Drainage and Sewerage Systems Flashcards

Comprehensive practice vocabulary for Drainage and Sewerage Systems, including plumbing infrastructure definitions, storm water nomenclature, venting classifications, and trap seal terminology.

HOUSE SEWER

The part of the drainage system beginning just outside the foundation wall and terminating at the main sewer or a septic tank.

HOUSE DRAIN

The part of the plumbing system which receives the discharge of all soil and waste stacks within the building and conveys it to the house sewer; also referred to as the collection line.

HOUSE TRAP

A device placed in the house drain immediately inside the foundation wall of the building that serves as a barrier to prevent gases from public sewers from circulating through the plumbing system.

DRAINAGE SYSTEM

A system that takes the waste water from the plumbing fixtures and delivers it to the sewer.

PLUMBING SYSTEM

A system including water supply, carries liquids and other wastes; fixtures and fixture traps; soil, waste, and vent pipes; house drain, foundation drain, and house sewer; storm water drainage, and connections.

SEWERAGE (SEWERAGE WORKS)

The construction, collection, transportation, pumping treatment, and final disposition of sewage.

BUILDING SUBDRAIN

An underground drainage system that cannot drain by gravity into the building sewer.

SUBSOIL DRAIN

An underground drainpipe that receives only subsurface or seepage water and conveys it to a sump for disposal by gravity flow or by lift pump.

GRADE (PITCH/SLOPE)

The slope or fall of a line of pipe.

SUPPORTS (HANGERS)

Devices such as anchors, brackets, or cradles for holding and securing pipes and fixtures to walls, ceilings, floors, or structural members.

BUILDING DRAIN (HOUSE DRAIN)

The lowest horizontal piping of a drainage system that conveys waste to the building sewer beginning $0.6\,m$ outside the building wall.

FIXTURE UNIT

A quantity equivalent to a flow rate of $7\,\frac{1}{2}\,\text{gallons/min}$ ($28.3\,\text{liters/min}$ or $1\,\text{ft}^3/\text{min}$).

PLUMBING UNIT

A minimum standard quantity consisting of one water meter, one water closet, one lavatory, one shower head and drain, one kitchen sink, one laundry tray, three floor drains, and four faucets/hose bibs.

FIXTURE DRAIN

The drain from the trap of a fixture to the junction of the drain.

INDIRECT WASTE PIPE

A waste pipe that does not connect directly with the building drainage system.

AIR GAP, DRAINAGE

The unobstructed vertical distance between the lowest opening from any pipe to the flood level rim of the receptor.

AIR GAP, WATER DISTRIBUTION

The unobstructed vertical distance through free atmosphere between the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet conveying potable water to the flood-level rim.

BRANCH INTERVAL

A vertical length of stack not less than $8\,\text{feet}$ within which branches are connected.

SOIL PIPE

The portion of the plumbing system which receives the discharge of water closets.

WASTE PIPE

The part of the drainage system which conveys the discharge of fixtures other than water closets, such as sinks, lavatories, urinals, and bathtubs.

STORM DRAINAGE

A system that conveys storm water to a satisfactory terminal.

CATCH BASIN

A structural device where liquids are retained to deposit settleable material.

DOWNSPOUT

The vertical portion of a storm water system.

LEADER (CONDUCTOR)

The pipeline from the building gutter to the downspout or conductor.

HOUSE STORM SEWER

The pipeline from the building to the public storm sewer system.

FLASHING

A piece of sheet metal fitted under another piece of flat metal or wood to prevent water leakage.

TRAP

A device or fitting so constructed as to prevent the passage of sewer air or gas through it; also called anti-siphon traps.

TRAP ARM

The portion of a fixture drain between a trap and the vent.

TRAP SEAL (WATER SEAL)

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

COMMON SEAL

A water-sealed trap with a depth of $2\,\text{inches}$.

DEEP SEAL

A water-sealed trap with a liquid content depth of $4\,\text{inches}$.

CLARIFIER (INTERCEPTOR)

A device used to intercept or separate and prevent the passage of oil, grease, or sand.

GREASE TRAP

A device used to retain grease from one to four fixtures maximum.

RECEPTOR

An approved plumbing fixture or device intended to adequately receive discharge from indirect waste pipes.

SIPHONAGE

A suction created by the flow of liquids in pipes where the pressure is less than atmospheric.

VACUUM

An air pressure that is less than atmospheric.

TRAP SEAL LOSS

The loss of the water seal due to inadequate ventilation or subsequent negative and positive pressures.

BACK PRESSURE

Positive pressure that blows water out of the fixture into the room, often located at the base of soil stacks.

CAPILLARY ACTION

The loss of a trap seal caused by the suspension of a foreign object, such as a rag or string, into the trap seal.

MAIN SOIL AND WASTE VENT (SOIL STACK)

The portion of the soil-pipe stack above the highest installed fixture branch extending through the roof; usually $2-5\,\text{inches}$ in diameter.

MAIN VENT (VENT STACK)

A vertical vent pipe that relieves back-pressure and terminates in the soil-pipe stack at least $3\,\text{feet}$ above the highest installed fixture branch.

STACK VENT

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

VENT SYSTEM

A system providing air circulation to protect trap seals from siphonage and backpressure.

CONTINUOUS WASTE

A drain connecting the compartments of a set of fixtures or other permitted fixtures to a common trap.

INDIVIDUAL VENT (BACK VENT)

A vent that serves a single trap.

UNIT VENT (COMMON VENT/DUAL VENT)

A venting arrangement so installed that one vent pipe serves two traps.

CIRCUIT VENT

A group vent from in front of the last fixture that connects to a vent stack.

RELIEF VENT

An auxiliary vent (often a yoke or by-pass vent) that eliminates pressures in the drainage system, installed at $3-5$ floor intervals on long vertical pipes.

WET VENT

A portion of a vent pipe through which liquid wastes flow.

YOKE VENT

A pipe connecting upward from a soil or waste stack below the floor to an adjacent vent stack.

LOCAL VENT

A conduit or pipe shaft used to convey foul odors from a fixture or room to the outer air.

DRY VENT

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