PLUMBING CODE - DEFINITION OF TERMS

CODE

The Plumbing code of the Philippines (NPCP)

Plumbing

the art and technique of installing pipes, fixtures and other apparatuses in buildings for bringing in the supply, liquids, substances and/or ingredients and removing them; and such water, liquid and other carried wastes hazardous to health, sanitation, life, property; also the pipes and fixtures after installation I.e., the plumbing system.

Roughing-in

Include the plumbing work done before the settling of the fixtures or finishing

Alley

- a term in master planning that is any public space, public park or thorough less than 3.00 meter but not less than 2.00 meter

Alteration

Change, addition, or modification in construction /occupancy

Existing work

Portions of a plumbing system which installed /approved prior to the contemplated additions, alteration, correction

Water main pipe, service pipe, check valve, corp. cock, check valve, building supply pipe , water distributing pipe, fixture branch, fixture supply, fixture

From water main pipe to fixture - the order of water supply system

Repair

The reconstructed/renewal of any part of an existing building for the purpose of maintenance ( shall not apply to any change of construction)

Accessible

Having access thereto/may require prior removal of access panel

Manhole

An opening of sufficient size for a man to gain access thereto

508mm

Size of septic tank manhole in mm

Cross connection

Physical connection/arrangement of pipes between two otherwise separate building water supply pipes

Administrative Authority

Department having jurisdiction & authority to enforce the National Plumbing code of the Philippines

Building

Structure built, erected and framed of component structural parts

Floor area

The area included within surrounding walls of a building exclusive of vent shafts and courts

Lot

Single area of land legally recorded/validated acceptable to the Administrative Authority

Height of building

Vertical distance from the "grade line" to the highest point of the coping

Single family dwelling

Only dwelling located in a parcel of land

Storey

The portion of a building included between the upper surface of any floor and the upper surface of the floor next above it

Yard

An open, unoccupied space, other than a court, unobstructed to the sky, on the lot on which a building is situated.

Chase

Vertical shaft for pipe stacks

Court

An opening, unoccupied space

Shaft

A vertical opening

Combustible construction

Structure with any part of its structural framework will ignite/burn at 756°C or less

Confined space

A room or space having a volume less than 1.4 cu. m. with 250 kg calorie of the aggregate input rating of all fuel-burning appliances installed in that space

Unconfined space

a room space having a volume equal to at least 1.4 c.u . m. of the aggregate input rating of the fuel-burning appliance installed in that space. Rooms adjacent and open to the space where the appliance is installed, through openings not furnished with doors, are considered a part of this.

Labelled

Equipment/ materials bearing a label of a listing agency

Listed

Equipment / materials included in a LIST published by a listing agency

Listing agency

Agency accepted by the Administrative authority

Quality of materials

Free of defects

Master plumber

a person technically and legally qualified and licensed to practice the profession of Master Plumbing without limitations in accordance with Republic Act 13 78. having passed the examination conducted by the Professional Regulation Commission, has received a Certificate of Registration from the Board of Master Plumbing and possesses the current license to practice.

National Master Plumber Association of the Philippines

NAMPAP ( meaning)

Plumbing Firm

Sole proprietorship/corporation composed of Registered and licensed master plumbers

Mobile home park sewer

That part of the horizontal piping of sanitary drainage system which measures 0.6 m downstream from the last mobile home site and conveys sewage to a public sewer, private sewer, individual sewage disposal system and other points of disposal

Nuisance

Dangerous to the human life or inadequate or unsafe water supply/ sewage disposal system

Family

Person living alone , group living together

Occupancy

The purpose for which a building is intended to be used.

Private use

Intended for the use of the family or individual

Public Use

Fixtures in general toilet rooms of schools, gymnasiums, hotels, railroad stations, public buildings or places the public is invited or which are frequented by the public without special permission/special invitation ( unrestricted)

Plumbing appliance

Special class of device or equipment intended to perform a special plumbing function ( uses electricity to power itself)

Class 1

In the old NPCP , private use such as residential, apartments, hotels etc are classified as?

Class 2

In the old NPCP, semi-private use such as offices or factories are classified as ?

Class 3

In the Old NPCP, public use or occupancy are classified as?

Clarifier

Intercept or to separate and prevent the passage of oil, grease, sand. Also known as interceptor

Grease interceptor

Interceptor of 3 cubic meter capacity

Grease trap

Device to retain grease from one to four fixtures ( maximum)

Plumbing appurtenance

Manufactured device / prefabricated assembly; on-the-job assembly of component parts, and SERVES AS ADJUNCT to the basic piping system and plumbing fixtures. A thing added as a supplementary rather than the main

Ball cock

A faucet opened or closed by the fall or rise of a ball floating on the surface of water.

