AZ Plumber cheat sheet

Permits are required before installing, altering, replacing, or repairing plumbing systems; ordinary minor repairs and stoppage clearing are typically exempt.

A permit application must identify the scope of work, the licensed contractor, and the responsible master plumber; work may not start before permit issuance.

Inspections occur at defined stages: rough-in (before concealment), top-out, and final; concealed work must be approved before covering.

Licensing is tiered (apprentice, journeyman, master); only a master or qualifying license holder may pull permits and contract plumbing work.

Code editions are adopted by local ordinance; when editions conflict, the locally adopted edition and amendments govern.

A stop-work order may be issued for work without a permit or work that is unsafe; work resumes only after compliance.

Continuing education hours and license renewal cycles are set by the licensing board; lapsed licenses may not be used to obtain permits.

Unsafe or noncompliant installations may be red-tagged, requiring disconnection or correction before service is restored.

Copper tube types differ by wall thickness: K thickest, then L, M, thinnest; type M is restricted to some above-ground uses.

Potable water piping must be lead-free; solder and flux must be lead-free, and lead content in wetted surfaces is limited to 0.25 percent.

PVC and ABS are joined with solvent cement matched to pipe material; CPVC requires cement rated for CPVC.

PEX is joined by ASTM F1807/F2159 fittings (crimp or press); PEX cannot be solvent cemented and needs UV or sleeving protection where exposed.

Cast iron soil pipe joins by hub-and-spigot with gaskets or no-hub couplings; no-hub couplings require band torque per manufacturer.

Support spacing depends on pipe material and diameter; copper typically supports at about 6 ft for 1-inch and smaller horizontal runs.

Horizontal drainage pipe must slope at 1/4 inch per foot for 2-inch and smaller, 1/8 inch per foot for 3-inch and larger where allowed.

Dielectric unions or insulating bushings separate dissimilar metals to prevent galvanic corrosion at copper-to-steel connections.

Water closets are limited to 1.6 gallons per flush; urinals to 1.0 gpf; kitchen faucets to 2.2 gpm at 60 psi; showerheads to 2.5 gpm at 80 psi.

Each fixture must have a trap, except fixtures with integral traps and pairs of fixtures that drain through a single trap where permitted.

A fixture trap seal must be at least 2 inches and at most 4 inches deep; trap arms have developed-length limits based on pipe size.

A water closet must be set level and secured to the flange; the closet flange must be fastened to the floor and connect to the drain.

Fixture outlets must be protected by an air gap or backflow device where a fixture could back up into the supply.

Floor drains require a trap with a seal; trap primers are used where the seal would evaporate.

Accessible fixtures must meet reach range and clearance requirements; lavatories require a knee clearance and insulated drain.

Fixture clearances are enforced: water closets need 15 inches from centerline to side wall and 30 inches of width.

Residual pressure must be maintained at fixtures; common minimum is 8 psi at the fixture under flow, with 20 psi at the street main.

Sizing uses fixture units converted to demand (gpm); the building supply must deliver peak demand within allowable pressure loss.

Thermal expansion in a closed system requires an expansion tank or a device to relieve pressure.

A water service must be protected from backflow with a device appropriate to the hazard, such as an RPZ for high hazard.

Shutoff valves are required on the service and at each fixture group; drains allow the system to be emptied.

Water hammer arrestors are placed near quick-closing valves such as flushometers and solenoid appliances.

Hot water distribution should limit dead legs; recirculation keeps hot water within a reasonable time at fixtures.

Piping must be protected from freezing; exposed supply lines in unheated spaces require insulation and heat tracing where needed.

Drainage systems use gravity flow; slope is 1/4 inch per foot for 2-inch and smaller and 1/8 inch per foot for 3-inch and larger.

A building drain is the lowest piping that receives soil and waste; the building sewer extends from the building to the public sewer.

Vent stacks must extend at least 6 inches above the roof or to a required height above the roof surface.

Each trap must be vented, and the vent must rise at least 6 inches above the fixture's flood level rim before offsetting.

