2021 International Plumbing Code® Vocabulary Flashcards

100 vocabulary flashcards defining key plumbing terms and concepts from the 2021 International Plumbing Code®.

Accepted Engineering Practice

That which conforms to accepted principles, tests or standards of nationally recognized technical or scientific authorities.

Access (To)

That which enables a fixture, appliance or equipment to be reached by ready access or by a means that first requires the removal or movement of a panel, door or similar obstruction.

Access Cover

A removable plate, usually secured by bolts or screws, to permit access to a pipe or pipe fitting for the purposes of inspection, repair or cleaning.

Accessible

A site, building, facility or portion thereof that complies with Chapter 11 of the International Building Code.

Adapter Fitting

An approved connecting device that suitably and properly joins or adjusts pipes and fittings that do not otherwise fit together.

Air Admittance Valve

One-way valve designed to allow air to enter the plumbing drainage system when negative pressures develop in the piping system, closing by gravity and sealing the vent terminal at zero differential pressure.

Air Break (Drainage System)

A piping arrangement in which a drain from a fixture, appliance or device discharges indirectly into another fixture, receptacle or interceptor at a point below the flood level rim and above the trap seal.

Air Gap (Drainage System)

The unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere between the outlet of the waste pipe and the flood level rim of the receptacle into which the waste pipe is discharging.

Air Gap (Water Distribution System)

The unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere between the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet supplying water to a tank, plumbing fixture or other device and the flood level rim of the receptacle.

Alternate On-Site Nonpotable Water

Nonpotable water from other than public utilities, on-site surface sources and subsurface natural freshwater sources, such as graywater, on-site reclaimed water, captured condensate and reverse osmosis reject water.

Alternative Engineered Design

A plumbing system that performs in accordance with the intent of Chapters 3 through 14 and provides an equivalent level of performance for the protection of public health, safety and welfare, but is not specifically regulated by Chapters 3 through 14.

Antisiphon

A term applied to valves or mechanical devices that eliminate siphonage.

Approved

Acceptable to the code official.

Approved Agency

An established and recognized agency that is regularly engaged in conducting tests or furnishing inspection services, or furnishing product certification where such agency has been approved by the code official.

Area Drain

A receptacle designed to collect surface or storm water from an open area.

Backflow

Pressure created by any means in the water distribution system, which by being in excess of the pressure in the water supply mains causes a potential backflow condition.

Backflow, Drainage

A reversal of flow in the drainage system.

Backflow Connection

Any arrangement whereby backflow is possible.

Backflow Preventer

A backflow prevention assembly, a backflow prevention device or other means or method to prevent backflow into the potable water supply.

Backwater Valve

A device or valve installed in the building drain or sewer pipe where a sewer is subject to backflow, preventing drainage or waste from backing up into a lower level or fixtures and causing a flooding condition.

Base Flood Elevation

A reference point, determined in accordance with the building code, based on the depth or peak elevation of flooding, including wave height, which has a $1\%$ (100-year flood) or greater chance of occurring in any given year.

Bathroom Group

A group of fixtures consisting of a water closet, lavatory, bathtub or shower, including or excluding a bidet, an emergency floor drain or both, located together on the same floor level.

Branch

Any part of the piping system except a riser, main or stack.

Branch Interval

A vertical measurement of distance, $8\,\text{feet}\,(2438\,\text{mm})$ or more in developed length, between the connections of horizontal branches to a drainage stack.

Branch Vent

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

Building

Any structure utilized or intended for supporting or sheltering any occupancy.

Building Drain

That part of the lowest piping of a drainage system that receives the discharge from soil, waste and other drainage pipes inside and extends $30\,\text{inches}\,(762\,\text{mm})$ in developed length beyond the exterior walls to convey drainage to the building sewer.

Building Drain, Combined

A building drain that conveys both sewage and storm water or other drainage.

Building Drain, Sanitary

A building drain that conveys sewage only.

Building Drain, Storm

A building drain that conveys storm water or other drainage, but not sewage.

Building Sewer

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

Building Subdrain

That portion of a drainage system that does not drain by gravity into the building sewer.

Building Trap

A device, fitting or assembly of fittings installed in the building drain to prevent circulation of air between the drainage system of the building and the building sewer.

Circuit Vent

A vent that connects to a horizontal drainage branch and vents two traps to not more than eight traps or trapped fixtures connected into a battery.

Circulating Hot Water System

A specifically designed water distribution system where one or more pumps are operated in the service hot water piping to circulate heated water from the water-heating equipment to fixture supply and back.

