Rhode Island Journeyman Plumber Practice Exam

What are the requirements for an air test on a drainage system?

1. Must hold 3 psi for 5 minutes

2. Must hold 5 psi for 5 minutes

3. Must hold 10 psi for 10 minutes

4. Must hold 10 psi for 5 minutes

The correct answer is: Must hold 5 psi for 5 minutes

The correct response regarding the requirements for an air test on a drainage system is that it must hold 5 psi for 5 minutes. This standard is established to ensure the integrity of the drainage system and verify that there are no leaks present. Conducting an air test at 5 psi gives a reasonable margin of safety to assess the system’s stability, as it is a pressure that is high enough to detect leaks but not excessively high to risk damaging the system. Ensuring that the system can maintain this pressure for a duration of 5 minutes is crucial since it reflects not only immediate leakage but also any potential failure points over a period. The choice of 5 psi is consistent with common plumbing codes, which highlight both safety and performance of plumbing systems. In this case, any other psi values or different time durations would not conform to the established requirements. Therefore, this test level is critical for maintaining plumbing standards and ensuring that systems function properly without issues.