California Plumbing Contractor (C-36)
License Exam Practice Questions And
Correct Answers
1. What is the minimum slope required for a 3-inch horizontal drain
| | | | | | | | | |
pipe?
|
• 1/16 inch per foot
| | |
• 1/8 inch per foot
| | |
• 1/4 inch per foot
| | |
• 1/2 inch per foot
| | |
A 3-inch or smaller pipe requires a minimum slope of 1/4 inch per
| | | | | | | | | | | |
foot to maintain proper flow per UPC guidelines.
| | | | | | | |
2. Which type of valve allows water to flow in one direction only?
| | | | | | | | | | |
• Gate valve |
• Ball valve
|
• Globe valve |
,• Check valve |
A check valve prevents backflow by allowing water to flow in only
| | | | | | | | | | |
one direction.
| |
3. What does the “DWV” in plumbing refer to?
| | | | | | |
• Drain, Waste, and Vent
| | |
• Down Water Valve | |
• Drain Water Ventilation
| |
• Direct Waste Valve | |
DWV stands for Drain, Waste, and Vent — the three basic
| | | | | | | | | |
components of a residential drainage system.
| | | | | |
4. Which tool is best for threading steel pipe?
| | | | | | |
• Tubing cutter |
• Pipe threading machine
| |
• Pipe bender |
• Reamer
A pipe threading machine is designed to cut threads on steel pipe
| | | | | | | | | | |
ends for fittings.
| | |
5. The purpose of a trap in a plumbing system is to:
| | | | | | | | | |
• Increase water pressure | |
• Prevent sewer gases from entering the building
| | | | | |
• Provide a place to collect sediment
| | | | |
,• Reduce water velocity | |
Traps use a water seal to block sewer gases from entering the
| | | | | | | | | | |
structure.
|
6. The term “fixture unit” is used to:
| | | | | |
• Determine fire suppression requirements | | |
• Calculate drainage and venting needs| | | |
• Rate fixture quality
| |
• Size water heaters
| |
Fixture units are a measure used to calculate the load on a plumbing
| | | | | | | | | | | |
system.
|
7. What is the maximum distance between a trap and its vent in a 2-inch
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
horizontal drain?
| |
• 1 foot
|
• 2 feet
|
• 5 feet
|
• 10 feet |
According to the UPC, the maximum trap-to-vent distance for a 2-
| | | | | | | | | |
inch pipe is 5 feet.
| | | | |
8. What type of pipe is most commonly used for residential hot and cold
| | | | | | | | | | | |
water supply?
| |
• Galvanized steel |
• CPVC
• PEX
, • ABS
PEX is flexible, resistant to corrosion, and commonly used for water
| | | | | | | | | |
supply lines.
| |
9. What is the color code for potable water pipes?
| | | | | | | |
• Red
• Blue
• Black
• Orange
Blue is typically used to denote potable cold water lines.
| | | | | | | | |
10. Which of the following materials is NOT allowed for gas piping?
| | | | | | | | | |
• Black steel |
• Copper (in some jurisdictions)
| | |
• PVC
• CSST
PVC is not approved for gas piping because it is not pressure-rated or
| | | | | | | | | | | |
fire-resistant.
|
11. What is the purpose of a cleanout?
| | | | | |
• Reduce pipe pressure | |
• Provide access for clearing clogs
| | | |
• Increase pipe diameter | |
• Connect to vent stack | | |
Cleanouts are installed to allow access for drain cleaning equipment.
| | | | | | | | |
License Exam Practice Questions And
Correct Answers
1. What is the minimum slope required for a 3-inch horizontal drain
| | | | | | | | | |
pipe?
|
• 1/16 inch per foot
| | |
• 1/8 inch per foot
| | |
• 1/4 inch per foot
| | |
• 1/2 inch per foot
| | |
A 3-inch or smaller pipe requires a minimum slope of 1/4 inch per
| | | | | | | | | | | |
foot to maintain proper flow per UPC guidelines.
| | | | | | | |
2. Which type of valve allows water to flow in one direction only?
| | | | | | | | | | |
• Gate valve |
• Ball valve
|
• Globe valve |
,• Check valve |
A check valve prevents backflow by allowing water to flow in only
| | | | | | | | | | |
one direction.
| |
3. What does the “DWV” in plumbing refer to?
| | | | | | |
• Drain, Waste, and Vent
| | |
• Down Water Valve | |
• Drain Water Ventilation
| |
• Direct Waste Valve | |
DWV stands for Drain, Waste, and Vent — the three basic
| | | | | | | | | |
components of a residential drainage system.
| | | | | |
4. Which tool is best for threading steel pipe?
| | | | | | |
• Tubing cutter |
• Pipe threading machine
| |
• Pipe bender |
• Reamer
A pipe threading machine is designed to cut threads on steel pipe
| | | | | | | | | | |
ends for fittings.
| | |
5. The purpose of a trap in a plumbing system is to:
| | | | | | | | | |
• Increase water pressure | |
• Prevent sewer gases from entering the building
| | | | | |
• Provide a place to collect sediment
| | | | |
,• Reduce water velocity | |
Traps use a water seal to block sewer gases from entering the
| | | | | | | | | | |
structure.
|
6. The term “fixture unit” is used to:
| | | | | |
• Determine fire suppression requirements | | |
• Calculate drainage and venting needs| | | |
• Rate fixture quality
| |
• Size water heaters
| |
Fixture units are a measure used to calculate the load on a plumbing
| | | | | | | | | | | |
system.
|
7. What is the maximum distance between a trap and its vent in a 2-inch
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
horizontal drain?
| |
• 1 foot
|
• 2 feet
|
• 5 feet
|
• 10 feet |
According to the UPC, the maximum trap-to-vent distance for a 2-
| | | | | | | | | |
inch pipe is 5 feet.
| | | | |
8. What type of pipe is most commonly used for residential hot and cold
| | | | | | | | | | | |
water supply?
| |
• Galvanized steel |
• CPVC
• PEX
, • ABS
PEX is flexible, resistant to corrosion, and commonly used for water
| | | | | | | | | |
supply lines.
| |
9. What is the color code for potable water pipes?
| | | | | | | |
• Red
• Blue
• Black
• Orange
Blue is typically used to denote potable cold water lines.
| | | | | | | | |
10. Which of the following materials is NOT allowed for gas piping?
| | | | | | | | | |
• Black steel |
• Copper (in some jurisdictions)
| | |
• PVC
• CSST
PVC is not approved for gas piping because it is not pressure-rated or
| | | | | | | | | | | |
fire-resistant.
|
11. What is the purpose of a cleanout?
| | | | | |
• Reduce pipe pressure | |
• Provide access for clearing clogs
| | | |
• Increase pipe diameter | |
• Connect to vent stack | | |
Cleanouts are installed to allow access for drain cleaning equipment.
| | | | | | | | |