COMPETENCIES FOR BASIC PLUMBING

1. Identify the different tools used in plumbing

2. Explain the theories of house plumbing and their applications in septic tanks, bathroom and
kitchen water connections
3. Follow the correct installation techniques and steps in plumbing
4. Explain the importance of the standards of the National Plumbing Code

Identify the different tools used in plumbing

1. A plumber wants to tighten and loosen pipes. Which tool is appropriate?

a. Pipe Cutter c. Pipe Wrench
b. Flux d. Butane Torch
2. A plumber wants to cut metal pipe. Which tool is appropriate?
a. Hacksaw c. Handsaw
b. Back saw d. Drywall knife
3. Metal with semi-rigid auger whose end is usually fitted with a hook or corkscrew is called ___?
a. plumber’s snake c. Valve
b. Plunger d. bushing
4. If your toilet is in trouble, you use rubber funnel-shape instrument attached to the end of the
handle for unblocking. What is this tool?
a. Plumber’s snake c. Plunger
b. Valve d. Bushing
5. Which plumbing tool is used for gripping large pipes and irregular objects?
a. Monkey wrench c. Yoke vise
b. Chain wrench d. Pipe wrench
6. A plumber wants to create thread outside pipe by hand. Which tool is appropriate?
a. Pipe cutter c. Yoke vise
b. Pipe threader d. Pipe wrench
7. A plumber wants to cut pipes. Which holding tool is needed?
a. Vise Grip c. Yoke vise
b. Pipe threader d. Pipe wrench
8. A plumber wants to hold pipe by hand. What tool is needed?
a. Vise Grip c. Yoke vise
b. Pipe threader d. Pipe wrench

Explain the theories of house plumbing and their applications in septic tanks, bathroom and kitchen
water connections

9. The following are good plumbing practices except ______.

a. rainwater harvesting c. gray water recycling
b. water conservation d. excessive water consumption
10. Water contaminants are being forced back into the water piping system. Which term is referred
to?
a. Water flow c. Pressure
b. Back flow d. Harvesting
11. The following are examples of plumbing fixtures except _______.
a. water closet c. shower
b. drainage d. urinals
12. Which statement is NOT true about plumbing standards based on Republic Act 1378 which is
known as “Plumbing Law”?
a. Each fixture directly connected to the drainage system shall be equipped with water-
sealed trap.
b. Plumbing shall be designed and adjusted to use the maximum quantity of water
consistent with proper performance and cleaning.
c. Water closet must be located in a room which is properly lighted and ventilated
d. No substance which will clog the pipes, produce explosive mixtures, destroy the pipes or their
joints or interfere unduly with the sewage disposal process shall be allowed to enter the building
drainage system.
13. A compartment that receives solid or liquid waste, located below th normal grade of the gravity
system is called ____.
a. septic c. trap
b. sump d. interceptor
14. Which is true toxic substance?
a. Hazardous to human health. c. Not hazardous to human health
b. A fixture drain for a laboratory d. Bedpan washer and steriliser drain.
15. Water that is safe for drinking, cooking, and personal use is _____.
a. potable c. clean
b.purified d. healthy
16. Which among the following best describes a toilet bowl?
a. A room or booth containing a toilet
b. The Box Type compartment holding water for flushing the toilet
c. An opening in the wall or ceiling near the fixture that allow access for servicing the
plumbing system
d. The device that provides a supply of water and/or its disposal, e.g. sinks, tubs, toilets
17. Plumbing ventilation means to _________.
a. carry sewer gas out and relief pressure of the drainage system
b. discourage corrosion in the drainage piping
c. maintain the trap seals
d. give pressure differentials in the public sewer
18. Rainwater from the roof down to the ground passes through what pipe?
a. Down spout c. Gutter
b. Conductor d. Vent
19. A pipe that conveys only liquid waste is called ________.
a. vent pipe c. main pipe
b. soil pipe d. waste pipe

Follow the correct installation techniques and steps in plumbing

20. If you install water supply inside the building, what is the dimeter of pipes needed?
a. 4 inches c. 0.75 inch
b. 1 inch d. 0.5 inch
21. In which type of pipes does portable water travel?
a. ABS pipes c. Cast iron pipes
b. Galvanized pipes d. PVC pipes (orange)
22. If your water system as leak, where can you shut off the flow of water?
a. Gate valve c. Check valve
b. Globe valve d. Angle valve
23. A plumber wants to install a liquid seal to prevent sewer gasses from entering the building.
What device is needed?
a. Union c. Backflow preventer
b. Trap d. Angle valve
24. A plumber wants to shut off the flow of water just 90 degreed turn. Which valve is appropriate?
a. Gate valve c. Check valve
b. Globe valve d. Angle valve
25. What do you call those flexible waterproof ribbon for covering threaded pipes joints to prevent
leakage?
a. Rubber bond c. Teflon tape
b. Masking tape d. Tape
26. In the end of a PVC pipe is fitted with a male adopter, what fitting all be used to stop the flow of
the water?
 a. Elbow c. Cap
b. Coupling d. Plug
27. How many PVC pipes can be installed in a 7.50 meter distance?
a. 2 pcs. c. 3 pcs.
b. 2.5 pcs. d. 3.5 pcs.
28. If the end of a PVC pipe is filled with a female adopter, what filling will be used to stop the flow
of the water?
a. elbow c. cap
b. coupling d. plug
29. A plumber wants to connect two length of pipes, which fitting is recessary?
a. coupling c. tee
b. elbow d. pipe wrench
30. If there is leaking in the water supply of lavatory, sink and water closet, which valve are you
going to shut off?
a. Gate valve c. Check valve
b. Globe valve d. Angle valve

