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ENGINEERING UTILITIES 2

PLUMBING DESIGN
THE WASTE PIPE

It is important to know the different parts of the The Drainage installation of a plumbing system
piping installations and their functions. The comprises three major component parts :
effectiveness of plumbing installation depends
upon the strict observance of the natural laws of Drainage , The Waste and The Vent or simply
nature such as : gravity and the atmospheric called DWV System.
pressure that affect the whole system.
The Drainage Pipe refers to an installation that
Most of the failures encountered in plumbing receives and conveys discharges from water closet
installation , were due to the non - observance with or without waste coming from other fixtures .
of these natural laws , and the grave abuse of its
function. The Waste Pipe is any pipe in a drainage
installation that receives the discharges of any
Generally , Waste Pipe is smaller in size than the fixture except water closet and conveys the same
soil pipe. Smaller because of the kind of waste it to the soil branch , soil pipe or house drain .
receives from the various plumbing fixtures .
The Vent Pipe in a plumbing system functions as
air passage or conduit to ventilate the drainage
and waste pipe installation.
THE WASTE PIPE

Soil Branch refers to a horizontal pipe affixed by GENERAL CONDITIONS FOR A GOOD WASTE
the word soil. The word soil connotes a pipe PIPE INSTALLATION:
receiving discharges from water closet. On the
other hand , if this soil branch does not receive 1. By making the right choice of materials.
discharges from water closet but from other
fixtures only , it will be classified as Waste Pipe . 2. By conservative use of fittings.

Soil Stack is a vertical pipe installation where the 3. Right location of the cleanouts.
soil branches terminate. The pipe is called stack
being in stalled vertically , and the word soil is 4. Right slope or grade of the pipelines.
affixed because it receives human waste from
soil branch. Otherwise , it will again be classified 5. Using the right size of pipe.
as Waste Stack.
6. Correct manner of joining the pipes and
When a waste pipe is not directly connected to a
soil stack or house drain , it is called Special 7. Providing stable and rigid support.
Waste.
THE WASTE PIPE
1.) THE RIGHT CHOICE OF MATERIALS

The materials intended for waste pipe Injudicious use of fittings should not be
installation , could be well selected from those allowed in plumbing installations . Short cuts
that were enumerated in Part 2. The character of that will not allow smooth passage of waste
the waste to be drained , and the service to should be avoided.
which it is intended for , dictates the kind of
materials to be used . Pipe installations that fails or break too soon ,
may have been due to any of the following
2.) CONSERVATIVE USE OF FITTINGS causes :

The smooth flow of waste inside the pipe is a 1. THE USE OF TOO MANY FITTINGS.
primary consideration in all types of plumbing
installations. Most of the waste pipe line failures 2. THE USE OF WRONG TYPE OF FITTINGS.
were attributed to the unwarranted use of
accessories and too many fittings , or be cause
of using the wrong type of fittings in a given
location. Conservative use of fittings refers to the
right choice of the right kind of fittings for a
particular change of directions , turns or offsets .
THE WASTE PIPE

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. Do not use short radius fittings on a

vertical-to-horizontal directions or
horizontal-to-horizontal changes. Use
Long sweep fittings.
THE WASTE PIPE

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. Do not use short radius fittings on a

vertical-to-horizontal directions or
horizontal-to-horizontal changes. Use
Long sweep fittings

2. For vertical-to-horizontal direction of

changes , the Wye & 1/8 (45°) or 1/8
& 1/8 fittings are most appropriate.
THE WASTE PIPE

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. Do not use short radius fittings on a

vertical-to-horizontal directions or
horizontal-to-horizontal changes. Use
Long sweep fittings

2. For vertical-to-horizontal direction of

changes , the Wye & 1/8 (45°) or 1/8 &
1/8 fittings are most appropriate.

3. The T-fitting was designed for vertical

run with lateral branches only. Its use
on horizontal installation will create a
tilted or crooked joint connection
called " Premature Waste Line Defects "
THE WASTE PIPE
3.) LOCATION OF CLEANOUT

The waste pipe installation must be provided with

an ample number of cleanouts , strategically
located , to be opened in case of pipeline trouble.

Cleanout is a receptacle of the plumbing system

accessible on floor , walls or ceiling. It is
equipped with a plug or flush plate so designed
as not to impair the aesthetical view of the room.

The location of cleanout must be indicated in the

plan. It should be sized equal to the diameter of
the waste pipe , where it is to be connected. This
is to avoid interference in the rodding or cleaning
process.

Cleanout must be readily accessible to the

plumber in case of waste line stoppage .
THE WASTE PIPE
3.) LOCATION OF CLEANOUT 4.) RIGHT SLOPE OR GRADE

The waste pipe installation must be provided with The ideal position of horizontal waste pipe, were
an ample number of cleanouts , strategically those installed at 2 % slope . Meaning , the pipe
located , to be opened in case of pipeline trouble. was installed with an inclined ratio of 2
centimeters per meter length.
Cleanout is a receptacle of the plumbing system
accessible on floor , walls or ceiling. It is Waste pipe must be of sufficient grade to afford
equipped with a plug or flush plate so designed adequate velocity of flow in order to make them
as not to impair the aesthetical view of the room. as nearly self-scouring as is practical.

The location of cleanout must be indicated in the Trap Seal Loss occurs when the grade or slope of
plan. It should be sized equal to the diameter of the pipe is increased from 2 % to 4 % .
the waste pipe , where it is to be connected. This
is to avoid interference in the rodding or cleaning
process.

