ICC G25 Journeyman Plumber Exam (2018 IPC)

Key Concepts

Scope and existing work - The IPC applies to erection, installation, alteration, repair, relocation, replacement, addition, use or maintenance of plumbing systems. Exception: detached one- and two-family dwellings and multiple single-family dwellings (townhouses) not more than three stories high with separate means of egress, and their accessory structures, comply with the International Residential Code (101.2). - Additions, alterations, renovations or repairs related to building or structural issues are regulated by the International Existing Building Code (102.2.1). - Devices or safeguards required by the code shall be maintained in compliance with the edition of the code under which they were installed; the owner or owner's authorized agent is responsible, and the code official may require reinspection (102.3).

Permits and fees - Exempt work: stopping leaks (106.2 Item 1) and clearing stoppages/repairing leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures and removal and reinstallation of water closets, provided no replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes or fixtures (106.2 Item 2). Replacing a defective concealed drainpipe is new work requiring a permit. - Application must indicate the proposed occupancy of all parts of the building and uncovered site (106.3); construction documents for buildings more than two stories must show penetration locations and…

Key Concepts

Fixture counts and calculations - Minimum fixtures come from Table 403.1 based on actual use; occupant load is determined by the International Building Code (Section 403.1). - To find the occupant load of each sex, divide the total occupant load in half; apply the Table 403.1 ratios to each sex. Fractional numbers are rounded up to the next whole number, but for multiple occupancies the fractional numbers for each occupancy are first summed, then rounded up (Section 403.1.1). - Separate facilities for each sex are required where fixtures are required, with exceptions: dwelling/sleeping units; structures or tenant spaces with total occupant load (employees + customers) of 15 or fewer; mercantile with maximum occupant load 100 or fewer; business with maximum occupant load 25 or fewer (Section 403.2, Exceptions 1–4). - Path of travel to required public and employee toilet facilities shall not exceed 500 feet, and facilities shall be not more than one story above or below the space served (Section 403.3.3); in covered and open mall buildings the limit is 300 feet (Section 403.3.4).

Key Concepts

Water service sizing and separation - The water service pipe shall be sized for the quantities and pressures required by the code and shall be not less than 3/4 inch (19.1 mm) in diameter (Section 603.1). - Where the building sewer is not of a material listed in Table 702.2, the water service pipe and building sewer shall be horizontally separated by not less than 5 feet (1524 mm) of undisturbed or compacted earth. The separation does not apply where the bottom of the water service within 5 feet of the sewer is not less than 12 inches (305 mm) above the highest point of the top of the sewer (Section 603.2).

Pressure and distribution design - Where water pressure within a building exceeds 80 psi (552 kPa) static, an approved pressure-reducing valve conforming to ASSE 1003 or CSA B356 with strainer shall reduce the pressure to not greater than 80 psi static (Section 604.8). The valve shall be designed to remain open to permit uninterrupted flow in case of valve failure (Section 604.8.1). - The fixture supply pipe shall terminate not more than 30 inches (762 mm) from the point of connection to the fixture (Section…

Key Concepts

Slope and pipe size (Section 704) - Horizontal drainage piping is installed in uniform alignment at uniform slopes, not less than Table 704.1. Where piping is upstream of a grease interceptor, slope shall be not less than ¼ inch per foot (2-percent slope) (704.1). - Drainage piping size shall not be reduced in the direction of flow. Not counted as reductions: a 4-inch by 3-inch water closet flange; a water closet bend with 4-inch inlet and 3-inch outlet where the 4-inch leg is upright and below the flange; an offset closet flange (704.2). - Horizontal branches connect to bases of stacks not less than 10 times the diameter of the drainage stack downstream from the stack, and to horizontal stack offsets not less than 10 diameters downstream from the upper stack (704.3).

Fittings and prohibited joints - Double sanitary tee patterns shall not receive back-to-back water closet discharge; exception where the horizontal developed length between the water closet outlet and the fitting is 18 inches or greater (706.3). - Prohibited joints include cement/concrete, mastic or hot-pour bituminous, fittings not approved for the installation, joints between different diameter pipes made with elastomeric rolling O-rings, certain solvent-cement joints between…

2018 IPC, Chapter 9 Vents

Key Concepts

Vent connections and grades - Individual, branch and circuit vents shall connect to a vent stack, stack vent, air admittance valve or extend to the open air (905.1). Vent and branch vent pipes shall be graded and connected to drain back to the drainage pipe by gravity (905.2). - Every dry vent connecting to a horizontal drain shall connect above the centerline of the horizontal drain pipe (905.3). - Every dry vent shall rise vertically to a point not less than 6 inches (152 mm) above the flood level rim of the highest trap or trapped fixture being vented. Exception: vents for interceptors located outdoors (905.4). - A connection between a vent pipe and a vent stack or stack vent shall be made not less than 6 inches above the flood level rim of the highest fixture served; horizontal branch, relief or loop vents are also located not less than 6 inches above that rim (905.5).

IPC 2018 Chapter 10

Key Concepts

Fixture trapping (Section 1002.1). Each plumbing fixture shall be separately trapped by a liquid-seal trap, except as otherwise permitted. The vertical distance from the fixture outlet to the trap weir shall not exceed 24 inches (610 mm); the horizontal distance shall not exceed 30 inches (762 mm), measured from the centerline of the fixture outlet to the centerline of the inlet of the trap. A fixture shall not be double trapped. Exceptions cover integral traps; a combination fixture on one trap where one compartment is not more than 6 inches deeper than the other and waste outlets are not more than 30 inches apart; a grease interceptor serving as a fixture trap (vertical distance from fixture outlet to interceptor inlet not exceeding 30 inches, developed length not exceeding 60 inches, maximum three compartments); and floor drains in multilevel parking structures.

Key Concepts

• Scope and disposal. Chapter 11 governs the materials, design, construction and installation of storm drainage (Section 1101.1). Rainwater from roofs and storm water from paved areas, yards, courts and courtyards shall drain to an approved place of disposal; for one- and two-family dwellings, and where approved, storm water is permitted to discharge onto flat areas such as streets or lawns, provided the storm water flows away from the building (Section 1101.2).
• Prohibited drainage and connections. Storm water shall not be drained into sewers intended for sewage only (Section 1101.3). Conductor pipes shall not be used as soil, waste or vent pipes, and soil, waste or vent pipes shall not be used as conductors (Section 1104.1). Floor drains shall not be connected to a storm drain (Section 1104.2).
• General piping rules. Conductors and the building storm drain shall be tested in accordance with Section 312 (Section 1101.4). The size of a drainage pipe shall not be reduced in the direction of flow (Section 1101.5). Connections and changes in direction use approved drainage-type fittings per Table 706.3 (Section 1101.6). Cleanouts are required and comply with sanitary drainage cleanout provisions, with an exception for subsurface drainage systems…