Massachusetts Plumbers Journeyman Exam 2023
Questions and Answers Complete Solution
Existing Work
A plumbing system or any part thereof installed prior to March 11, 2005.
Soil Pipe
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
A pipe within the building or on the premises that conveys water from the water service
pipe to the point of usage
Barometric Loop.
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
The length of a pipeline as measured along the center line of the pipe or fittings.
Roughing-in.
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
The vertical distance between the crown weir and the top of the dip of the trap.
Air Gap (Drainage System).
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.
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
Discharge from any fixture, appliance, area or appurtenance that does not contain
human or animal waste matter suspended in a solution.
Vacuum
Any pressure less than that exerted by the atmosphere
Branch Interval
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?
125 PSI
Storm or Sanitary drains shall be installed at a slope that:
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
¼ inch per foot
Horizontal drainage piping which is larger than three inches in diameter shall be
installed with a minimum uniform pitch of
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
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
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?
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
125 pounds per square inch
Upon notice of a request for an Inspection of the rough plumbing, the Inspector shall
make the Inspection within
two working days after receipt of such notice
Two acceptable tests for Drain and Waste
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
horizontal to the vertical.
Short sweep fittings may be used in a branch waste line when the waste line serves
only
one outlet and cleanouts are provided.
List 3 Prohibited Fittings
-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?
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?
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
, 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
two feet
When are deviations from the plumbing code permited?
-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...?
Notify the owner or his or her agent.
List two requirements when demolishing a building?
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
two feet per second
What fitting could you legally install that the branch is larger than the main?
4x3 closet bend (The enlargement of a three-inch closet bend or stub to four inches
shall not be considered an obstruction).
Trenching, Tunneling and Back-filling Where rock is encountered in trenching
The rock shall be removed to a point at least three inches below the grade line of the
trench
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-filled to grade with sand tamped in place so as to provide a
uniform bearing surface for the pipe between joints.
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 backfilling
trenches
Meter boxes shall be constructed in such a manner that
rats cannot enter a building by following the water service pipe from the box into the
building
All strainer plates on drain inlets shall be designed and installed so that the diameter of
the opening is no greater than...?
1/2"
Piping in Relation to Footings. (a) Outside of Footings. Piping which is installed outside
of and below a footing shall not
destroy the bearing value of the soil
Through or Under Footings, Foundations or Walls. No pipe shall be installed through or
under a footing, foundation or wall, except when
a provision is made in the footing to carry the building or structural loads without
transmitting such loads to the pipe.
Questions and Answers Complete Solution
Existing Work
A plumbing system or any part thereof installed prior to March 11, 2005.
Soil Pipe
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
A pipe within the building or on the premises that conveys water from the water service
pipe to the point of usage
Barometric Loop.
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
The length of a pipeline as measured along the center line of the pipe or fittings.
Roughing-in.
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
The vertical distance between the crown weir and the top of the dip of the trap.
Air Gap (Drainage System).
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.
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
Discharge from any fixture, appliance, area or appurtenance that does not contain
human or animal waste matter suspended in a solution.
Vacuum
Any pressure less than that exerted by the atmosphere
Branch Interval
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?
125 PSI
Storm or Sanitary drains shall be installed at a slope that:
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
¼ inch per foot
Horizontal drainage piping which is larger than three inches in diameter shall be
installed with a minimum uniform pitch of
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
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
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?
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
125 pounds per square inch
Upon notice of a request for an Inspection of the rough plumbing, the Inspector shall
make the Inspection within
two working days after receipt of such notice
Two acceptable tests for Drain and Waste
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
horizontal to the vertical.
Short sweep fittings may be used in a branch waste line when the waste line serves
only
one outlet and cleanouts are provided.
List 3 Prohibited Fittings
-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?
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?
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
, 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
two feet
When are deviations from the plumbing code permited?
-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...?
Notify the owner or his or her agent.
List two requirements when demolishing a building?
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
two feet per second
What fitting could you legally install that the branch is larger than the main?
4x3 closet bend (The enlargement of a three-inch closet bend or stub to four inches
shall not be considered an obstruction).
Trenching, Tunneling and Back-filling Where rock is encountered in trenching
The rock shall be removed to a point at least three inches below the grade line of the
trench
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-filled to grade with sand tamped in place so as to provide a
uniform bearing surface for the pipe between joints.
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 backfilling
trenches
Meter boxes shall be constructed in such a manner that
rats cannot enter a building by following the water service pipe from the box into the
building
All strainer plates on drain inlets shall be designed and installed so that the diameter of
the opening is no greater than...?
1/2"
Piping in Relation to Footings. (a) Outside of Footings. Piping which is installed outside
of and below a footing shall not
destroy the bearing value of the soil
Through or Under Footings, Foundations or Walls. No pipe shall be installed through or
under a footing, foundation or wall, except when
a provision is made in the footing to carry the building or structural loads without
transmitting such loads to the pipe.
