BU1

COVERAGE: MODULE 1

Plumbing

Plumbing

Defined as the art and science of creating and maintaining sanitary conditions in structures;

Plumbing Design

The practice of planning and layout of plumbing materials according to accepted or best methods to meet the objectives of the trade.

Plumbarius

A person who worked in the field of sanitation

Plumber

The title given to a person who is a skilled worker in the field of sanitation

Master Plumber

A professional engaged in the practice of designing plumbing and sanitary systems

Sanitary Engineer

A professional engaged in the practice of designing plumbing and sanitary systems as well as treatment, management; bigger scope than master plumbing.

Water Supply Plumbing

Method and process of conveying water useable water for drinking and sanitation purposes, also regulating pressure to plumbing fixtures for use and maintenance

Sewage Disposal Plumbing

Method and process of effectively discharging solid and liquid wastes from plumbing fixtures; Active and passive treatment of wastes prior to discharge to public sewer

Ventilation Plumbing

Method of maintaining a balance atmospheric pressure inside the sewage system to prevent the

Storm Drainage Plumbing

Method and process of effectively discharging storm water or any surface water run off

Fire Protection Plumbing

Provision of a means or system to suppress any fire and reliant on mechanical systems to provide for a reliant fire extinguishing system;

Plumbing Principles

All premises intended for human habitation, occupancy, or use shall be provided with a supply of pure and wholesome water.

Plumbing systems shall be maintained in a safe and serviceable condition from the standpoint of both mechanics and health.

Air break

The physical separation between a waste pipe and an indirect waste receptor or device indirectly connected

Air Gap

The unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere between the outlet of a faucet and the flood level rim of the fixture or receptacle

Angle Valve

A valve in which the inlet and outlet openings are at 90 º angle to one another

Backflow

The flow of water or wastewater in pipes in a reverse direction from that normally intended

Backpressure

A pressure within the sanitary drainage system or vent piping system that is greater than atmospheric pressure (>14.7 psi)

Backsiphonage

The flowing by negative pressure of contaminated or polluted water from a plumbing fixture into a potable water system

Backwater valve

A device installed in piping to prevent the reverse flow of storm or sewage into the drainage system or their branches

Ball valve

A valve in which the flow of liquid is controlled by a rotating drilled ball that fits tightly against a resilient (flexible) seat in the valve body

Battery of Fixtures

Any group of two or more similar adjacent fixtures which discharge into a common horizontal waste or soil branch

Bell or hub

The end portion of a pipe which for a short distance is enlarged to receive the end of another pipe which may be of the same diameter for the purpose of making a joint

Bibb

A term that is synonymous with faucet, cock, plug, tap or spigot

Branch

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

Branch interval

A vertical length of soil or waste stack at least eight feet in height (a storey height), within which the horizontal branches from one storey or floor of the building or structure are connected to the stack

Building drain/house drain

That part of the lowest horizontal piping of a plumbing system which receives the discharge from soil, waste and other drainage pipes inside a building and conveys it to the building sewer/house sewer

Building/House sewer

That part of the drainage system that extends from the end of the building drain and conveys its discharge to the public sewer, private sewer, individual sewage disposal system, or other appropriate point of disposal

Building supply pipe

The first section of water supply piping in a building after the water meter

Caulking/Calking/Cogging

Plugging an opening with oakum, lead or other material that are pounded into the annular space Also, the material pounded into the annular space

Cleanout

A fitting with a removable plate or plug that is placed in plumbing drainage pipe lines to allow access to the pipes for the purpose of cleaning and maintenance

Conductor or Leader

Part of the roofing and/or area gutter system that takes water from a roof above surface area to a storm drain or other disposal area

Cross connection

Any physical connection or arrangement of pipes between two otherwise separate building water supply pipes or system through which or by means of which water supply may flow from one system to the other, the direction of flow depends on the pressure difference between the two systems

Deadend

The extended portion of a pipe that is closed one end to which no connections are made on the extended portion, thus permitting stagnation of wastewater or air therein

