Building Water Systems - Part II

Vocabulary flashcards generated from lecture notes on Building Water Systems Part II, covering distribution elements, design concerns, backflow preventers, and distribution system types.

Domestic Cold Water Supply

A piping and fittings system that supplies cold water usually from community systems to a building, distributing it to fixtures such as sinks and water closets; also known as the water distribution system.

Water Service (House Service)

A supply pipe connecting the house side of the water meter that runs to a point entering the house.

Water Meter

A device used to measure the amount of water used by the consumer.

Distribution Main

The pipeline coming from the community systems which acts as the main source of water for household use.

Risers

Pipes connecting to the ground floor pipelines that supply water to preceding floors in a house or building.

Fixture Branches

Supply pipes running from the mains or risers directly to the connected plumbing fixtures.

Connection to Street Water Main

An assembly connecting a building's service line to the municipal main, incorporating components such as a corporation stop, gooseneck connection, service clamp, and curb stop.

Water Connection Detail

A piping arrangement containing a meter stop, water meter, and gate valve installed between the street side and building side.

Water Velocity

The speed of water flow within plumbing pipes, which varies in capacity based on pipe material.

Cavitation

The formation of air bubbles from vaporized liquids caused by a drastic pressure drop inside pipes or valves, which implode upon returning to normal pressure, causing noise, wall erosion, and pinhole leaks.

Cross-connections

The mixing of other substances into the domestic supply line due to unlawful connections, which must be prevented using approved backflow devices or assemblies.

Airgap

A minimum required physical distance or separation specified by plumbing code to prevent backflow contamination.

Atmospheric Vacuum Breaker (AVB)

A backflow prevention device that prevents non-potable water from entering the drinking system, consisting of an air inlet opening, a check seat/body, and a checking member.

Double Check Valve Backflow Prevention Assembly (DC)

A closed backflow prevention system consisting of two independently acting check valves (internally or externally loaded), four properly located test cocks, and two shut-off valves.

Pressure Vacuum Breaker Backflow Prevention Assembly (PVB)

A backflow prevention assembly consisting of an internally loaded check valve, an air inlet valve, two test cocks properly located, and two shut-off valves.

Reduced Pressure Principle Backflow Prevention Assembly (RP)

A backflow assembly consisting of two independently acting internally loaded check valves, a differential relief valve, four test cocks, and two isolation gate valves.

Water Hammer

A banging or thumping sound and pipe rattling caused by the sudden shutting off of a valve, resulting in an abrupt stoppage of water flow.

Thermal Expansion

Physical dimensional changes that occur in piping materials when in contact with hot substances, compensated using expansion bends or expansion joints.

Pipe Insulation

A protective covering for pipes that addresses heat loss in hot water lines and prevents condensation on cold water lines during thermal drops.

Upfeed Distribution System

A distribution method where water is supplied upwards from a lower level to upper levels within a building using normal public main pressure.

Downfeed Distribution System

An overhead feed system where water is pumped to an elevated tank at a high level (such as the roof) and distributed downwards to fixtures assisted by gravity.

Air Pressured Water Distribution System

A system that relies on compressed air within an air-tight water chamber to distribute water throughout a building, capable of serving structures with $10$ or more floor levels.