Basic Plumbing System

January 21, 2022 No Comments Blog Jeffrey Steeves

Basic Plumbing System

1. PLUMBING • The art and science of creating and maintaining sanitary conditions in building used by humans. • It is also defined as the art and science of installing, repairing and servicing the pipes, fixtures and appurtenances necessary for bringing in water supply and removing liquid and water-borne wastes;
2. PLUMBING • the art and science of installing in buildings the pipes, fixtures and other appurtenances for bringing in the water supply and removing liquid and waterborne wastes. It includes the fixtures and fixture traps; the soil and waste pipes; vent pipes; the building drain and building sewer; and the storm drainage pipes; with their devices, appurtenances and connections to all within or adjacent to the building.
3. Historical Background • Since the dawn of civilization plumbing and sanitation has been part of human lives. All human beings, regardless of culture and race had been practicing the act of disposing waste since time immemorial. • Historians, in their attempt to trace the history of plumbing, events which had brought about changes that led towards the plumbing system that we know today, had painstakingly devised records of chronological events.
4. Historical Background • The first artifact to have been unearthed was a copper pipe used in a water system in the ancient palace ruins in the Indus Valley. It was estimated to be 5,500 years old. Such discovery established the earliest known knowledge on plumbing systems. • Around 2,500 BC, the Egyptians used copper pipes in their irrigation and sewerage systems. In the ancient Babylon, the science of hydraulics had been established as evidenced by their skillful planning in their network of canals. The inhabitants of Crete to collect water for drinking, washing, bathing and cooking purposes, constructed freshwater cisterns.
5. Historical Background • During the Roman Empire (500BC – 455AD), enormous concerns on the field of sanitation and plumbing had been observed those times. Aqueducts were built to convey water from sources to houses. Extensive underground sewer systems were constructed. Notable among these developments is the construction of underground public water supply system made of cast lead sections. • Public baths had proliferated; one particular example is the Bath of Diocletian, a bath that could accommodate 3,200 bathers at one time. These baths were lines with ceramic tiles. In addition. Roman bathhouses also include large public latrines, sometimes with marble seats. • The quality of plumbing declined after the fall of the Roman Empire in AD.. 476. During the middle ages, people disposed of waste materials by throwing them into the streets. !n 1500’s, a type of water closet was developed. Septic tanks were introduced in the mid-1800’s, and a modern sewerage system began operating in London in the 1860’s.
6. Roman Aqueducts
7. Roman Bathhouse (Thermae)
8. Roman lead pipe with a folded seam
9. Definitions and Basic Plumbing Principles Plumbing System • The plumbing system of a building includes the water supply distributing pipes; the fixture and fixture traps; the soil, waste and vent pipes; the building drain and building sewer; the storm water drainage, with their devices, appurtenances and connections within the building and outside the building within the property line.
10. Water Supply System • A system in plumbing which provides and distributes water to the different parts of the building or structure, for purposes such as drinking, cleaning, washing, culinary use, etc.; it includes the water distributing pipes, control devices, equipment, and other appurtenances.
11. Water Supply System
12. Drainage System • All the piping within a public or private premises which conveys sewage, rainwater or other liquid wastes to a point of disposal. A drainage system does not include the mains of public sewer systems or a private or a public sewage treatment or disposal plant.
13. Drainage System
14. Sanitary Drainage and Vent Piping System • The sanitary drainage and vent piping system are installed by the plumber to remove wastewater and water-borne wastes from the plumbing fixtures and appliances, and to provide circulation of air within the drainage piping.
15. Sanitary Drainage
16. Vent Piping System
17. Sanitary Drainage Pipes • Pipes installed to remove the wastewater and water-borne wastes from plumbing fixtures and convey these to the sanitary sewer and other point of disposal.
18. SANITARY DRAINAGE SYSTEM • BUILDING/HOUSE SEWER That part of the drainage system that extends from the end of the building drain and conveys its discharge to the public sewer, private sewer, individual sewage disposal system, or other appropriate point of disposal.
19. Privy – The oldest form of disposal of organic waste – It consists of a water tight vault constructed of concrete for the collection of raw sewage and a wooden shelter. – It must be 50’ to 150’ (15m to 45 m) away from the water supply – The vault should be supplied with ventilation – It should be screened and protected from vermin and flies.