Downspout

The vertical portion of a rainwater conductor

Drain

A pipe which carries ground and surface water, storm water or wastewater into the building drainage system

Drainage fixture unit (dfu)

A common measure of the probable discharge into the drainage system by various types of plumbing fixtures on the basis of one dfu being equal to a discharge rate of 7.5 gals per minute or one cubic foot of water per minute

DWV

Drainage, waste, and vent

Faucet

A valve on a water pipe by means of which water can be drawn from or held within the pipe The valve is placed on the end of the pipe

Flood level

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

Flow rate

The volume of water used by a plumbing fixture in a given amount of time. Usually expressed in gallons per minute gpm

Flush valve

A device located at the bottom of a flush tank for flushing water closets and similar fixtures

Flushometer valve

A device which discharges a predetermined quantity of water to fixtures for flushing purposes and is actuated by direct water pressure

Full batch

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

Gate valve

A valve in which the flow of water is cut off by means of a circular disk, fitting against machine smoothed surfaces at right angles to the direction of flow The disk is raised or lowered by means of a threaded stem connected to the handle of the valve The opening in the valve is usually as large as the full bore of the pipe

Globe valve

A valve in which the flow of water is cut off by means of a circular disk that fits against the valve seat The plane of movement of the disk is parallel to the normal direction of flow of water, which is turned through a tortuous passage to direct the flow normal to the face of the disk

Half bath

A bathroom containing a water closet and a lavatory

Hose bibb

a faucet to which a hose may be attached

Hub

See bell

Indirect waste pipe

A waste pipe that does not connect directly with the drainage system but conveys wastes by discharging into a plumbing fixture or receptacle, which is directly connected to the drainage system through an air break or gap into a trap, fixture receptor or interceptor, e g refrigerator waste pipe, drinking fountain waste pipe, etc

Insanitary

A condition contrary to sanitary principles or injurious to health

Lavatory/Wash basin

A fixture designed for washing of the hands and face

Main

The principal pipe to which the branches may be connected

Main vent/vent stack

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

Manhole

An opening constructed in any part of plumbing system, of sufficient size for a person to gain access thereto

Plumbing fixture

A receptacle attached to a plumbing system other than a trap in which water or wastes may be collected or retained for ultimate discharge into the plumbing system

Plumbing system

All water supply, drainage, and venting systems and all fixtures and their traps complete with their connections

Potable water

Water that meets the standards of a government agency and is used for culinary, domestic and drinking purposes

P trap/ ½ S trap/ Gooseneck

A P-shaped trap commonly used on most plumbing fixtures except for fixture having integral trap

Public sewer

A common sewer directly controlled by public authority to which all abutters have equal rights of connections

Riser

A water supply pipe that extends vertically one full storey or more to convey water to fixture branches or group of fixtures

Roughing-in

The installation of parts of the plumbing system which can be completed prior to installation of fixtures or finishing This includes drainage, water supply and vent piping and necessary fixture supports

Sanitary Drainage Pipes

Pipes installed to remove wastewater and waterborne wastes from plumbing fixtures and convey these to the sanitary sewer and other points of disposal

Seepage pit/Cesspool/Dry well

A loosely lined excavation in the ground, which receives the discharge of a septic tank and designed to permit the effluent from the septic tank to seep through the bottom and sides of the pit

Septic tank

A watertight receptacle which the discharge of 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 piping or a seepage pit

Sewage

Any wastewater containing animal or vegetable matter in suspension or solution and may include liquids containing chemicals in solution

Sewer

A pipe or conduit for carrying sewage and wastewater

Siphonage

A suction created by the flow of liquids in pipes a pressure less than the atmospheric pressure

Soil pipe

A pipe that conveys the discharge of water closets or similar fixtures containing fecal matter, with or without the discharge of other fixtures to the building drain or building sewer

Soil stack

A vertical pipe which conveys the discharge of water closet, urinal or fixtures having similar function, with or without the discharges from other fixtures to the building drain or building sewer

