Plumbing Terms and Sanitation

Key Plumbing Terms

• Plumbing involves installing pipes, fixtures, and apparatuses to convey water, and safely dispose of wastewater, gases, and other substances.
• A plumber is skilled in sanitation and their title is derived from Plumbarius.
• Plumbarius denotes an individual in ancient Rome who worked in sanitation using lead (plumbum) due to its malleability and acid resistance.
• The plumbing cycle involves water supply, usage, and waste disposal within a system.
• Water supply delivers clean water to fixtures.
• Water usage refers to the consumption of water for various purposes.
• Drainage and waste removal collects and removes wastewater.
• Treatment and reuse involves treating wastewater for recycling in irrigation or industry.
• A plumbing system includes pipes, valves, fixtures for water supply, waste removal, and ventilation.
• The water supply system delivers potable water.
• A drainage system removes wastewater and sewage.
• A vent system allows air circulation preventing trap siphoning.
• A stormwater drainage system collects and directs rainwater to disposal points.

Historical Plumbing Timeline

• 2900 BC: Rudimentary plumbing systems were used.
• 312 BC: Romans constructed aqueducts to supply water.
• 100 AD: Lead pipes were widely used in Roman cities.
• 500 AD - 1400 AD: Sanitation and hygiene declined during the Dark Ages.
• Mid-1300s: Sanitation improved in European cities, and the first water supply pipe was laid in London.
• 1596: Sir John Harrington built one of the first water closets in England.
• 1625: England enacted plumbing apprenticeship laws.
• 1775: Alexander Cumming invented the S-trap.
• 1848: England passed the National Public Safety Act.
• 1652: Boston established the first waterworks using wooden pipes.
• 1804: Philadelphia introduced cast iron piping for water mains.
• Mid-19th Century: Practical water and sewage systems were developed in the U.S.
• 20th Century: Thermoplastics like PVC were introduced.
• 1911: Kohler Company introduced the first one-piece recessed bath.
• 1926: Kohler launched the Electric Sink.
• 1993: The U.S. Green Building Council developed LEED.

Plumbing in the Philippines

• 17th Century: Plumbing was established by the Spaniards in Intramuros.
• 1902: The government officially recognized plumbing.
• 1935: NAMPAP was established.
• 1955: Republic Act No. 1378, the Plumbing Code of the Philippines, was signed.
• 1999: The Revised Plumbing Code of the Philippines was approved

Objectives and Requirements of plumbing

• Objectives of plumbing are to supply water and remove wastes
• Water must be supplied to all parts of a building
• Human waste and other substances must be discharged into a public sewer or septic tank.
• Effective systems must supply sufficient water to all fixtures.
• Backflow of used water into the supply must be prevented.
• Drainage systems must ensure fast waste removal.
• Drainage systems must prevent leakage and drain blockages.
• Drainage systems must prevent entry of vermin and gases.

Plumbing Fixtures

• Fixtures are receptacles attached to the plumbing system not including traps that may collect waste to discharge.
• A water closet receives and discharges human waste.
• A lavatory is for washing hands or faces.
• A kitchen sink typically includes a water supply and drain.
• A urinal is for flushing away urine.
• A bidet is for washing the middle part of the body.
• A bathtub is for bathing.

Types of Water Closets by Design

• Siphon Washdown: Inexpensive, noisy, with small standing water, prone to fouling.
• Siphon Jet: Quiet, with large standing water, efficient, and expensive.
• Siphon Vortex: Quiet and sanitary, creates a swirling action.
• Reverse Trap: Located at the rear, aesthetically pleasing.

Types of Water Closets by Make

• One-Piece: Has a bowl and flush tank molded together.
• Closed Coupled: Features a separate flush tank attached to the bowl.
• Pail Flush: Uses water poured from a bucket without a flush tank.
• Squat Bowl: An Eastern-type bowl for squatting.

Types of Flushing Mechanisms

• Flush Tank: Holds 5 to 6 gallons of water for flushing.
• Flush Valve (Flushometer): Supplies water directly from a valve, requiring 10-20 psi.

Water Closet Shapes and Installation

• Round Front: Compact and suitable for limited spaces.
• Elongated Front: More comfortable and occupies more space.
• Free Standing: Floor-mounted.
• Wall Hung: Wall-mounted.

