IN Plumber study plan
IN Plumber · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Sanitary Drainage
Trace a complete building drain from fixture outlet to the public sewer on a blank sheet, labeling every fitting, slope change, and cleanout location
Size the drainage piping for a three-story stack using fixture-unit tables, showing each step of the calculation
State and apply the required slope for pipe sizes under three inches versus four inches and larger to a sample layout
List the connection rules for horizontal-to-vertical and vertical-to-horizontal transitions, including fitting type restrictions
Reconstruct the drainage sizing tables from memory, then correct your version against the code and note each error
Your checkpoint
A 40-question self-written sanitary drainage quiz scored at 85% or higher, with every missed item rewritten as a corrected explanatory note.
Sanitary Drainage & Water Supply and Distribution
Solve 15 fixture-unit and drainage-fixture-unit conversion problems with no reference material open
Draw a combined waste-and-vent system beside a fully vented system and mark where each arrangement is permitted
Identify the support, anchoring, and joint requirements for buried versus above-ground DWV piping
Size a water service and meter for a single-family dwelling from fixture counts, available pressure, and developed length
Your checkpoint
A hand-drawn riser diagram of a three-bath dwelling with drainage and water supply both sized and fully annotated with numbers and code basis.
Water Supply and Distribution & Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control
Calculate friction loss through a given run of supply pipe using a friction-loss table and confirm residual pressure at the highest and farthest fixture
Apply developed-length rules to a supply piping layout and adjust pipe size where required
Classify ten cross-connection scenarios and select the correct protective device for each: air gap, reduced-pressure zone, double check, or vacuum breaker
State the installation orientation, drainage, and testing-interval rules for each backflow assembly type
Choose the appropriate thermal expansion control method for a closed potable water system and justify the choice
Your checkpoint
A cross-connection control matrix covering ten scenarios with device selected, written justification, and the governing rule cited by subject rather than by number.
Vents and Venting
Determine vent size from fixture-unit load and stack height for four worked examples
Distinguish wet venting, common venting, circuit venting, and island venting, and state the conditions that permit each
Compute the maximum developed length of a vent and apply the size-increase rule when that length is exceeded
Locate where air admittance valves are allowed and where they are prohibited in a building
Your checkpoint
A timed 25-question venting test scored at 80% or higher, plus a corrected vent layout for a wet-vented bathroom group with each correction explained.
Vents and Venting & Fixtures, Fixture Fittings, and Faucets
Verify trap arm length and fall limits for every fixture on a sample floor plan and flag violations
Match fixture clearances, spacing, and installation height requirements against an actual bathroom layout
Determine the minimum number and type of fixtures required for a given occupancy and occupant load
Explain flush volume limits and fixture fitting requirements that apply to accessible installations
Your checkpoint
A plan-review checklist applied to two sample floor plans, producing a written list of code-referenced findings for each plan.
Fixtures, Fixture Fittings, and Faucets & Traps, Interceptors, and Special Wastes
Select the correct trap for each fixture type and reject improper arrangements such as S-traps, double trapping, and crown venting
Size a grease interceptor and a sand-and-oil interceptor from given fixture loads and show the calculation
Describe neutralization and dilution requirements for corrosive waste and identify where each applies
Explain trap seal protection and primer requirements for floor drains and infrequently used fixtures
Check faucet and fixture fitting flow rates against current maximums and identify noncompliant fixtures
Your checkpoint
A one-page decision tree covering trap selection and interceptor sizing, validated against ten practice scenarios with every branch confirmed.
General Regulations, Permits, and Licensing Administration & Definitions and General Building Supply and Drainage Requirements
Outline the permit application, fee, and inspection sequence for a residential repipe from first filing to final inspection
List licensing, bonding, and continuing-education obligations together with the penalties for unlicensed or unpermitted work
Define 20 core code terms in your own words with no notes, including developed length, fixture unit, stack, branch, and riser
Apply general building supply and drainage requirements to a mixed-use occupancy scenario and document each determination
Classify ten work items as permit-required or exempt minor repair and justify each classification
Your checkpoint
A 50-card definition deck self-tested at 90% or higher, plus a one-page written permit-and-inspection flow summary.
Water Heaters and Temperature Control & Storm Drainage
Size a water heater and its relief valve and expansion provisions for a stated dwelling demand
Verify temperature-and-pressure relief discharge piping, termination, and support requirements, plus strapping or anchoring where required
Compute roof drainage area and size conductors and leaders for a stated rainfall intensity
Distinguish primary from secondary roof drainage and state when secondary or overflow drainage is required
Complete two full-length timed practice exams and rework every missed item into a corrected written explanation
Your checkpoint
Two timed full-length practice exams scored at 80% or above, accompanied by an error log grouped by domain that names the specific rule missed.
Milestones
Week 2: Complete the three-bath riser diagram unaided and score 80% or higher on a 20-question mixed drainage-and-supply check.
Week 4: Explain the difference between wet, common, circuit, and island venting aloud in under three minutes and pass the timed venting test at 80%.
Week 6: Correctly size both interceptor types and select the proper trap for eight of ten fixtures without references.
Week 8: Average 80% or higher across two full-length timed exams with no domain scoring below 70%.