Outcome 5.8 Water Systems: Design, Layout, Installation, Testing, and Maintenance

Freezing

When water expands in a closed pipe, causing pressure to rise and possibly bursting the pipe.

Temperature control

Keeping pipe temperature above freezing to prevent freezing.

Pipe insulation

Slows heat loss; it does not add heat, but buys time during cold conditions.

Frost-protected sillcocks

Specialized connections for hose connections that are resistant to freezing.

Heat tracing

Adding heat to pipes in high-risk areas where insulation is insufficient.

Mechanical damage

Includes punctures, abrasions, crushing, and UV degradation.

Nail plates

Used to protect pipes from mechanical damage when passing through studs.

Wall cavity

The framed space inside a wall that is often constrained by studs and insulation.

Backflow preventer

A valve that prevents contaminated water from returning to the clean supply.

Pressure reducing valve (PRV)

Reduces high incoming water pressure to a controlled downstream pressure.

Cross-sectional area

Area of the circle formed by a pipe, calculated as $A = \frac{\text{π}D^2}{4}$.

Volume of a pipe

The amount of water a pipe can contain, calculated as $V = A \times L$.

Soldering

A method of joining copper pipes by melting a filler metal into the joint using heat.

Brazing

A metal-joining process using higher temperatures and different filler materials than soldering.

Solvent welding

A method for joining plastic pipes by chemically softening and fusing surfaces.

Fixture stop valve

A local shutoff for isolating a single fixture from the water supply.

Inert gas testing

Using gas like nitrogen to pressurize a system without adding moisture during testing.

Soap solution test

A method of leak detection where bubbles form at the leak site when soap solution is applied.

Fluorescent dye testing

Introducing dye into water to visually observe leaks under UV light.

Aerators/screens inspection

Checking and cleaning components that can become clogged, affecting flow.

Supply connectors

Links between the water supply and fixtures, which may need inspection for leaks.

Low flow diagnosis

Determining the cause of reduced flow at a single fixture, typically starting with the aerator.

Fixture isolation

Closing a local shutoff valve to service a fixture without disrupting the entire system.

Pressure performance

The ability of a water supply system to hold pressure without loss.

Pipe fittings

Connectors that change the direction or size of pipes in a plumbing system.

Mechanical joints

Connections that seal by compression or deformation rather than melting materials.

Expansion and contraction allowance

Providing gaps in piping to accommodate changes in length due to temperature.