Safety, Tools, and Installation Practices
Testing before you close it in
Drainage and vent systems are tested before covering. The standard water test fills the system to a 10-foot head above the highest point and holds for 15 minutes with no drop; air tests are permitted only where approved and at the pressure the code specifies. Water supply systems are hydrostatically tested at the working pressure or the code-specified test pressure, held for the required duration. Gas piping is tested separately under the fuel gas code. Always test before the inspector arrives and before insulation or drywall.
Jobsite safety
Follow MIOSHA rules. In trenches: protective systems (sloping, shoring, shielding) are required at 5 feet deep or deeper, a ladder must be within 25 feet of lateral travel, spoil piles and equipment stay back at least 2 feet from the edge, and utility locates come before digging. Wear eye protection when cutting or soldering, use gloves and breathing protection with solvents and fluxes, ventilate when using solvent cement, and never use a flame to find a gas leak.
Good installation practice
Support pipe per the material tables - copper and plastic have different spacing, and vertical piping is supported at each floor. Solder joints must be lead-free, clean, and fluxed properly; plastic pipe needs the correct primer and cement and full insertion with a quarter-turn. Sleeve piping through masonry, isolate dissimilar metals to prevent corrosion, and keep pipe out of contact with soil where the material requires protection.
Rule of thumb
A 10-foot head, 15-minute water test on drainage is the number to remember. If a question describes covering pipe before testing, the answer is almost always "rejected - test first."