Massachusetts Plumbers Journeyman Exam Questions
and Answers
Existing Work - -A plumbing system or any and the flood level rim of the receptacle into
part thereof installed prior to March 11, 2005. which the waste discharges.
Air
Soil Pipe - -Any pipe that conveys the
discharge of toilets, urinals or fixtures having Fixture Unit. - -A unit of liquid flow used in
similar functions to the building drain or building sizing both supply and drainage pipes. It is equal
sewer. The discharge may be conveyed with or to 1 cubic foot per minute or approximately 7.5
without the discharge from other fixtures gallons per minute.
Water Distribution Pipe - -A pipe within the Liquid Waste - -Discharge from any fixture,
building or on the premises that conveys water appliance, area or appurtenance that does not
from the water service pipe to the point of usage contain human or animal waste matter
suspended in a solution.
Barometric Loop. - -A vertical loop of pipe,
rising to a height sufficient to prevent back- Vacuum - -Any pressure less than that
siphonage from occurring in the potable water exerted by the atmosphere
supply pipe. (Approximately 35 feet, depending
on the weight of the atmosphere.)
Branch Interval - -A distance along a soil or
waste stack corresponding in general to a story
Developed Length - -The length of a height, but not less than eight feet in vertical
pipeline as measured along the center line of the height, and wherein the horizontal branches from
pipe or fittings. one floor or story of a building are connected to
the stack
Roughing-in. - -The installation of all parts
of the plumbing system that can be completed Testing water supply shall be at a pressure no
prior to the installation of fixtures. This includes less than? - -125 PSI
drainage piping, water supply piping, vent piping,
the necessary fixture supports, and any fixtures
that are built into the building. Storm or Sanitary drains shall be installed at a
slope that: - -a slope that produces a
computed velocity of discharge of not less than
Trap Seal - -The vertical distance between two feet per second.
the crown weir and the top of the dip of the trap.
Horizontal drainage piping which is (3) three
Air Gap (Drainage System). - -The inches in diameter or smaller shall be installed
unobstructed vertical distance through the free with a minimum uniform pitch - -¼ inch per
atmosphere between the outlet of a waste pipe foot
,Massachusetts Plumbers Journeyman Exam Questions
and Answers
rough plumbing, the Inspector shall make the
Horizontal drainage piping which is larger than Inspection within - -two working days after
three inches in diameter shall be installed with a receipt of such notice
minimum uniform pitch of - -1/8 inch per
foot
Two acceptable tests for Drain and Waste -
-Peppermint Test and Air Test
Special Labs. All licensed plumbers and
plumbing apprentices installing pipe connections
or working on drains to hospital waste and vent Quarter bends, or their equivalent may be used in
systems, mortuary waste and vent systems, soil and waste lines when the change in the
laboratory waste and vent systems, dental waste direction of the flow is from the - -horizontal
and vent systems and plumbing systems in to the vertical.
radioactive sensitive areas - -shall have
the surface of their body and clothing protected
by disposable or washable gowns similar or Short sweep fittings may be used in a branch
equal to the gowns, gloves and face masks worn waste line when the waste line serves only -
by surgical staff. -one outlet and cleanouts are provided.
Whenever there is reason to believe that the
List 3 Prohibited Fittings - --No fitting that
plumbing system of any building has become
incorporates a straight T branch shall be used as
defective, it shall be subjected - -test a drainage fitting.
and/or inspection, and any defects found shall be - No running threads, bands or saddles shall be
corrected as required in writing by the Inspector used in a drainage system.
-A fitting commonly referred to as a "Sisson Joint"
is prohibited
Waste and Vent shall be tested for? - -until
there is a uniform gauge pressure of five P.S.I.G.
or sufficient pressure to balance a column of A dead end may be used to? - -Extend the
mercury ten inches in height. This pressure shall cleanout.