20. Septic Tank and Seepage Pit – In this type of sewage disposal, the cycle is completed below ground and within the property. Liquid wastes are purified due to the action of anaerobic bacteria through precipitation in the digestion chamber and effluent is discharged in the leaching chamber by natural percolation. – Effluent –liquid discharge – Scum- non-soluble organic matter that floats on the surface of the sewage – Sludge- organic matter that settles at the base of the septic tank – Size of tank: Residence – 6 persons min capacity of 50 cu ft, and for larger household 5-6 cu. ft/person Commercial, industrial and institutional – 2-3 cu ft/person – Location must be near the structure served: (5’) 1.50 m – water-tight and gas-tight and 50’ –150’ (15m-45m) away from water sources
21. Parts of a Sanitary House Sewer Drainage – It extends from the public sewer to the private sewage-disposal tank to the wall of the System structure and is entirely outside the building SPECIAL DEVICES: • Glazed vitrified clay – – Interceptors min. 6” –36 “ Ø, 2’-3’ long – Sumps and Ejectors • Cast-iron min. 4” Ø, 5’ to10’ long – Backwater Valves • Copper – 12’ to 20’ long – Roof and Floor Drains • Plastic pipe –10’ to 20’ long ESSENTIAL – 12” deep with concrete pavement COMPONENTS: – 18” deep without concrete covering – House Sewer – Slope at 1/8” or ¼” to the foot – House Drain – House Trap – Fresh-air inlet – Soil and Waste Stacks – Fixture Branches – Traps – Vents
22. House Drain Fresh-air inlet – The horizontal main into which the – It is intended to admit fresh air to vertical soil and waste stacks the drainage system so that there discharge. It connects directly to the will be a free circulation without house sewer. compression – Sanitary drain throughout the house drain and – Leader drain stacks discharging above the roof • Copper – A necessary adjunct to the house • Plastic trap • Extra heavy cast-iron – Slope at 1/8” or ¼” per foot – A cleanout at the cellar/basement wall is recommended to clear obstructions – A cleanout at the foot of each waste and soil stack should be installed
23. Soil and Waste Stacks – The soil and waste stacks collect the sewage from the fixtures through their branches. • Should rest solidly at the bottom on masonry piers or heavy posts • The upper ends should extend through the roof for ventilation • Made of heavy cast-iron, copper, plastic • Supported at intervals of 10’ with stout wall hangers or brackets or on beams • Min 4” Ø 1’ below the roof • It should be straight free of bends and turns
24. Fixture Branches – Connect the fixtures with the stacks – Waste or soil branches are connected to the trap of each fixture – 1/8” – ½” per foot – Horizontal branch should not be more than 5’ (from the vertical inlet of the trap to the vent opening – Cast-iron, plastic, copper or galvanized steel
25. Traps – Traps catches water after each discharge from a fixture so as not to allow unpleasant ad obnoxious gases in a sanitary drainage system to escape through the fixture – All fixtures are to be provided with its own trap except for three laundry and kitchen sinks connected to a single trap
26. – Trap seal must have a min depth of 2” and max of 4” depth – Placed within 2’ of the fixture accessible for cleaning through its bottom with a plug – Made of steel, cast-iron, copper, plastic and brass except those in urinals and water closets which are made of vitreous china cast integrally with the fixture
27. Vents – Vents are the extension of soil and waste stacks through the roof and a system of pipes largely paralleling the drainage system for the admission of air and discharging of gases.