Explain the importance of the standards of the National Plumbing Code

31. If you install a soil pipe, what is the standard pitch or slope?
a. 5% c. 2%
b. 10% d. 1%
32. If you put source of potable water, what is the minimum safe distance from the septic tank?
a. 15 meters c. 5 meters
b. 10 meters d. 20 meters
33. No cesspool, septic tank or drain fields shall be located within how many meters radius from
the well?
a. 15 meters c. 50 meters
b. 10 meters d. 45 meters
34. if you plan to drill for a well that can supply water for public use, what is the minimum meter
radius from a well to the residences?
a. 150 meters c. 50 meters
b. 100 meters d. 200 meters
35. Every trap for bath tubs, lavatories, sink and oner similar fixtures shall be _____.
a. self regulating c. fix
b. tight d. self cleaning
36. There should be no concrete sanitary sewers existing within how many meter radius from the
well?
a. 15 meters c. 50 meters
b. 10 meters d. 45 meters
37. The standard length of a PVC pipe is __________.
a. 12 ft. c. 3.0 m.
b. 2.0 m. d. 20 ft.
38. If you want to estimate the number of G.I. pipes from your house to the main supply, what
standard length of a G.I. pipe that you are going to use?
a. 20.0 m c. 3.0 m.
b. 6 ft. d. 20 ft.
39. If you want to estimate the number of PVC pipes from your house to the main supply, what
standard length of a PVC pipe that you are going to use?
a. 20.0 m c. 3.0 m.
b. 6 ft. d. 20 ft.
40. All plumbing fixtures must have P-trap except _______.
a. lavatory c. sink
b. water closet d. bath tub
DEFINITION OF TERMS

Air gap - an air gap in a water supply system and is the unobstructed vertical distance
through the free atmosphere between the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet supplying water
to a tank, plumbing fixtures or other device and the flood level rim of the receptacle

Back Flow - the flow of water, or other liquid mixture or substances into the distributing pipes of
a potable supply of water from any source, other than its intended source

Back Siphonage - the back flow of used contaminated water from a plumbing fixture or vessel
into a water supply pipe due to a negative pressure in such a pipe

Battery of Fixtures - refers to any group of two or more similar adjacent fixtures which
discharges into a common horizontal waste pipe or soil branch

Bib - is synonymous with faucet, cock, tap, plug, etc. The word faucet is preferred

Blind Flange - a flange that closes the end of a pipe. There is no opening for the passage of
water.

Blow Off - A controlled outlet on a pipeline used to discharge water

Branch -Any part of the piping system other than a riser or stack

Branch Interval - Length of a soil or waster stack corresponding in general to the storey
height

Branch Vent - connecting one or more individual vents with a vent stack or stack vent

Calking -Plugging an opening with oakum, lead or other materials, that are pounded into the
place or opening.

Circuit Vent - Branch vent that serves two or more traps, and extends from the front of the last
fixture connection of a horizontal branch to the vent stack

Continuous vent -Vertical vent that is a continuation of the drain to which a vent connects

Combination Fixtures - Fixture combining one sink and tray or a two or three compartment sink or
tray in one vent

Combination Waste and Vent System - A specially designed system of waste piping embodying
the horizontal wet venting of one or more sinks or floor drains by means of a common waste and
vent pipe adequately sized to provide free movement of air above the flow line of the drain

Common Vent -A drain from two or three fixture connected to a single trap. It is also called
a dual vent

Cross Connection -Any physical connection between two otherwise separate piping system,
one contains potable water, and the other from unknown or questionable safety

Dead End- Extended portion of a pipe that is closed at one end permitting the stagnation of water
or air therein

Developed Length - Length along the center of the pipe or fitting

Diameter - The nominal interior diameter of the pipe, except for brass and copper pipe, wherein it
refers to the outside diameter

Drainage System - Includes all piping that conveys sewage, rainwater and other liquid waste to a
legal point of disposal

Dry Vent - Vent that does not carry water or water-borne wastes

Effective Opening - Is the minimum cross sectional area at the point of water supply discharge,
measured or expressed in terms of diameter of a circle

Existing Work - The portion of a plumbing system that has been installed and approved prior to the
addition, alteration or correction

Fixture Branch - Pipe connecting several fixtures

Fixture Drain- Drain from the Trap of a fixture to the junction of that drain with any other drain pipe

Fixture Supply -Water supply pipe connecting the fixture with the fixture branch

Fixture Units - Quantity in terms of which the load producing effects on the plumbing system of
different kinds of plumbing fixtures are expressed in some arbitrarily chosen scale

