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TERM
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EXPLANATION
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F Rating |
A rating of effectiveness of firestop material,
measuring its resistance to flames and water. |
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FHT |
Female Hose Thread. (e.g.
end of garden garden hose) |
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FIP |
Female Iron Pipe connection.
Standard internal threads on pipe fittings. |
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FMA |
Free Mineral Acidity.
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FMPX |
Female pipe swivel connection |
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FNPT |
This refers to the female pipe thread, in
which the threads are on the inner side of the connection fitting
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FVI |
Flammable Vapor Ignition
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Facultative Bacteria |
Bacteria that can live under aerobic or anaerobic
conditions |
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Fall / Flow |
The proper slope or pitch of a pipe for adequate
drainage. |
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Fascia |
A decorative apron or front face. A wooden
enclosure holding the main pump assembly for whirlpool and master baths.
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Faucet Threads |
Special thread size for fittings that connect
to faucets. A cone seal or gasket is usually included because straight
threads will not have a complete seal without a gasket. |
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Fecal Coliform |
The portion of the coliform bacteria group
which is present in the intestinal tracts and feces of warm-blooded animals.
A common pollutant in water |
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Feed Pump |
A pump that supplies water to a boiler.
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Feed Water |
Water introduced into a boiler during operation.
It includes make-up and return condensate. |
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Female Fitting |
A fitting that receives a pipe or fitting.
A fitting into which another fitting is inserted. |
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Female Threads |
Faucet threads that are in place on the inside
of a fitting. |
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Ferrous |
Material containing or derived from iron.
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Ferrule |
Metal cover piece for the lavatory overflow
opening. |
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Filter Element |
A device within a filter tank designed to
trap suspended solids as water flows through it. |
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Filtrate |
Liquid that has been passed through a filter
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Filtration Rate |
The rate at which the water is traveling through
the filter, measured as GPM (gallons per minute) per sq. ft.
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Finish Plumbing |
Installation of plumbing fixtures to make
the system usable. |
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Finished Water |
Water that has completed a purification or
treatment process. |
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Fire Hose Closet |
Usually a compartment built into an interior
wall, covered by a glass door, holding a coiled fire hose connected to
a water line, ready for immediate use in case of fire. |
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Fire Stand Pipe |
A main water line that feels water sprinkling
system or fire hose connections. This is separate from the lines feeding
restrooms or other fixtures. |
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Firestop |
Materials that fill the opening around penetrating
items such as cables, cable trays, conduits, ducts, and pipes and their
means of support through the wall or floor to prevent spread of fire.
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First Draw |
Water that has been sitting in pipes or plumbing
fixtures overnight and is first drawn when taps are opened in the morning.
For instance, where lead is present in plumbing, this water would have
the highest levels of lead contamination. |
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First Hour Delivery |
Rating based on the combination of the usable
stored volume of hot water in a tank plus the recovery capacity for the
first hour of operations. |
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Fitting |
Any pipe part used to join together two sections
of pipe, such as elbows, couplings, bushings, bends, wyes, etc.
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Fixed Cone Valve |
A cylinder gate mounted with the axis horizontal.
Also known as Howell Bunger valve. |
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Fixture |
A device that provides a supply of water or
its disposal, e.g. sinks, tubs, toilets. |
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Fixture Unit |
An arbitrary unit assigned to different types
of plumbing fixtures, and used to estimate flow rate requirements and
drain capacity requirements.
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Flame Stability |
Flames on a burner tend to stabilize at a
point where flow velocity out and burning back are equal. It changes when
primary air or gas rate is adjusted. |
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Flange |
Extending rim or edge at one end of a pipe
shaft that gives support or a finished appearance. |
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Flapper Flush Ball |
The moving part of the flush valve that seals
the water into the tank or allows water to exit the tank for the flush
cycle. The most common replacement part used on conventional toilets.
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Flapper Valve |
The part on the bottom of the toilet tank
that opens to allow water to flow from the tank into the bowl.
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Flare Fitting |
A fitting used to connect flex copper pipe,
usually gas pipe |
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Flaring Tool |
Tool used to create a cone-shaped enlargement
at the end of a piece of tubing to accept a flare fitting.
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Flex Coupling |
Rubber coupling used to join DWV Pipe. Can
be used to connect PVC to Clay or Cast Iron above or below ground. Also
used for repairs, and attach by used of steel band clamps.
