Journeyman Plumbers Exam Plumbing Fixtures and Appliances 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When installing a wall-hung toilet, the carrier must be secured to:
- The finished wall framing only
- The structural floor and wall framing (Correct answer)
- The drain pipe and vent stack
- The subfloor with lag bolts only
Correct answer: The structural floor and wall framing
Wall-hung toilet carriers must be anchored to both the structural floor and wall framing to support the full weight and dynamic loads of use.
Question 2: A tankless (on-demand) water heater is rated primarily by:
- Storage capacity in gallons
- BTU input and flow rate in gallons per minute (Correct answer)
- Recovery rate in hours
- Standby loss percentage
Correct answer: BTU input and flow rate in gallons per minute
Tankless water heaters are rated by their BTU input and the flow rate (gpm) they can heat to a specified rise in temperature.
Question 3: Which fixture requires a vented drain connection using a minimum 2-inch drain pipe per IPC?
- Lavatory
- Bathtub (Correct answer)
- Kitchen sink
- Floor drain
Correct answer: Bathtub
The IPC requires a minimum 1-1/2 inch drain for lavatories and kitchen sinks, but bathtubs require a minimum 1-1/2 inch drain; however, the drain fixture unit load typically requires 2 inches in many configurations — confirm with local amendments.
Question 4: A lavatory faucet installed in a public restroom must have a maximum flow rate of:
- 0.5 gpm
- 0.8 gpm
- 1.0 gpm (Correct answer)
- 1.5 gpm
Correct answer: 1.0 gpm
The IPC and federal standards limit public lavatory faucets to a maximum of 0.5 gpm for metered faucets and 1.0 gpm for others at 60 psi.
Question 5: What is the correct rough-in distance for a standard toilet measured from the finished wall to the center of the drain?
- 10 inches
- 12 inches (Correct answer)
- 14 inches
- 16 inches
Correct answer: 12 inches
The standard toilet rough-in distance is 12 inches from the finished wall to the centerline of the closet flange, though 10-inch and 14-inch models exist.
Question 6: A thermostatic mixing valve on a water heater is set to supply domestic hot water at:
- 100°F to 105°F
- 110°F to 115°F (Correct answer)
- 120°F to 125°F
- 130°F to 140°F
Correct answer: 110°F to 115°F
Thermostatic mixing valves are typically set to deliver domestic hot water at 110°F–115°F, balancing scald prevention with Legionella control.
Question 7: Which fixture is NOT typically connected to the sanitary drain system?
- Laundry tray
- Drinking fountain
- Floor sink
- Condensate drain from HVAC (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Condensate drain from HVAC
HVAC condensate drains are typically routed to an indirect waste receptor or exterior, not directly connected to the sanitary drain system without an air gap.