Fixture Unit Flow Rate -Total discharge flow in gallons per unit of a simple fixture divided by 7.5
gallons that provides the flow rate of that particular fixture as a unit of flow

Flood Level - Device located inside the tank for the purpose of maintaining water level for effective
flushing of the water closet

Ferrule- Metallic sleeve or otherwise joined into an opening in pipe into which a plug is screwed
that can be removed for the purpose of cleaning or examining the interior of the pipe

Flush Valve - Device located at the bottom of the tank for flushing water closets and similar fixtures

Flushometer Valve - Device which discharges a predetermined quality of water to the fixture for
flushing purposes activated by direct water pressure

Grade- Slope or fall of pipe in reference to a fraction of an inch per foot length of pipe

Group Vent - Branch vent that performs its fucntion for two or more traps

Horizontal Pipe - Any pipe or fitting which makes an angle of more than 45deg with the vertical

Invert - Lowest portion of the inside of any pipe or conduit that is not vertical

Liquid Waste - Any discharge from any fixture or appliance in connection with a plumbing system
which does not receive fecal matter

Local Vent Pipe - Pipe on the fixture side of the trap through which vapor or foul air is removed
from a room or fixture

Looped Vent - same as Circuit Vent except that it loops back and connects with a vent stack
instead of a stack vent

Lateral - In plumbing, a secondary pipe. In sewage, a common sewer to which no other common
sewer is a tributary. It receives sewage only from the building sewer.
Main - Principal artery of a system to which branches may be connected

Main Sewer - Sewer Line or system directly controlled by public authorities

Main Vent - Principal artery of the venting system to which vent branches may be connected

Plumbing Fixtures - Installed receptacles, devices or appliances which are supplied with water, or
which receives or discharges liquid or liquid-borne waste, w/ or w/o discharge into drainage system
which may be directly or indirectly connected

Plumbing System - includes water supply distribution pipes, plumbing fixtures and traps, soil,
waste and vent pipes, house drain and house sewers, water-treating or water-using equipment

Relief Vent - provides circulation of air between drainage and vent systems

Re-Vent Pipe - Part of the vent pipeline which connects directly with an individual waste or group
of wastes, underneath or back of the fixture, and extend either to the main or branch vent pipe

Riser - Water supply pipe which extend vertically one full storey or more to convey water to
branches or fixtures

Rough-in - Installation of all parts of the plumbing system which can be completed prior to the
installation of fixtures.This includes drainage, water supply, vent piping, necessary fixture supports

Return Bend - An open return bend usually with inside threads, but applied also to 180deg bend in
pipe

Public Sewer - Common sewer directly controlled by public authorities where all abutters have
equal right of connection

Sanitary Sewage - sewage connecting human excrement and liquid household waste. It is also
called domestic sewage

Sanitary Sewer - A sewer intended to receive sanitary sewage with or without industrial wastes
and without the admixture if surface water, storm water or drainage

Secondary Branch - Any branch in a building drain other than the primary branch

Sewerage or Sewage Work - a comprehensive term including all construction or collection,

transportation, pumping, treatment and final disposition of sewage

Siamese Connection - is a Y connection used on fire lines so that two lines of hose may be
connected to a hydrant or to the same nozzle

Standpipe - Vertical Pipe usually used for the storage of water, frequently under pressure

Side Vent - a vent connecting to the drain pipe through a fitting at an angle not greater than 45deg
or to the vertical

Soil Pipe - Any pipe that conveys the discharge of water closets or fixtures having similar
functions, with or without the discharge from other fixtures

Stack - Vertical Main of a system of soil, waste or vent pipe

Stack Group - the location of fixtures in relation to the stack so that by means of proper fittings,
vents may be reduced to a minimum
Stack Vent - extension of a soil or waste stack above the highest horizontal drain connected to the
stack. It is sometimes called waste vent or soil vent

Stack Venting - method of venting a fixture or fixtures through the soil or waste stack

Subsoil Drain - underground drain pipes that receive subsurface or seepage water only and
convey it to a place of disposal

Sump - Pit or Receptacle at a low point to which the liquid waste are drained

Trap - fitting or device so designed as to provide, when properly vented, a liquid seal that will
prevent the back passage of air without materially affecting the flow of sewage through it

Trap Seal - Maximum vertical depth of liquid that trap will retain, measured between the crown
weir and top of the dip of the trap

Vent Stack - Vertical Pipe installed primarily for the purpose of providing circulation of air to
different parts of the drainage system

Vent System - Pipe/s installed to provide a flow or circulation of air within the plumbing system to
protect trap seals siphoning and back pressure

Vertical Pipe - Pipe installed in a vertical position or at an angle of not more than 45deg with the
vertical

Waste Pipe - pipe that conveys liquid waste from fixture that is free of fecal matter

Water Distributing Pipe - Pipe that conveys water from the water service pipe to the plumbing
fixtures and other water outlets

Water Service Pipe - Pipe from the water main or other source of water supply to the building
served