ARC1116 – Building Utilities 1

Plumbing and Sanitary System, Fire Pro System

Prepared by:
Ar. Carl Remington Ty, rMP, uap
Instructor
 ARC1116 – Building Utilities 1
Plumbing and Sanitary System, Fire Pro System
Definitions of Basic Plumbing Terms
1. Air break – The separation between a waste pipe and an indirect waste
receptor or device indirectly connected.
2. Air Gap – The unobstructed vertical distance through the free
atmosphere between the outlet of a faucet and the flood level rim of the
fixture or receptacle.
3. Angle Valve – A valve in which the inlet and outlet openings are at 90
degree angle to one another.
4. Backflow – The flow of water or wastewater in pipes in a reverse
direction.
5. Backpressure – A pressure within the sanitary drainage system or vent
piping system that is greater than atmospheric pressure (>14.7 psi).
6. Backsiphonage – The flowing of negative pressure of contaminated or
polluted water from a plumbing fixture into a potable water system.
7. Backwater valve – A device installed in piping to prevent the reverse
flow of storm or sewage into the drainage system or their branches.
 ARC1116 – Building Utilities 1
Plumbing and Sanitary System, Fire Pro System
Definitions of Basic Plumbing Terms
1. Ball valve – A valve in which the flow of liquid is controlled by a
rotating drilled ball that fits tightly against a resilient flexible seat in the
valve body.
2. Battery of fixtures – any group of two or more similar adjacent fixtures
which discharge into a common horizontal waste or soil branch.
3. Bell or Hub – the end portion of a pipe which for a short distance is
enlarged to receive the end of another pipe which may be of the same
diameter for the purpose of making a joint.
4. Bibb – A term that is synonymous with faucet, cock, plug, tap or spigot.
5. Branch – any part of the piping system other than the main, riser or
stack.
6. Branch Interval – A vertical length of soil or waste stack at least eight
feet in height (a storey height), within which the horizontal branches
from one storey or floor of the building or structure are connected to the
stack.
 ARC1116 – Building Utilities 1
Plumbing and Sanitary System, Fire Pro System
Definitions of Basic Plumbing Terms
1. Building drain/ House drain – that part of the lowest horizontal piping
of a plumbing system which receives the discharge from soil, waste and
other drainage pipes inside a building and conveys it to the building
sewer / house sewer.
2. Building/ House Sewer – That part of the lowest horizontal piping of a
plumbing system which receives the discharge from soil, waste and
other drainage pipes inside a building and conveys it to the building
sewer/house sewer.
3. Building Supply Pipe – The first section of water supply piping in a
building after the water meter.
4. Caulking / Calking/ Cogging – Plugging an opening with oakum, lead
or other material that are pounded into the annular space. Also, the
material pounded into the annular space.
5. Cleanout – A fitting with a removable plate or plug that is placed in
plumbing drainage pipe lines to allow access to the pipes for the
purpose of cleaning and maintenance.
 ARC1116 – Building Utilities 1
Plumbing and Sanitary System, Fire Pro System
Definitions of Basic Plumbing Terms
1. Conductor or Leader – part of the roofing and /or area gutter system
that takes water from a roof above-surface area to a storm drain or
other disposal area.
2. Cross connection – Any physical connection or arrangement of pipes
between two otherwise separate building water supply pipes or system
through which or by means of which water supply may flow from one
system to the other, the direction of flow depends on the pressure
difference between the two systems.
3. Dead end – The extended portion of a pipe that is clsoed one end to
which no connections are made on the extended portion, thus permitting
stagnation of wastewater or air therein.
4. Downspout – The vertical portion of a rainwater conductor.
5. Drain – A pipe which carries ground and surface water, storm water or
wastewater into the building drainage sytem.
 ARC1116 – Building Utilities 1
Plumbing and Sanitary System, Fire Pro System
Definitions of Basic Plumbing Terms
1. Drainage Fixture Unit (dfu) – A common measure of the probable
discharge into the drainage system by various types of plumbing
fixtures on the basis of one dfu = to a discharge rate of 7.5 gals. Per
minute or 1 cubic foot of water per minute.
2. DWV - abbreviation for drainage, waste, and vent.
3. Faucet – A valve on a water pipe by means of which water can be drawn
from or held within the pipe. The valve is placed on the end of the pipe.
4. Flood Level – The level in a fixture at which water begins to overflow
the top or rim of the fixture.
5. Flow rate – The volume of water used by a plumbing fixture in a given
amount of time. Usually expressed in gallons per minute (gpm).
6. Flush valve – A device located at the bottom of a flush tank for flushing
water closets and similar fixtures.
 ARC1116 – Building Utilities 1
Plumbing and Sanitary System, Fire Pro System
Definitions of Basic Plumbing Terms
1. Flushometer valve – A device which discharges a predetermined
quantity of water to fixtures for flushing purposes and is actuated by
direct water pressure.
2. Full Bath – A bathroom containing a water closet, a lavatory and a
bathtub.
3. Gate Valve – A valve in which the flow of water is cut off by means of a
circular disk, fitting against machine-smoothed surfaces at right angles
to the direction of flow. The disk is raised or lowered by means of a
threaded stem connected to the handle of the valve. The opening in the
valve is usually as large as the full bore of the pipe.
4. Globe Valve – A valve in which is the flow of water is cut off by means
of a circular disk that fits against the valve seat. The plane of
movement of the disk is parallel to the normal direction of flow of
water, which is turned through a tortuous passage to direct the flow
normal to the face of the disk.
