TARLAC STATE UNIVERSITY

NICCO M SANTOS

ARCHI-2C

PLUMBING TERMINOLOGY
Air Gap - An air gap in a water supply system is the unobstructed vertical distance through the
free atmosphere between the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet sup-plying water to a tank,
plumbing fixture, or other device and the flood level rim of the receptacle. This gap is usually
about the distance between the faucet and the top of the sink or bathtub (one inch or more).
Basically, the air gap is there to prevent accidental backflow.

Back flow -Is the flow of water, or other liquid mixture or substances into the distributing pipes
of a potable supply of water from any source, other than its intended source. Backflow is a term
in plumbing for an unwanted flow of water in the reverse direction. It can be a serious health risk
for the contamination of potable water supplies with foul water.

Back Siphonage - refers to the back flow of used contaminated or polluted water from a
plumbing fixture or vessel into a water supply pipe due to a negative pressure in such a pipe.

Battery of Fixture - Refers to any group of two or more similar adjacent fixtures which
discharges into a common horizontal waste pipe or soil branch.
Bib -Is synonymous with faucet, cock, tap, plug, etc. the word faucet is preferred

Blind Flange - A flange that closes the end of a pipe. There is no opening for the passage of
water.

Blow off - A controlled outlet on a pipeline used to discharge water.

Common Vent - Is a drain from two or three fixture connected to a single trap. It is also called a
dual vent.
Branch Interval - Is the length of a soil or waste stack corresponding in general to a store
height, but in no case less than 2.40 meters within which the horizontal branches from one floor
or store of a building are connected to the stack.

Branch vent - Is a vent connecting one or more individual vents with a vent stack or stack vent.

Calking - Is plugging an opening with oakum, lead or other materials, that are pounded into the
place or opening.
Circuit vent - Is a branch vent that serves two or more traps, and extends from the front of the
last fixture connection of a horizontal branch to the vent stack.

Continuous Vent - Is a vertical vent that is a continuation of the drain to which the vent
connects.

Combination Fixtures - Is a fixture combining one sink and tray or a two or three compartment
sink or tray in one vent .vent connecting one or more individual vents with a vent stack or stack .Circuit
Vent. A vent that connects to a horizontal drainage branch and vents two traps to no more than eight traps
or trapped fixtures connected into a battery.
Combination Waste and Vent System - Is a specially designed system of waste piping
embodying the horizontal wet vent more sinks or floor drains. Combination Waste and vent
System. A specially designed system of waste piping embodying the horizontal wet venting of
one or more sinks or floor drains by means of a common waste and vent pipe adequately sized to
provide free movement of air above the flow line of the drain.

Branch -Is any part of piping system other than the main riser or stack. These systems consist of
a pump (or pumps) discharging into a single line that feeds a network of individual piping
segments. Branch-line systems can be closed-loop or open-ended. It drains is a waste pipe that
collects the waste from two or more fixtures and conveys it to the building or house sewer.

Cross Connection - Is any physical connection be-tween two otherwise separate piping system,
one contain potable .water, and the other from unknown or question-able safety, whereby, water
may flow from one system to the other direction of flow depending on the pressure differential
between the two systems.

Dead End - Is the

extended portion of a
pipe that is closed at
one end permitting the
stagnation of water or
air the rein. A branch
leading from a soil,
waste or vent pipe; a
building drain; or a
building sewer, and
terminating at a
developed. length of 2
feet (610 mm) or more
by means of a plug, cap
or other closed fitting.

Drainage System - Drainage system includes, all pip-ing within the public or private premises that
conveyssewage, rainwater, or other liquid waste,

Diameter- Diameter of a pipe or tube refers to the nominal internal diameter (ID) of such pipe, except
bras sand copper tube where the term refers to the outside diameter (OD) of the pipe.
Public sewèr - Is a common sewer directly controlled by public authorities where all abutters have equal
rights of connection.

Dry Vent - A vent that does not carry water or waterborne wastes. plumbing indicates only air can
transport through it, and no water is present in the Dry Vent. The Dry Vent extends forwards above the
Wet Vent. At the point where the interconnection to another vent is ended.

Effective Opening - Is the minimum cross sectional area at the point of water supply discharge, measured
or expressed in terms of diameter of a circle. If the opening is not a circle, the diameter of a circle that is
equivalent to the cross sectional area. (This is applicable to air gap)
Existing Work - Shall apply tó that portion of a plumbing system that has been installed and approved
prior to the contemplated addition, alteration or correction. Existing work means any work done on the
Project prior to the filing of the Notice of Commencement including any work done under any Existing
Notice of Commencement.

Fixture Branch- Is a pipe connecting several fixtures.

