SOIL PIPE - any pipe, which

Drainage System
conveys the discharge of water
Vent System
closet, urinal or fixtures having
similar functions, with or without
the discharges from other fixtures
to the building drain or building
sewer.

WASTE PIPE - a pipe, which

conveys only wastewater or liquid
waste, free of fecal matter.

VENT PIPE - a pipe or opening

used for ensuring the circulation of
air in a plumbing system and for
relieving the negative pressure
exerted on trap seals.

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MAIN VENT - the principal artery
of the venting system to which
vent branches are connected.

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STACK VENT - the extension of a
soil or waste stack above the
highest horizontal drain connected
to the stack. The uppermost end
above the roof is called stack vent
through roof (SVTR).

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BRANCH VENT - a horizontal vent
connecting one or more individual
vertical back vents with the vent
stack or stack vent.

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BACKVENT PIPE - the part of a
vent line, which connects directly
with an individual trap underneath
or behind the fixture and extends
to the branch or main vent pipe at
any point higher than the fixture or
fixture traps it serves. This is
sometimes called an individual
vent.

INDIVIDUAL VENT - is a pipe

installed to vent a fixture trap and
which collects with the vent
system above the fixture served or
terminates in the open air.

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VENTILATION
5 ways in which a trap seal may be lost:

1. Siphonage: minus pressure in the drainage system

Direct Self-Siphonage - found in unventilated traps serving oval

bottomed fixtures (lavatory, slop sink); result of unequal atmospheric
conditions caused by the rapid flow of water to the trap.

Indirect or Momentum Siphonage - the result of a minus pressure in

the waste piping caused by discharge of water from a fixture installed
on a line which serves a fixture placed at lower elevation.

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VENTILATION
5 ways in which a trap seal may be lost:

2. Back Pressure: plus pressure; blows the water out of the fixture into
the room; at those located at the base of soil stacks, or a soil pipe
changes its direction abruptly.

3. Evaporation: use of deep seal trap recommended to prolong the

interval of total loss of the trap seal

4. Capillary Action: a suspension of a foreign object (rag, string, lint) into

the trap seal

5. Wind Effects: wind passing over the top of soil pipe roof terminal; a
downdraft ripple the liquid content

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Trap Seal Loss, Direct Siphonage

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Trap Seal Loss, Indirect Siphonage, Capillary Action

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Two Principal Classifications of Vents

1. MAIN SOIL AND WASTE VENT (STACK VENT): used to ventilate the
soil and waste pipes portion of the soil-pipe stack above the
highest installed fixture branch extending through the roof the terminal
for the many main vents
size: 2 – 5” Ф

2. MAIN VENT (VENT STACK): “relief” and “yoke” vents; tributary;

collecting vent line; relieves any back-pressure; terminates in the soil-
pipe stack, at least 3’ above the highest installed fixture branch
size: 2 – 5” Ф

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STACK VENT - the extension of a
soil or waste stack above the
highest horizontal drain connected
to the stack. The uppermost end
above the roof is called stack vent
through roof (SVTR).

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MAIN VENT - the principal artery
of the venting system to which
vent branches are connected.

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VENT SYSTEM - provide flow of air to or from a drainage system;
provide a circulation of air to protect traps seals from siphonage and
backpressure

VENT PIPE - a pipe or opening used for ensuring the circulation of air in
a plumbing system; for reducing the pressure exerted on trap seals

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BRANCH VENT - a horizontal vent pipe connecting from a branch of the
drainage system to a vent stack or stack vent

GROUP VENT - a branch vent

DRY VENT - a vent that does not carry water or water borne waste
WET VENT - portion of a vent pipe through which liquid waste flow
LOCAL VENT - a pipe or shaft serving to convey foul air from a plumbing
fixture or a room to the outer air

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CIRCUIT VENT - group vent from in front of the last fixture/connects to
vent stack (LOOP VENT)
RELIEF VENT - acts as auxiliary vent (“yoke vent”)
LOOP OR CIRCUIT VENT - (extension is usually vertical immediately
beyond its connection to the soil or waste pipe); connected to the
stack vent
YOKE VENT - pipe connecting upward from a soil or waste stack below
the floor and below horizontal connection to an adjacent vent stack

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