MASSACHUSETTS PLUMBERS JOURNEYMAN EXAM QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS RECENTLY UPDATED
Existing Work - ANSWER A plumbing system or any part thereof
installed prior to March 11, 2005.
Soil Pipe - ANSWER Any pipe that conveys the discharge of toilets,
urinals or fixtures having similar functions to the building drain or building
sewer. The discharge may be conveyed with or without the discharge
from other fixtures
Water Distribution Pipe - ANSWER A pipe within the building or on the
premises that conveys water from the water service pipe to the point of
usage
Barometric Loop. - ANSWER A vertical loop of pipe, rising to a height
sufficient to prevent back-siphonage from occurring in the potable water
supply pipe. (Approximately 35 feet, depending on the weight of the
atmosphere.)
Developed Length - ANSWER The length of a pipeline as measured
along the center line of the pipe or fittings.
Roughing-in. - ANSWER The installation of all parts of the plumbing
system that can be completed prior to the installation of fixtures. This
includes drainage piping, water supply piping, vent piping, the necessary
fixture supports, and any fixtures that are built into the building.
Trap Seal - ANSWER The vertical distance between the crown weir and
the top of the dip of the trap.
Air Gap (Drainage System). - ANSWER The unobstructed vertical
distance through the free atmosphere between the outlet of a waste pipe
and the flood level rim of the receptacle into which the waste discharges.
Air
,Fixture Unit. - ANSWER A unit of liquid flow used in sizing both supply
and drainage pipes. It is equal to 1 cubic foot per minute or
approximately 7.5 gallons per minute.
Liquid Waste - ANSWER Discharge from any fixture, appliance, area or
appurtenance that does not contain human or animal waste matter
suspended in a solution.
Vacuum - ANSWER Any pressure less than that exerted by the
atmosphere
Branch Interval - ANSWER A distance along a soil or waste stack
corresponding in general to a story height, but not less than eight feet in
vertical height, and wherein the horizontal branches from one floor or
story of a building are connected to the stack
Testing water supply shall be at a pressure no less than? - ANSWER
125 PSI
Storm or Sanitary drains shall be installed at a slope that: - ANSWER a
slope that produces a computed velocity of discharge of not less than
two feet per second.
Horizontal drainage piping which is (3) three inches in diameter or
smaller shall be installed with a minimum uniform pitch - ANSWER ¼
inch per foot
Horizontal drainage piping which is larger than three inches in diameter
shall be installed with a minimum uniform pitch of - ANSWER 1/8 inch
per foot
Special Labs. All licensed plumbers and plumbing apprentices installing
pipe connections or working on drains to hospital waste and vent
systems, mortuary waste and vent systems, laboratory waste and vent
systems, dental waste and vent systems and plumbing systems in
radioactive sensitive areas - ANSWER shall have the surface of their
body and clothing protected by disposable or washable gowns similar or
equal to the gowns, gloves and face masks worn by surgical staff.
,Whenever there is reason to believe that the plumbing system of any
building has become defective, it shall be subjected - ANSWER test
and/or inspection, and any defects found shall be corrected as required
in writing by the Inspector
Waste and Vent shall be tested for? - ANSWER until there is a uniform
gauge pressure of five P.S.I.G. or sufficient pressure to balance a
column of mercury ten inches in height. This pressure shall be held
without introduction of additional air for a period of at least 15 minutes.
The gauge used for this test shall be calibrated in increments no greater
than 1/10 of a pound. c
Upon completion of a section or of the entire water supply system when
roughed, it shall be tested and proved tight under a pressure not less
than - ANSWER 125 pounds per square inch
Upon notice of a request for an Inspection of the rough plumbing, the
Inspector shall make the Inspection within - ANSWER two working days
after receipt of such notice
Two acceptable tests for Drain and Waste - ANSWER Peppermint Test
and Air Test
Quarter bends, or their equivalent may be used in soil and waste lines
when the change in the direction of the flow is from the - ANSWER
horizontal to the vertical.
Short sweep fittings may be used in a branch waste line when the waste
line serves only - ANSWER one outlet and cleanouts are provided.
List 3 Prohibited Fittings - ANSWER -No fitting that incorporates a
straight T branch shall be used as a drainage fitting.
- No running threads, bands or saddles shall be used in a drainage
system.
-A fitting commonly referred to as a "Sisson Joint" is prohibited
A dead end may be used to? - ANSWER Extend the cleanout.
, 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? -
ANSWER back-filled to grade with sand tamped in place so as to
provide a uniform bearing surface for the pipe between joints.
Where rock is encountered in trenching, The rock shall be removed to a
point - ANSWER at least three inches below the grade line of the trench
and the trench shall be backfilled to grade with sand tamped in place so
as to provide a uniform bearing for the pipe between joints; and b. care
shall be exercised to ensure that no portion of the pipe, including its
joints, rests on any portion of a rock
Backfilling. 1. Until the crown of the pipe is covered by at
lest feet of tamped earth considerable care shall be
exercised in backfilling trenches - ANSWER two feet
When are deviations from the plumbing code permited? - ANSWER -
Existing buildings for repair or remodel work
-Inspectors permission prior to the start of the job
-They are necessary and conform to the intent of the code
If a plumbing inspector finds code violations in any existing plumbing or
gas system that may cause a health or safety hazard the inspector
shall...? - ANSWER Notify the owner or his or her agent.
List two requirements when demolishing a building? - ANSWER 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 - ANSWER two feet per
second
What fitting could you legally install that the branch is larger than the
main? - ANSWER 4x3 closet bend (The enlargement of a three-inch
closet bend or stub to four inches shall not be considered an
obstruction).
