Plumbing & Sanitary Systems – Review Flashcards

Key question-and-answer flashcards covering fundamental concepts, definitions and code facts from the plumbing utilities lecture/quiz.

What two subsystems make up a complete plumbing system in a building?

Water-supply system and drainage (sanitary + storm) system.

What is the correct relationship between architectural design and plumbing design?

Utilitarian spaces must be sited and oriented so plumbing runs are short and direct – hence their placement governs the plumbing layout.

Which of the following is NOT considered a plumbing appliance?

Refrigerator

Which of the following is NOT a plumbing appurtenance?

Soap dish

Which of the following is NOT a plumbing fixture?

Shower valve

Who is charged with enforcing and administering the National Plumbing Code of the Philippines (NPCP)?

The Administrative Authority

MWSS stands for ___.

Metropolitan Waterworks & Sewerage System

What does the drainage system include?

Both the sanitary drainage system and the storm-drainage system

Alteration work in plumbing covers .

Change, addition or modification of any major part of the plumbing system

Designing a PWD-friendly toilet requires observing .

ALL of the following: toilet area size, clear door width and correct lavatory height

Minimum floor area normally specified for a PWD toilet cubicle (BP 344)

About 2.7 m² (1.50 m × 1.80 m) – enough for wheelchair turning

Plumbing work before fixtures are set is called .

Plumbing rough-in

The allied professional legally qualified to sign plumbing plans is the .

Registered Master Plumber

A toilet or bath shared by all occupants/guests of a dwelling is called a .

Common (public) toilet

A building is best described as a structure .

Intended for human habitation

A structure is best described as something that has .

Structural components (may or may not be inhabited)

Main water line location on a WIDE road

Near the centreline of the carriageway

Main water line location on a NARROW road

Under the sidewalk

Best orientation for the laundry area in the tropics (quick drying)

South-west (or west) side

Preferred orientation for a kitchen (cooler, morning sun only)

East

An open, unroofed unoccupied space wholly within lot lines is called a .

Court

Potable water is water of quality.

Drinkable, safe quality

Water containing toxic wastes is classified as hazard water.

High-hazard

Water containing only minor pollutants (not poisonous) is classified as hazard water.

Low-hazard

Surface run-off from rainfall flowing on the ground is called .

Storm water

Water found passing through or standing in soil/rocks is called .

Ground water

A well made by driving a pipe fitted with a well point is known as a .

Driven well

Water taken from a communal faucet (stand-pipe) corresponds to service .

Level II

Water treatment method that passes supply through a granular medium

Filtration

Chlorine is normally introduced to water for the purpose of .

Disinfection

Chemicals may be added to adjust hardness, pH and alkalinity; this step is called .

Water conditioning

Common troublesome minerals in ground water that cause staining are .

Iron and magnesium

Another term for a bibb is a .

Faucet or tap

A pantry-sink faucet with a high curved spout is called a .

Gooseneck faucet

A pipe laid at 2 % slope or less is classed as a pipe.

Horizontal pipe

High-rise buildings generally require a pump.

Centrifugal (multistage) pump

Low- to mid-rise buildings often use a pump.

Booster (piston) pump

Most commonly used residential water-heating device

Electric heater

To prevent water hammer (pipe banging) one inserts an .

Air cushion or air chamber

Valve that closes flow by a disk at right angles to flow

Globe valve

Valve that prevents reversal of flow

Check valve

Valve normally used for throttling water

Globe valve

Good-quality plastic pipe must bear .

Indelible marking of manufacturer & standard

A standpipe without permanent water supply is called a standpipe.

Dry

Cast-iron pipe without hubs is termed .

Hubless pipe

Pipe material usable for both cold water lines and sanitary drainage

PVC

Typical jointing method for HDPE pipes

Electrofusion

Traditional jointing of cast-iron bell-and-spigot pipes

Oakum & lead caulking

A flange with no bore used to close the end of a pipe is a flange.

Blind (blank)

Fitting, inside-threaded, used to join two straight pieces of pipe

Coupling

Outside-threaded short length joining two fittings is a .

Nipple

Inside-threaded fitting that closes a pipe end

Cap

Outside-threaded fitting that closes a pipe end

Plug (or ferrule for service connection)

Device joining service pipe to the distribution main

Union patente (service union)

Two-gated outlet on standpipes for FD use is called a .

Siamese connection

Measurement of cast-iron pipe is based on its diameter.

Outside diameter

Measurement of copper tubing is based on its diameter.

Outside diameter

Shielded (banded) coupling is used to join two pipes.

Hubless

Tool used for bending lead pipes

Bending pin/iron

Another name for a clean-out plug

Plug point

Standard method of joining copper tubing

Soldering

Primary purpose of a toilet & bath

Sanitation and personal hygiene

Fixture used for cleansing the genital area

Bidet

Minimum NBCP floor area for any T&B (Rule 8)

1.50 m²

Another common term for a lavatory

Wash basin

Flushing mechanism that delivers supply water directly without a tank

Flush valve (flushometer valve)

Fixture that does NOT incorporate its own P-trap

Water closet (its trap is integral to bowl, not visible P-trap)

Joint allowing movement in any direction for pipe work

Ball joint

Float-controlled inlet valve in a cistern

Ball cock

Large restaurant pot sink is called a .

Scullery sink

Water closet with a continuous trough is termed a .

Latrine

Service (mop) sink is also known as a .

Slop sink

Commercial-grade water closet having powerful jet

Siphon-jet type

Lavatory with its own pedestal to hide piping

Pedestal lavatory

In-sink aerator is installed beneath a .

Kitchen sink

Asian-style (squat) WC is ergonomically a type.

Reverse-trap WC

Collecting, conveying and final disposal of sewage as a system is called .

Sewerage

Sub-drain unable to empty by gravity to building sewer is a .

Building sub-drain (subsewer)

Pipe beginning at the end of the building drain and leading to public sewer

House sewer (building sewer)

Unit used to express load—7.5 gal/min or 28.3 L/min

Fixture unit (FU)

Lowest horizontal piping of drainage inside building

Building drain

Pipeline from building to public STORM sewer

House storm sewer

The short drain from a fixture trap to its branch line

Fixture drain

Waste pipe that discharges indirectly into the drainage system

Indirect waste pipe

Another term for rainfall collected on site

Storm water

Structure that retains surface run-off allowing sediments to settle

Catch basin

Grease interceptor over 3 m³ capacity is called a .

Grease trap (large)

Free-fall gap in drainage piping above receptor flood rim

Air gap – drainage

Vertical distance of water held in a trap is the .

Water seal (trap seal)

Principal artery of a vent system

Main vent (vent stack)

Piping that permits circulation of air to protect trap seals

Vent system / vent pipe

One vent pipe serving two traps (back-to-back)

Unit vent

Pit that allows liquid sewage to seep into surrounding soil

Cesspool (seepage pit)

Watertight tank that separates solids and digests sewage

Septic tank

Liquid household waste containing human excreta is termed .

Sanitary sewage (wastewater)

Sewer carrying only domestic sewage (no storm water)

Sanitary sewer

Publicly controlled common sewer is called a .

Public sewer

Secondary branch line in drainage network

Lateral

Human-access opening to underground sewer

Manhole

Sloping branch drain from base of a stack

Primary branch (lateral)