Water Supply and Distribution 2 Flashcards
6 cards from real IPC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Water Supply and Distribution 2 flashcards as text
According to the IPC, which of the following pipe materials is NOT permitted for use in potable water distribution systems inside a building?
Answer: Lead pipe
The IPC expressly prohibits lead pipe in potable water systems due to its well-documented health hazards. Copper Type L, PEX, and CPVC are all listed approved materials for interior potable water distribution.
The IPC requires a pressure-reducing valve (PRV) to be installed when the building water pressure exceeds a certain threshold. What is that threshold?
Answer: 80 psi
IPC Section 604.8 requires a pressure-reducing valve whenever the static water pressure supplied to a building exceeds 80 psi, to protect fixtures and piping from excessive pressure.
Under the IPC, what type of device must be installed on the water supply line serving a hose bibb (outdoor hose connection) to protect the potable water supply?
Answer: Atmospheric vacuum breaker
The IPC requires an atmospheric vacuum breaker (or equivalent backflow preventer) on hose bibbs because a garden hose submerged in a bucket or chemical solution can back-siphon contaminants into the potable supply. An atmospheric vacuum breaker is the standard protection at this type of connection.
According to the IPC, what is the minimum pressure that must be maintained at every fixture in a building's water distribution system during peak demand?
Answer: 15 psi
IPC Section 604.3 sets 15 psi as the minimum flow pressure required at every plumbing fixture. Pressure below this threshold results in inadequate flow and potential backflow conditions.
When sizing a water distribution system, the IPC uses fixture units to estimate demand load. What term describes the method used in the IPC for converting fixture unit counts into pipe size?
Answer: Hunter's Curve method
The IPC's pipe-sizing tables and demand-load conversion charts are based on Hunter's Curve (the Roy B. Hunter method), which correlates fixture unit totals to probable peak flow rates for sizing distribution piping.
A plumber installs a water hammer arrestor in a supply line serving a clothes washing machine. According to the IPC, where is the correct location for this device?
Answer: As close as possible to the quick-closing valve or solenoid causing the hammer
IPC Section 604.9 requires water hammer arrestors to be installed as close as practical to the quick-closing valve (such as a washing machine solenoid) that causes the pressure wave. Locating the arrestor at the source of the shock is essential for it to effectively absorb the surge.