National Plumbing Code of the Philippines - Vocabulary Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering terms, definitions, and technical specifications from the National Plumbing Code of the Philippines lecture notes.

Plumbing

The art and technique of installing pipes, fixtures, and other apparatuses for bringing in the water supply, substances and/or ingredients and removing liquid and other carried wastes; also includes the installed systems after completion.

Administrative Authority

The individual official, board, department or agency established or authorized by the office of the President ($RA\,\#\,1378$) to administer and enforce the National Plumbing Code of the Philippines (NPCP).

Plumbing Official

The Administrative Authority or the officer charged with the administration and enforcement of the plumbing code, or their regularly authorized deputy.

Master Plumber

A person technically and legally qualified and licensed to practice the profession of Master Plumbing without limitations.

NAMPAP

National Master Plumbers Association of the Philippines, Inc.

Alley

Any public space, public park or thoroughfare less than $3.00\,meters$ but not less than $2.00\,meters$ in width.

Accessible

Applied to a fixture, connection, appliance, or equipment, meaning having access thereto, though it may require prior removal of an access panel.

Cross Connection

Any connection between a water supply system and any other system through which non-potable water can enter the potable water system.

Manhole

An opening of sufficient size for a man to gain access for maintenance purposes and a facility for changes of line and/or grade of a pipeline.

Unconfined Space

A room or space having a volume equal to at least $1.4\,cu.m$ of aggregate input rating of the fuel-burning appliance installed in that space.

Chase

A vertical shaft used for pipe stacks.

Shaft

A vertical opening for elevators, dumbwaiters, light, ventilation, or similar purposes.

Confined Space

A room or space with a volume less than $1.4\,cu.m$ with a $250\,kilogram$ aggregate input rating if a fuel-burning appliance is installed.

Occupancy

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

Private Use

Plumbing fixtures intended for the use of a family or an individual.

Public Use

Plumbing fixtures where the use is unrestricted.

Roughing-in

The plumbing work done before the settling of the fixtures or finishing.

Plumbing Appliance

A special class of device or equipment intended to perform a special plumbing function.

Plumbing Appurtenances

Manufactured devices, prefabricated parts, or assemblies that serve as an adjunct to the basic piping system and fixtures.

Plumbing Fixtures

A receptacle in which water or water wastes may be collected or retained for ultimate discharge into the plumbing system.

Fixture Unit

An arbitrary quantity of the load-producing effects or water requirements expressed as $28.3\,liters/minute$, $1\,cu\,ft/minute$, or $7.5\,gallons/minute$.

Bidet

A fixture specifically for washing the middle part of the body, especially the genitals.

Water Closet

A receptacle used to receive water and human waste and discharge it into a connected drainage system.

Flush Tank

A tank for flushing or removing excrements in a fixture.

Flush Valve

A device for flushing using water directly from supply pipes or from a special flush tank at the bottom of the tank.

Ball Cock

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

Flushometer Tank

An air accumulator vessel designed to discharge a predetermined quantity of water for flushing.

Flushometer Valve

A device actuated by direct water pressure to discharge a predetermined quantity of water for flushing purposes.

Latrine

A water closet characterized by a continuous trough containing water.

Lavatory

A fixture used for the washing of the hands or face.

Airbreak

A physical separation between an indirect waste receptor and the fixture or appliance indirectly connected.

Air Gap, Drainage

The unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere between the lowest opening from any pipe to the flood level rim.

Air Gap, Water Distribution

The unobstructed vertical distance through free atmosphere between the lowest opening of any pipe or faucet conveying potable water to the flood-level rim of a tank or fixture.

Indirect Waste Pipe

A waste pipe that does not connect directly with the building drainage system.

Receptor

An approved plumbing fixture or device intended to adequately receive discharge from indirect waste pipes.

Flood Level

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

Flood Level Rim

The top edge of a receptacle.

Battery of Fixtures

Two or more similar adjacent fixtures which discharge into a common horizontal soil or waste branch.

Plumbing Unit

A minimum standard quantity of fixtures including $1$ water meter, $1$ water closet, $1$ lavatory, $1$ shower head and drain, $1$ kitchen sink, $1$ laundry tray, $4$ faucets/bibbs, and $3$ floor drains.

Potable Water

Water used for drinking, culinary, and domestic purposes.

Water Main

The water supply pipe intended for public community use.

Service Pipe

A pipe from the street water main or other source of water supply to the building served.

Gate Valve

A valve in which the flow of water is cut off by a circular disc fitted against machine-smoothed faces at right angles to the direction of flow.

