UTILITIES - PLUMBING

Plumbing Unit

A minimum standard quantity of plumbing fixtures that discharges wastes into a plumbing installation including: 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, and 4 faucets or hose bibb.

Plumbing System

Includes all potable water supply and distribution pipes, all plumbing fixtures and traps; all sanitary and storm drainage systems; vent pipes, roof drains, leaders and downspouts; and all building drains and sewers, including their respective joints and connections; devices, receptacles, and appurtenances within the property; water lines in the premises; potable, tap, hot and chilled water pipings; potable water treating or using equipment; fuel gas piping; water heaters and vents for same.

Plumbing Appliance

Any one of a special class of device or equipment intended to perform a special plumbing function. Its operation and/or control may be dependent upon one or more energized components, such as motors, controls, heating elements and pressure temperature-sensing elements.

Plumbing Appurtenance

A manufactured device or a fabricated assembly or an on-the-job assembly of component parts, and serves as adjunct to the basic piping system and plumbing fixtures. An appurtenance demands no additional water supply nor does it add any discharge load to a fixture or the drainage system.

Plumbing Fixtures

Receptacles or receivers attached to the plumbing system other than a trap in which water or waste may be collected or retained for ultimate discharge into the plumbing treatment facility and point of discharge.

Roughing-In

The installation of all pipings and fitting parts of the plumbing system, which can be completed prior to the installation of fixtures and accessories. These include sanitary and storm drainage, tap, hot and chilled water supplies, gas pipings, vent pipings and the necessary fixture supports.

Clearances

Minimum distances of fixtures for human safety and comfort.

Instantaneous Water Heater

Instantly heats cold water as it passes through the heater. This heater is compact since storage is not required.

Upfeed & Gravity Return (Recirculation) System

With this system, as the hot water in the pipe cools, the cooled water, being heavier than the hot water, slowly flows down the return pipes to the heaters while the hot water replaces it in the system.

Overhead Feed & Gravity Return (Recirculation) System

The operating principle of the overhead system is based on the fact that in the closed system of piping, water rises when heated. After it has reached the high point of the system, natural forces of gravity return it to the storage unit.

Pump Circuit System (Pumped Recirculation)

The circulation of hot water to the plumbing fixtures by means of a mechanical device, usually a centrifugal pump. This is used in buildings where the other systems already mentioned are not suitable to produce a circulation of hot water.

Air Separator

Removes smaller air bubbles, called microbubbles, from the system.

Pressure Relief Valve

Is designed to open if the pressure in the system reaches the set point on the valve. Once the valve opens, the pressure in the system will be relieved and, when the pressure drops to an acceptable level, the valve will close again.

Air Vent

A fitting used to remove air, either manually or automatically, from the hot water heating system.

Type K

Has the thickest wall section of the three types of pressure rated tubing and is commonly used for deep underground burial such as under sidewalks and streets, with a suitable corrosion protection coating or continuous polyethylene sleeve as required by code. It is color coded in Green.

Type L

Has a thinner pipe wall section, and is most popular for use in water supply system. It is color coded in Blue.

Type M

Has an even thinner pipe wall section, and is used in residential and commercial water supply where pressure is not too great. It is color coded in Red.

Type DWV

Has the thinnest wall section, and is generally only suitable for unpressurized applications, such as drains, waste and vent (DWV) lines.

Private Sewage Disposal System

A septic tank with the effluent discharging into a subsurface disposal field, seepage pits or of such other facilities as may be permitted by the plumbing code.

Abs Pipe

ABS pipe and fittings are made from a thermoplastic resin called Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS for short).

Polyvinyl Chloride (Pvc) Pipe

Is made from a plastic and vinyl combination material. The pipes are durable, hard to damage, and long lasting. A PVC pipe does not rust, rot, or wear over time.

Water Source, Storage, Supply, And Distribution

The components and methods involved in capturing, storing, and delivering water throughout a building utility framework.

Drainage And Sewerage Systems

The piping network designed to convey sewage, rainwater, or other liquid wastes from a building to an approved point of disposal.

Waste Disposal, Treatment, And Recycling

The specialized processes and installations intended to handle, treat, and process waste products or recycled water within plumbing infrastructure.

Bidet

A plumbing fixture designed for cleansing the excretory organs, commonly installed in residential bathrooms alongside other standard fixtures.

