Code Requirements Flashcards

According to the International Plumbing Code (IPC), what is the minimum slope required for horizontal drainage piping with a diameter of 3 inches or less?

Answer: 1/4 inch per foot

The IPC requires horizontal drainage pipe 3 inches in diameter or less to slope at a minimum of 1/4 inch per foot (2%) to ensure proper flow.

Under AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, what minimum live load model must be used when designing public highway bridges?

Answer: HL-93

AASHTO LRFD specifications require the HL-93 notional load model, which consists of a combination of a design truck or tandem plus a design lane load.

A concrete sidewalk panel is observed with a vertical displacement of 3/4 inch between sections. Under ADA accessibility guidelines, this condition primarily represents a violation of which requirement?

Answer: Surface discontinuity limit

ADA guidelines limit surface discontinuities (vertical changes in level) to 1/4 inch maximum, or 1/2 inch if beveled at 1:2 slope; 3/4 inch exceeds both thresholds.

Which ASTM standard governs the specification for Portland cement used in public infrastructure concrete construction?

Answer: ASTM C150

ASTM C150 is the Standard Specification for Portland Cement, defining the eight types and their chemical and physical requirements.

Under the Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 402, a construction site disturbing one or more acres must obtain which type of permit?

Answer: NPDES Construction General Permit

EPA's NPDES Construction General Permit (CGP) under CWA Section 402 is required for stormwater discharges from construction sites disturbing one acre or more.

When inspecting a newly installed sanitary sewer, the inspector requires a mandrel test. What is the primary defect this test is designed to detect?

Answer: Excessive deflection in flexible pipe

A mandrel (or go/no-go) test is pulled through flexible pipe to verify that deflection (out-of-round deformation) does not exceed the allowable limit, typically 5% of the internal diameter.

According to OSHA 1926.652, what classification applies to a trench excavation in Type C soil with vertical walls at a depth of 6 feet?

Answer: Slope at 1.5:1 (H:V) or use shoring/shielding

Type C soil is the least stable classification; OSHA requires a 1.5:1 horizontal-to-vertical slope or an equivalent protective system for excavations deeper than 5 feet.