Plumbing Terms and Definitions

Study Notes

ABS stands for Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene.
"Accessible" means having access to a fixture, connection, appliance, or equipment, possibly requiring removal of an access panel, door, or similar obstruction.

"Readily Accessible" means direct access without removing any panel, door, or similar obstruction.

An "Airbreak" is a physical separation between a fixture, appliance, or device and an indirect waste receptor.
An "Air Gap, Drainage" is the unobstructed vertical distance between the lowest opening from a pipe, plumbing fixture, appliance, or appurtenance conveying waste to the flood-level rim of the receptor.
An "Air Gap, Water Distribution" is the unobstructed vertical distance between the lowest opening from a pipe or faucet conveying potable water to the flood-level rim of a tank, vat, or fixture.

"Backflow" is the flow of water or other liquids, mixtures, or substances into the distributing pipes of a potable supply of water from any source other than its intended source.
A "Backflow Connection" is a condition or arrangement where reverse flow can occur.
"Backpressure Backflow" occurs due to an increased reverse pressure above the supply pressure, possibly caused by pumps, boilers, gravity, or other sources of pressure.
A "Backflow Preventer" is a device or means to prevent the flow of liquid from returning to the source of supply, also called a "Vacuum Breaker".

A "Ball Cock" is a valve opened and closed by the fall and rise of an attached ball floating on the surface of the liquid.
A "Ball Joint" is a type of pipe connection in which a ball-shaped end is held in a cup-like shell, allowing movement in every direction.

A "Bell or Hub" is a portion of a pipe that is enlarged to receive the end of another pipe of the same diameter for making a caulked or push-on joint.
A "Bending Pin" or "Iron" is a tool for straightening or bending lead pipe.
A "Blank Flange" is a pipe flange that is not drilled for bolt holes.
A "Blind Flange" is a flange that closes the end of a pipe, with no opening for the passage of liquid or gas.