COSC 325 - MEP - Plumbing

What does a Drainage Fixture Unit (DFU) represent in plumbing design?

A unit that expresses the probable discharge of wastewater and waterborne waste into a drainage system

To ensure accessibility for maintenance, where must cleanouts be installed in a sanitary drainage system? (Select all that apply)

- At every size change in piping system

- At the connection of building sewer and building drain

- At the base of all vertical soil or waste stacks

- Upper terminal of all horizontal branch drain

- At all bend

- At all 90-degree changes in direction

When wastewater discharges rapidly, negative pressure can siphon water out of traps, allowing sewer gases to enter the building. Which component prevents this by admitting air into the drainage system?

P-Trap

Which is/are a part of Sanitary Sewer System? (Select all that apply)

- Drains

- Clean Outs

- P-Trap

Which of the following are general purposes of sanitary drainage vent piping? (Select all that apply)

- Maintains Atmospheric Pressure

- Allows Wastewater to flow freely through pipes

- Provides Air circulation within sanitary drainage piping

- Removes objectionable gases from the sanitary drainage system

- Ensures that trap seals will not be lost due to siphonage and back pressure

A vent terminal should be located at least _____________ from windows, doors, or other ventilation openings.

10'

If horizontal drainage piping is not installed at the correct slope, solids may settle and cause blockages. What is the standard slope (per foot of run) that ensures both flow and self-cleaning velocity? (Select all that apply)

- 1/4"

- 1/8"

If a floor drain is located in a rarely used mechanical room, its trap might dry out, allowing sewer gases to escape. Which device automatically supplies water to maintain the trap seal?

Trap Primer

Which Country first introduced flushing toilets?

England

Your shower is draining slowly, and you suspect the problem is in the sanitary sewer line. Which component provides access to clear the blockage and perform maintenance?

Cleanout

AAV stands for _________.

Air Admittance Valve

Which type of pipe hanger is most suitable for supporting insulated pipes?

Clevis Hanger

Which of the following materials are commonly used to manufacture P-traps? (Select all that apply)

- Cast Brass

- Chrome-plated tubular brass

- DWV Plastic

Heavy rain is causing water to pool on the roof of a building. Which plumbing component ensures this stormwater is safely directed into a downspout instead of entering the sanitary sewer system?

Roof Drain

Which of the following are reasons for keeping storm drains and sanitary drains separate in a plumbing system? (Select all that apply)

- To ensure that stormwater does not carry untreated sewage into water bodies

- To prevent sewage from contaminating stormwater and vice versa

- To reduce the load on wastewater treatment facilities during heavy rainfall.

Which of the following is/are true about T&P Relief valves? (Select all that apply)

- It is an automatic, self-closing safety valve installed in the opening in a water heater

- They are set to open at a minimum of 210 deg F and 125 psi.

If you need to connect multiple pipes of different sizes and directions in a plumbing system, which component ensures continuity of flow without filtering or regulating pressure?

Fittings

What is the primary purpose of using fire pumps in fire sprinkler systems?

To increase water pressure and flow in the fire sprinkler system

Which of the following water heaters is best suited to provide hot water to a single fixture such as a single restroom sink?

Point-of-use

In a hot-water supply system made of plastic pipes, thermal changes can cause expansion and contraction. Which component is designed to accommodate this movement and prevent stress or cracking?

Expansion Loop

Which of the following are joining methods for different pipe materials? (Select all that apply)

- Soldering

- Compression

- Threading

- Rolled Groove

If water from a higher-pressure system could flow backward into a potable water supply, which valve would be installed to prevent contamination?

Check valve

Which is the most common type of pipe used in sprinkler systems?

Steel

In fire protection design, which sprinkler system is always charged with water and activates immediately when sprinkler heads open?

Wet-pipe

Which of the following types of piping material are used in plumbing systems? (Select all that apply)

- Steel

- Cast iron soil

- Plastic

- Copper

When selecting a valve to minimize pressure drop while still providing shutoff capability, which type of valve comes in full-port and reduced-port varieties?

Ball valve

Which of the following are different types of plumbing valves? (Select all that apply)

- Butterfly valve

- Check Valves

- Ball valves

- Gate valves

What is the primary definition of a plumbing valve?

A fitting that regulates the flow and pressure of fluid within a system

Installation of all parts of a plumbing system that can be completed prior to the installation of fixtures is known as _____________? (Select all that apply)

- Rough plumbing

- Rough-in

If you want to monitor water usage and also detect the rate of flow in a plumbing system, which device would you install?

Meter

Plumbing Overall Goal

Getting water from one place to another.

- Control water flow

Plumbing in 3500 BC

- Public stone sewers (sloped trenches that allow sewage)

- Indus Valley

Plumbing from 500 BC - 476 AD

- Cold & hot water

- Sewers

- Aqueducts

- Rome

Plumbing in 1596 AD

- First flushing toilet

- England

Sanitary Sewer System

1. Drain

2. P-Trap

3. Branches and Mains

4. City Sewer Connection or Septic Tank

5. Waste Water Treatment Plan or Sprinkler System

Types of Drains

- Sink Drain

- Fixture Carrier (Wall mounted toilet)

- Shower Drain

P-Trap Purpose

To trap sewer gasses

Trap Primer

A device with a timer and pipes running from it to a P-trap to maintain water in the P-trap.

Guards

When water is in it, it expands like a balloon, but when there is no water in it, it shrivels up.

Clean Outs

- Can be cast iron or PVC

- Needed to clean pipes with snake machine when clogged

- Usually outside of houses

Sump Pumps

- Used in applications where excess water must be pumped away from a particular area.

- Float switch on sump pump is to "tell" sump pump when to start pumping water

Grease Traps

- Used to prevent grease from blocking anything in the drain pipes

- Only used with commercial kitchens/restaurant kitchens

Cast Iron Piping

- Can be joined with a hub/bell & spigot or no hub/ring

- Very thick

- Very heavy

- Great at keeping the sound of water flowing quite

- Can be used in fire rated areas

Hub

Consist of a bell and spigot

No Hub

Rings are used. NO bell or spigot

PVC

- Used more in residential

- Joined together with primer and glue

- Higher number labeled on pipe means it can handle more pressure

- Very light in weight

- Terrible at containing sound

- NOT to be used in fire rated areas

ABS

- Black in compared to PVC

- DO NOT need to prime together to join them

Vents

- Balance the atmospheric pressure

- Allows sewer gasses to escape through the vent and out the roof

Vent system always connects to the...

Sanitary sewer system

VTR

Vent Through Roof

If P-Trap is below concrete/formwork, that indicates it is a...

Shower

AAV

Air Admittance Valves

AAV Purpose

Allows air into the valve, but does not allow sewer gasses out

Storm Drain System

- Scupper

- Gutter

- Primary and Overflow drain

Roof Drains

Come in pairs

- Primary

- Overflow

Primary Roof Drain

Main one to drain water. If there is too much water for primary to handle, overflow drain comes into play

Overflow Roof Drain

"White collar" sticking up from it compared to the primary

Downspout Nozzle (Cow tongue)

- Connected to overflow roof drain

- Always installed on exterior walls

- No water should be coming out of the cow tongue unless the primary roof drain is having problems

The storm drain system and sewage system should...

never be cross connected

2 multiple choice options

Clevis Hanger

- Used to support pipes hanging/coming from the ceiling

- Used for insulated pipes

Swivel Ring Hanger

Used for NON insulated pipes

Scupper types

- Scupper in parapet wall

- Scupper to downspout (daylighting)