Urinal

A plumbing fixture used for urination, most commonly installed in public or commercial restrooms.

Equivalent Water Supply Fixture Units (Wsfu)

A design metric representing the load produced by a single fixture on the water supply system, varyingly valued for private or public use.

Drainage Fixture Units (Dfu)

A design metric representing the volume load or discharge rate of a plumbing fixture on the drainage system.

Upfeed System

A system where water supply is distributed upwards from the source through risers to individual fixtures using system or booster pressure.

Downfeed Pipe

A pipe that conveys water downward from an overhead storage tank to feed the lower branches of a plumbing system.

Nipple

A short length of pipe with threads at both ends, classified as short, long, or close, used to connect other pipe fittings.

Coupling

A short plumbing fitting used to connect two pieces of pipe in a straight line.

Elbow

A pipe fitting that allows a turn in the piping layout, which can include specialized types like reducing elbows or street elbows.

Tee

A T-shaped plumbing fitting used to split or combine the flow of a fluid in a piping network.

Reducer

A fitting used to connect a larger pipe to a smaller pipe size within a distribution network.

Bushing

A pipe fitting inserted into a pipe or another fitting to reduce its opening size for connecting to a smaller pipe.

Plug

A threaded plumbing fitting used to close or seal the end of a pipe opening.

Cap

A plumbing fitting used to cover and seal the unthreaded or exterior end of a pipe.

Union

A pipe fitting that connects two pipes and can be easily detached without cutting the pipe, facilitating repairs and maintenance.

Flange

A projecting flat rim or collar on a pipe fitting used to provide additional strength or a surface for bolted connections.

Extension Piece

A plumbing accessory used to extend the length of a connection or pipe assembly.

Teflon Tape Or Ptfe (Polytetrafluoroethylene) Tape

A thread-sealing tape applied to pipe threads to create a leak-proof joint on screw connections.

Soft Copper

A flexible type of copper tubing that can be easily bent around obstructions and is joined using flare, compression, or solder connections.

Rigid Copper

A stiff type of copper tubing popular for long straight runs in water supply lines, which cannot be bent and must be joined using fittings.

Globe Valve

A type of valve used for regulating flow in a pipeline, consisting of a movable disk-type element and a stationary ring seat in a generally spherical body.

Gate Valve

A valve that opens by lifting a round or rectangular gate or wedge out of the path of the fluid.

Check Valve

A valve that normally allows fluid to flow through it in only one direction, preventing backflow.

Float Valve

A valve that automatically regulates the flow of liquid into a tank by maintaining a constant liquid level through a floating device.

Safety Valve

A valve mechanism designed to automatically release a substance when the pressure or temperature exceeds preset limits.

Backwater Valve

A device installed in a drainage system to prevent sewage or drainage water from flowing back into the building.

Sump

A pit, tank, or basin that receives clear water, rainwater, or subsoil drainage and from which the liquid is pumped or ejected into the drainage system.

Ejector

A mechanical device used to pump or lift sewage from a lower level sump up into a higher main gravity sewer line.

Pipe Vise

A mechanical tool used to securely hold a pipe in place while it is being cut, threaded, or assembled.

Pipe Reamer

A plumbing tool used to remove the internal burrs or rough sharp edges from the inside of a cut pipe.

Burr

A rough, sharp, or raised edge left on metal or plastic pipes by a cutting tool.

Pipe Tap

A specialized tool used to cut internal threads inside galvanized iron or other metallic pipes.

Flaring Tool

A tool used to widen and shape the end of a soft metal tubing, such as soft copper, to form a tight mechanical seal.

Pipe Extractor

A mechanical tool designed to easily remove broken threaded ends of pipes, plugs, or fittings from an opening.

Pipe Stock & Die

A manual tool assembly, often a ratchet threader type, used to cut external threads onto the outside of galvanized iron pipes.

Pipe Cutter

A specialized hand tool equipped with a sharp cutting wheel used to smoothly cut through metal or plastic pipes.

Angle Valve

A device, usually of the globe type, in which the inlet and outlet are at right angles.

Ball Valve

A spherical shaped gate valve providing very tight shut off.

Faucet

A valve on a water pipe by means of which water can be drawn from or held within the pipe, usually placed at the end of the pipe.

Straight Pipe Wrench

A plumbing wrench used to screw pipes into or out of their fittings.

