PLUMBING

Plumbing the art and technique of installing pipes, fixtures, and other

apparatuses in buildings for bringing in the supply of liquids, substances and/or

ingredients and removing them; and such water, liquid another carried-wastes

hazardous to health, sanitation, life and property pipes and fixtures after installation.

PLUMBING SYSTEM

Plumbing system includes all potable water supply and distribution pipes, all

plumbing fixtures and traps; all sanitary and storm drainage systems; vent pipes, roof

drains, leaders and downspouts; and all building drains and sewers, including their

respective points and connections; devices, receptacles, and appurtenances within the

property; water lines in the premises; potable, tap, hot and chilled water piping; potable

water treating or using equipment; fuel gas piping; water heaters and vents for same.

Plumbing system, reduced to its simplest terms, consists of a supply pipe leading

to a fixture and a drainpipe ta0ing the used water away from this fixture.

ELEMENTS OF PLUMBING

Plumbing system includes all portable water supply and distribution pipes, all

plumbing fixtures and traps, all sanitary and drainage systems, vent pipes, roof drains,

leaders and downspouts and all building drains and sewers including their respective

joints and connections, devices, receptacles and appurtenances within the property;

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water lines in premises, potable, tap, hot and chilled water piping, potable water treating

or using equipment, fuel gas piping, water heaters and vents for the same/

The system constitutes the following:

1. The water supply and water distribution system: carries water from the water

source, street main or a pump to the building at which water is used.

2. The plumbing fixtures: the receptacles that receive the supplied water and

allow the occupants of the building to use water.

3. The drainage system: the piping network within the building which conveys

from the plumbing fixtures all wastes and sanitary drainage as well as storm drainage to

a point of disposal or treatment facility.

THE PLUMBER

The plumber is the one who wor0s or engages in the business of installing in

buildings the pipes fixtures and other apparatus for bringing in the water supply and

removing liquid and waterborne wastes. There are three categories of plumbers based

upon their graces of experiences.

1. Apprentice plumber - a beginner at the trade who usually serves for 2 to 3

years as helper to a journeyman.

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 2. Journeyman plumber - has served his apprenticeship and is competent to

perform the tas0s of installing and repairing plumbing.

3. Master plumber - a person technically and legally qualified and licensed to

practice the profession of master plumbing without limitations in accordance with

Republic Act 1378, having passed the examinations conducted by the Professional

Regulation Commission (PRC), has received a certificate of registration from the board

of master plumbing and possesses the current license to practice. (Section 214.5 NPC

200)

ROLE OF A PLUMBER

1. Install. repair and maintain plumbing systems and components

2. Maintain all building codes, installation requirements.

3. Detecting and repairing leaks in both water and wastewater systems.

4. Replacing old plumbing or renovation.

5. Installing and repairing plumbing fixtures.

6. Installing water filters and appliances.

7. Perform other related duties as when required.

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THE PLUMBING CODE

The improper installation of plumbing may affect the health of the occupants of a

building and create a center point for the spread of disease. The possibility is of

sufficient public interests to require the regulation of plumbing by law. The right of the

government to regulate the details of plumbing is based on the principle of the

protection of public health. The basic goal of the National Plumbing Code of the

Philippines is to ensure the qualified observance of the latest provision of the plumbing

and environmental laws.

THE BASIC PRINCIPLES GOVERNING THE NATIONAL PLUMBING CODE

1. All premises intended for human use or habitation shall be provided with a supply of

pure and wholesome water, neither connected to unsafe water supply nor subject to

backflow or back siphonage

2. Plumbing fixtures, devices and appurtenances shall be supplied with water in

sufficient volume and pressure adequate to function satisfactory and without undue

noise

3. Plumbing shall be designed and adjusted to use the minimum quantity of water

consistent with proper performance and cleaning

4. Devices for heating and storing water shall be so designed and installed to prevent

dangers from explosion through overheating

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5. Every building abutting on a street, alley or easement with a public sewer shall

connect its plumbing fixtures to the sewer system

6. Each family dwelling unit shall have at least one water closet, one kitchen type sink, a

lavatory and a bathtub or shower to meet the basic requirements of sanitation and

personal hygiene

7. Plumbing fixtures shall be made of smooth non-absorbent material free from

concealed fouling surfaces and shall be in ventilated enclosures

8. The drainage system shall be designed, constructed, and maintained to safeguard

against fouling, deposit of solids, clogging and with adequate clean outs so arranged

that the pipes may be readily cleaned

9. All piping shall be of durable NAMPAP – (National master plumbers/plumbing

engineers of the Philippines) approved materials, free from defective workmanship,

designed and constructed by registered master plumbers to ensure satisfactory service

