Building Utilities 1 - Plumbing Systems Part 3

Study Notes

Building Utilities 1 - Plumbing and Sanitary System (Part 3)

ARC 142 course covers plumbing and sanitary systems
Overhead Tank/Gravity Supply Tank:
- Does not use pressure, relies on gravity
- Used in overhead feed systems
- Components include: supply pipe, inlet, overflow pipe, drip pan, gate valves
Cistern:
- Typically built of reinforced concrete
- Located underground
- Connected to a pump
- Used for water storage
Pneumatic Water Tank:
- Uses air pressure systems often with a pump
- Includes a pressure-relieving valve to manage excess pressure
- Pressure gauge measures water pressure in the system
- Automatic pressure switch controls the well pump based on pressure changes
Bladder Type Pressure Tank:
- Pressurized air and water separated by a membrane
- Pre-charged with air at the factory
Hot Water Tank:
- Range Boiler:
  - Small (30-60 cm diameter, 180 cm max length)
  - Made from galvanized steel, copper, or stainless steel
  - Working pressure limit: 85-150 psi
- Storage Boiler:
  - Large (60-130 cm diameter, 5m max length)
  - Made from heavy-duty material with rust-proof paint
  - Working pressure limit: 65-100 psi
Range Boiler:
- An older type of domestic hot water heater
- Uses a separate hot water tank connected to a heating boiler
- Provides a large hot water volume but with slow recovery
- Early models were heated by coal or wood
- Some later versions used a separate gas/coal heater
Storage Boiler:
- Produces hot water for heating and domestic use
- Incorporates a hot water tank for storage
- Allows for immediate hot water availability
Valves and Controls:
- Gate Valve:
  - Full-way valve used to fully open or completely close the flow
  - Components include valve body, seat, disc, spindle, gland, and a wheel for operation
  - Wedge shape or tapered disc valve and Double disc valve are types
- Globe Valve:
  - Controls water flow by a movable spindle
  - Three types: plug type disc valve, conventional disc valve, composition disc valve
- Check Valve:
  - Prevents reverse flow
  - Four types: swing check valve, lift check valve, vertical check valve, and horizontal check valve
- Angle Valve:
  - Creates a 90° turn in a pipe system
- Foot Valve:
  - Located at the pump's lower end
  - Prevents loss of priming in the pump
- Safety Valve:
  - Used to control excessive pressure, such as in water systems, heating systems, compressed air lines, and other pipe lines
Types of Faucets:
- Compression Cock:
  - Operates by compressing soft packing against a metal sheet
- Key Cock:
  - Uses a round, tapered plug fitted to a metal plate
- Ball Faucet:
  - Has a ball connected to the handle for operation
- Hose Bibb:
  - For hose attachment for a threaded end
Water Distribution System:
- Service Pipe:
  - Connects the water main to the building
- Water Meter:
  - Measures water usage
- Distribution Pipe:
  - Carries water through the building
- Riser:
  - A water pipe going up at least one story to supply water
- Fixture Branch:
  - Carries water to specific fixtures
- Fixture Supply:
  - Connects the fixture branch to a specific fixture
Cold Water Distribution System:
- Direct (Upfeed)
  - Uses normal water pressure from the city main directly
- Indirect (Downfeed)
  - Uses gravity system or hydro-pneumatic
Corporation stop, Curb stop, Meter stop:
- Valves used to control access to water for a building, connection of the water main to the building.
Hydro-Pneumatic System/Air Pressure System:
- System uses compressed air to raise water pressure to higher floors when city water pressure is not sufficient enough
Downfeed/Gravity System:
- Water pumped into a large tank at the top of a building before distribution using gravity.
Sanitary Drainage System:
- System for carrying wastewater away from buildings
- Includes waste pipes, vent pipes, traps, stacks, and branches
- Common P-Trap, Deep Seal P-Trap, Stand Trap, Running Trap, and Drum Trap are different types of drainage traps.
- Minimum slope for drainage pipes: 2% or 20mm/m (4" per foot)