A wet vent is a vent that also serves as a drain; wet vent sizing and length are limited by the code.

Storm drainage must be kept separate from sanitary drainage unless combined systems are approved.

Cleanouts are required at the base of stacks, at changes of direction greater than 45 degrees, and at intervals along horizontal runs.

Drainage fixture units are assigned by fixture type and must not exceed the pipe capacity for the chosen diameter and slope.

A trap seal is maintained by a vent; the vent prevents siphonage and backpressure from breaking the seal.

Grease interceptors are required for food service fixtures that discharge grease-laden waste; they must be accessible for cleaning.

A backflow preventer must be selected by hazard level: air gaps for high hazard, RPZ for high hazard, DCVA for low hazard.

An air gap is the only absolute protection; it requires a physical separation of at least twice the effective opening.

A cross-connection is any actual or potential connection between potable and nonpotable systems; it must be eliminated or protected.

Backflow assemblies require annual testing by a certified tester and records retained for the authority.

A trap primer maintains the seal of a floor drain trap that would otherwise evaporate.

Interceptors must be vented and installed with a cleanout and access for maintenance.

A temperature and pressure relief valve is required on every storage water heater; it must be rated for the heater's capacity.

The T&P relief discharge must terminate within 6 inches of the floor or outside, and must not be trapped or reduced.

A thermal expansion tank is required on a closed system to absorb expansion from heating.

A water heater must be secured against seismic movement where required, with strapping at the upper and lower thirds.

Hot water at fixtures must not exceed 120 degrees F for domestic use; scald protection is required at bathing fixtures.

A water heater in a garage must be elevated so the ignition source is at least 18 inches above the floor.

Combustion air and venting must follow the manufacturer's instructions and the gas code; a draft hood must be properly connected.

A drain pan is required where leakage could cause damage; the pan drain must terminate to an approved location.

Gas piping must be sized for the connected load and allowable pressure drop; the longest run method is commonly used.

Black steel pipe is joined by threaded fittings; approved sealant must be applied to male threads only, leaving the first two threads bare.

A sediment trap is required at each appliance connection, installed downstream of the appliance shutoff valve.

A gas shutoff valve must be installed ahead of each appliance and be accessible.

Gas piping must be tested with air or inert gas; typical test pressure is 10 psi for at least 30 minutes for low-pressure systems.

Gas piping must not be concealed in a way that prevents inspection; joints must be accessible unless approved.

A gas appliance connector must be listed and not exceed 6 feet for a movable appliance.

Combustion air must be provided per the gas code; a confined space requires two openings sized to the appliance input.

An isometric drawing shows three axes at 30 degrees from horizontal, giving a 3D view of a piping run.

Plan view shows the layout from above; elevation shows vertical relationships; sections show internal construction.

Riser diagrams show vertical stacks and their connections; they do not show horizontal distances to scale.

A plumbing plan uses symbols for fixtures, valves, and pipe materials; a legend defines each symbol.

Drainage is drawn with slope in the direction of flow; arrows indicate flow direction.

Dimension lines indicate pipe lengths and fixture spacing; check scale before measuring from a drawing.

A bill of materials or schedule lists pipe sizes, fixture types, and quantities for takeoff.

Coordination with structural and mechanical drawings prevents conflicts such as beams crossing pipe runs.

Before digging, call 811 to locate underground utilities; hand-dig near marked lines.

Personal protective equipment includes eye protection, gloves, and hearing protection when cutting or using power tools.

Confined space entry requires atmospheric testing, a permit, an attendant, and rescue equipment.

A pipe wrench is sized to the pipe; a strap wrench is used on finished surfaces to avoid damage.

Soldering requires ventilation and a fire watch; a heat shield protects combustibles from the torch.

Ladders must be set at a 4:1 slope; three points of contact are maintained while climbing.

Lockout/tagout is required before servicing equipment with stored energy.

Scaffolding must be fully planked and have guardrails; fall protection is required above the trigger height.