitchens
-Commercial Laundry rooms
-Commercial areas located in assisted living facilities, hotels, motels
✔✔PVC/ABS MAY be used for drains in commercial applications necessary to
accommodate waste generated as a direct result of the business: - ✔✔i. beauty salons;
ii. barber shops;
iii. manicure salons;
iv. pedicure salons;
v. photo-labs; and
-commercial buildings that incorporate patron areas for the purpose of serving alcohol,
soda or other similar carbonated type beverages where the carbonated liquid waste
shall drain directly into a floor sink or floor drain
✔✔Hubless Fittings. (i) There shall be a hanger installed at - ✔✔-each change of
direction
-When joining three or more fittings, there shall be a minimum of one hanger for every
three-feet or part thereof
✔✔Water Service Piping (Outside Building). The materials used shall be those specified
by the - ✔✔local municipality
2025/2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔List two requirements when demolishing a building? - ✔✔1. You must secure a
plumbing permit
2. Must make all connections gas and water tight.
✔✔Storm or sanitary drains shall be installed at a slope that produces a computed
velocity of discharge of not less than - ✔✔two feet per second
✔✔What fitting could you legally install that the branch is larger than the main? - ✔✔4x3
closet bend (The enlargement of a three-inch closet bend or stub to four inches shall not
be considered an obstruction).
✔✔Trenching, Tunneling and Back-filling Where rock is encountered in trenching -
✔✔The rock shall be removed to a point at least three inches below the grade line of
the trench
✔✔Where trenches are excavated below grade such that the bottom of the trench does
not form the bed for the pipe - ✔✔the trench shall be back-filled to grade with sand
tamped in place so as to provide a uniform bearing surface for the pipe between joints.
✔✔Backfilling. 1. Until the crown of the pipe is covered by at - ✔✔at least two feet of
tamped earth considerable care shall be exercised in backfilling trenches
✔✔Meter boxes shall be constructed in such a manner that - ✔✔rats cannot enter a
building by following the water service pipe from the box into the building
✔✔All strainer plates on drain inlets shall be designed and installed so that the diameter
of the opening is no greater than...? - ✔✔1/2"
✔✔Piping in Relation to Footings. (a) Outside of Footings. Piping which is installed
outside of and below a footing shall not - ✔✔destroy the bearing value of the soil
✔✔Through or Under Footings, Foundations or Walls. No pipe shall be installed through
or under a footing, foundation or wall, except when - ✔✔a provision is made in the
footing to carry the building or structural loads without transmitting such loads to the
pipe.
✔✔Sewage Disposal Connections (Buildings). (a) The plumbing of each building shall
have an independent connection to a public sanitary sewer outside of building, unless -
✔✔in the opinion of the Inspector, a single separate connection is not feasible.
,✔✔materials not covered by the standards listed in 248 CMR 10.06 may be used with
the approval of the...? - ✔✔approval of the State Board
✔✔Allowable Materials. (a) When installing fittings or piping for renovations or
alterations within an existing soil stack, waste stack, vent stack or drain, the fitting or
piping shall be of the - ✔✔same material as the existing stack or drain and be compliant
with a joining method outlined in 248 CMR 10.07
✔✔Exception: In new residential construction ____________ pipe may be used
exclusively with PVC
for sound reduction - ✔✔Cast Iron
✔✔Sheet Lead. shall meet the following requirements: 1. For a safe pan the sheet lead
shall not be less than - ✔✔four pounds per square foot
✔✔For vent terminal flashing the sheet lead shall not be less than - ✔✔three pounds
per square foot. 3lbs
✔✔Sheet Copper. Sheet copper shall not be less than - ✔✔12 ounces per square foot
when used in the following applications:
1. safe pan;
2. shower pan;
3. flush tank linings;
4. vent terminal flashing; or
5. general use.
✔✔Floor Flanges. A floor flange used for a toilet or other similar fixture shall conform to
the following requirements - ✔✔-If the flange is composed of brass, the flange shall
have a minimum thickness of 1/8" inch
-If the flange is composed of cast iron the flange shall have a minimum thickness of ¼
inch, and the minimum caulking depth shall be two inches.
✔✔A Brass closet flange shall have a minimum thickness of - ✔✔1/8"
✔✔If the flange is composed of cast iron the flange shall have a minimum thickness of -
✔✔1/4" and the minimum caulking depth shall be two inches
✔✔Cleanout plugs shall meet the following requirements - ✔✔Shall be composed of
brass or plastic
✔✔Building Drains (Inside Building). When the Sanitary Drain or Storm Drain is installed
in a trench excavated to a uniform width and level and the trench will also encompasses
the water service pipe, the drain piping shall be - ✔✔bell and spigot cast iron tarred soil
pipe with lead and oakum joints.
, ✔✔Deflection Test. A test deflecting the free end of a ten-foot length of hubless cast
iron soil pipe joined together with a coupling to a secured length of pipe. The test
assembly shall be subjected to an internal hydrostatic pressure of - ✔✔(10) ten P.S.I.G
and a minimum deflection of one-inch per lineal foot and shall show no visible signs of
leakage.
✔✔Hangers and Supports for hubless cast iron soil piping shall conform to the following
requirements - ✔✔-each change of direction. (ii)
-When joining three or more fittings, there shall be a minimum of one hanger for every
three-feet or part thereof. v
✔✔CPVC (Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride) pipe and fittings may be used in the following
situations - ✔✔for hot and cold water distribution that is located only in the dwelling
portion of a residential dwelling, multiple family dwelling, hotel, motel, inn, condominium
and similar building six stories or 60 feet in height
✔✔The PEX tubing is used for hot and cold water distribution in residential
dwelling/buildings up to and including: - ✔✔three stories in height
✔✔Pex tubing shall NOT be installed any closer than? - ✔✔24" inches to any
connection to a direct fired water heater, or boiler.
✔✔PVC/ABS shall not be used for drains in the following - ✔✔-Commericail Kitchens
-Commercial Laundry rooms
-Commercial areas located in assisted living facilities, hotels, motels
✔✔PVC/ABS MAY be used for drains in commercial applications necessary to
accommodate waste generated as a direct result of the business: - ✔✔i. beauty salons;
ii. barber shops;
iii. manicure salons;
iv. pedicure salons;
v. photo-labs; and
-commercial buildings that incorporate patron areas for the purpose of serving alcohol,
soda or other similar carbonated type beverages where the carbonated liquid waste
shall drain directly into a floor sink or floor drain
✔✔Hubless Fittings. (i) There shall be a hanger installed at - ✔✔-each change of
direction
-When joining three or more fittings, there shall be a minimum of one hanger for every
three-feet or part thereof
✔✔Water Service Piping (Outside Building). The materials used shall be those specified
by the - ✔✔local municipality