Cistern

A small covered tank for storing water for a home or farm, generally storing rainwater to be utilized for nonpotable purposes and placed underground in most cases.

Cleanout

An access opening in the drainage system utilized for the removal of obstructions, including a removable plug or cap, or a removable fixture or fixture trap.

Code

These regulations, subsequent amendments thereto or any emergency rule or regulation that the administrative authority having jurisdiction has lawfully adopted.

Code Official

The officer or other designated authority charged with the administration and enforcement of this code, or a duly authorized representative.

Collection Pipe

Unpressurized pipe used within the collection system that drains on-site nonpotable water or rainwater to a storage tank by gravity.

Combination Fixture

A fixture combining one sink and laundry tray or a two- or three-compartment sink or laundry tray in one unit.

Combination Waste and Vent System

A specially designed system of waste piping embodying the horizontal wet venting of one or more sinks, lavatories, drinking fountains or floor drains by means of a common waste and vent pipe sized to provide free movement of air.

Common Vent

A vent connecting at the junction of two fixture drains or to a fixture branch and serving as a vent for both fixtures.

Concealed Fouling Surface

Any surface of a plumbing fixture that is not readily visible and is not scoured or cleansed with each fixture operation.

Conductor

A pipe inside the building that conveys storm water from the roof to a storm or combined building drain.

Construction Document

All of the written, graphic and pictorial documents prepared or assembled for describing the design, location and physical characteristics of the elements of the project necessary for obtaining a building permit.

Contamination

An impairment of the quality of the potable water that creates an actual hazard to the public health through poisoning or the spread of disease by sewage, industrial fluids or waste.

Copper Alloy

A metal alloy where the principal component is copper.

Critical Level (C-L)

An elevation reference point that determines the minimum height at which a backflow preventer or vacuum breaker is installed above the flood level rim of the fixture or receptor served.

Cross Connection

Any physical connection or arrangement between two separate piping systems, one containing potable water and the other containing water of unknown/questionable safety, steam, gas or chemical, whereby flow between systems is possible.

Demand Recirculation Water System

A water distribution system where one or more pumps prime the service hot water piping with heated water upon a demand for hot water.

Depth of Trap Seal

The depth of liquid that would have to be removed from a full trap before air could pass through the trap.

Design Flood Elevation

The elevation of the "design flood," including wave height, relative to the datum specified on the community's legally designated flood hazard map.

Developed Length

The length of a pipeline measured along the centerline of the pipe and fittings.

Discharge Pipe

A pipe that conveys the discharge from plumbing fixtures or appliances.

Drain

Any pipe that carries wastewater or waterborne wastes in a building drainage system.

Drainage Fitting

A type of fitting recessed and tapped to eliminate ridges on the inside of the installed pipe, similar to cast-iron fittings except without a bell and spigot.

Drainage Fixture Unit (dfu)

A measure of the probable discharge into the drainage system by various types of plumbing fixtures based on discharge volume rate, operation duration, and time between operations.

Drainage System

Piping within a public or private premise that conveys sewage, rainwater or other liquid waste to a point of disposal, excluding public sewer mains.

Drinking Fountain

A plumbing fixture connected to the potable water distribution system and drainage system that allows the user to obtain a drink directly from a stream of flowing water without accessories.

Dual Flushing Device

A feature that allows the user to flush a water closet with either a reduced or full volume of water, depending on bowl contents.

Effective Opening

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

Emergency Floor Drain

A floor drain that does not receive the discharge of any drain or indirect waste pipe, and that protects against damage from accidental spills, fixture overflows and leakage.

Essentially Nontoxic Transfer Fluid

Fluids having a Gosselin rating of 1, including propylene glycol, mineral oil, polydimethylsiloxane, hydrochlorofluorocarbon, chlorofluorocarbon and carbon refrigerants, and FDA-approved boiler water additives.

Essentially Toxic Transfer Fluid

Soil, waste or graywater and fluids having a Gosselin rating of 2 or more, including ethylene glycol, hydrocarbon oils, ammonia refrigerants and hydrazine.

Existing Installation

Any plumbing system regulated by this code that was legally installed prior to the effective date of this code, or for which a permit to install has been issued.

Faucet

A valve end of a water pipe through which water is drawn from or held within the pipe.

Fill Valve

A water supply valve, opened or closed by means of a float or similar device, utilized to supply water to a tank.