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 Where trenches are excavated below grade such
greater than 1/10 of a pound. c 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
Upon completion of a section or of the entire
as to provide a uniform bearing surface for the
water supply system when roughed, it shall be
pipe between joints.
tested and proved tight under a pressure not less
than - -125 pounds per square inch
Where rock is encountered in trenching, The rock
shall be removed to a point - -at least three
Upon notice of a request for an Inspection of the
, Massachusetts Plumbers Journeyman Exam Questions
and Answers
inches below the grade line of the trench and the branch is larger than the main? - -4x3
trench shall be backfilled to grade with sand closet bend (The enlargement of a three-inch
tamped in place so as to provide a uniform closet bend or stub to four inches shall not be
bearing for the pipe between joints; and b. care considered an obstruction).
shall be exercised to ensure that no portion of
the pipe, including its joints, rests on any portion
of a rock Trenching, Tunneling and Back-filling Where rock
is encountered in trenching - -The rock
shall be removed to a point at least three inches
Backfilling. 1. Until the crown of the pipe is below the grade line of the trench
covered by at lest____________ feet of tamped
earth considerable care shall be exercised in
backfilling trenches - -two feet 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-
When are deviations from the plumbing code filled to grade with sand tamped in place so as to
permited? - --Existing buildings for repair provide a uniform bearing surface for the pipe
or remodel work between joints.
-Inspectors permission prior to the start of the job
-They are necessary and conform to the intent of
the code 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
If a plumbing inspector finds code violations in backfilling trenches
any existing plumbing or gas system that may
cause a health or safety hazard the inspector
shall...? - -Notify the owner or his or her Meter boxes shall be constructed in such a
agent. manner that - -rats cannot enter a building
by following the water service pipe from the box
into the building
List two requirements when demolishing a
building? - -1. You must secure a plumbing
permit All strainer plates on drain inlets shall be
2. Must make all connections gas and water designed and installed so that the diameter of the
tight. opening is no greater than...? - -1/2"
Storm or sanitary drains shall be installed at a Piping in Relation to Footings. (a) Outside of
slope that produces a computed velocity of Footings. Piping which is installed outside of and
discharge of not less than - -two feet per below a footing shall not - -destroy the
second bearing value of the soil
What fitting could you legally install that the Through or Under Footings, Foundations or
and Answers
Existing Work - -A plumbing system or any and the flood level rim of the receptacle into
part thereof installed prior to March 11, 2005. which the waste discharges.
Air
Soil Pipe - -Any pipe that conveys the
discharge of toilets, urinals or fixtures having Fixture Unit. - -A unit of liquid flow used in
similar functions to the building drain or building sizing both supply and drainage pipes. It is equal
sewer. The discharge may be conveyed with or to 1 cubic foot per minute or approximately 7.5
without the discharge from other fixtures gallons per minute.
Water Distribution Pipe - -A pipe within the Liquid Waste - -Discharge from any fixture,
building or on the premises that conveys water appliance, area or appurtenance that does not
from the water service pipe to the point of usage contain human or animal waste matter
suspended in a solution.
Barometric Loop. - -A vertical loop of pipe,
rising to a height sufficient to prevent back- Vacuum - -Any pressure less than that
siphonage from occurring in the potable water exerted by the atmosphere
supply pipe. (Approximately 35 feet, depending
on the weight of the atmosphere.)
Branch Interval - -A distance along a soil or
waste stack corresponding in general to a story
Developed Length - -The length of a height, but not less than eight feet in vertical
pipeline as measured along the center line of the height, and wherein the horizontal branches from
pipe or fittings. one floor or story of a building are connected to
the stack
Roughing-in. - -The installation of all parts
of the plumbing system that can be completed Testing water supply shall be at a pressure no
prior to the installation of fixtures. This includes less than? - -125 PSI
drainage piping, water supply piping, vent piping,
the necessary fixture supports, and any fixtures
that are built into the building. Storm or Sanitary drains shall be installed at a
slope that: - -a slope that produces a
computed velocity of discharge of not less than
Trap Seal - -The vertical distance between two feet per second.
the crown weir and the top of the dip of the trap.
