Plumbing Safety and Codes Quiz

Plumbing Terms - General Terms

• Plumbing: the art and technique of installing pipes and fixtures for bringing water in and discharging waste
• Roughing-in: plumbing work completed prior to installing fixtures and finishes
• Alley: less than 3.0 meters, but not less than 2.0 meters

Plumbing Terms - Installation Terms

• Alterations/Alterations: changes, additions, or modifications
• Existing Work: parts of plumbing fixtures that are installed or approved
• Repair: reconstruction or renewal for maintenance

Plumbing Terms - Accessibility Terms/Related Terms

• Accessible: removal of access panels
• Readily Accessible: direct access without removal of any panel door
• Manhole: opening of sufficient size for man to access
• Cross Connection: physical connection of pipes between two otherwise separate building water supply pipes

Plumbing Terms - Administrative Authority

• Approved/Approved Testing Agency (ATA): accepted or acceptable; approved standards for testing
• Administrative Authority: authorized by the office of the president (RA 1378)
• Certified Backflow Assembly Tester: competent in testing and maintaining backflow assemblies
• Department Having Jurisdiction: Administrative Authority; DPWH, DOH, DILG, City Mayors, DENR, Officers of Building official, Plumbing Official, Administrative Authority

Building Components

• Building: structure built, erected, and framed from component structural parts
• Floor Area: area within the surrounding walls of a building
• Lot: single area of land legally recorded
• Height of Building: from gradeline to the highest point of capping
• Single-Family Dwelling: dwelling located in a parcel of land
• Storey: upper surface of the floor above
• Yard: open or unoccupied space
• Chase: built for pipes
• Court: unoccupied space
• Shaft: vertical opening, elevator
• Combustible Construction: ignites at 756 degrees Celsius
• Confined Space: space less than 1.4 m³ with 250 kg calorie aggregate
• Unconfined Space: volume of at least 1.4 m³
• Labelled: equipment bearing a label
• Listing Agency: agency accepted by Administrative Authority
• Listed: equipment included in the listed agency's published list
• Quality of Materials: free from defects
• Master Plumber: knowledgeable and experienced in plumbing
• NAMPAP: National Master Plumber Association of the Philippines
• Plumbing Firm: sole proprietorship/corporation composed of RMP

Water, Storage and Supply

• Ground Water: passes through the ground
• Surface Water: flows over the surface
• Potable Water: satisfactory for drinking and domestic use
• Pressure: normal force exerted by a homogeneous liquid or gas
• Types: Static, Residual
• Contamination: High hazard and low hazard
• Service pipe: Principal artery of water system
• Water Distributing pipe: conveys potable water from building supply pipes to the plumbing fixtures
• Fixture Branch: pipe connecting fixtures to water distributing pipe
• Fixture Supply: water supply pipe connecting fixture to fixture branch
• Riser: a vertical water supply pipe extending one or more full stories
• Faucet: fixture where water is drawn
• Spigot: end of pipe fitting into the bell
• Pipe: denoted by its interior diameter
• Length of Pipe: length measured along the center

Pipes and Fittings

• Invert: lowest portion of pipe's inside
• Horizontal Pipe: forms an angle of not more than 45 degrees with the horizontal plane
• Vertical Pipe: forms an angle of not more than 45 degrees with the vertical plane
• Soil Stack Pipe: vertical soil pipe carrying fecal matter and wastewater
• Stack: general term for vertical line of soil, waste, vent piping
• Soil Pipe: conveys wastewater from water closets and urinals
• Waste Pipe: conveys liquid waste, free from fecal matter
• Grade/Pitch: slope of pipe in reference to the horizontal plane
• Hangers/Supports/Anchors/Brackets/Cradles: devices for holding pipe and fixtures
• IPS: Iron Pipe Size
• Diameter: Nominal internal diameter, Nominal outside diameter; tube (copper, cylindrical conduit, brass)
• ABS: acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
• PB: polybutylene
• PE: polyethylene
• PVC: polyvinyl chloride
• Bell or Hub: joint for connecting pipes (enlarged end to receive another pipe)

Other Terms (B&S, Fittings, etc.)

• B&S: brown and sharp; bell and spigot
• Hubless pipe: cast iron soil pipe with bolted, stainless steel bars and neoprene gaskets
• Bending pin: tool for straightening or bending lead pipes
• Blank Flange: undrilled for bolt holes
• Blind Flange: used to close pipe ends
• Cap: closing end of a pipe
• Double bend fitting: pipe fitting shaped like the letter "S".
• Double offset: two offsets in succession
• Offsets: Combination of elbows and bends altering pipe alignment.
• Ferrule: metallic sleeve used to fit plug into pipe
• Dead end: extended portion of a pipe that terminates
• Durham System: soil/waste system where all pipes are threaded.
• Solvent System: plumbing system using aerator and de-aerator
• Imhoff Tank: two-story septic tank
• Return bend: 90- or 180-degree bend for copper tubing
• Tail piece: connects fixture outlet to its trap
• Tapped tee: tee with tapped branch for fitting
• Lateral: secondary pipeline
• Branch interval: min. distance between horizontal branches to stack (8 ft or 2.43 m)