1 inch

How many inches is the ball cock be from the overflow tube

Ball joint

A connection in which a ball-shaped end is held in a cup like shell that allows movement in every direction

Bibb

Faucet, cock, tap, plug, etc.

Air break

Physical separation/a lot inlet into indirect waste receptor from fixture, appliance, device indirectly connected. It is used to prevent back flow. There is no maintenance for distance

Air gap

Unobstructed vertical distance through free atmosphere between the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet conveying potable water to the flood level-rim of any tank, vat or fixture

2 times the size of the outlet pipe size receptor

The distance of an air gap required between an inlet pipe and receptor ( air gap is the distance between inlet water supply and flood level rim of the fixture

Critical level

C-L or C/L marking on a backflow prevention device or vacuum breaker is a point conforming to approved standards and established by the testing laboratory (usually stamped on the device by the manufacturer) which determines the minimum elevation above the flood level rim of the fixture or receptacle served where the device may be installed

150mm

Minimum height of vacuum breaker to the flood level rim in mm

Testing lab

Who established the critical level in fixtures/valves?

Manufacturer

Who marks or stamps the critical level in fixtures/valves?

Flood level

The level in a fixture at which water begins to overflow the top or rim of a fixture

Flood level rim

The top edge of a receptacle from where water overflows

Effective opening

The minimum cross-sectional area at the point of water supply discharge measured or expressed in terms of: (1) diameter of a circle (2) if the opening is not circular, the diameter of a circle of equivalent cross-sectional area

Plumbing fixture

A receptacle which water or water wastes may be collected or retained for ultimate discharge into the plumbing system/approved-type installed receptacles, devices or appliances

Fixture

A receptacle attached to a plumbing system

Bathroom

Equipped with shower stall or bathtub

Full bath

A bathroom containing a water closet, a lavatory, and a bathtub.

3/4 bathroom

A bathroom containing a water closet, a lavatory and a shower stall

Half bathroom

A bathroom containing a lavatory & a water closet

1 cubic foot /minute

Fixture unit equivalent to a flow rate of how many cubic ft/min

7 1/2 gallons per minute

Fixture unit equivalent to a flow rate of how many gallons/min.

28.3 liters per minute

Fixture unit equivalent to a flow rate of how many liters/minute

Flush tank

For flushing or removing escarpments in the fixture

Flush valve

Flushing using water directly from water supply pipes / in connection with a septic tank at the bottom of the tank

Bidet

Washing the middle part of the bod especially the genitals

Sitz bath

Foot bath

15 psi

Required psi for the flushometer type water closet

8 psi

Required psi for the tank type water closet

3.5 gallons

How many gallons per flush for the tank type water closet for it to work?

0.8 GPF

GPF for urinal

1.6 GPF

GPF for water closet

10mm

Drainage pipe dia. for tank type water closet

25mm

Drainage pipe dia, for flushometer type water closet

Lavatory

Washing of the hands or face

Lavatory

The benchmark fixture fo the determination of the Drainage fixture unit

Battery of fixtures

Two or more similar adjacent fixtures with discharge into a common horizontal or soil branch

Swimming pool

Water receptacle used for swimming/water basin

Plumbing system

Includes water supply and distribution pipe; plumbing fixture and traps, soil waste and vent pipes; house drain and house sewers including their respective connections, the foundation drains, the house sewer, the storm drainage, drainage ejectors, all with their devices, appurtenances and connections within or on a building

Receptor

Adequately receive discharge from indirect waste pipe

Local Water Utilities Administration

LWUA - an agency of the government tasked for financing, promotion or development of local water districts

Plumbing unit

Minimum standard quantity of plumbing fixtures that discharges wastes into a plumbing installation:

1 water meter

1 water closet

1 lavatory

1 shower head and drain for a bathtub or shower stall

1 kitchen sink

1 laundry tray

3 floor drains

4 faucets/hose bib

Ground water

The water that is standing in or passing through the ground

Surface water

Portion of a rainfall or other precipitation, which runs off over the surface of the ground

Potable water

Satisfactory for drinking, culinary and domestic purposes ( Philippine Standards for drinking Water)

Infiltration

Process by which water enters the soil to be ground water

faucet

a valve on a water pipe by means of which WATER CAN BE DRAWN FROM or held within the pipe.

Spigot

The end of pipe which fits into a bell ( synonymous with faucet)

0.43 psi

A column of water exerts a pressure of ____ regardless of the diameter of the column ( vertical / rise)

Invert

The lowest portion of the inside of any pipe

Horizontal pipe

Horizontal position; forms an angle of not more than 45 deg. With horizontal plane

Vertical pipe

Pipe/ fitting in vertical position makes an angle of not more than 45 deg. With the vertical line .