Building Utilities 1

Plumbing and Sanitary Systems

Taken from UST Architecture exams by Arch. Rafael Alli

Recommended review material for UST Preboard Exam
Prepared by: arkireviewph.multiply.com
Types of Plumbing Piping Materials
Cast iron pipe
Galvanized iron/steel pipe
Plastic pipe
Brass pipe
Copper tube
Lead pipe
Asbestos cement pipe
Glass pipe
magnesium pipe
Aluminum pipe
Types of Flexible Plastic Pipes

Polyethylene
Polybutylene
Types of Rigid Plastic Pipes
Polyvinylchloride
Chlorinated polyvinyl
Polypropylene
Acrilonitryle butadiene styrene
Types of Galvanized Steel Pipes

Welded pipe
Seamless pipe
Varieties of Cast Iron Pipe
Standard pipe
Single hub pipe
Double hub pipe
Hubless pipe
Locations of Cleanout
Change in direction
Highest horizontal distance
Inside the building near the connection between the
building drain and building sewer
Outside the building at the lower end of the building
drain and extended to grade
Horizontal drain serving sinks and urinals
Each run of piping more than 15m./50 ft.

(8 possible locations accdg to exam - haven’t found other answers)

Locations of Floor Drain
Shower
Bathroom floor
Garage
Near water closet
Laundry area
Near urinal
Kitchen?
Causes of Trap Seal Loss
siphonage
back pressure
evaporation
capillary attraction
wind effects
Types of Valves
Gate valve
Check valve
Globe valve
Angle valve
Butterfly valve
Foot Valve
Safety valve
Types of Traps
P-trap
S-trap
3/4 s-trap
Grease trap
Bag trap
Crown trap
Bell trap
Types of Ventilation Systems