10. Each fixture directly connected to the drainage system shall be equipped with a

water sealed trap

11. The drainage pipes piping system shall be designed to provide adequate circulation

of free air from siphonage, aspiration or forcing of trap seals under ordinary use

12. Vent materials shall extend to the outer air and installed to prevent clogging and the

return of foul air into the building

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13. Plumbing systems shall be subjected to such tests to effectively disclose all leaks

and defects in the workmanship

14. Substance which will clog the pipes, produce explosive mixtures, destroy the pipes

or their joints or interfere unduly with the sewage –disposal process shall not be allowed

to enter the building drainage system

15. Proper protection shall be provided to prevent contamination of food, water, sterile

goods, and similar materials by backflow of sewage. When necessary, the fixture device

shall be connected indirectly with the building drainage system.

16. No water closet shall be in a room or compartment which is not properly

ventilated

17. If there is no sewer system in the area, suitable provision shall be made for the

disposal of building sewage by some accepted method of sewage treatment and

disposal such as a septic tank

18. Where a plumbing drainage system may be subject to backflow of sewage suitable

provision shall be made to prevent its overflow in the building

19. Plumbing systems shall be maintained in serviceable conditions by registered

master plumbers

20. All plumbing fixtures shall be installed properly spaced, to be accessible for them

intended use

21. Plumbing shall be installed with due regard to the preservation of the strength of

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structural members and the prevention of damage to walls and other surfaces through

fixture usage

22. Sewage or other waste from plumbing systems which maybe be deleterious to

surface and sub-surface waters shall not be discharged into the ground or into any

waterway, unless first rendered innocuous through subjection to some acceptable form

of treatment

3 MAJOR COMPONENTS OF PLUMBING

Each plumbing system has three major components: pipes and fittings, drainage,

and fixtures. Knowing how the plumbing system works in your home helps you find the

best and safest plumbing pipe and helps you minimize plumbing emergencies.

1. Pipes and Fittings

Your plumbing system runs throughout your home. You might have plumbing in your

kitchen, basement, bathroom, and even garage. The pipes and fittings include every

pipe that runs throughout your home from the main water supply lines. This includes the

safest plumbing pipe for your water supply. Most systems have cold water and hot

water pipes. Each pipe can withstand a certain temperature. These pipes and fittings

can be made of a variety of materials including:

a) Copper

b) Brass

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 c) Lead

d) PVC

e) CPVC

2. Plumbing Fixtures

The plumbing fixtures connect to the pipes and give you access to your water

supply. Plumbing fixtures include:

a) Sinks

b) Bathtubs

c) Hot Water Heater

d) Washing Machines

e) Dish Washers

f) Toilets

3. The Drainage System

Outside of a clogged toilet, the drainage system is a key part of your plumbing

system that might cause a costly emergency. Your drains connect the plumbing fixtures

to the waste removal lines and the sewage system. Be sure to avoid clogging your

drains. This allows sewage and waste to pass through freely without clogging.

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3 PRINCIPAL PARTS OF PLUMBING SYSTEMS

In home plumbing, different types of plumbing operation which includes complex

world of drains, pipes, and stopcocks. A complete plumbing system provides an

adequate supply of water and removes waste.

1. Water supply system.

This brings in freshwater in under enough pressure to allow it to travel upstairs,

around corners or wherever its needed. As water comes into your home it passes

through a meter that registers the amount you use.

The main water valve is typically located close to the meter. In a plumbing

emergency it’s important that you close the main shut off valve otherwise in case of a

pipe burst, water can flood the house with no time. If the emergency is confined to a

sink, tub or toilet however you might want to turn off the main water supply. Therefore,

most fixtures should have individual stop valves.

Water from the main supply is immediately ready for your cold-water needs.

Direct cold-water system

Here mains water comes into your house through the raising main as usual and

then branches off to feed the kitchen, bathroom, and any other cold taps. It also usually

but not always feeds the cold-water storage tank in the loft.

The hot water supply however requires another step, one pipe carries water from

the cold system to your water heater. From the heater a hot water line carries the water

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to all the fixtures, outlets and appliances that require hot water. A thermostat on the

heater maintains the temperature you select by turning the device heating elements on

and off as required.

The normal temperature setting for a home water heater is between 140 degrees

F and 160 degrees F, but 120 degrees F is usually adequate and is also more

economical.

Some automatic dish washers require higher temperatures, though many of

these have a water heater within them that boosts the temperature another 20 degrees

F.

