KY Plumber study guide
KY Plumber · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Kentucky Journeyman Plumber license is a statewide credential issued through the Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction, Division of Plumbing. It authorizes you to perform plumbing work under the supervision of a licensed master plumber; the master license is what allows a person to contract for plumbing work and pull permits. The KY Plumber study guide has 12 sections and about 3,692 words.
01General Regulations, Licensing, and Administrative Provisions
This domain tests how plumbing work is authorized and regulated in Kentucky: who may perform it, when a permit is required, how inspections are sequenced, and what happens when work is done without approval. The Kentucky Plumbing Code is 815 KAR 20:090, which adopts the International Plumbing Code with Kentucky amendments.
334 words, about 2 min02Plumbing Definitions, Materials, and Standards
The code defines a building drain as the lowest piping receiving soil and waste inside the building and ending 2 feet outside the wall; the building sewer begins there and runs to the public sewer or private disposal system. A fixture unit is a load measure, not a pipe size.
319 words, about 2 min03General Regulations and Drainage System Design
Plumbing must be installed without weakening structural members, protected from freezing, and separated from electrical hazards. Piping must be supported and aligned; changes in direction use fittings, not bent pipe.
312 words, about 2 min04Fixtures, Fixture Fittings, and Fixture Traps
Fixtures must be installed level, securely supported, and spaced for use and cleaning. Water closets generally need at least 15 inches from the centerline to a side wall and 30 inches of clear width; lavatories and sinks need usable clearance and a secure backing.
328 words, about 2 min05Water Heaters and Temperature Control
Water heaters must be listed and installed per the manufacturer, with clearance to combustibles and access for service. A temperature and pressure relief valve is mandatory, sized to the heater's rating, and installed in the tank's designated opening.
322 words, about 2 min06Water Supply and Distribution
Water supply design balances pressure, flow, and velocity. The service must provide enough residual pressure at the most remote fixture; the code sets minimum pressures for fixtures and flushometer valves, and excessive pressure requires a regulator.
296 words, about 1 min07Sanitary Drainage, Vents, and Venting Systems
Soil and waste stacks carry discharge vertically; horizontal branches connect fixtures to stacks. Stack sizing depends on fixture units and the number of branch intervals.
318 words, about 2 min08Traps, Interceptors, and Separators
A trap must maintain a 2- to 4-inch seal. Trap seal loss occurs from evaporation, siphonage, backpressure, capillary action, and wind.
295 words, about 1 min09Storm Drainage and Special Plumbing Systems
Storm drainage is separate from sanitary drainage. Roof drains, leaders, scuppers, and area drains collect rainwater and convey it to a storm sewer, dry well, or approved disposal point.
291 words, about 1 min10Health Care Plumbing and Special Fixtures
Health care facilities use special fixtures and connections that protect patients and the water supply. Clinical sinks, bedpan washers, and similar fixtures need proper backflow protection and often require an air gap or vacuum breaker.
278 words, about 1 min11Referenced Standards and Fuel Gas Piping
The plumbing code relies on referenced standards for materials, testing, and installation. Examples include ASTM standards for pipe and fittings, ASME standards for valves and boilers, ASSE standards for backflow preventers, CSA standards for gas appliances, NSF standards for drinking water components, and UL standards for controls.
300 words, about 2 min12Plumbing Math, Sizing Calculations, and Isometric Interpretation
Plumbing math covers unit conversion, slope, volume, pressure, fixture units, and isometric interpretation. Key conversions include 1 cubic foot = 7.48 gallons, 1 psi = 2.31 feet of water, and 1 inch = 25.4 millimeters.
299 words, about 1 min