Unit vent
Circuit vent
Yoke vent
Loop vent
Relief vent
Back vent
Blind vent
Branch vent
Polyvinyl chloride
A strong, rigid and economical plastic pipe.
It resists a wide range of acids and bases but
may be damaged by some solvents and
chlorinated carbons.
Glass pipe
A type of pipe manufactured from low
expansion borosilicate having low alkali
content; primarily used for the drainage of
various corrosive liquids. It is very brittle
and should be used when some measure of
protection is provided against damage.
Check valve
A valve that permits the flow of liquid in a
pipe in one direction only and closes
automatically to prevent backflow.
Floor drain
A fixture providing an opening in the floor
to drain water into the plumbing system.
cleanout
A pipe fitting with a removable plug which
provides for inspection or cleaning of the
pipe run; also called an access eye or
cleaning eye.
Circuit vent
A branch vent which serves two or more
traps and extends from infront of the last
fixture connection of a horizontal branch to
the stack.
Vent pipe
A pipe attached to drainage pipes near one
or more traps which leads to outside air.
Wye fitting
A fitting used to connect a branch pipe into
a straight run of piping at 45 degrees.
trap
A fitting or device so constructed as to
prevent the passage of foul air, gases and
some vermin without affecting the flow of
sewage inside the pipe.
Seal Measurement
The vertical distance between the top dip
and crown weir of a pipe.
Seepage pit / cesspool
A lined and covered excavation in the
ground which receives the discharge of
domestic sewage or other organic wastes
from a drainage system.
Septic tank
A watertight receptacle which receives the
discharge of a plumbing system or part
thereof and is designed and constructed so
as to separate solids from liquid, digest the
organic matter through a period of detention
and allow the effluent to discharge into a
drainage system.
Back vent
Also called an individual vent
Blind vent
A vent which terminates on the upper side
of the fixture and does not connect to the
main vent system. This is sometimes done
with the intent of cheating.
Globe Valve
A valve in which the flow of fluid is
controlled by a rotating drilled ball that fits
tightly against a resilient seat in the body.
Loop Vent
A type of ventilation system used on
fixtures in a room away from partitions.
Air Gap
The unobstructed vertical distance through
the free atmosphere between the outlet of a
waste pipe and the flood level rim of the
fixture or receptacle into which it is
draining.
Trap
A device or fitting which provides when
properly vented, a liquid seal to prevent the
emission of sewer gases without materially
affecting the flow of sewage or waste water
through it.
Horizontal Pipe
Any pipe or fitting which makes an angle
of less than 45degrees with the horizontal.
Half Bath
A bathroom containing a water closet and a
lavatory.
Roughing-in
The installation of all parts of the plumbing
system which can be completed prior to the
installation of fixtures.
Floor Mounted Fixture
Refers to a plumbing fixture that rests on
the floor.
Flushometer
A device which discharges a predetermined
quantity of water to fixtures for flushing
purposes.
Full Bath
A bathroom containing a water closet, a
lavatory and a bathtub.
Hose bibb
A faucet to which a hose may be attached.
Area Drain
A receptacle for wastes which are
ultimately discharged into the sanitary
drainage system.
Riser
A water supply pipe that extends one full
storey or more to convey water to fixture
branches or to a group of fixtures.
Soil Stack
A vertical line of piping that extends one or
more floors and receives the discharge of
water closets, urinals and similar fixtures.
Vent Pipe
The pipe installed to ventilate a building
drainage system and to prevent trap
siphonage.
(siphonage also syphonage - 2 accepted spellings)
Stack Vent
A vent which also serves as a drain.
The extension of a soil or waste stack
above the highest horizontal drain
connection to the stack.
Building Supply Pipe
The pipe from the water main or other
source of water supply to the water
distributing system of the building.
Vent Stack
A vertical pipe installed in order to provide
circulation of air to and from the drainage
system.
Drain Pipe
A pipe that only conveys liquid waste, free
from fecal matter.
Siphonage/Syphonage
A suction created by the flow of liquid in
pipes.
Stack
A general term for any vertical line of soil,
waste and vent pipe extending through one
or more storeys.
Backflow
The flow of water in pipes in a reverse
direction from the which is normally
intended.
Battery of fixtures
Any group of two or more similar adjacent
fixtures which discharge into a common
horizontal waste or soil branch.
Branch
Any part of the piping system other than
the main riser or stack.
Clean-out
A fitting with a removable plate or plug that
is placed in plumbing drainage pipe lines in
to afford access to the pipes for the purpose
of cleaning their interior.
Developed Length
The length of pipe measured along the
center line of the pipe and fittings.
Crown Weir
The highest part of the inside portion of the
bottom surface at the crown of a trap.
Fixture Drain
The drain from the trap of a fixture to the
junction of that drain with any other drain
pipe.
Durham’s System
A term sometimes used to describe a soil or
waste pipe system which is constructed of
threaded pipe, tubing or other rigid
construction, using recessed drainage
fittings.
Invert
The lowest portion of the inside surface of
any horizontal pipe.
Indirect Waste Pipe
A waste pipe that does not connect directly
with the drainage system but conveys liquid
waste by discharging into a plumbing
fixture or receptacle.
Sewer
An artificial conduit, usually underground,
for carrying off waste water and refuse.
Alkalinity
Cased by bicarbonates, carbonates or
hydroxide components
E.Coli
Bacteria in water
Foamability
Caused by detergent
Flocculation
Coagulation, alum is added
Ferrous Bicarbonate
Iron in water
Hardness
Caused by calcium and magnesium
deposits
Zeolite
Water softening
Black Water
Water plus human waste from toilets and
urinals
Grey Water
Waste water from laundry area, lavatory,
sink, shower and bathtub.
Color/ Discoloration
Caused by iron and manganese
Filtration
Mode of turbidity correction
Hydro-pneumatic System
Indirect water distribution system
50-75 gpd
Water supply requirement for single family
4
WSFU value for bathtub, public use
3/8”
Minimum fixture supply size for lavatory
Synonymous terms
Toilet - water closet
Individual vent - back vent
Building sewer -
Building drain -
Clean-out -
P-trap -
Floor set - floor mounted
Gate Valve - full way valve
Hub - bell
Lavatory - wash basin
Vent stack - main vent
Common vent - unit vent
Soil or waste vent -
Slop sink - service sink?
Flocculation - coagulation
Done! :)
Source: preliminary and final examinations 2002
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