ILLINOIS PLUMBING QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
SURE A+
✔✔What does 'vacuum' refer to in plumbing? - ✔✔A pressure less than atmospheric
pressure, often measured in inches of mercury below atmospheric pressure.
✔✔What is the purpose of a 'vacuum breaker'? - ✔✔A device that prevents the creation
of a vacuum by admitting air at atmospheric pressure to prevent back siphonage.
✔✔What is a 'vacuum breaker, hose type' (HVB)? - ✔✔A back siphonage prevention
device designed for hose connections that are not under continuous pressure.
✔✔What does a 'vacuum relief valve' do? - ✔✔It prevents excessive vacuum in a
pressure vessel.
✔✔What is a 'vent pipe'? - ✔✔A pipe in a plumbing system used to equalize pressure
and ventilate the plumbing system.
✔✔Define 'vent stack'. - ✔✔A vertical vent pipe primarily for providing circulation of air
to and from any part of the drainage system.
✔✔What is a 'vent system'? - ✔✔The pipe or pipes installed to provide a flow of air to or
from a drainage system and protect trap seals from siphonage.
✔✔What is a 'venturi' in plumbing? - ✔✔A short section in a pipe with a reduced
diameter that increases fluid velocity and decreases pressure.
✔✔What is a 'vertical pipe'? - ✔✔Any pipe or fitting that makes an angle of 45 degrees
or less with the vertical.
✔✔What is a 'wall hung water closet'? - ✔✔A water closet installed so that no part of it
touches the floor.
, ✔✔What is a 'waste pipe'? - ✔✔A pipe that conveys only waste material.
✔✔What is a 'water closet'? - ✔✔A fixture that receives liquid and solid body waste and
conveys it through an integral trap into a drainage system.
✔✔Define 'water distribution pipe'. - ✔✔A pipe that conveys water from the water
service to the point of usage.
✔✔What is 'water hammer'? - ✔✔A sound caused by moving water striking the sides of
a pipe due to sudden stoppage of flow.
✔✔What is a 'water hammer arrester'? - ✔✔A device that absorbs hydraulic shock.
✔✔What is the purpose of a 'water heater'? - ✔✔An appliance for supplying hot water
for domestic or commercial purposes.
✔✔What is a 'water main'? - ✔✔A water supply pipe for public or community use.
✔✔What is a 'water outlet'? - ✔✔An opening through which water is supplied to a fixture
or device.
✔✔What is a 'water service pipe'? - ✔✔The pipe from the water main to the water
distribution pipe of the building served.
✔✔What does 'water supply fixture unit' (WSFU) mean? - ✔✔A mathematical factor
used to estimate the probable demand on the water supply system caused by various
plumbing fixtures.
✔✔What is a 'water supply stub'? - ✔✔A vertical pipe less than one story in height
supplying one or more fixtures.
✔✔Define 'water supply system'. - ✔✔The water service pipe, water distribution pipe,
and all fittings, valves, and appurtenances in or associated with the building served.
✔✔What is a 'wet vent'? - ✔✔A vent that also serves as a drain.
✔✔What is a 'yard hydrant'? - ✔✔A valve or faucet for drawing water from a buried
pipe, including a stand pipe with a valve at the upper end.
✔✔What is a 'yoke vent'? - ✔✔A pipe connecting upward from a soil or waste stack to a
vent stack to prevent pressure changes in the stack.
SURE A+
✔✔What does 'vacuum' refer to in plumbing? - ✔✔A pressure less than atmospheric
pressure, often measured in inches of mercury below atmospheric pressure.
✔✔What is the purpose of a 'vacuum breaker'? - ✔✔A device that prevents the creation
of a vacuum by admitting air at atmospheric pressure to prevent back siphonage.
✔✔What is a 'vacuum breaker, hose type' (HVB)? - ✔✔A back siphonage prevention
device designed for hose connections that are not under continuous pressure.
✔✔What does a 'vacuum relief valve' do? - ✔✔It prevents excessive vacuum in a
pressure vessel.
✔✔What is a 'vent pipe'? - ✔✔A pipe in a plumbing system used to equalize pressure
and ventilate the plumbing system.
✔✔Define 'vent stack'. - ✔✔A vertical vent pipe primarily for providing circulation of air
to and from any part of the drainage system.
✔✔What is a 'vent system'? - ✔✔The pipe or pipes installed to provide a flow of air to or
from a drainage system and protect trap seals from siphonage.
✔✔What is a 'venturi' in plumbing? - ✔✔A short section in a pipe with a reduced
diameter that increases fluid velocity and decreases pressure.
✔✔What is a 'vertical pipe'? - ✔✔Any pipe or fitting that makes an angle of 45 degrees
or less with the vertical.
✔✔What is a 'wall hung water closet'? - ✔✔A water closet installed so that no part of it
touches the floor.
, ✔✔What is a 'waste pipe'? - ✔✔A pipe that conveys only waste material.
✔✔What is a 'water closet'? - ✔✔A fixture that receives liquid and solid body waste and
conveys it through an integral trap into a drainage system.
✔✔Define 'water distribution pipe'. - ✔✔A pipe that conveys water from the water
service to the point of usage.
✔✔What is 'water hammer'? - ✔✔A sound caused by moving water striking the sides of
a pipe due to sudden stoppage of flow.
✔✔What is a 'water hammer arrester'? - ✔✔A device that absorbs hydraulic shock.
✔✔What is the purpose of a 'water heater'? - ✔✔An appliance for supplying hot water
for domestic or commercial purposes.
✔✔What is a 'water main'? - ✔✔A water supply pipe for public or community use.
✔✔What is a 'water outlet'? - ✔✔An opening through which water is supplied to a fixture
or device.
✔✔What is a 'water service pipe'? - ✔✔The pipe from the water main to the water
distribution pipe of the building served.
✔✔What does 'water supply fixture unit' (WSFU) mean? - ✔✔A mathematical factor
used to estimate the probable demand on the water supply system caused by various
plumbing fixtures.
✔✔What is a 'water supply stub'? - ✔✔A vertical pipe less than one story in height
supplying one or more fixtures.
✔✔Define 'water supply system'. - ✔✔The water service pipe, water distribution pipe,
and all fittings, valves, and appurtenances in or associated with the building served.
✔✔What is a 'wet vent'? - ✔✔A vent that also serves as a drain.
✔✔What is a 'yard hydrant'? - ✔✔A valve or faucet for drawing water from a buried
pipe, including a stand pipe with a valve at the upper end.
✔✔What is a 'yoke vent'? - ✔✔A pipe connecting upward from a soil or waste stack to a
vent stack to prevent pressure changes in the stack.
