Maharashtra SSC Plumber (General) Pre-Voc/NSQF key terms

Wearable safety gear such as helmets, gloves, goggles, ear plugs and safety shoes that reduces the chance of injury while working. On site it must be inspected before use and replaced when damaged.

A short safety briefing held at the work site before starting a job, covering the day's hazards, required precautions and emergency actions. Attendance is normally recorded so that each worker's briefing can be verified later.

A written authorisation issued before high-risk activity such as hot work, excavation or entry into a confined space. It records the precautions taken, the validity period and the person who authorises and closes the job.

Entering an enclosed area such as a manhole, septic tank or sump that has limited openings and may hold toxic gas or too little oxygen. Testing the atmosphere and having a standby observer outside are essential.

A procedure in which an energy source such as a pump motor or valve is switched off, locked and labelled so it cannot be restarted while someone is repairing the equipment.

A precision measuring instrument with a calibrated screw spindle, used to measure small outside or inside dimensions to hundredths of a millimetre. It is read by combining the barrel scale with the thimble scale.

A measuring tool with a sliding jaw and a vernier scale that reads outside, inside and depth dimensions, usually to 0.02 mm. The jaws must be cleaned and the zero checked before measuring.

A tool containing a sealed bubble vial used to check whether a surface or pipe is horizontal or vertical. The bubble centres between the marks when the surface is truly level or plumb.

A pointed weight hung on a cord to establish a true vertical line. Plumbers use it to align risers and to check that vertical pipework is straight over its full height.

A fixed right-angle tool with a stock and a blade, used to mark or check 90-degree angles on pipe ends, sheet metal and timber. The stock is held firmly against the reference edge while marking.

An adjustable wrench with serrated jaws that grip round pipe sections for turning or holding. The jaws are set so that pulling force tightens the grip, and the tool is never used on finished chrome fittings.

The common heavy-duty design of pipe wrench in which the toothed jaws are adjusted by a knurled nut and grip harder as force is applied. It is intended for iron pipe, not for polished fittings.

A tool that presses the end of soft copper tube into a cone shape so it can be clamped against a fitting by a flare nut. The flare must be even and free of cracks to seal under pressure.

Steel pipe coated with a zinc layer to resist corrosion, widely used for cold water lines in Indian buildings. Cut ends and threads must be recoated because the exposed steel rusts quickly.

A thermoplastic pipe made by chlorinating PVC so that it withstands hot water, typically up to about 90 degrees Celsius. It is joined with solvent cement and is common in domestic hot water lines.

A rigid, unplasticised PVC pipe used mainly for cold water supply and drainage because of its smooth bore and chemical resistance. It is joined by solvent cement and is not suitable for hot water.

A joint formed by applying solvent cement to cleaned pipe and fitting surfaces so the plastic softens and fuses. The parts are pushed together with a slight twist and held until the joint sets.

A mechanical joint in which a nut compresses a soft ring, usually brass or plastic, against the pipe to make a seal. It needs no soldering and can be dismantled for repair.

A three-part screwed fitting with a nut and two seating faces that allows a pipeline to be opened without cutting or disturbing the rest of the run. It is placed where future maintenance access is needed.

Cutting a tapered external screw thread on a pipe end using a die or threading machine so it can be screwed into a fitting. Threads are kept short enough not to thin the pipe wall.

A sanitary fixture, either floor-mounted or wall-hung, that receives human waste and discharges it to the drainage system through a trap. The flushing cistern or valve supplies the water for clearing the pan.

The depth of water retained in a trap that blocks foul air from passing back into the room. A depth of about 50 mm is commonly specified for fixtures in Indian practice.

A wall-hung or pedestal fixture for personal washing, supplied with cold or mixed water and drained through a trap. Waste outlets are usually 32 mm or 40 mm and connect to the branch drain.

A small screw-down tap fixed to a wall or pillar, usually over a sink or wash basin, with the outlet pointing downwards. It is operated by a handle and closes the flow gradually.

A valve fitted in a supply line to shut off water for repair or isolation, often with a removable handle to prevent tampering. It is installed at the service entry and before groups of fixtures.

A valve that opens or closes by raising or lowering a wedge-shaped disc across the flow, giving low resistance when fully open. It is used for on-off isolation rather than for regulating flow.

A device that lowers incoming supply pressure to a safe, steady value for downstream pipework and fixtures. It protects fittings and reduces noise and water hammer in tall buildings.

A banging noise and pressure surge caused when flowing water is stopped abruptly by a fast-closing tap or valve. It is controlled by slow-closing valves or by fitting an air chamber near the fixture.

A storage tank placed on a roof or high level to supply fixtures by gravity. Its height above the highest fixture determines the available pressure, and it needs cleaning and a floating valve.

A vertical drain pipe that carries sewage from water closets, together with the vent arrangement, to the building drain. It is sized larger than waste pipes and usually ends in a vent above roof level.

A pipe connected to the drainage system that admits or releases air so traps keep their seals and gases escape above the roof. Blocked vents cause slow drainage and gurgling.

A small chamber with a removable cover built on a drain at a change of direction, junction or gradient so blockages can be cleared. It is not deep enough for a person to enter and work inside.

A covered chamber of sufficient size for a person to enter and clean or inspect a sewer. It is provided at intervals and at junctions, and entry is controlled by a permit and gas testing.

A trap fitted at the inlet of a drainage line to receive waste water from floors, sinks or courtyards while keeping a water seal against foul air. It also retains silt that can be removed for cleaning.

The fall given to a drain, usually expressed as 1 in a stated number, so that waste flows by gravity without solids settling. Too little fall causes silting and too much leaves liquid behind.

A check in which a completed pipeline is filled and pressurised above working pressure for a set period to reveal leaks. Joints must be dry and visible, and the gauge reading must hold steady.

The final stage of a plumbing installation in which systems are flushed, tested, adjusted and handed over with records and instructions. It confirms that fixtures and equipment work as designed before the owner takes over.

Scheduled inspection, cleaning and replacement of parts before a fault causes a breakdown. For plumbing it covers descaling, checking valves, flushing tanks and clearing traps at fixed intervals.

A pictorial drawing in which the three axes are drawn at 120 degrees to each other so pipe runs are shown in three dimensions. Plumbers use it to plan pipe routes and count fittings.

A pair of orthographic views in which the plan shows the layout seen from above and the elevation shows the same work seen from the side. Together they define positions and heights of pipework and fixtures.

The fixed ratio between a distance on a drawing and the real distance it represents, such as 1:50. Reading the scale correctly is necessary before taking measurements from any drawing.

An itemised schedule listing the materials, quantities and descriptions of work needed for a job, used for tendering and payment. It is prepared by measuring from drawings and specifications.

The working out of a unit rate for an item of work by adding material, labour, plant and overhead costs with the allowed profit. It supports the rates entered in a bill of quantities.

Collecting and storing rain from roofs or paved areas for reuse or for recharging groundwater. In plumbing it needs separate gutters, filters and storage, and must not be connected to the foul drain.

A systematic check of where water is used and lost in a building, including leaks, overflow and wastage at fixtures. Its findings guide repairs and water-saving measures.