Fixture Drain - Is the drain from the trap of a fixture to the junction of that drain with any other drain -
pipe.

Fixture Supply - Is a water supply pipe connecting the fixture with the fixture branch.
Fixture Units - Is a quantity in terms of which the load producing effects on the plumbing system of
different kinds of plumbing fixtures are expressed on some arbitrarily chosen scale. unit of measure,
based on the rate of discharge, time of operation and frequency of use of a fixture, that expresses the
hydraulic load imposed by that fixture on the sanitary plumbing installation.'. A Fixture Unit is not a flow
rate unit but a design factor.

1 cubic foot (0.028 m3) of water drained in a 11⁄4 inches (32 mm) diameter pipe over one minute.

Fixture Unit Flow Rate- Is the total discharge flowing gallons per minute of a simple fixture divided by
7.5gallons that provides the flow rate of that particular plumbing fixture as a unit of flow. Fixtures are
rated as multiple of this unit of flow.

(≈ 7.48 US gpm ≈ 0.47 l/s)

Flood Level - Is a device located inside the tank for the purpose of maintaining water level for effective
flushing of the water closet.

Ferrule - A metallic sleeve called or otherwise joined to an opening in pipe into which a plug is screwed
that can be removed for the purpose of cleaning

Flush Valve - Is a device located at the bottom of the tank for flushing water closets and similar fixtures.

Flush meter Valve - Is a device which discharges determined quantity of water to the fixture for flushing
purposes activated by direct water pressure Flush meter-valve toilets, also known as flush meter-valve
water closets in plumbing standards,
Grade - is the slope or fall of pipe in reference to a fraction of an inch per foot length of pipe. Drain
grades may be expressed as a percentage or a ratio. For example, a drain installed at a grade of 1.65% is
the same as a ratio (gradient) of 1:60. The grade of the drain has a direct bearing on the size of the pipe.

Group Vent - A branch vent that performs its function for two or more traps.

Horizontal Pipe- Means any pipe or fitting which makes an angle of more than 45° with the vertical.

Invert - Is the lowest portion of the inside of any pipe or conduit that is not vertical.
Liquid Waste - Is the discharge from any fixture, appliances or appurtenance in connection.

Riser - Is a water supply pipe which extend vertically one full store or more to convey water to branches
or fixtures.

Rough-In - Is the installation of all parts of the plumb-ing system which can be completed prior to the
installation of fixtures. This include drainage, water supply vent piping and the necessary fixture
supports.

Return-Bend - An open return bend usually within-side threads, but applied also to 180° bend in pipe.

Developed Length - The length along the center of the pipe and fitting. means that length of pipe
measured along the center line of the pipe and fittings. “Diameter” means the nominal (inside) diameter
designated commercially,
Secondary Branch - Any branch in a building drain other than the primary branch.

Stack - Is the vertical main of a system of soil, waste or vent pipe.

Sewerage of Sewage work - Is a comprehensive term including all construction or collection,

transportation, pumping, treatment and final disposition of sewage.

Siamese Connection - is a Y connection used on fire lines so that two lines of hose maybe connected to a
hydrant or to the same nozzle.

Standpipe - A vertical pipe usually used for the stor-age of water, frequently under pressure.
Soil Pipe -Is any pipe that conveys the discharge ofwater closets or fixture having similar functions, with
or without the discharge from other fixtures, to the building drains (house drain) or building sewer (house
sewer)

Stack Group - Is a term applied to the location of fix-tures in relation to the stack so that by means of
properfittings, vents may be reduced to a minimum.

Stack Vent - A stack vent is the extension of a soil orwaste stack above the highest horizontal drain
connectedto the stack. It is sometimes called waste vent or soil vent.

Subsoil Drain - Are underground drain pipes that re-ceive sub-surface or seepage water only and convey
it to aplace of disposal.

Sump - pit or receptacle at a low point to which the liquid waste are drained.
Trap - Is a fitting or device so designed as to provide when properly vented a liquid seal that will prevent
the back passage of air without materially affecting the flow of sewage through it.

Trap Seal - Is the maximum vertical depth of liquid that trap will retain, measured between the crown
weir and top of the dip of the trap

Vent Stack - Is a vertical pipe installed primarily for the purpose of providing circulation of air to
different parts of the drainage system.

Vent System - Is a pipe or pipes installed to provide a flow or circulation of air within the plumbing
system to protect trap seals siphoning and back pressure.

Vertical Pipe - Is å pipe installed in a vertical position or at an angle of not more than 45° with the
vertical.

Waste Pipe - Is a pipe that conveys liquid waste from fixture that is free of fecal matter.