Spigot

The end of a pipe which fits into a bell also a word used synonymously with faucet

Stack

A general term used for any vertical line of soil, waste or vent piping

Sump

A tank or pit below the normal grade of gravity receiving liquid wastes or sewage from which the wastes or sewage must be mechanically pumped to a higher receiving point

Ventilation System

A system of pipes, fittings, and other devices installed for the purpose of providing air circulation and creating balanced atmospheric condition within the system, thereby preventing siphonage and backpressure

Vent pipe

A pipe or opening used for ensuring the circulation of air in a plumbing system and for relieving the negative pressure exerted on trap seals

Vent stack/ Main vent

The vertical vent pipe installed primarily for providing circulation of air to and from any part of the soil, waste of the drainage system

Waste Pipe

A pipe that conveys only liquid waste free of fecal matter A waste pipe may be connected directly or indirectly depending on the type of fixture

Water distributing pipe

A pipe which conveys potable water from the building supply pipe to the plumbing fixtures and other outlets

Water Service Pipe

A portion of water supply pipe from the water main or other source of water before the water meter

Yoko vent

A pipe connecting upward from a soil or waste stack below the floor and below the horizontal connection to an adjacent vent stack at a point above the floor and higher than the highest spill level of fixtures for preventing pressure changes in the stack

Diameter of a pipe that connects to private septic vault or public sewer system

100mm

Diameter of vent pipe

50mm

Height of vent pipe from the Lavatory

0.90m more or less

Pump

device commonly used to move fluids, such as liquids and slurries

Positive displacement pump -

makes a fluid move by trapping a fixed amount and forcing (displacing) that trapped volume into the discharge pipe.

Centrifugal pump

the direction of flow of the fluid changes by ninety degrees as it flows over impeller.

Transport fluids by the conversion of rotational kinetic energy to the hydrodynamic energy of the fluid flow.

Contains an impeller mounted on a rotating shaft. The rotating impeller increases the water velocity while forcing the water into a casing thus converting the water’s velocity into higher pressure.

Axial flow pump

direction of flow is unchanged. Also known as AFP, is a common type of pump that essentially consists of an axial impeller in a pipe. The propeller can be driven directly by a sealed motor in the pipe or by electric motor or petrol/diesel engines mounted to the pipe from the outside or by a right-angle drive shaft that pierces the pipe.

Rotary-type

positive displacement: internal gear, screw, shuttle block, flexible vane or sliding vane, circumferential piston, flexible impeller, helical twisted roots or liquid-ring pumps.

Reciprocating-type

positive displacement: piston pumps, plunger pumps or diaphragm pumps

Pump having a plunger that move back and forth within a cylinder equipped with check valves. The cylinder is best located near or below the ground level.

Linear-type

positive displacement such as rope pumps and chain pumps

Turbine Pump

vertical turbine located below groundwater levels and a driving motor located at ground, usually over a well casing.

Submersible Pump

• Basically a centrifugal pump complete with electric motors which are positioned underwater in a suitable bored hole that delivers the water to the surface

Jet (Ejector) Pump

Are centrifugal pumps typically used for drawing water up from a well.

Piston pump

reciprocating pump in which a plunger is driven backwards and forwards, or up and down by a mechanical working head.

• Water is sucked into a sealed vacuum by use of a piston.

Sump pump

used in applications where excess water must be pumped away from a particular area. remove water that has accumulated in a water collecting sump pit

Water closet

is a plumbing fixture used to convey organic body waste to the plumbing system

Bowl

This is the round part of the toilet that holds water and waste

Tank

This is the back part of the toilet that holds the water used for flushing It also houses the working toilet parts

Stop Valve

This controls the water supply to the toilet It’s usually located on the wall behind the toilet. You can turn this off manually

Supply Tube

Connected to the stop valve, this tube carries fresh water from the main water supply to the refill tube

Float Ball

The float ball floats on top of the water in the tank. It signals the water supply, letting it know when the tank is full.