 ARC1116 – Building Utilities 1
Plumbing and Sanitary System, Fire Pro System
Definitions of Basic Plumbing Terms
1. Half bath – A bathroom containing a water closet and a lavatory.
2. Hose bibb – A faucet to which a hose may be attached.
3. Indirect waste pipe – a waste pipe that does not connect directly with
the drainage system but conveys wastes by discharging into a plumbing
fixture or receptacle, which is directly connected to the drainage system
through an air break or gap into a trap, fixture receptor or interceptor,
e.g. refrigerator waste pipe, drinking fountain waste pipe.
4. Insanity – A condition contrary to sanitary principles or injurious to
health.
5. Lavatory / Wash basin – A fixture designed for washing of the hands
and face.
6. Main – The principal pipe to which the branches may be connected.
7. Main vent / Vent Stack – A vertical vent pipe installed primarily for the
purpose of providing circulation of air to or from any part of the
building drainage system.
 ARC1116 – Building Utilities 1
Plumbing and Sanitary System, Fire Pro System
Definitions of Basic Plumbing Terms
1. Manhole – An opening constructed in any part of plumbing system, of
sufficient size for a person to gain access thereto.
2. Plumbing – The art and science of installing in buildings the pipes,
fixtures and other apparatus for bringing in water supply and removing
water and waterborne wastes.
3. Plumbing Fixture – A receptacle attached to a plumbing system other
than a trap in which water or wastes may be collected or retained for
ultimate discharge into the plumbing system.
4. Plumbing system – all water supply, drainage, and venting systems and
all fixtures and their traps complete with their connections.
5. Potable water – water that meets the standards of a government agency
and is used for culinary, domestic and drinking purposes.
6. Privy – an outhouse or structure used for the disposition of excrement.
7. P trap / 1/2 S-trap / Gooseneck – A P-Shaped trap commonly used on
most plumbing fixtures except for fixtures having integral trap.
 ARC1116 – Building Utilities 1
Plumbing and Sanitary System, Fire Pro System
Definitions of Basic Plumbing Terms
1. Public sewer – A common sewer directly controlled by public authority
to which all abutters have equal rights of connections.
2. Riser – A water supply pipe that extends vertically one full storey or
more to convey water to fixture branches or group of fixtures.
3. Roughing-in – The installation of parts of the plumbing system which
can be completed prior to installation of fixtures or finishing. This
includes drainage, water supply and vent piping and necessary fixture
supports.
4. Sanitary Drainage Pipes – Pipes installed to remove wastewater and
waterborne waste from plumbing fixtures and convey these to the
sanitary sewer and other points of disposal.
5. Seepage pit/ Cesspool/ Dry well – A loosely lined excavation in he
ground, which receives the discharge of a septic tank and designed to
permit the effluent from the septic tank to seep through the bottom and
sides of the pit.
 ARC1116 – Building Utilities 1
Plumbing and Sanitary System, Fire Pro System
Definitions of Basic Plumbing Terms
1. Septic tank – A watertight receptacle which the discharge of sanitary
plumbing system or part thereof, designed and constructed to retain
solids, digest organic matter through a period of detention and to allow
the liquids to discharge into the soil outside of the tank through a system
of open jointed sub-surface piping or a seepage pit.
2. Sewage – Any wastewater containing animal or vegetable matter in
suspension or solution and may include liquids containing chemicals in
solution.
3. Sewer – A pipe or conduit of carrying sewage and wastewater.
4. Siphonage – A suction created by the flow of liquids in pipes; a pressure
less than the atmospheric pressure.
5. Soil Pipe – A pipe that conveys the discharge of water closets or similar
fixtures containing fecal matter, with or without the discharges from
other fixtures to the building drain or building sewer.
 ARC1116 – Building Utilities 1
Plumbing and Sanitary System, Fire Pro System
Definitions of Basic Plumbing Terms
1. Soil stack – A vertical pipe which conveys the discharge of water closet,
urinal or fixtures having similar function, with or without the discharges
from other fixtures to the building drain or building sewer.
2. Spigot – The end of a pipe which fits in to a bell; also a word used
synonymously with faucet.
3. Stack – A general term used for any vertical line of soil, waste or vent
piping.
4. Sump – A tank or pit below the normal grade of gravity receiving liquid
wastes or sewage from which the wastes or sewage must be
mechanically pumped to a higher receiving point.
5. Ventilation system – A system of pipes, fittings, and other devices
installed for the purpose of providing air circulation and creating
balanced atmospheric condition within the system, thereby preventing
siphonage and backpressure.
 ARC1116 – Building Utilities 1
Plumbing and Sanitary System, Fire Pro System
Definitions of Basic Plumbing Terms
1. Vent Pipe – A pipe or opening used for ensuring the circulation of air in
a plumbing system and for relieving the negative pressure exerted on
trap seals.
2. Vent Stack/ Main Vent – The vertical vent pipe installed primarily for
providing circulation of air to and from any part of the soil, waste of the
drainage system.
3. Waste Pipe – A pipe that conveys only liquid waste free of fecal matter.
A waste pipe may be connected directly or indirectly depending on the
type of fixture.
4. Water distribution pipe – A pipe which conveys potable water from the
building supply pipe to the plumbing fixtures and other outlets.
5. Water service pipe – A portion of water supply pipe from the water main
or other source of water before the water meter.
6. Yoke Vent – A pipe connecting upward from a soil or waste stack below
the floor and below the horizontal connection to an adjacent vent stack
at a point above the floor and higher than the highest spill level of
fixtures for preventing pressure changes in the stack.
THANK YOU AND STAY SAFE