Horizontal drainage piping which is (3) three
Air Gap (Drainage System). - -The inches in diameter or smaller shall be installed
unobstructed vertical distance through the free with a minimum uniform pitch - -¼ inch per
atmosphere between the outlet of a waste pipe foot
,Massachusetts Plumbers Journeyman Exam Questions
and Answers
rough plumbing, the Inspector shall make the
Horizontal drainage piping which is larger than Inspection within - -two working days after
three inches in diameter shall be installed with a receipt of such notice
minimum uniform pitch of - -1/8 inch per
foot
Two acceptable tests for Drain and Waste -
-Peppermint Test and Air Test
Special Labs. All licensed plumbers and
plumbing apprentices installing pipe connections
or working on drains to hospital waste and vent Quarter bends, or their equivalent may be used in
systems, mortuary waste and vent systems, soil and waste lines when the change in the
laboratory waste and vent systems, dental waste direction of the flow is from the - -horizontal
and vent systems and plumbing systems in to the vertical.
radioactive sensitive areas - -shall have
the surface of their body and clothing protected
by disposable or washable gowns similar or Short sweep fittings may be used in a branch
equal to the gowns, gloves and face masks worn waste line when the waste line serves only -
by surgical staff. -one outlet and cleanouts are provided.
Whenever there is reason to believe that the
List 3 Prohibited Fittings - --No fitting that
plumbing system of any building has become
incorporates a straight T branch shall be used as
defective, it shall be subjected - -test a drainage fitting.
and/or inspection, and any defects found shall be - No running threads, bands or saddles shall be
corrected as required in writing by the Inspector used in a drainage system.
-A fitting commonly referred to as a "Sisson Joint"
is prohibited
Waste and Vent shall be tested for? - -until
there is a uniform gauge pressure of five P.S.I.G.
or sufficient pressure to balance a column of A dead end may be used to? - -Extend the
mercury ten inches in height. This pressure shall cleanout.
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 Where trenches are excavated below grade such
greater than 1/10 of a pound. c 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
Upon completion of a section or of the entire
as to provide a uniform bearing surface for the
water supply system when roughed, it shall be
pipe between joints.
tested and proved tight under a pressure not less
than - -125 pounds per square inch
Where rock is encountered in trenching, The rock
shall be removed to a point - -at least three
Upon notice of a request for an Inspection of the
, Massachusetts Plumbers Journeyman Exam Questions
and Answers
inches below the grade line of the trench and the branch is larger than the main? - -4x3
trench shall be backfilled to grade with sand closet bend (The enlargement of a three-inch
tamped in place so as to provide a uniform closet bend or stub to four inches shall not be
bearing for the pipe between joints; and b. care considered an obstruction).
shall be exercised to ensure that no portion of
the pipe, including its joints, rests on any portion
of a rock Trenching, Tunneling and Back-filling Where rock
is encountered in trenching - -The rock
shall be removed to a point at least three inches
Backfilling. 1. Until the crown of the pipe is below the grade line of the trench
covered by at lest____________ feet of tamped
earth considerable care shall be exercised in
backfilling trenches - -two feet 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-
When are deviations from the plumbing code filled to grade with sand tamped in place so as to
permited? - --Existing buildings for repair provide a uniform bearing surface for the pipe
or remodel work between joints.
-Inspectors permission prior to the start of the job
-They are necessary and conform to the intent of
the code 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
If a plumbing inspector finds code violations in backfilling trenches
any existing plumbing or gas system that may
cause a health or safety hazard the inspector
shall...? - -Notify the owner or his or her Meter boxes shall be constructed in such a
agent. manner that - -rats cannot enter a building
by following the water service pipe from the box
into the building
List two requirements when demolishing a
building? - -1. You must secure a plumbing
permit All strainer plates on drain inlets shall be
2. Must make all connections gas and water designed and installed so that the diameter of the
tight. opening is no greater than...? - -1/2"
Storm or sanitary drains shall be installed at a Piping in Relation to Footings. (a) Outside of
slope that produces a computed velocity of Footings. Piping which is installed outside of and
discharge of not less than - -two feet per below a footing shall not - -destroy the
second bearing value of the soil
What fitting could you legally install that the Through or Under Footings, Foundations or
