Plumbing Definitions and Terms

Vocabulary terms and historical context regarding plumbing, drainage systems, and water supply definitions based on the lecture module.

Plumber

A title given to a person who is skilled in the field of sanitation.

Plumbarius

The ancient Roman word for plumber.

Plumbum

A Latin word which means Lead.

Lead

A metal used as plumbing material by the Romans, preferred for its twin properties of malleability and resistance to acid.

Plumbing (Design and estimate) Second Edition

The source book authored by Max Fajardo from which these terms and definitions are derived.

R.A. 1378

Known as the "Plumbing Law" which, along with the National Plumbing Code of the Philippines, governs all plumbing design and installations.

DWV

Refers to the drainage, waste, and vent installation system.

Main Sewer

In plumbing, it is a secondary pipe; in sewage, it is a common sewer which no other common sewer is tributary and only receives sewage from building sewers.

Plumbing Fixtures

Installed receptacles, devices, or appliances supplied with water, or which receive or discharge liquid-borne waste into a drainage system.

Plumbing System

Includes water supply distribution pipes, plumbing fixtures and traps, soil, waste, and vent pipes, house drain and house sewers, and their respective connections within property lines.

Liquid Waste

The discharge from any fixture, appliance, or appurtenance which does not receive fecal matters.

Subsoil Drain

Underground drainpipes that receive subsurface or seepage water only and convey it to a place of disposal.

Rough-in

The installation of all parts of the plumbing system which can be completed prior to the installation of fixtures, including drainage, water supply, and vent piping.

Air Gap

The unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere between the lowest opening from any supply pipe to the flood level rim of the receptacle.

Back Flow

The flow of water or other liquid mixtures into distributing pipes of potable supply from any source other than its intended use.

Back Siphonage

Refers to the backflow of used contaminated or polluted water from a fixture into a supply pipe due to negative pressure.

Combination Fixtures

A fixture combining one sink or a two-to-three compartment sink or tray in one vent.

Combination Waste & Vent System

A specially designed system of waste piping embodying horizontal wet venting of sinks or floor drains to provide free movement of air above the flow line.

Calking

Plugging an opening with oakum, lead, or other materials that are pounded into place.

Developed Length

The length along the center of the pipe and fitting.

Diameter

Refers to the nominal internal diameter (ID), except for brass and copper tube where it refers to the outside diameter (OD).

Drainage System

All piping within public or private premises that conveys sewage, rainwater, or liquid waste to a point of disposal, excluding public sewer mains.

Existing Work

Portion of a plumbing system installed and approved prior to a contemplated addition, alteration, or correction.

Effective Opening

The minimum cross-sectional area at the point of water supply discharge, expressed in terms of the diameter of a circle.

Grade

The slope or fall of pipe in reference to a fraction of an inch per foot length of pipe.

Branch

Any part of the piping system other than the main riser or stack.

Branch Interval

The length of a soil or waste stack corresponding to a storey height, but no less than $2.4\,m$, where horizontal branches connect.

Battery of Fixture

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

Fixture Branch

A pipe connecting several fixtures.

Fixture Drain

The drain from the trap of a fixture to the junction of that drain with any other drainpipe.

Fixture Supply

A water supply pipe connecting the fixture with the fixture branch.

Fixture Unit

A quantity in terms of which the load producing effects on the plumbing system of different kinds of fixtures are expressed on an arbitrarily chosen scale.

Fixture Unit Flow Rate

The total discharge flow in gallons per minute of a simple fixture divided by $7.5$ gallons.

Flood Level

A device located inside the tank for the purpose of maintaining water level for effective flushing of the water closet.

Common Vent

A drain from two or three fixtures connected to a single trap, also called a dual vent.

Dry Vent

A vent that does not carry water or water-borne wastes.

Group Vent

A branch vent that performs its function for two or more traps.

Branch Vent

A vent connecting one or more individual vents with a vent stack or stack vent.

Circuit Vent

A branch vent serving two or more traps that extends from the front of the last fixture connection to the vent stack.

Continuous Vent

A vertical vent that is a continuation of the drain to which it connects.

Local Vent Pipe

A pipe on the fixture side of the trap through which vapor or foul air is removed from a room or fixture.

Main Vent

The principal artery of the venting system to which vent branches may be connected.

Looped Vent

A vent similar to a circuit vent except that it loops back and connects with a stack vent instead of a vent stack.

Vent Stack

A vertical pipe installed primarily for providing circulation of air to different parts of the drainage system.

Vent System

A pipe or pipes installed to provide circulation of air within the plumbing system to protect trap seals from siphoning and back pressure.

Wet Vent

A vent that receives the discharge from wastes other than a water closet.

Relief Vent

A vent whose primary function is to provide circulation of air between drainage and vent systems.

Re-vent Pipe

Also called an individual vent, it connects directly with an individual waste or group of wastes and extends to the main or branch vent pipe.

Side Vent

A vent connecting to the drainpipe through a fitting at an angle not greater than $45$ degrees to the vertical.

Stack Vent

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

Stack Venting

A method of venting a fixture or fixtures through the soil or waste stack.

Secondary Branch

Any branch in the building drain other than the primary branch.

Waste Pipe

A pipe that conveys liquid waste from fixtures that is free of fecal matter.

Water Service Pipe

A pipe from the water main or other source of supply to the building served.

Vertical Pipe

A pipe installed in a vertical position or at an angle of not more than $45$ degrees with the vertical.

Dead End

The extended portion of a pipe that is closed at one end, permitting the stagnation of water or air.

Cross Connection

A physical connection between two separate piping systems, one containing potable water and the other of questionable safety.

Horizontal Pipe

Any pipe or fitting which makes an angle of more than $45$ degrees with the vertical.

Siamese Connection

A Y connection used on fire lines so that two lines of hose may be connected to a hydrant or the same nozzle.

Standpipe

A vertical pipe usually used for the storage of water, frequently under pressure.

Return Bend

An open bend usually with inside threads reaching a $180$ degree bend in pipe.

Ferrule

A metallic sleeve joined to an opening in a pipe into which a plug is screwed for cleaning or examination purposes.

Flush Valve

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

Flushometer Valve

A device which discharges a predetermined quantity of water for flushing purposes activated by direct water pressure.

Bibb

A term synonymous with faucet, cock, tap, or plug.

Blind Flange

A flange that closes the end of a pipe with no opening for the passage of water.

Blow Off

A controlled outlet on a pipeline used to discharge water.

Public Sewer

A common sewer directly controlled by public authorities where all abutters have equal rights of connection.

Sanitary Sewage

Sewage containing human excrement and liquid household waste, also called domestic sewage.

Sanitary Sewer

A sewer intended to receive sanitary sewage without the admixture of surface water or storm water.

Soil Pipe

Any pipe that conveys the discharge of water closets or fixtures having similar functions to the building drains or building sewer.

Stack

The vertical main of a system of soil, waste, or vent pipe.

Stack Group

The location of fixtures in relation to the stack so that vents may be reduced to a minimum by means of proper fittings.

Sump

A pit or receptacle at a low point to which liquid wastes are drained.

Trap

A fitting or device designed to provide a liquid seal that prevents the back passage of air when properly vented.

Trap Seal

The maximum vertical depth of liquid that a trap will retain, measured between the crown weir and the top of the dip.

Water Distributing Pipe

A pipe in a building that conveys water from the water service pipe to plumbing fixtures.

Riser

A water supply pipe which extends vertically one full storey or more to convey water to branches of fixtures.

Chanlee Ken

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