End Pipe Wrench

A plumbing wrench that assures a fast and easy grip for pipe working in restricted spaces or close to a wall.

Monkey Wrench Or Spud Wrench

A wrench used to tighten or loosen fittings with parallel sides or hexagonal ends such as nuts, valves, and unions.

Strap Wrench

A wrench used when working with brass or plated pipes and fittings since it does not damage the surface being tightened, or in places too small to admit a pipe wrench.

Basin Wrench

A wrench with spring-loaded jaws that provide fast one-hand ratcheting.

Plastic Nut Basin Wrench

A wrench designed to reach and turn plastic mounting nuts on faucets, sprayers, and ballcocks.

Chain Wrench

A wrench used for turning pipes usually with a 150mm diameter and larger.

Sanitary Or Soil Drainage System

The piping that conveys the discharge of water closets or fixtures having similar functions containing fecal matter, with or without the discharges from other fixtures.

Waste Drainage System

The piping that receives the liquid discharge from plumbing fixtures other than water closets, which is free of fecal matter.

Vent System

The piping installed to provide a flow of air to or from a drainage system or to provide a circulation of air within such system to protect trap seals from siphonage and back pressure.

Storm Drainage System

The piping system that receives clear water drainage from leaders, downspouts, and surface runoff.

Soil Drainage System

The piping that conveys the discharge of water closets or fixtures having similar functions containing fecal matter, with or without the discharges from other fixtures.

Waste Drainage System

The piping that receives the liquid discharge from plumbing fixtures other than water closets, which is free of fecal matter.

Vent System

The piping installed to provide a flow of air to or from a drainage system or to provide a circulation of air within such system to protect trap seals from siphonage and back pressure.

Storm Drainage System

The piping system that receives clear water drainage from leaders, downspouts, and surface runoff.

Trap

A fitting or device so designed and constructed as to provide, when properly vented, a liquid seal which will prevent the back passage of air without materially affecting the flow of sewage or waste water through it.

Trap Seal

The vertical distance between the dip and the crown weir of a trap, which holds the water that prevents sewer gases from entering the building.

Siphonage

The withdrawal of water from the trap seal of a plumbing fixture caused by the suction or negative pressure created by the flow of liquid in the drainage pipes.

Back Pressure

Air pressure in the drainage system that is greater than atmospheric pressure, which can push trap seals out into the fixture.

Common Vent

A vent pipe that connects at the junction of two fixture drains and serves as a vent for both fixtures.

Individual Vent

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

Circuit Vent

A branch vent that serves two or more traps and extends from the front of the last fixture connection of a horizontal branch to the vent stack.

Loop Vent

A circuit vent which loops back to connect with a stack vent instead of a vent stack.

Wet Vent

A vent pipe that also serves as a drain for another fixture.

Stack Vent

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

Vent Stack

A vertical vent pipe installed primarily for the purpose of providing circulation of air to and from any part of the drainage system.

Local Vent

A pipe or shaft which conveys foul air from a plumbing fixture or room to the outer air.

Utility Room

A room containing a water meter, water heater, and related equipment providing centralized maintenance and distribution.

Building Drain

The lowest horizontal piping of a drainage system which receives the discharge from soil, waste and other drainage pipes inside the walls of a building and conveys it to the building sewer beginning 0.6 meters outside the building wall.

Building Sewer

The horizontal piping of a drainage system which extends from the end of the building drain and which receives the discharge of the building drain and conveys it to a public sewer, private sewer, individual sewage disposal system or other point of disposal.

Cleanout

A plug or cover in a pipe or fitting that can be removed to provide access for clearing an obstruction or cleaning out deposits inside the piping network.

Septic Tank

A water tight receptacle which receives the discharge of a 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 pipings or a seepage pit.

Inlet Compartment

The first compartment of a septic tank which shall not be less than 2/3 of the total capacity of the tank, nor less than 2 cubic meters liquid capacity.

Scum

A layer of floating matter, including grease, oil, and lightweight solids, that accumulates on the surface of the liquid inside a septic tank.

Sludge

The accumulated solids and semi-solid organic matter that settle to the bottom of a septic tank during the sewage treatment process.

Effluent

The partially treated liquid sewage that discharges out of a septic tank into a subsurface disposal field or seepage pit.

Seepage Pit

A lined excavation in the ground which receives the discharge of a septic tank and allows the effluent to seep through its porous bottom and sides into the surrounding earth.