AND CORRECT ANSWERS RECENTLY UPDATED
Existing Work - ANSWER A plumbing system or any part thereof
installed prior to March 11, 2005.
Soil Pipe - ANSWER Any pipe that conveys the discharge of toilets,
urinals or fixtures having similar functions to the building drain or building
sewer. The discharge may be conveyed with or without the discharge
from other fixtures
Water Distribution Pipe - ANSWER A pipe within the building or on the
premises that conveys water from the water service pipe to the point of
usage
Barometric Loop. - ANSWER A vertical loop of pipe, rising to a height
sufficient to prevent back-siphonage from occurring in the potable water
supply pipe. (Approximately 35 feet, depending on the weight of the
atmosphere.)
Developed Length - ANSWER The length of a pipeline as measured
along the center line of the pipe or fittings.
Roughing-in. - ANSWER The installation of all parts of the plumbing
system that can be completed prior to the installation of fixtures. This
includes drainage piping, water supply piping, vent piping, the necessary
fixture supports, and any fixtures that are built into the building.
Trap Seal - ANSWER The vertical distance between the crown weir and
the top of the dip of the trap.
Air Gap (Drainage System). - ANSWER The unobstructed vertical
distance through the free atmosphere between the outlet of a waste pipe
and the flood level rim of the receptacle into which the waste discharges.
Air
,Fixture Unit. - ANSWER A unit of liquid flow used in sizing both supply
and drainage pipes. It is equal to 1 cubic foot per minute or
approximately 7.5 gallons per minute.
Liquid Waste - ANSWER Discharge from any fixture, appliance, area or
appurtenance that does not contain human or animal waste matter
suspended in a solution.
Vacuum - ANSWER Any pressure less than that exerted by the
atmosphere
Branch Interval - ANSWER A distance along a soil or waste stack
corresponding in general to a story height, but not less than eight feet in
vertical height, and wherein the horizontal branches from one floor or
story of a building are connected to the stack
Testing water supply shall be at a pressure no less than? - ANSWER
125 PSI
Storm or Sanitary drains shall be installed at a slope that: - ANSWER a
slope that produces a computed velocity of discharge of not less than
two feet per second.
Horizontal drainage piping which is (3) three inches in diameter or
smaller shall be installed with a minimum uniform pitch - ANSWER ¼
inch per foot
Horizontal drainage piping which is larger than three inches in diameter
shall be installed with a minimum uniform pitch of - ANSWER 1/8 inch
per foot
Special Labs. All licensed plumbers and plumbing apprentices installing
pipe connections or working on drains to hospital waste and vent
systems, mortuary waste and vent systems, laboratory waste and vent
systems, dental waste and vent systems and plumbing systems in
radioactive sensitive areas - ANSWER shall have the surface of their
body and clothing protected by disposable or washable gowns similar or
equal to the gowns, gloves and face masks worn by surgical staff.
,Whenever there is reason to believe that the plumbing system of any
building has become defective, it shall be subjected - ANSWER test
and/or inspection, and any defects found shall be corrected as required
in writing by the Inspector
Waste and Vent shall be tested for? - ANSWER until there is a uniform
gauge pressure of five P.S.I.G. or sufficient pressure to balance a
column of mercury ten inches in height. This pressure shall be held
without introduction of additional air for a period of at least 15 minutes.
The gauge used for this test shall be calibrated in increments no greater
than 1/10 of a pound. c
Upon completion of a section or of the entire water supply system when
roughed, it shall be tested and proved tight under a pressure not less
than - ANSWER 125 pounds per square inch
Upon notice of a request for an Inspection of the rough plumbing, the
Inspector shall make the Inspection within - ANSWER two working days
after receipt of such notice
Two acceptable tests for Drain and Waste - ANSWER Peppermint Test
and Air Test
Quarter bends, or their equivalent may be used in soil and waste lines
when the change in the direction of the flow is from the - ANSWER
horizontal to the vertical.
Short sweep fittings may be used in a branch waste line when the waste
line serves only - ANSWER one outlet and cleanouts are provided.
List 3 Prohibited Fittings - ANSWER -No fitting that incorporates a
straight T branch shall be used as a drainage fitting.
- No running threads, bands or saddles shall be used in a drainage
system.
-A fitting commonly referred to as a "Sisson Joint" is prohibited
A dead end may be used to? - ANSWER Extend the cleanout.
, 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? -
ANSWER back-filled to grade with sand tamped in place so as to
provide a uniform bearing surface for the pipe between joints.
Where rock is encountered in trenching, The rock shall be removed to a
point - ANSWER at least three inches below the grade line of the trench
and the trench shall be backfilled to grade with sand tamped in place so
as to provide a uniform bearing for the pipe between joints; and b. care
shall be exercised to ensure that no portion of the pipe, including its
joints, rests on any portion of a rock
Backfilling. 1. Until the crown of the pipe is covered by at
lest feet of tamped earth considerable care shall be
exercised in backfilling trenches - ANSWER two feet
When are deviations from the plumbing code permited? - ANSWER -
Existing buildings for repair or remodel work
-Inspectors permission prior to the start of the job
-They are necessary and conform to the intent of the code
If a plumbing inspector finds code violations in any existing plumbing or
gas system that may cause a health or safety hazard the inspector
shall...? - ANSWER Notify the owner or his or her agent.
List two requirements when demolishing a building? - ANSWER 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 - ANSWER two feet per
second
What fitting could you legally install that the branch is larger than the
main? - ANSWER 4x3 closet bend (The enlargement of a three-inch
closet bend or stub to four inches shall not be considered an
obstruction).
