MA Plumber flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Plumbing permit requirement

A plumbing permit must be obtained from the local plumbing inspector before beginning installation, alteration, or replacement work; journeymen and apprentices cannot legally pull plumbing permits.

Rough-in inspection

The inspection of installed drainage, waste, vent, and water piping after it is complete and tested but before it is concealed by walls, floors, or ceilings.

Final plumbing inspection

The last inspection, occurring after all fixtures, appliances, and trim are installed and all required tests have passed, allowing the work to be approved and placed in service.

State Plumbers and Gas Fitters Board

Massachusetts board that licenses plumbers and gas fitters, adopts the Uniform State Plumbing Code (248 CMR 10.00), and hears appeals from decisions of local plumbing inspectors.

Water supply fixture unit

A value assigned to a fixture that expresses its probable demand on the water distribution system, used with code tables to size piping, branches, and meters.

Minimum pressure, tank water closets

A flowing pressure of at least 8 psi must remain at a tank-type water closet for proper refill; flushometer valves require roughly 15 psi.

Flushometer valve minimum pressure

Flushometer valves require a minimum flowing pressure of about 15 psi, and the branch serving a flushometer water closet must be at least 1 inch.

Reduced pressure zone backflow preventer

An assembly with two independently acting check valves and a differential relief valve, used where a cross-connection would create a health hazard to the potable supply.

T&P relief valve

A device on a water heater that opens at excessive temperature or pressure; its discharge pipe must end within 6 inches of the floor with an unthreaded end.

Drainage fixture unit

A value expressing the rate at which a fixture discharges into the drainage system, used with code tables to size fixture branches, stacks, and building drains.

Slope of horizontal drainage pipe

Horizontal drainage pipe of 2 1/2 inches and smaller must slope at 1/4 inch per foot; pipe 3 inches and larger may slope at 1/8 inch per foot.

Trap seal depth

The water seal in a plumbing trap must be at least 2 inches and not more than 4 inches deep to keep sewer gas from entering the building.

Vent terminal above roof

A vent stack terminates in open air at least 6 inches above the roof surface, higher where snow depth requires, and clear of windows, doors, and air intakes.

Cleanout at base of stack

A cleanout is required at the base of every vertical drainage stack, and horizontal building drains need cleanouts at intervals not exceeding 100 feet.

Water closet flush volume limit

Massachusetts limits new water closets to 1.28 gallons per flush, below the federal maximum of 1.6 gallons, reducing water use in new and replacement installations.

Water closet sidewall clearance

A water closet must be centered at least 15 inches from any side wall and have at least 30 inches of clear space across its front for use.

Grease interceptor requirement

Food service establishments must install a grease interceptor on drainage from fixtures that discharge fats, oils, and grease, with a flow-control fitting and venting.

Indirect waste air gap

An indirect waste must discharge through an air gap of at least twice the diameter of the receiving pipe, or at least 1 inch, to prevent backflow contamination.

Gas piping pressure test

Gas piping is pressure tested with air or inert gas at not less than 3 psi, or 1.5 times working pressure, and held at least 10 minutes without loss.

Sediment trap at appliance

A sediment trap or drip leg, full size of the appliance connector, is installed at the appliance to capture dirt and pipe scale before it reaches gas controls.

Appliance shutoff valve location

A manual shutoff valve must be installed ahead of each gas appliance, located in the same room and within easy reach for emergency shutdown.

CSST bonding requirement

Corrugated stainless steel tubing must be bonded to the building grounding electrode system to reduce the risk of damage from lightning-induced electrical arcing.

Gas pipe through masonry wall

Gas piping passing through masonry or concrete must be protected by a sleeve and may not run inside ducts, chimneys, elevator shafts, or concealed inaccessible spaces.

Outdoor combustion air openings

When outdoor combustion air is supplied through two horizontal ducts, each opening is sized at 1 square inch of free area per 2,000 Btu/hr of total appliance input.

Type B vent clearance

Listed Type B gas vent must maintain at least 1 inch of clearance to combustible materials and has a double wall that keeps flue gases warm.

Vent connector slope

A vent connector must slope upward toward the vertical vent at not less than 1/4 inch per foot of horizontal run so flue gases travel properly.

Confined space combustion air

A space with less than 50 cubic feet of volume per 1,000 Btu/hr of appliance input is confined and requires two permanent openings for combustion air.

Category I appliance

A gas appliance that operates with negative vent pressure and flue gas temperatures high enough to prevent condensation, typically vented by natural draft.

Master plumber authority

Only a licensed master plumber may obtain plumbing permits, contract plumbing work, and supervise journeymen and apprentices under the Massachusetts code.

Trench protective system threshold

OSHA requires a protective system such as sloping, shoring, or a trench box for excavations 5 feet deep or more where a cave-in hazard exists.

Dig Safe notification

Massachusetts requires excavators to notify Dig Safe at least 72 hours before digging so that underground utilities can be located and marked.

GFCI on construction sites

All 120-volt temporary receptacles on a construction site must have ground-fault circuit interrupter protection for personnel.