Lavatories

• Wall Hung: Mounted on the wall.
• Pedestal: Has a basin and pedestal leg.
• Counter Type: Can be over or under-counter.
• One-Piece Lavatory: Has an integrated design.

Types of Faucets

• Center Set: Suitable for single-hole or 3-hole basins with a deckplate.
• Widespread: Requires 8 to 16-inch centers, without a deckplate.

Kitchen Sink Types

• Single Bowl-Single Drain
• Double Bowl-Single Drain
• Double Bowl-Double Drain
• Triple Bowl
• Corner Sink

Urinal Types

• Wall Hung
• Pedestal
• Stall
• Trough

Other Fixture Definitions

• Bidet: Used for washing the middle body part.
• Bathtub: A fixed plumbing installation.
• Slop Sink: A deep sink for janitors.
• Drinking Fountain: Provides potable water.
• Laundry Tub: A deep, wide sink for washing clothes.
• Shower Bath: Apparatus for body spraying.
• Scrub Sink: Used in hospitals for surgical hand scrubbing.

Plumbing Fittings

• Cap: Seals the end of a pipe.
• Plug: Seals a pipe and is often threaded.
• Cleanout Plug: Provides access for drain cleaning.
• Coupling: Connects two pipes or pipe lengths.
• Elbow: Changes pipe direction.
• Tee: Connects pipes in a T-shape.
• Nipple: A short pipe extension that is less than 12 inches.
• Closet Flange: Connects toilets to drain systems.
• Union: Allows pipe disconnection.
• Reducer Coupling: Connects pipes of different sizes.
• Adapter Coupling: Joins different types of connections.
• Repair Coupling: Used for unthreaded pipe repairs.
• Street Elbow: Has one male and one female end.
• Sweep: Gradual bend for better flow.
• Reducing Elbow: Changes the pipe size while changing direction.
• Straight Tee: Has three equal-sized openings.
• Reducing Tee: One opening is smaller.
• Sanitary Tee: Has a curved branch for waste flow.
• Cross Tee: Has four female openings.
• Wye Bend Tee: Has three openings at a 45° angle.
• Trap: Prevents sewer gases from entering buildings.
• P-Trap: Retains a water seal to block gases.
• Offset Closet Flange: Used when the drain pipe is incorrectly positioned.
• Floor Flange: Connects pipes to walls, floors, or flat surfaces.

Accessories

• Soap Holder
• Paper Holder
• Toothbrush & Tumbler Holder
• Towel Holder Bar
• Seat Cover

Modern Fixtures

• Whirlpool Bathtub: Includes water jets for relaxation.
• Kohler Numi Toilet: Tankless, remote-controlled, with a heated seat.
• Iota Folding Toilet: Space-saving and water-efficient.
• Waterfall Sink: Provides temperature and flow control.

DWV System

• Drainage, Waste, and Vent (DWV) System: Complete drainage system subdivided into drainage, waste, vent, and sewer systems.

Drainage System Details

• Drainage System: Piping network conveying sewage, rainwater, or other wastes to disposal.
• Drainage Pipe: Transports wastewater from fixtures to the house drain.
• House Drain: Main horizontal drain pipe inside the building directing waste to the house sewer.
• House Sewer: Connects the house drain to the public sewer or septic tank, starting 5 feet from the building's foundation wall.

Waste and Vent System roles

• Waste Pipe: Receives discharge from fixtures, excluding those connecting to soil branches, soil pipes, or house drains
• Vent Pipe: Allows air circulation to ensure proper drainage and prevent siphoning of traps.

Soil Pipe Specifics

• Soil Pipe: Conveys discharge from water closets to the house drain or sewer.
• Soil Stack: A vertical soil pipe.
• Soil Branch: A horizontally installed soil pipe.

Types of Fittings

• Long Sweep: Allows smooth directional change.
• Tee: Connects pipes at right angles.
• 45 Elbow: Connects pipes at a 45-degree angle.
• Y Fitting: Creates a Y-shaped branch for drainage.

Fixture Unit Metrics

• Fixture Unit (DFU): Measures the discharge flow rate of a fixture, about 7.5 gallons per minute.

Storm Drain System Elements

• Storm Drain: Collects and directs rainwater to an outlet.
• Roof Leader: A downspout conveying roof water to the storm drain.
• Inside Storm Drain: Storm drain under basements or within walls.
• Outside Storm Drain: Outside the building's foundation wall.
• Overhead Storm Drain: Used if drainage elevation is higher than the basement floor.