AR Plumber key terms

The plumbing regulations adopted by the Arkansas State Board of Health that govern the design, installation, and inspection of plumbing systems in the state, based largely on the International Plumbing Code with Arkansas amendments.

The highest Arkansas plumber credential, allowing the holder to supervise plumbing work, obtain permits, and operate a plumbing business; it requires documented experience and passing the master examination.

An Arkansas license permitting a plumber to perform plumbing work independently under the general supervision of a licensed master plumber, earned by completing apprenticeship hours and passing a written examination.

A state-issued registration allowing a person to learn the trade while working under the direct supervision of a licensed journeyman or master plumber, with requirements for classroom training and recorded work hours.

Official authorization issued by the local authority having jurisdiction before plumbing work begins, ensuring plans and installer qualifications are reviewed and that required inspections will be scheduled and recorded.

An inspection performed after piping, fittings, and vents are installed but before fixtures are set and walls are closed, verifying size, slope, support, and venting comply with the approved plans.

The last inspection of a completed plumbing project, confirming fixtures, water supply, drainage, venting, and safety devices operate properly before a certificate of occupancy or use is issued.

A normalized value assigned to each fixture that expresses its probable rate of wastewater discharge, used to size building drains, sewers, and stacks according to the total load they must carry.

A measure of the probable demand a fixture places on a water supply system, accounting for flow rate and frequency of use, used to size water service and distribution piping.

The total measured length of pipe along its centerline, including all fittings, offsets, and rises, used in sizing calculations and for determining vent and slope requirements.

A three-dimensional-style plumbing sketch showing pipe runs on angled axes so that lengths, elevations, and fitting counts can be read and used for material takeoffs.

The fall of a drain per unit of horizontal run, usually expressed in inches per foot or as a percentage, required so gravity carries waste and solids without clogging.

The pipe carrying potable water from the public main or private well to the building, ending at the first shutoff valve or meter inside the structure.

A device that lowers incoming water pressure to a safe, stable downstream level, protecting fixtures and appliances from excessive pressure and reducing noise and wear.

A chamber or mechanical device containing a cushion of air or a piston that absorbs the pressure surge created when valves close quickly, preventing pipe noise and damage.

The pressure present in a water system when no water is flowing, measured in psi, used to determine whether pressure reduction or booster pumping is needed.

A water-flushed fixture that receives human waste and discharges it through a trapway into the drainage system, available in tank-type, flushometer, and flushometer-tank designs.

A flush valve that uses supply-line pressure to deliver a measured volume of water to a fixture, commonly used on commercial water closets and urinals.

A drainage fitting set into the floor with a removable strainer and a trap below, collecting spills and wash-down water while protecting the drain from sewer gas.

The lowest piping of a drainage system that receives waste from soil and waste stacks inside the building and conveys it to the building sewer, usually near or under the foundation.

The pipe starting outside the building foundation that carries sewage from the building drain to the public sewer or private disposal system, often called the house sewer.

A vertical pipe that carries the discharge of water closets and other fixtures and extends at least one story, connecting the building drain to the venting system above.

An accessible fitting with a removable plug or cover installed in drainage piping so that obstructions can be cleared with a rod or auger without dismantling the system.

A one-way check device installed in a drainage line to prevent sewage from the public sewer or downstream flooding from reversing into the building.

A vertical vent pipe providing air to a soil or waste stack and relieving pressure, extending from the drainage stack up to the vent terminal above the roof.

The extension of a soil or waste stack above the highest fixture connection, continuing upward to open air and serving as the vent for that stack.

A one-way mechanical valve that admits air into drainage piping when negative pressure occurs and seals shut to prevent sewer gas from escaping, used where a vent cannot be run.

A vent connecting two or more fixtures or floor drains to a single vent pipe, allowing a battery of fixtures to be vented without individual back vents.

A U-shaped fitting that holds a water seal to prevent sewer gas from entering a building while allowing wastewater to pass, required at most fixture drains.

The section of drain pipe between a fixture trap and the point where it connects to a stack or branch, limited in length to protect the trap seal by venting.

An unobstructed vertical distance between a water supply outlet and the flood level rim of the fixture it serves, providing the highest level of backflow protection.

A tank installed in a drainage line that slows flow so fats, oils, and grease float and are retained while clarified wastewater flows on to the sewer.

A testable assembly with two check valves and a relief valve that protects potable water from high-hazard contamination, discharging water if either check valve fails.

A safety device on a water heater that opens when temperature or pressure exceeds set limits, discharging hot water through a pipe to a safe location.

A sealed vessel containing a pressurized air cushion installed on the cold water side of a closed water heater system to absorb the volume created as water heats and expands.

The piping and appurtenances that collect rainwater and surface water from roofs, yards, and paved areas and convey it to a storm sewer or approved discharge point.

A pump installed in a pit that removes accumulated water from a basement or areaway to an approved discharge location, often used where gravity drainage is not possible.

A dirt-pocket fitting installed at the bottom of a gas piping drop near an appliance that catches debris and moisture before it can enter the appliance controls.