SPDI: Plumbing Fundamentals 2 | (Water Supply and Distribution System)

Water Distribution System

also referred to as Water Supply System; the water service pipe, water distribution pipes, and the necessary connecting pipes, fittings, control valves, and all appurtenances in or adjacent to the structure or premises.

Domestic Cold Water Supply

consists of the piping and fittings which supply cold water from the building water supply to the fixtures, such as lavatories, bathtubs, water closets, and kitchen sinks.

WATER MAIN (STREET MAIN)

A water supply pipe for public or community use controlled by public authority.

WATER SERVICE PIPE

The pipe from the water main or other approved source of water supply to the building or structure served.

WATER METER

a device used to measure in liters or gallons the amount of water that passes through the water service

BUILDING SUPPLY

the pipe carrying potable water from the water meter or other source of water supply to a building or other point of use or distribution on the lot; shall also mean water service connection.

WATER DISTRIBUTION PIPE

A pipe which conveys potable water from the building supply pipe to the plumbing fixtures & other water outlets in the building (within the structure or on the premises).

FIXTURE BRANCH

the water supply pipe between the fixture supply pipe & the water distributing pipe; also, a pipe connecting several fixtures

FIXTURE SUPPLY

a water supply pipe connecting the fixture with the fixture branch

RISER

a water supply pipe that extends one full story or more to convey water to branches or to a group of fixtures

CORPORATION COCK

a valve screwed into the street water main to supply the house service connection

GOOSENECK

the part of the pipe curved like the neck of a goose, usually flexible; also the lead connection between a service pipe and water main

CURB STOP or CURB COCK

a control valve for the water supply of a building, usually placed between the sidewalk and the street curb; used to shut off the water supply in case of emergency or should the water supply of the building be discontinued

METER STOP

a valve placed at the street side of the water meter and serves as a controlling device for the building installation

WATER METER

a mechanical device used to measure the volume of water passing through a pipe

DISK TYPE WATER METER

A type of water meter used for measuring the flow of water through small water services. Also called as displacement meters. It is common to residential and small commercial installations and is adaptable for readout systems.

150 psi (1034 kPa)

maximum working pressure of a disk type water meter

TURBINE METER

A type of water meter used in buildings in which water is used in large and constant volume. this type of meter has the characteristics of a compound meter but is more suitable for encountering a variety of flows (a strainer should be installed upstream of the meter.

These meters are normally 1/2, 3/4, 1, 1 1/2, and 2 inches (16, 19.1, 25, 40, and 50 mm) in size.

COMPOUND METER

A meter that unites a disk and turbine meter in one body. This type of meter is used when most of the flow is low but high flows are anticipated. It is capable of recording low flows and has the capacity for high flows. These meters are normally 2, 3, 4, and 6 inches (50, 80, 100, and 150 mm) in size.

150 psi (1034 kPa)

maximum working pressure of a compound meter.

PROPELLER METER

The sizes of this meter are 2-72 inches (50 - 1830 mm). These are used where low flows never occur.

FIRE-LINE METERS or DETECTOR-CHECK METERS

This type of meter may be required by local codes in a water service that feeds a fire-protection sprinkler system or fire-hydrant system. The design should include a minimum of 8 pipe diameters of straight pipe upstream of the meter before any change in direction or connections.

DIRECT (UPFEED)

water is provided by the city water companies using normal pressure from public water main

DOWN FEED or GRAVITY SYSTEM

also known as Overhead Feed System; water is pumped into a large tank on the top of the building and is distributed to the fixtures by means of gravity

HYDRO-PNEUMATIC SYSTEM or AIR PRESSURE SYSTEM

when pressure supplied by city water supply is not strong enough, compressed air is used to raise and push water into the system

UPFEED and GRAVITY RETURN SYSTEM

• with a continuing network of pipes to provide constant circulation of water

• hot water rises on its own & does not need any pump for circulation

• hot water is immediately drawn from the fixture anytime

• provided economical circulation return of unused hot water

• larger pipe is installed at the top of the rise & diminishing sizes passes through the lower floors of the building

DOWNFEED and GRAVITY RETURN SYSTEM

• hot water rises on to the highest point of the plumbing system and travels to the fixtures via gravity (closed pipe system)

• water distribution is dependent on the expansion of hot water and gravity

• larger pipe is installed at the bottom of the riser and the diminishing sizes passes through the upper floors of the building

PUMP CIRCUIT SYSTEM

For a more efficient circulation of hot water to the upper floor levels of multi-storey buildings

FITTING

A device used to connect one or more pipes and'/or used to change the direction of a straight run of pipe.