Fixture Branch

A drain serving two or more fixtures that discharges to another drain or to a stack.

Fixture Drain

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

Fixture Supply

The water supply pipe connecting a fixture to a branch water supply pipe or directly to a main water supply pipe.

Flood Hazard Area

The greater of the area within a floodplain subject to a $1\%$ or greater chance of flooding in any given year, or the area designated on a community's flood hazard map.

Flood Level Rim

The edge of the receptacle from which water overflows.

Flow Control (Vented)

A device installed upstream from an interceptor having an orifice that controls the rate of flow and an air intake downstream allowing air into the flow stream.

Flow Pressure

The pressure in the water supply pipe near the faucet or water outlet while the faucet or water outlet is wide open and flowing.

Flush Tank

A tank designed with a fill valve and flush valve to flush the contents of the bowl or usable portion of the fixture.

Flushometer Tank

A device integrated within an air accumulator vessel that is designed to discharge a predetermined quantity of water to fixtures for flushing purposes.

Flushometer Valve

A valve attached to a pressurized water supply pipe designed to open for direct flow into the fixture at a set rate and quantity, then gradually close to reseal traps and avoid water hammer.

Full-Open Valve

A water control or shutoff component in the water supply system piping where the flow path through the closure member is not a restriction in the through-flow area when adjusted for maximum flow.

Graywater

Waste discharged from lavatories, bathtubs, showers, clothes washers and laundry trays.

Gravity Grease Interceptor

Plumbing appurtenances of not less than $500\,\text{gallons}$ capacity installed in the sanitary drainage system to intercept free-floating fats, oils and grease by gravity during a retention time of not less than $30\,\text{minutes}$.

Hydromechanical Grease Interceptor

Plumbing appurtenances installed in the sanitary drainage system to intercept free-floating fats, oils and grease through continuous separation accomplished by air entrainment, buoyancy and interior baffling.

Automatic Grease Removal Device (GRD)

A plumbing appurtenance installed in the sanitary drainage system that operates on a time- or event-controlled basis to automatically remove free-floating fats, oils and grease without user intervention except maintenance.

Grease-Laden Waste

Effluent discharge produced from food processing, food preparation or other sources where grease, fats and oils enter automatic dishwasher prerinse stations, sinks or other appurtenances.

Gridded Water Distribution System

A water distribution system where every water distribution pipe is interconnected so as to provide two or more paths to each fixture supply pipe.

Group Wash Fixture

A type of lavatory that allows more than one person to utilize the fixture at the same time, having one or more drains and one or more faucets.

Horizontal Branch Drain

A drainage branch pipe extending laterally from a soil or waste stack or building drain that receives discharge from two or more fixture drains and conducts it to the stack or building drain.

Horizontal Pipe

Any pipe or fitting that makes an angle of less than $45^\circ\,(0.79\,\text{rad})$ with a horizontal plane.

Hot Water

Water at a temperature greater than or equal to $110^\circ\text{F}\,(43^\circ\text{C})$.

Indirect Waste Pipe

A waste pipe that does not connect directly with the drainage system, but discharges into it through an air break or air gap into a trap, fixture, receptor or interceptor.

Individual Sewage Disposal System

A system for disposal of domestic sewage by septic tank, cesspool or mechanical treatment, designed for utilization apart from a public sewer to serve a single establishment or building.

Individual Vent

A pipe installed to vent a fixture trap and that connects with the vent system above the fixture served or terminates in the open air.

Individual Water Supply

A water supply that serves one or more families, and that is not an approved public water supply.

Interceptor

A device designed and installed to separate and retain for removal, by automatic or manual means, deleterious, hazardous or undesirable matter from normal wastes while permitting normal sewage to discharge by gravity.

Expansion Joint

A loop, return bend or return offset that provides for expansion and contraction in a piping system utilized in tall buildings or areas with rapid temperature changes.

Flexible Joint

Any joint between two pipes that permits one pipe to be deflected or moved without movement or deflection of the other pipe.

Mechanical Joint

A connection between pipes or fittings that is not screwed, caulked, threaded, soldered, solvent cemented, brazed, welded or heat fused, in which compression is applied along the centerline.

Slip Joint

A type of joint made by means of a washer or special packing compound in which one pipe is slipped into the end of an adjacent pipe.

Leader

An exterior drainage pipe for conveying storm water from roof or gutter drains to an approved means of disposal.

Lead-Free Solder and Flux

Solder and flux containing not more than $0.2\%$ lead.