Plumbing

Pass Plumbing Test

The International Plumbing License test is hard to gain a pass from. In order to win an authorized plumbing license, everyone must pass a government authorized plumbing test. Without a proper plumbing guide, this test proves to be an obstacle for many good plumber apprentices and school learning plumbers. But there are sources which provide simple solutions to this situation.

As far as the International Plumbing License test is concerned, the book you get is a tome. Have you tried reading through the International Plumbing Code and International Gas Code? There are few books I’ve read that are more dense. Am I thick? Or is it that the guide is at fault and is actually making it more difficult to pass my plumbing test?

Those are the things I used to ask myself. I also wondered, ‘Perhaps I’m just getting very frustrated with waffle I know I need to understand, or perhaps there really is some reason for this plumbing test that does make sense. Whatever the case, understanding the rules and regulations can not be avoided.’ I’m now aware that in the USA an average plumber earns 1.2 times that of the pay-packet of an average attorney. (Figures: 2008).

In Europe, the average plumber’s pipe reaches 1.9 times longer than an accountant’s. That’s right. But when I first started plumbing, I had no idea about how much I would enjoy it or just how much I would earn from it.

So how did I pass my plumbing license test? I looked through the International Plumbing and Gas Codes. I knew I was a great practical plumber, but I just couldn’t cope with the codes. I was about half way there, but I needed a good guide to explain what the plumbers’ bible was saying.

So I got a guide.

Any good plumbers’ test guide should include: guides and definitions which include illustrations, figuring and calculating fixtures required, water distribution throughout the project, including sizing, plans and design, sanitary drain sizes and planning, storm drainage sizing, septic tank and drain field sizing with local planning, gas pipe sizes and distribution, gas appliance venting, accounting and returns (if you’re planning on going it alone), and plumbing symbols and isometrics.

Try your current knowledge now:

A three-compartment sink is an example of a what fixture?

The gross area of an exhibition facility is 10,000 square feet. What number of individual people is used to calculate facilities?

The distance from a meter to a natural gas water heater (40,000 btuh) is 30 feet, 20 feet further down the line is a furnace (120,000btuh). What is the minimum gas pipe size that must be used between the water heater and furnace? (pressure drop =.05) a. 3/8″ b. ½” c. ¾” d.1″.

A fixture with a continuous flow of 4 gpm is equal to how many fixture units?

A wet vent serving 5 dfu must be at least how many inches in diameter?

Two naturally ventilating appliances with a combined capacity of 128,000 btuh are connected to a common B-vent 18′ high with two 90 degree elbows. What size common vent should be used? A. 4″, B. 5″, C. 6″, D. 7″.

A stack vent with a total developed length of 40 feet is connected to a 3″ waste stack serving 25 dfu. The minimum diameter of the stack vent should be how many inches?

A gray water reservoir, expected to receive 50 gallons per day shall have a minimum size of what if the retention time is 2 days?

You buy a water heater (water heater) for $375 and add 7% sales tax. Your labor is $125. What is the selling price if your overhead is 15% and you wish to make a 25% gross profit?