BEND (SWEEP)

a fitting used to change the direction especially in sanitary drainage system

RETURN BEND

a pipe fitting which provides 180° change in direction

ELBOW

a fitting having a 90° bend in direction with a very short radius; it is suitable for use in a water supply system and vent system

STRAIGHT ELBOW

an elbow having both ends internally threaded and of the same diameter

STREET/SERVICE ELBOW

a malleable iron fitting for threaded pipe having a 45° or 90° bend, with an inside thread one one end and an outside thread on the other

WYE or WYE BRANCH

used to connect a branch pipe into a straight run of piping at 45° angle; are available with end connections that are the same size or with various combinations of reduced pipe sizes in any direction

COMBINATION WYE BRANCH

a single fitting which is a combination of a wye branch and 1/8 bend; used in a drainage system in changing the direction such as from horizontal (branch) to stack or from vertical (stack) to horizontal (house drain/building drain)

UPRIGHT WYE COMBINATION

a one piece fitting composed of 1/8 bend and wye branch where the branch inlet is parallel to the drum; used when two stacks are provided where one stack is used as vent and the other for soil or waste or both soil or waste stack

INVERTED WYE COMBINATION

a combined fitting composed of a 1/8 and wye branch inlet is provided with spigot rather than bell; it is used in lieu of ventilation system, usually installed at the uppermost portion of the vent stack or main vent

TEE

used to connect a branch pipe into straight run of piping at a right angle; used where flow characteristics are important such as in the drainage system.

STRAIGHT TEE

a tee having all openings the same size

STREET TEE/SERVICE TEE

a malleable iron fitting for threaded pipe in the form of a tee having an outside thread on one end and an inside thread on the other and on the branch

SANITARY TEE

a tee used as a fitting for a soil pipe, designed with a slight curve in the 90° transitions so as to channel flow from a branch line toward the direction of the main flow

SANITARY CROSS TEE

a type of cross pipe used as a fitting, designed with a slight curve in the 90° transitions so as to channel flow from a branch line toward the direction of the main flow

TAPPED TEE

a bell-end tee, which as a branch that is tapped to receive a threaded pipe fitting or a threaded pipe.

COUPLING

A short internally threaded section of pipe, used to join two pipes. It is provided with tiny ridges in the inside surface of the fitting to allow pipe to seat

SOCKET

It has similar application as the coupling but its ends are enlarged to provide additional mechanical strength

ADAPTER

a type of fitting to connect pipes of different materials such as from galvanized steel pipe to plastic or synthetic pipe, the galvanized pipe being threaded and the plastic having no threads; a type of transition fitting

NIPPLE

a short length of pipe with external threads at each end; used to join couplings or fittings

CLOSE NIPPLE

a type of nipple having both ends externally threaded

OPEN NIPPLES/SHOULDER NIPPLES

a type of nipple having both ends externally and the midsection unthreaded

CAP

an internally threaded fitting used to close the end of a pipe

PLUG

an externally threaded usually with square head; used to close the end of pipe

BUSHING

a pipe fitting, which is threaded on both the inside and the outside so that it can be used to connect two pipes (or other fittings) of different sizes

FLANGE

a fitting with a projecting collar along the edge; used on installation requiring an increased area converge for added mechanical strength

UNION/UNION PATENTEE

a pipe fitting used to connect the ends of two pipes, neither of which can be turned; consist of three pieces, the two end pipes (having inner threads), which are tightened around the pipe ends to be joined, and a center piece which draws the end pieces together as rotated, affecting a seal

UNION ELBOW

A pipe elbow having a union type coupling on one end, so that the coupling end may be connected to the end of the pipe without running the pipe.

BEND OFFSET

a change in the direction of the pipeline (other than the 90°); e.g. by a combination of elbows or bends, which brings one section of the pipe out of line with but into a line parallel to another section

REDUCER

a pipe fitting with inside threads, larger at one end than at the other

INCREASER

a tapered coupling used for joining a pipe to another of larger size

MALLEABILITY

the property of a metal that permits mechanical deformation by extrusion, forging, rolling, etc. without fracturing

HARDNESS

the resistance of material to deformation by compression or indentation

BRITTLENESS

the property of a material which fractures under low stress without appreciable deformation

DUCTILITY

property of material described as capable of being stretched or deformed without fracturing

ELASTICITY

property of a material that enables it to deform in response to an applied force and to recover its original size and shape upon removal of the force

WEATHERABILITY

the property of a material that enables it to retain its appearance and integrity when exposed to the effects of the sun, wind, moisture and changes in temperature

ABRASION RESISTANCE

the property of material that enables it to resist being worn away by friction when rubbed with another object

IMPACT RESISTANCE

the resistance of a surface or a material to shock, such as hard blow

CORROSION RESISTANCE

the property of a piping material that enables it not to wear away by rusting or by the action of chemicals

