NITC Master Plumber study plan

Draft a one-page schematic of a two-story single-family DWV system showing every fixture, trap, and vent connection, then annotate each pipe with its required size and slope.

Compute the drainage fixture unit (dfu) load for the whole building and for each branch, and verify the building drain and building sewer sizes against a locally adopted code table.

Calculate the required vent stack and stack-vent sizes for the same layout and explain in writing why each wet vent is or is not permitted.

List the horizontal-to-vertical and vertical-to-horizontal drainage fitting rules that apply at each transition on your schematic, citing the code section number for each.

Redraw the week-1 layout for a three-story mixed-use building with stacked toilet groups and a pumped discharge, and identify every place a relief vent, yoke vent, or vent header is required.

Size the water service, main, and branches for the same building using both the fixture-unit method and the probable-demand method, and explain the difference in results.

Solve ten trap-arm distance problems from memory using the trap-arm length table, and check each answer against the code.

Write a short comparison of a combined vs. separate storm and sanitary system and state which the local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) requires in your area.

Build a pressure-loss budget for a cold-water system from the meter to the topmost fixture, accounting for static head, friction, and fixture minimum pressure, and show the residual pressure at the most remote outlet.

Select a water heater type (storage, tankless, heat-pump, or indirect) for three different building scenarios and justify each choice with recovery rate, first-hour rating, and demand calculations.

Size the gas or electrical supply for the selected water heater and list the venting, relief-valve, and expansion-control requirements for a closed system.

Explain how thermal expansion, water hammer, and pressure-reducing valves interact in a tall building and describe where each control device is installed.

Size roof drains, scuppers, and leaders for a 1,000 m2 flat roof using a given rainfall intensity, and check the result against both the plumbing code and the local storm-drainage manual.

Design a secondary (emergency) roof drainage system and calculate the required overflow capacity for a 100-year storm.

Identify every cross-connection in a typical commercial kitchen and irrigation riser, classify each as a high or low hazard, and select the correct backflow preventer type (air gap, RPZ, double check, or vacuum breaker).

Draw the test procedure for a reduced-pressure zone (RPZ) assembly and list the five field-test readings a tester must record.

List the minimum fixture clearances, water closet compartment dimensions, and lavatory spacing for a public restroom and verify a sample floor plan against them.

Explain the difference between a fixture outlet, trap, and fixture fitting and identify the code requirement that governs each in a typical sink and flushometer installation.

Write a step-by-step hydrostatic and air-pressure test procedure for a new DWV system, including test pressure, duration, and what constitutes a failure.

Diagnose five common troubleshooting scenarios (gurgling trap, slow drain, fluctuating pressure, sewer odor, water-hammer noise) and state the most likely cause and the confirming test for each.

Assemble a permit submittal package for a small commercial project listing every required drawing, calculation, and form, and name the code edition and local amendments that apply.

Map the inspection sequence (underground, rough-in, top-out, final) to the work stages that must be complete before each inspection can pass.

Prepare a takeoff for a 20-fixture commercial restroom, including pipe, fittings, hangers, and fixtures, and price it with current local material costs.

Write a job-hazard analysis for a trench excavation and for confined-space entry into a sewer manhole, naming the required protective equipment and permit conditions.

Redo one full building layout from scratch under timed conditions, sizing the water, DWV, and backflow protection without reference notes, then grade it against the code.

Review every wrong answer from weeks 1-6 and write a corrected rule statement for each mistake.

Explain to a mock apprentice, in plain language, how a vent protects a trap seal and why an improperly installed air admittance valve can fail.

Confirm the local amendments and licensing requirements for your jurisdiction, including continuing-education hours and exam format.

Take two full-length timed practice exams covering all ten domains and record the score per domain.

Drill only the two weakest domains until each reaches at least 75 percent on a fresh set of questions.

Rehearse the code-book index: locate ten random requirements within two minutes each without prior knowledge of the section number.

Finalize an exam-day plan covering allowed references, calculator, identification, and time allocation per question.