Odisha CHSE +2 Plumber General (VOC-ITV) key terms

A pointed metal weight hung from a string to establish a true vertical line. Plumbers use it to check that soil pipes and risers stand straight before fixing clamps or brackets.

A tool with a sealed glass tube containing liquid and an air bubble; the bubble centres when the surface is horizontal or vertical. It is used to set pipe gradients and level fixtures accurately.

An adjustable wrench with serrated jaws that grip round pipe surfaces for turning threaded fittings. The jaw teeth bite harder as force increases, so it is used for galvanised iron pipe work.

A clamping device fixed to a bench or stand that holds pipe firmly while it is cut, threaded or filed. Correct clamping prevents the pipe from rotating and keeps the cut square.

A hardened steel cutting tool with internal teeth that cuts external screw threads on the end of a pipe. It is turned with a stock and ratchet handle to produce standard pipe threads.

Items worn by a worker to reduce injury risk, such as helmet, safety goggles, gloves, ear plugs and safety shoes. In plumbing work it also includes knee pads and breathing protection for solvent fumes.

A supplier document listing a product's hazards, safe handling, first-aid and storage requirements. Plumbers consult it before using solvent cement, sealants, acids or lead-based materials.

Entering an enclosed area such as a manhole, sump or septic tank that has restricted access and poor ventilation. It requires a permit, gas testing, a standby person and rescue arrangements before entry.

A steel pipe coated with zinc to resist corrosion, widely used for cold water lines and sometimes drainage. Its threaded joints need hemp or tape and are joined with sockets and elbows.

A rigid plastic pipe and fitting material that withstands higher temperatures than ordinary PVC, so it is used for hot water lines. It is joined with solvent cement made for CPVC.

A lightweight rigid plastic pipe used mainly for cold water supply, soil, waste and rainwater drainage. It resists chemicals and is joined by solvent cement or rubber-ring push-fit joints.

A liquid adhesive that softens the surfaces of plastic pipe and fittings so they fuse together as the joint sets. It must be applied evenly, quickly assembled and left to cure before pressure testing.

Corrosion caused when two different metals touch in the presence of an electrolyte such as water, making the less noble metal waste away. It is avoided by dielectric unions or isolating the metals.

A fitting with an insulating plastic or rubber insert that separates two dissimilar metals in a pipeline. It stops galvanic corrosion where, for example, a copper pipe meets a steel pipe.

A corrosion-resistant metal pipe used for hot and cold water supply and sometimes for gas lines. Joints are made by soldering, brazing or mechanical press fittings rather than threading.

A sanitary fixture used for the reception and flushing of human excreta into the drainage system. It consists of a pan, a flushing cistern or valve, and a trap that seals off sewer gas.

The depth of water held in a trap that prevents foul air and gases from the drain entering a building. It is normally between 25 mm and 75 mm and must be maintained by proper ventilation.

A fitting shaped to hold water and form a seal against sewer gas while allowing waste to pass. Common types are P-trap, S-trap, bottle trap and floor trap.

A trap set in the floor of a bathroom or wet area to receive surface water and waste from fixtures. It usually has a removable grating and a deep seal for cleaning and maintenance.

A tank that stores water and releases a measured quantity to flush a water closet or urinal. It may be low-level, high-level or concealed, and contains a float valve and flush mechanism.

A valve controlled by a floating ball that closes the inlet when the tank is full and opens it as water is drawn. It maintains a constant level in cisterns and overhead storage tanks.

A small screw-down tap fitted to a wall or pillar for drawing water, commonly used in kitchens, bathrooms and gardens. It is connected to the supply pipe by a threaded or compression joint.

A tap mounted on a vertical pillar above a basin or sink, with the inlet connection underneath. It is available in screw-down and quarter-turn ceramic-disc patterns.

A small valve fitted on a supply pipe to shut off water to a fixture, appliance or building section for repairs. It is usually a screw-down valve with a removable handle.

A valve with a sliding wedge that opens or closes the flow with few turns, giving low resistance when fully open. It is used as an isolating valve on main supply lines, not for throttling flow.

A valve that allows water to flow in one direction only and closes automatically against reverse flow. It protects pumps and prevents contamination from backflow in supply lines.

A storage tank placed on the roof or a raised platform to supply water by gravity to fixtures below. Its height above the highest outlet determines the available pressure at taps.

The pressure at a point in a pipe expressed as the height of water column that produces it. It explains why taps on the ground floor of a building receive more pressure than those on upper floors.

The slope at which a drain or pipe is laid, usually stated as 1 in 40 or in millimetres per metre. Correct gradient lets waste flow by gravity without solids settling or water running too fast.

The vertical pipe that carries the discharge from water closets and urinals to the drain or sewer. It must be continued above roof level as a vent and fitted with proper junctions.

A pipe that carries waste water from sinks, basins, baths and similar fixtures, but not from water closets. It connects through traps to the soil pipe or directly to the drain.

A pipe open to the atmosphere that admits air into the drainage system and releases foul gases above roof level. It protects water seals in traps from siphonage and keeps the system balanced.

An opening in a drain or sewer with a removable cover that allows a person to inspect, clean and clear blockages. It is built in brick or concrete and fitted at changes of direction and junctions.

A shallow access point on a drain, smaller than a manhole, fitted with a cover for rodding and inspection. It is normally placed where a branch drain joins the main drain.

A removable cap or short branch fitted at the end of a drain run to allow a drain rod to be inserted for clearing blockages. It is sealed when not in use to keep out gases and vermin.

A soldered copper pipe joint in which molten solder is drawn into the narrow gap between pipe and fitting by capillary action. The surfaces must be cleaned and fluxed before heating.

A mechanical joint in which a nut tightens an olive or rubber ring onto the pipe to make a seal. It can be dismantled and is useful where heat or solvent cannot be used.

A pipe fitting with a threaded or flanged nut that allows a pipeline to be disconnected without cutting or unscrewing the whole run. It is placed close to valves, meters and appliances.

A vertical section of pipe carrying water or waste from one floor to another in a building. Risers are clamped at each floor and checked with a plumb bob for alignment.

A test in which a completed pipe line is filled with water or air and held under pressure to reveal leaks before the work is covered up or handed over. Results are recorded in the handover report.

A leak-detection method in which a coloured dye is flushed into a drainage line or fixture to trace the path of water. It shows whether waste reaches the correct drain and helps locate broken joints.

A three-dimensional drawing in which pipe runs are shown on three axes at 30 degrees, giving an overall picture of the layout. Plumbers use it to plan and mark pipe lengths and fittings.

An itemised list of materials, fixtures and labour with quantities prepared from drawings to estimate the cost of plumbing work. It forms the basis of a quotation or tender.

The process of calculating the cost per unit of a plumbing item by adding material, labour, tools and overhead charges. It gives the rate used in estimates and bills of quantities.

The standards of honesty, safety, punctuality and respect for the customer's property that guide a plumber's conduct. It includes quoting fairly, not overcharging and keeping client information private.