Cleanout must be readily accessible to the

plumber in case of waste line stoppage .
THE WASTE PIPE
5.) DETERMINING THE SIZE OF WASTE PIPE

The National Plumbing Code on the size of There are those who believed that by making the
waste pipe provides that: drainage pipe larger than what is necessary, will
increase its service efficiency. This belief without
"The waste pipe diameter shall be adequate scientific basis, has triggered disagreement
enough to serve the installation of fixtures in a among people in the plumbing industry.
general way, but the best way is to fit the Disagreement on this matter however , was
diameters of commercial pipe into the fixture resolved when the Uniform Plumbing Code
pattern in the most efficient manner“ Committee formulated data as guide and
references in determining the size of the waste
The size of waste pipe intended to receive waste and other drain pipes .
from the fixture must be of sufficient diameter.
This is to accommodate the velocity of flow , The data formulated by the Committee for
making them as nearly scouring as necessary to incorporation in the Plumbing Code were
prevent the silting of the pipe. product of countless tests and experiments
conducted for years . In addition , installation
Scouring means to flush or wash out , to remove experiences that were proven satisfactory in
dirt or grease by flowing through . service compiled over a long period of time were
also incorporated .
THE WASTE PIPE

The Uniform Plumbing Code Committee's

Findings are Enumerated Briefly as Follows :
3. Drainage pipe must be of the right size to
1. By increasing the size of the drainage pipe, have a liquid flow of about 50 % of the pipe
does not guarantee effective scouring action , diameter . Meaning , that the flowing water
or self cleaning ability of the pipe. Self - inside the pipe must have a depth equal to
cleaning ability is present , when the liquid and the pipe radius.
waste inside the pipe flow smoothly and
simultaneously together. 4. For instance , if the pipe is 100 mm diameter ,
the water flow inside the pipe must have a
2. Water flow inside a larger pipe is relatively depth of about 50 mm to attain the scouring
shallow. The solid waste does not flow on action. This is where the 2 % slope becomes
shallow water but tend to remain at the effective.
bottom of the pipe . This is practically the most
common cause of the many clogging problems 5. On the other hand , too small pipeline is
of drainage installation. subject to overloading of flow . The tendency
is to create back - pressure , siphonage , and
floor flooding .
THE WASTE PIPE

6.) MANNER OF JOINING PIPES 7.) RIGID SUPPORTS

Injudicious connection of fittings should not be Pipes are typically supported by a rigid hanger
permitted in any plumbing installation. Each kind or pipe holder. Plastic pipes installed vertically
of pipe has its own manner of joining are supported every 1m.
recommended and specified by the
manufacturers.

For instance , cast iron pipes are joined by the

use of oakum and lead at the hub and spigot
connections. Likewise , plastic pipes clearly
specify the use of solvent plastic cement , or by
special fitting connector.
THE WASTE PIPE
THE FIXTURE UNIT

The National Plumbing Code strongly endorsed the use

COMMON for RESIDENTIAL
of Fixture Unit Value as waste load in determining the
size of the waste pipe .
ITEM DRAINAGE FIXTURE
FIXTURES
NO. UNITS (DFU)
The Uniform Plumbing Code Committee , conducted
numerous tests on various plumbing fixtures in order 1 Bathtubs 2
to determine the amount of water each fixture 2 Shower 2
discharges in one - minute interval through their outlet
3 Bidets 2
orifices .
4 Floor Drains 2
The tests result showed that a lavatory being the 5 Laundry Tubs 2
smallest fixtures , discharge waste at approximately one 6 Kitchen Sink 2
of cubic foot of water per minute interval. Based on 7 Urinal 3
their findings, the Committee finally decided to
8 Lavatory 1
establish the "Unit Fixture" and called the water
discharge as One Fixture Unit representing one cubic 9 Water Closet 4
foot or 30 liters of waste discharged by the fixture in
one minute interval .
THE WASTE PIPE
THE WASTE PIPE

Example 1:

Determine the size of a horizontal waste

pipe to serve 5 Urinals, 3 Lavatories, 8
Showers, 3 Floor drains and 2 Kitchen
Sinks.
THE WASTE PIPE

Example 2:

Determine the size of a waste stack with

two horizontal branch. It is to serve 10
Urinals, 3 Wash basin, 3 Bathtubs, 6
Floor drains and 2 Kitchen Sinks.
THE WASTE PIPE

WASTE PIPE AND OTHER FIXTURES

Waste pipe is classified into two types

depending upon the kind of fixtures it
will serve.

1. DIRECT WASTE
2. INDIRECT WASTE

DIRECT WASTE is one with terminal

directly connected to the plumbing
system.
THE WASTE PIPE

INDIRECT WASTE refers to a connection with terminal not directly connected to the plumbing
system .

Fixtures served by Indirect Waste are :

1. Soda fountain
2. Bar waste
3. Refrigeration
4. Drinking fountain
5. Air conditioning units
THE WASTE PIPE
RECOMMENDED SIZE OF WASTE PIPE (SOME)

1.) SINK WASTE

The minimum is 38 mm or 1 ½ “, but the practice is to use 50 mm or 2” Pipe.

2.) SLOP SINK

Is tapped either on the floor or walls. Traps on the floor shall be 75 mm or 100 mm, and 50 mm for traps
on walls.

3.) BATHTUB - 38 mm to 50 mm

4.) LAUNDRY TUB - 38 mm to 50 mm

5.) SHOWER BATH - 50 mm

6.) URINAL - 50 mm

7.) LAVATORIES - 50 mm
ALWAYS CLEAN YOUR PIPE!
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