28. Interceptors – device designed and installed so as to separate and retain deleterious, hazardous, or undesirable matter from normal waste and permit normal sewage or liquid waste to discharge into the disposal terminal by gravity
29. Sump and Ejectors – A sump is a tank or a pit which receives sewage or liquid waste, located below the normal grade of the gravity system and must be emptied by a mechanical means – Sewage ejectors may be motor- driven centrifugal pumps or they may be operated by compressed air. Ejector pump for submersible system Ejector for Vertical lift submerge pump
30. Backwater valves/check valve – A backwater valve closes to prevent reverse flow from a sewer to low facilities when there is a heavy drainage load for short periods that can cause building up and over flow of wastes. Roof Drain – Is a receptacle designed to collect surface or rain water from an open area and discharge to a catch basin Floor Drain – Is any pipe which carries water or waterborne wastes in a building drainage system
31. Is that portion of the drainage installation designed to maintain atmospheric pressure within it • and prevent at least three major difficulties: – Retardation of flow – Material deterioration – Trap seal loss Retardation of flow. • The result of improper atmospheric conditions, because of insufficient ventilation or incorrect installation of fittings. • Increased pressure causes retarded flow in the vertical stack and also affects the discharge capacity of its branches – Material deterioration. • Wastes create chemical compounds of an acid nature which deteriorates the piping system. Objectionable gases should be eliminated by proper ventilation. – Trap seal loss. • Attributed to inadequate ventilation of the trap and the subsequent minus and plus pressure which occur
32. • Five ways in which trap seal is lost: – Siphonage (direct or indirect) – Back Pressure – Capillary Attraction – Evaporation – Wind Effect Siphonage Siphonage is the result – Indirect siphonage or of a minus pressure in siphonage by momentum the drainage system is the result of a minus – Direct siphonage/selfsiphonage pressure in the waste piping is common caused by discharge of in unventilated traps water from a fixture which serve oval-shaped installed on a line which fixtures serves a fixture placed at a (lavatories, small slop lower elevation. sink) – No possibility of re-seal.
33. Back-pressure is caused by a plus pressure in Capillary attraction, large plumbing trap seal is caused by installations suspension of foreign – The fixtures in which it object (rag, string, lint, occurs are usually located at hair) into the trap seal the base of a soil stack or extending over the outlet where soil pipe changes its arm of the trap. direction. – The object serves as an – Ventilate the base of the absorbing siphon. soil pipe to correct this condition
34. Evaporation of the trap Wind effects seal is a phenomenon of – Wind of high velocity nature. passing over the top of the – The atmosphere absorbs soil pipe roof terminal moisture and varies affects trap seal. inversely with temperature – Downdrafts tends to ripple – It requires weeks to the liquid content of the trap evaporate trap seal and spill quantity of it over – Deep seal traps are its outlet leg into the recommended when air is system. not saturated with moisture – Soil vent terminals should be away from valleys, gables, abrupt projections of the roof where wind can strike and be directed to the terminal
35. Main Soil and Waste Main Vent Vent – Is that portion of the vent – Is that portion of the soil pipe pipe system which serves as stack above the highest a terminal for the smaller, installed fixture branch tributary forms of extending through the roof . individual and group fixture – The same diameter as the trap ventilation (collecting water-carrying portion of vent line) the soil or waste pipe – It begins at the base of the • (2”-4” Ø ) soil-pipe stack to relieve it from back pressure and terminates in the soil –pipe stack 3’ above the highest fixture branch
36. Wet Vent Looped Vent – a wet vent is a method of – used on fixtures which are located ventilation used rather extensively in the room away from partitions that for small groups of bathroom might be utilized to conceal the waste fixtures and vent – A portion of the vent system – A bleeder or drip connection must through which liquid wastes flow be made between the waste pipe and the lowest point of the vent line to avoid accumulation of water in the loop vent
37. Local Vent – a vent without connection with the plumbing system – It terminates at the roof and connected to the fixture at point below the seat Utility vent – Used for underground public restrooms
38. Ventilation System • A system of pipes, fittings and other devices installed for the purpose of providing circulation of air and creating balanced atmospheric condition within the system thereby preventing siphonage and backpressure.
39. Soil Pipe • A pipe that conveys the discharge of water closets or similar fixtures containing fecal matter, with or without the discharge of other fixtures to the building drain or building sewer.
40. Waste Pipe • A pipe that conveys only liquid waste free of fecal matter. A waste pipe is generally smaller than a soil pipe because of the nature of matter being discharged into the system. A waste pipe may be connected directly or indirectly depending on the type of fixture.
41. Plumbing System Components • Water Supply and Distribution System Cold Water Supply System Hot Water Supply System • Sanitary Piping System • Soil Piping System • Waste Piping System Direct Waste Piping System Indirect Waste Piping System • Ventilation System • House Drain House Sewer Drainage Cleanout Plumbing Traps • Plumbing Valves • Storm Drainage Systems • Sewage Disposal Systems • Plumbing Fixtures

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Jeffrey Steeves