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Flexible Connector |
A braided hose that connects a faucet or toilet
to the water supply stop valve. Serves as a riser but is much more flexible
and easier to install. Usually stainless steel or PVC/Polyester reinforced
hose. |
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Float Ball |
The floating ball connected to the ballcock
inside the tank that rises or falls with changing water levels in the
tank, and actuates or shuts off the ballcock as needed. |
Floating
Flames
(Lifting Flames) |
An undesirable burner operating condition,
usually indicating incomplete combustion in which flames leave the burner
port to "reach" for combustion air. |
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Flocculant |
A chemical substance that promotes the aggregation
or coagulation of suspended particles in the water. |
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Flood Level Rim |
The top edge of a receptacle from which water
overflows. |
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Floor Drain |
Drainage fitting that sits flush with the
floor, used in basements and showers. |
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Floor Flange |
A fitting that connects a toilet to a floor
drain. |
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Floor Sink |
Receptacle usually made of enameled cast iron
located at floor level and connected to a trap to receive the discharge
from indirect waste and floor drainage. Cleaner and more sanitary than
regular floor drains. Usually used in hospitals & restaurants.
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Flow Control Valve |
Device designed to reduce water flow to a
plumbing fixture. Often used to improve efficiency and reduce operating
costs. Also a check valve that prevents flow reversal when heater is turned
off. |
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Flow Rate |
Rated in gallons per minute (GPM) or in gallons
per hour (GPH) |
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Flue |
A passageway for combustion by-products.
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Flue Baffle |
A device to deflect, check, or regulate flow
through a pipe. |
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Flue Damper |
A device to minimize heat loss through a venting
system. |
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Flue Exhauster |
A fan installed in the vent pipe which will
provide a positive induced draft. Sometimes called a draft inducer. |
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Flume Spout |
An open spout design that is also referred
to as a waterfall spout. |
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Flush Joint |
A Connection with both male and female threads
cut into the pipe. |
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Flush-Mount Lavatory |
Sink that sits flush and even with the countertop
and is supported by a metal ring. |
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Flushing Surface |
The interior surface of the bowl and all other
surfaces which may come into contact with water during flushing. |
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Flushometer |
Toilet valve that automatically shuts off
after it meters a certain amount of water flow. |
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Flushometer Tank System |
Toilet flushing system that uses supply water
pressure to compress water to provide a pressurized flush as opposed to
a gravity flush. |
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Flushometer Valve |
The valve located at the bottom of a gravity-operated
toilet flush tank, which opens when the trip lever is actuated, and closes
when the tank has drained to the desired level. Usually also contains
an overflow tube. |
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Flux |
Paste applied to copper pipes and fittings
before soldering to help the fusion process and prevent oxidation.
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Foam Insulation |
Insulation surrounding the surface of a water
heater tank. |
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Foot Valve |
A special type of check valve located at the
bottom end of the suction pipe on a pump; it opens when the pump operates
to allow water to enter the suction pipe but closes when the pump shuts
off to prevent water from flowing out. |
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Footprint |
The area of floor space taken up by a water
heater or other appliance. Framed A bath enclosure system that mounts
all glass or plastic panels in a metal frame. |
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Frameless |
A bath enclosure system that minimizes the
amount of metal used to hold the system panels and door in place.
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Free-Standing |
Term used to describe a bathtub that is free
of walls on all sides. |
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Free Available Chlorine |
The concentration of residual chlorine present
as dissolved gas, hypochlorous acid or hypochlorite, not combined with
ammonia or in other less readily available form. |
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Freeboard |
The vertical distance between a bed of filter
media or ion exchange material and the overflow or collector for backwash
water; the height above the bed of granular media available for bed expansion
during backwashing; may be expressed either as a linear distance or a
percentage of bed depth. |
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French Drain |
A covered ditch containing a layer of fitted
or loose stone or other pervious material. |
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Friction Head Difference
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The difference in head required to move a
mass of fluid from one position to another at a certain flow rate within
a piping system. It is also the specific energy required to overcome friction
in the system. |
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Friction Loss |
The loss of pressure caused by the turbulence
created in water while traveling through the pipe. |
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Frost Line |
The depth to which frost penetrates the earth. |
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Full-Finished |
Refers to tubular products in which the weld
has been processed to produce uniform strength and dimensions, and subsequently
annealed to obtain proper corrosion resistance. |
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Full Hydraulic Capacity |
The designed capacity of a pipe or conduit. |
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