2. Water and waste removal system. (Drainage systems)

Whether your home is on a sewer or septic system the systems within the home

are essentially the same.

Drainage systems do not depend on pressure as supply systems do. Instead,

waste matter leaves your house because the drainage pipes all pitch, or angle,

downward. Gravity pulls the waste along. The sewer line continues downward flow to a

sewage treatment facility or a septic tank.

This includes vents, traps, and clean outs. The vents sticking up from the roof of

the house allow air to enter the drainpipes. if there was no air supply coming from the

vents, wastewater wont flow properly and the water in the traps would need to be

siphoned away.

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 Traps are vital components of the drainage system. A trap is found under every

sink. It’s the curved or S-shape section of pipe under a drain. Water flows from the

basin with enough force to go through the trap and out through the drainpipe, but

enough water stays in the trap afterwards to form a seal that prevents sewer gas from

backing up into the home. Every fixture must have a trap.

Toilets are self-trap and do not require an additional trap at the drain. Bathtubs

frequently have drum traps not only for a seal against sewer gas but also to collect hair

and dirt to prevent clogged drains.

Some kitchen sinks have grease traps to collect grease that might otherwise

cause clogging, because hair and grease generally cause clogging traps often to have

clean out plugs that give you easier access to remove or break up any blockage.

3. Fixtures

Toilets, sinks, and tubs are fixtures. In addition, an outside faucet is a fixture so is

a washing machine. All devices that draw fresh water and discharge wastewater are

called fixtures and all are designed to keep the supply and drainage systems strictly

segregated.

In plumbing jargon any bridge between the supply and drainage system is a

fiture.

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GENERAL TERMINOLOGIES USED IN PLUMBING

Bleed – to release excess air in a pipe by opening a valve at the end

Brass- generic slang term for any faucet fixture

Branch drain –fixture drain which leads to the main drain pipeline

Effluent- liquid waste in a septic system

Fitting -term used to describe any part that connects two sections of pipe

Flow rate – how much water flows through a plumbing system measured in either

gallons per minute (GPM) or per hour (GPH)

Gallons per flush (GPF)- measurement of water needed to flush; used to regulate

toilets and flush valves; 1.6 GPF is the current legal maximum permitted for new toilets

Gray water- water waste from non-toilet fixtures

Kilopascal (kPa)- metric unit of pressure equaling 1/100th of an atmosphere

Maximum containment level (MCL)- maximum amount of a contaminant permitted in

a water supply by law

Non-ferrous- contains no iron

Potable – water which is safe to consume

Pressure head- unit of measurement for pressure in a plumbing system describing the

vertical force caused by water at a depth of one foot.

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Riser- vertical supply pipes which bring water from the branch to a fixture or to a higher

flow

Sediment- debris that settles at the bottom of water tanks

Soil pipe- pipe carrying waste from a toilet

Trap seal- the water in a trap which serves as a liquid seal

Trap weir- the highest point for water before it drains in both P- traps and S traps

Water hammer- a loud banging sound caused when the water supply is suddenly cut

off from a fixture, causing a hydraulic shock

Plumbing components and fixtures

Aerator-insert screwed onto a faucet nozzle that reduces splashing by mixing air into

the flowing water

Ball check valve- which employs a ball which can seal against a seat to stop the flow in

one direction

Closet bend- curved fitting located under the toilet connecting it to the drain

Closet flange- ring used to anchor a toilet and connects to the closet bend; sometimes

called floor flange

Flow control valve- device which can reduce costs and improve efficiency by reducing

the water flow to a plumbing fixture

Gasket- flat rubber or fibre ring used to create a watertight seal between metal fixtures

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Interceptor- device which separates oil and grease from drain systems

Main- the main pipeline in a supply or drain system to which all branches connect

Manifold- fitting that connects multiple branches to the, acting as a distribution point

O ring – round rubber washer used to make valves stems watertight

Scald guard – valve that maintains the balance between hot and cold-water pressure in

your shower by shifting back and forth behind the shower handle in response to sudden

pressure drops

Shutoff valve- valve under toilet or sink to stop water supply for repairs

Tee- t shaped fitting used where three pipes intersect

Trap- a curved portion of plumbing designed to hold enough water to block or seal the

section of pipe from gasses, odors, and pests.

Valve seat- the stationery section of a valve

Vent- sloped or vertical section of drainpipe designed to allow sewer gasses to escape

and be replaced by outdoor air, so pressure is not lost during the venting

Water hammer arrestor: device which prevents the banging sound known as water

hammer by absorbing the hydraulic shock caused from suddenly cutting the water

supply to a fixture

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