NHIE PLUMBING UPDATED ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE
●● What are the specifics about when a shield plate should be used for
plumbing?
Answer: - When the plumbing passes through a framing member 1-1/4"
or less from the face.
- The plate is min 16g steel.
- Plate must extend 1-1/2" above and below the hole.
●● Where necessary, protect the pipes outside the thermal envelope
from freezing; aka crawlspace, attic, outdoors.
Answer: FYI.
●● Pipes and fittings must bear what marks?
Answer: Mfr identification and markings required by applicable
standards.
●● When is a thrust block required?
Answer: Any drain 4" or larger with a 45 degree or greater horizontal
turn.
,●● How must a pipe be buried in a utility trench?
Answer: Back-layered and tampered in place. No tractor or grader until
min 12" of earth over the pipe.
●● Who determines the trench width for burying pipe?
Answer: MFR.
●● What is the water service?
Answer: The water pipe coming from the main that supplies the
property.
●● Water service min of what depth burried?
Answer: Min 12" and/or
Min 6" below frost line.
●● Are water and sewer pipes ok buried together?
Answer: Yes IF the sewer pipe is NOT clay or some other material not
allowed in the house.
●● Who determines the depth for sewer pipes?
Answer: BO and utility.
, ●● Remember, you cannot undermine footings with trenches/buried
pipes.
Answer: FYI.
●● What is required when a pipe goes through the foundation?
Answer: Sleeves or bored holes.
●● What must happen if a pipe is wet-set in concrete?
Answer: The pipe must be wrapped or sheathed.
●● If copper pipe is buried, what kind of material is needed?
Answer: Min Cu Type L
●● Can gas lines be buried under the building?
Answer: Yes, but only if conduit or listed systems protect the pipe.
●● What is the required burial depth for gas pipes?
Answer: Min 12" below grade, 18" if external damage is likely at 12".
●● Are plastic gas lines ok buried?
Answer: Plastic only allowed underground outside the building.
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE
●● What are the specifics about when a shield plate should be used for
plumbing?
Answer: - When the plumbing passes through a framing member 1-1/4"
or less from the face.
- The plate is min 16g steel.
- Plate must extend 1-1/2" above and below the hole.
●● Where necessary, protect the pipes outside the thermal envelope
from freezing; aka crawlspace, attic, outdoors.
Answer: FYI.
●● Pipes and fittings must bear what marks?
Answer: Mfr identification and markings required by applicable
standards.
●● When is a thrust block required?
Answer: Any drain 4" or larger with a 45 degree or greater horizontal
turn.
,●● How must a pipe be buried in a utility trench?
Answer: Back-layered and tampered in place. No tractor or grader until
min 12" of earth over the pipe.
●● Who determines the trench width for burying pipe?
Answer: MFR.
●● What is the water service?
Answer: The water pipe coming from the main that supplies the
property.
●● Water service min of what depth burried?
Answer: Min 12" and/or
Min 6" below frost line.
●● Are water and sewer pipes ok buried together?
Answer: Yes IF the sewer pipe is NOT clay or some other material not
allowed in the house.
●● Who determines the depth for sewer pipes?
Answer: BO and utility.
, ●● Remember, you cannot undermine footings with trenches/buried
pipes.
Answer: FYI.
●● What is required when a pipe goes through the foundation?
Answer: Sleeves or bored holes.
●● What must happen if a pipe is wet-set in concrete?
Answer: The pipe must be wrapped or sheathed.
●● If copper pipe is buried, what kind of material is needed?
Answer: Min Cu Type L
●● Can gas lines be buried under the building?
Answer: Yes, but only if conduit or listed systems protect the pipe.
●● What is the required burial depth for gas pipes?
Answer: Min 12" below grade, 18" if external damage is likely at 12".
●● Are plastic gas lines ok buried?
Answer: Plastic only allowed underground outside the building.