ACID RESISTANCE/CHEMICAL RESISTANCE

the degree of which a surface such as porcelain, enamel, will resist attack by acids

THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY

the rate of transfer of heat by conduction

THERMAL EXPANSION

the change in length or volume which a material or body undergoes being heated

THERMAL RESISTIVITY

an index of material resistance to the transmission of heat

FIRE RESISTANCE

the capacity of a material or construction to withstand fire or give protection from it

ELECTRICAL CONDUCTANCE/CONDUCTIVITY

ability of a material to conduct electricity

TEAR RESISTANCE

the property of a material that allows it to resist being torn apart or for it to be divided into pieces

HEAT RESISTANCE

the ability of piping material to withstand the effect of heat without causing deformation to the material

FLOW RESISTANCE

a characteristic of material that causes resistance of liquid to flow

PRESSURE RESISTANCE

resistance of a material to rupture caused by overpressure of air or liquid inside the pipe

FUNCTION OF VALVES

1. Starting and stopping flow

2. Regulating (throtting) flow

3. Preventing the reversal of flow

4. Regulating or relieving the flow pressure

GATE VALVE (FULL-WAY VALVE)

used mainly to completely close or completely open the water line (does not control the flow of water)

2 TYPES OF GATE DISCS VALVE

1. SOLID-WEDGE

2. DOUBLE DISC OR SPLIT WEDGE

SOLID-WEDGE

a single tapered disc, thin at the bottom and thicker at the top, is forced into a similarly shaped seat

DOUBLE DISC or SPLIT WEDGE

are employed back to back, with a spreading device between them. As the valve wheel is turned, the gate drops into its seat (as with any other gate valve), but on the final turns of the wheel, the spreader forces the discs outward against the seats, effecting tighter closure

GLOBE VALVE

It controls the flow of water with a movable spindle. It can reduce the water pressure (throttling). It is much more resistant to flow than the gate valve. Its main advantages over the gate valve are its use as a throttling valve to regulate flow and its ease of repair

CONVENTIONAL DISC VALVE

It is relatively flat, with beveled edges. On closure, it is pushed down into a beveled, circular seat.

PLUG TYPE DISC VALVE

Differ only in that they are far more tapered, thereby increasing the contact surface between disc and seat. This characteristic has the effect of increasing their resistance to the cutting effects of dirt, scale, and other foreign matter.

COMPOSITION DISC VALVE

Differs from the others in that it does not fit into the seat opening but over it, much as a bottle cap fits over the bottle opening. This seat adapts the valve to many services, including with hard-to-hold substances such as compressed air, and makes it easy to repair.

CHECK VALVE

Its main function is to prevent reversal of flow (backflow) in the line.

SWING CHECK VALVE

Permits straight-through flow when open and is, therefore, less resistant to flow than the lift check.

LIFT CHECK VALVE

primarily for use with gases or compressed air of fluid systems where pressure drop is not critical.

BALL VALVE

A spherical shaped gate valve providing very tight shut off. Reliability, ease of maintenance, and durability have made this valve popular in industrial, chemical, and gas transmission applications.

ANGLE VALVE

Very much akin to the globe valve, it is used to make a 90° turn in a line. It is less resistant to flow than the globe valve, as flow must change direction twice instead of three times. It is also available with conventional, plug type, or composition discs.

BUTTERFLY VALVE

A valve with a rotating disk (the butterfly) that fits with the valve body. The valve most commonly used in place of a gate valve in cases where absolute, bubble free shut-off is required.

BACKWATER VALVE

A type of check valve installed to prevent the backflow of sewage from flooding the basement or lower floors of a building.

TYPES OF BACKWATER VALVE

1. Swing Backwater Valve

2. Ball Type Backwater Valve

PRESSURE REDUCING VALVE / PRESSURE REGULATING VALVE

an automatic device used for converting high fluctuating inlet water pressure to a lower constant pressure

RELIEF VALVE

A safety device that automatically provides protection against excessive temperatures, excessive pressures or both. This is installed in water heating equipment to protect from danger of overheating and explosion.

STOP AND WASTE VALVE

A type of compression stop valve with a side port into the valve body. This is used to control the flow of water to fixtures, such as sillcocks, that are subject to freezing.

SILLCOCKS AND BOILER DRAINS

These are two types of angle compression stop valves. A ___ is installed on the outside of a building so that a garden hose may be attached. A ___ drain is a valve that is installed on a tank (such as a water heater) for draining and/or flushing. They are nearly identical, except that the s__ has a mounting flange and the b___ has a screw threads for direct mounting onto a tank.

FOOT VALVE

Located at the lower end of the pump. It is used mainly to prevent loss of priming of the pumps.