Fixture Branch, Pipes, and Joints

• Fixture Branch: connects fixture supply to main water pipe
• Horizontal Branch: extending laterally from a soil stack.
• Brazed joint: made by joining metals at temperatures below their melting point
• Caulking/Calking/Plugging: Filling openings with material
• Oakum: hemp soaked in oil or tar for waterproofing
• Slip joint: compression washer and friction ring for secure fit
• Soldered Joint: joining metal parts below 427°
• Welded/Seam Joint: joining metal in molten plastic state
• Drainage System: carries wastewater from fixtures to sewer
• Drain: pipe conveying wastewater
• Fixture Drain: drain from a fixture trap to a junction. Drain/House drain: lowest horizontal plumbing pipe portion (0.60 m outside building wall).
• Building Sewer/House Sewer: begins at the end of the building drain; continuous from building drain.
• Primary Branch: main drainage sloped drain from stack's base to junction with building drain.
• Secondary Branch: any other branch drain from stack other than primary branch in the building drain.
• Secondary Subdrain: Underground drain which receives water only from subsurface drains.

Plumbing Components - Water System Components

• Indirect Waste Pipe: waste pipe that doesn't directly connect to building drain.
• Receptor: approved plumbing fixture receiving discharge from indirect waste pipe
• Special Wastes: waste materials requiring special handling methods
• Seal: vertical distance between trap dip and crown
• Trap: fitting/device preventing air/gas passage
• Trap Arm: distance between trap and vent stack
• Trap Seal/Water Seal: maximum liquid retention in trap
• Catch Basin: receptacle for liquid/materials
• Downspout: vertical portion of rainwater conductor
• Leader or Conductor: water pipe from building gutter to downspout
• House Storm Sewer: connection/pipeline from building to public storm sewer
• Flashing: sheet metal under roof/or other materials for water protection on vertical surfaces, around edges, etc.
• Storm Water: rainfall/precipitation over the roof surface

Plumbing Components - Valves, Fixtures, and Vents

• Sump: approved pit/tank receiving sewage below normal grade
• Backflow: flow of water supply system from a different source than intended
• Backflow Connection: arrangement where backflow can occur.
• Back Pressure Backflow: occurs due to increased water pressure in water supply system above the supply pressure.
• Backwater Valve: valve in drainage to prevent reverse flow
• Blow-Off: discharged liquid, detritus
• Check Valve: automatically closes to prevent water flow from reversing
• Gate Valve: valve that controls flow of water via circular disc
• Globe Valve: valve that controls flow via fitting with a disk
• Flush Tank: reservoir for flushing water
• Flush Valve: flushes using water from water supply pipes
• Flush Tank/Flushometer Tank: vessel of stored water for predetermined quantity for flushing
• Flush Meter Tank: accumulates water for planned discharge
• Flushometer Valve: determines water discharge rate for flushing in vessels (e.g., flush tank)
• Individual Vent/Revent Pipe: connected to fixture trap, extending to higher point in drain system
• Branch Vent: horizontal vent pipe connecting drainage system to vents

Plumbing Components - Other Systemic Elements

• Group Vent: vent serving multiple traps
• Circuit Vent: group vent before the last fixture
• Loop Vent: group vent before the last fixture.
• Local Vent: pipe serving to convey foul air to outdoors
• Vent Pipe: used to keep air flowing.
• Vent System: installed pipe system to ensure airflow.
• Vent Stack/Main Vent: principal venting system artery
• Stack Vent: vertical vent stack above horizontal drain
• Common/Unit/Dual Vent: vent serving two traps on the same level
• Dry Vent: vent pipe with no liquid waste
• Wet vent: vent that carries liquid waste
• Relief Vent: vent that allows air circulation and carries drainage waste water
• Yoke Vent: Connects stack or waste stack vent (below the floor) to higher point (above highest fixture flood rim)
• Siphonage/Vacuum: pressure less than atmospheric pressure
• Vacuum Breaker/Backflow Preventer: prevents backflow
• Sewerage/Sewerage Works: construction, collection, transportation, pumping, treatment, and disposal of sewage
• Combination Waste and Vent System: waste pipe system with horizontal wet venting

Other Plumbing Components

• Continuous Waste: drains connected by common horizontal waste/vent pipe
• Water Treatment: device to improve water quality
• Sewage: wastewater containing animal/vegetable matter
• Domestic Sewage: sanitary or liquid/waterborne waste
• Sanitary Sewer: carries wastewater, with/without industrial waste; connected to public sewer.
• Main/Public Sewer: common sewer controlled by administrative authority.
• Sewer: pipe or conduit for conveying sewage/liquid waste.
• Industrial Waste: liquid waste without fecal matter
• Liquid Waste: discharges from fixtures without fecal matter
• Private Sewage Disposal System: septic system with effluent discharging into subsurface disposal field and seepage pit
• Private Sewer: privately owned
• Cesspool: pit for retention of seepage
• Seepage pit: loosely-lined excavation containing seepage
• Privy: out-house structure for depositing excrement
• Privy vault: pit beneath a privy to collect excrement
• Septic Tank: watertight receptacle receiving plumbing system discharge
• Drainage System: pipes carrying wastewater from building to sewer.