Water Meter

A device used to measure in liters or gallons the amount of water that passes through the water service.

Check Valve

A valve that automatically closes to prevent the flow of liquid or gas in a reverse direction.

Globe Valve

A valve in which flow is cut off by a disk fitting against the valve seat, typically involving a tortuous passage.

Building Supply Pipe

A pipe carrying potable water from the water meter or other source to the building or other point of use on the lot.

Fixture Supply

A water supply pipe connecting the fixture with the fixture branch.

Riser

A water supply pipe which extends vertically to one full story or more to convey water to fixtures.

Direct / Upfeed System

A system where water is provided by city water companies using normal pressure from the public water main.

Downfeed / Gravity System

A system where water is pumped into a large tank on top of the building and distributed to fixtures by gravity.

Soil Pipe

Conveys the discharge of water closets, urinals, or similar fixtures to the building drain or sewer.

Waste Pipe

Conveys only waste water or liquid waste, free of fecal matter.

Vent Pipe

A pipe used for ensuring air circulation and relieving negative pressure exerted on trap seals.

Stack

The vertical main of a system of soil, waste, or vent piping extending through one or more stories and the roof.

Branch

Any part of the piping system other than a main, riser, or stack.

Main Vent

The principal artery of the venting system to which vent branches are connected.

Stack Vent

The extension of a soil or waste stack above the highest horizontal drain connected to the stack.

Branch Vent

A horizontal vent connecting one or more individual vertical vents with the vent stack or stack vent.

Dry Vent

A vent that does not carry water or water-borne waste.

Individual Vent / Back Vent

A pipe installed to vent a fixture trap that connects with the vent system above the fixture or terminates in the open air.

Circuit Vent

A group vent which starts in front of the extreme fixture on a horizontal branch and connects to the vent stack.

Relief Vent

A vertical vent line providing additional air circulation between drainage and vent systems, often acting as an auxiliary vent.

Yoke Vent

A pipe connecting upward from a soil or waste stack below the floor to an adjacent vent stack above the floor to prevent pressure changes.

Wet Vent

A portion of a pipe through which wastewater flows while also serving as a vent.

Local Vent

A pipe or shaft serving to convey foul air from a plumbing fixture or room to the outer air.

Fixture Drain

The drainpipe from the trap of a fixture to the junction with any other pipe.

Horizontal Pipe

Any pipe or fitting installed in a horizontal position or forming an angle of not more than $45$ degrees with the horizontal.

Branch Interval

A storey height, not less than $8\,feet/2.43\,m$, within which horizontal branches connect to the stack.

House Drain

The lowest horizontal piping of a plumbing system inside a building which receives discharges from other pipes and conveys it to the house sewer.

House Sewer

Piping extending from the house drain at a point $0.60\,meters$ from the foundation wall to the junction with the street sewer.

Septic Tank

A water-tight receptacle designed to retain solids and digest organic matter through detention before discharging liquid into the soil.

Cesspool

A non-watertight lined excavation or pit for the reception and detention of sewage, permitting liquid to seep through the sides and bottom.

Seepage Pit

A loosely lined excavation in the ground that receives discharge from a septic tank and allows it to seep through the bottom and sides.

Privy

An outhouse or structure used for the deposition of excrement.

Storm Water

The portion of rainfall or precipitation which runs off over the earth surface after a storm.

Catch Basin

A receptacle in which liquids are retained for a period to allow settleable material to deposit.

Invert

The lowest portion of the inside of a pipe.

Grade

The slope or fall of a line of pipe in reference to a horizontal plane.

Brazed Joint

A joint obtained by joining metal parts with alloys that melt at temperatures higher than $449\,^\circ C$, but lower than the melting temperature of the parts.

Trap

A fitting or device designed to provide a liquid seal which prevents the backflow of foul air without affecting waste flow.

Trap Seal

The maximum vertical depth of liquid that a trap will retain, measured between the crown weir and the top dip, typically $1\text{-}1/2$ to $2$ inches.

Trap Arm

The portion of a fixture drain located between the trap and the vent.

Backflow

The flow of water into a water supply system from any source other than its regular source.

Siphonage

Suction created by the flow of liquids in pipes where the pressure is less than atmospheric.

Grease Interceptor

An interceptor with at least $3\,cubic\,meters$ capacity designed to retain grease.

Sump

An approved tank or pit that receives sewage or wastewater below the normal grade of the gravity system.

Standpipe

A vertical pipe or reservoir into which water is pumped to give it a head; classified as wet, automatic, manual, or dry.