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.
Journeyman Plumbers Exam Plumbing Fixtures and Appliances 5
When installing a wall-hung toilet, the carrier must be secured to: