SANITARY DRAINAGE SYSTEM

TLO 3: Identify, describe and distinguish between key components of a

drain, waste and vent (DWV) system. Compute minimum required size of
drainage and vent lines of a building plumbing system. Interpret plumbing
supply and DWV system design and detailing information.
DWV PIPE
DRAINAGE/SOIL PIPE
- refers to an installation that receives and conveys discharges from
water closet with or without waste coming from other fixtures.
WASTE PIPE
- any pipe in a drainage installation that receives the discharges of any
fixture except water closet.
VENT PIPE
- a plumbing system functions as air passage or conduit to ventilate the
drainage and waste pipe installation.
SOIL BRANCH
- a horizontal pipe affixed by the word soil. The word soil connotes a
pipe receiving discharges from water closet. On the other hand, if this
soil branch does not receive discharges from water closet but from
other fixtures only, it will be classified as Waste Pipe.

SOIL STACK
- a vertical pipe installation where the soil branches terminate. The
pipe is called stack being installed vertically, and the word soil is affixed
because it receives human waste from soil branch. Otherwise, it will
again be classified as Waste Pipe.
GENERAL CONDITIONS FOR A GOOD WASTE
PIPE CONNECTIONS
1. By making the right choice of materials
2. By conservative use of fittings
3. Right location of the cleanouts
4. Right slope or grade of the pipelines
5. Using the right size of pipe
6. Correct manner of joining the pipes and
7. Providing stable and rigid support
THE RIGHT CHOICE OF MATERIALS
The character of the waste to be drained, and the service to which it is
intended for, dictates the kind of materials to be used.
CONSERVATIVE USE OF FITTINGS
Pipe joints and fittings were specially designed to make smooth
changes of directions, turns or offsets. But sometimes, their application
may not be in accordance with the purpose for which they were made.
LOCATION OF CLEANOUT
Cleanout is a receptacle of the plumbing system accessible on floor,
walls or ceiling. It is equipped with a plug or flush plate so designed as
not to impair the aesthetical view of the room.

Read Section 1207 of the Code pp. 132 – 133.

SECTION 1206 OF CODE: GRADE
“Building sewers shall be run in practical alignment at a uniform slope of not
less than two (2) percent or 21 mm per meter toward the point of disposal,
i.e. to the septic tank or to the street sewer main.”

Exception: When approved by the Administrative Authority and when it is

impractical, due to the depth of the street sewer or the structural features or
due to adverse arrangement of any building or structure, to obtain a slope of
two percent or 21 mm per meter, any such pipe or piping 102 mm and 152.4
mm in diameter may have a slope of not less than s = 1% (10.5 mm per
meter) and any such piping 203 mm diameter and larger may have a slope of
not less than s = 0.5% (5.3 mm per meter).
RIGHT SLOPE OR GRADE OF WASTE PIPE
MANNER OF JOINING PIPE
Each kind of pipe has its own manner of joining recommended and
specified by the manufacturers. Remember that any alteration or
deviation from the manufacturer’s specifications will only endanger the
effectiveness of the pipe joints.
REVISED NATIONAL PLUMBING CODE OF THE
PHILIPPINES
• Check out TABLE 12-1 Minimum horizontal distance required from
building sewer p. 135.
• Check TABLE 12-2 Maximum/Minimum fixture unit loadings on
building sewer piping p. 136.
TABLE 12-1
MINIMUM HORIZONTAL DISTANCE REQUIRED
FROM BUILDING SEWER
ITEM # DESCRIPTION DISTANCE SEE NOTE
1 Building or structure 0.6 m 1
2 Property line adjoining private property Clear 2
3 Water supply wells 15.2 m 3
4 Streams 25.2 m 2
5 On-site domestic water service line 0.3 m 4
6 Public water main 0.3 m 5,6

Note. Table 12-1 used is adapted from “Revised National Plumbing Code of the Philippines,” by National
Master Plumbers Association of the Philippines, 2000, National Bookstore, p. 135.
Note:
1. Including porches and steps. Whether covered or uncovered,
breezeways, roofed “porte-cocheres”, roofed patios, carports, covered
walks, covered driveways, and similar structures or appurtenances.
2. See also Section 1208 of this Code
3. All drainage piping shall clear domestic water wells by at least 15.2 m.
The distance may be reduced to not less than 7.6 m when the drainage
piping is constructed of materials approved for use within a building.
4. See Section 1208 of this Code
5. For parallel construction
6. For crossings, approval by the Health Department or other Authority
having jurisdiction is required. (NAMPAP, 2000)
SECTION 1208 SEWER AND WATER PIPE
1208.1 Building sewer or drainage piping of clay or materials which are not
approved for use within a building shall not be run or laid in the same trench as the
water pipes unless both of the following requirements are net:
1208.1.1 The bottom of the water pipe, at all points, shall be at least 0.3 m above
the top of the sewer or drain line,
1208.1.2 The water pipe shall be placed on a solid shelf excavated at one side of
the common trench with a minimum clear horizontal distance of at least 0.3 meter
from the sewer or drain line.
Water pipes crossing sewer or drainage piping constructed of clay or materials
which are not approved for use within a building shall be laid a minimum of 0.3 m
clear above the sewer or drain pipe. Water pipe joints shall be installed not less
than 3 meters away from sewer line in both directions.
Note: For the purpose of this section “within the building” shall mean within the
fixed joints of the building foundation.
TABLE 12-2
MAXIMUM/MINIMUM FIXTURE UNIT LOADINGS
ON BUILDING SEWER PIPING
SLOPE, S IN PERCENT, mm/m
ITEM # SIZE OF PIPE s=½% s=1% s=2&
(mm) (5.3 mm/m) (10.5 mm/m) (20.9 mm/m)
1 152 As specified in Table No minimum
loading
2 203 1,950/1,500 2,800/625 3,900/275
3 254 3,400/1,600 4,900/675 6,800/300
4 305 5,600/1,700 8,000/725 11,200/235

Note. Table 12-2 used is adapted from “Revised National Plumbing Code of the Philippines,” by National
Master Plumbers Association of the Philippines, 2000, National Bookstore, p. 136.
SIZE OF WASTE PIPE
The National Plumbing Code on the size of waste pipe provides that:

“The waste pipe diameter shall be adequate enough to serve the

installation of fixtures in a general way, but the best way is to fit the
diameters of commercial pipe into the fixture pattern in the most
efficient manner.”

“No water closet shall be discharge into a drain less than 75 mm or 3”

diameter pipe”
FIXTURE UNIT
The National Plumbing Code strongly indorsed the use of Fixture Unit
Value as waste load in determining the size of the waste pipe. The
Uniform Plumbing Code Committee, conducted numerous tests on
various plumbing fixtures in order to determine the amount of water
each fixture discharges in one-minute interval through their outlet
orifices.
REVISED NATIONAL PLUMBING CODE OF THE
PHILIPPINES
Check out TABLE 7-2 Minimum trap diameters and drainage fixture unit
values pp. 80-81.
REVISED NATIONAL PLUMBING CODE OF THE
PHILIPPINES
• Check TABLE 7-5 Maximum Fixture Unit Loading and Maximum
Length of Excreta Drainage and Vent Piping p. 88.
• Check TABLE 7-6 Cleanouts (metric) p. 89.
EXAMPLE
Determine the diameter of horizontal, vertical and vent pipe that serve 2 water
closets (private), 2 lavatories, and 2 floor drains. Determine the maximum length of
the vertical and vent pipe.
From Table 7-2 of the Code From Table 7-5 of the Code
2 WC X 4 DFU/WC = 8 DFU Vert. Pipe = 76 mm (3”)
2 LAV X 1 DFU/LAV = 2 DFU Hor. Pipe = 76 mm (3”)
2 FD X 2 DFU = 4 DFU *Vent Pipe = 51 mm (2”)
TOTAL = 14 DFU Max Length Vert. Pipe = 65 m
Max Length Vent Pipe = 37 m
* Check: vent pipe must not be less than 32 mm and lesser than one-half the drain
pipe it is connected to.
Note. Table 7-5 used
is adapted from
“Revised National
Plumbing Code of
the Philippines,” by
National Master
Plumbers
Association of the
Philippines, 2000,
National Bookstore,
p. 88.
Footnote of Table 7-5
1. Excluding trap arm.
2. Except sinks, urinals and dishwashers.
3. Except 6 fixture unit traps or water closets.
4. Only four (4) water closets or 6 fixture unit traps are allowed on any
vertical pipe or stack; and not to exceed three (3) water closets or six (6)
fixture unit traps on any horizontal branch or drain.
5. Based on two (2) percent or 20.9 mm/m slope. For one (1) percent or
10.4 mm/m slope, multiply horizontal fixture units by a factor of 0.8.
Note: The diameter of an individual vent shall not be less than 32 mm nor
less in size than one-half (1/2) the diameter of the drain to which it is
connected. Fixture unit load values for drainage and vent piping shall be
computed from Table 7-2 and 7-3 not to exceed one third (1/3) of the total
permitted length of any vent may be installed in a horizontal position. When
vents are increased one (1) pipe size for their entire length, the maximum
length limitations specified in this table do not apply.
EXAMPLE
Determine the diameter of the horizontal, vertical, and vent pipe that serve 5
water closets (public), 3 lavatories, and 3 floor drains. Determine the maximum
length of the vertical pipe and vent pipe.
From Table 7-2 of the Code From Table 7-5 of the Code
5 WC X 6 DFU/WC = 30 DFU Vert. Pipe = 102 mm (4”)
3 LAV X 1 DFU/LAV = 3 DFU Hor. Pipe = 102 mm (4”)
3 FD X 2 DFU = 6 DFU *Vent Pipe = 65 mm (2.5”)
TOTAL = 39 DFU Max Length Vert. Pipe = 91 m
Max Length Vent Pipe = 55 m
* Check: vent pipe must not be less than 32 mm and lesser than one-half the drain
pipe it is connected to.
Note. Table 7-5 used
is adapted from
“Revised National
Plumbing Code of
the Philippines,” by
National Master
Plumbers
Association of the
Philippines, 2000,
National Bookstore,
p. 88.
SAMPLE PROBLEM
1. Determine the size of a branch waste pipe for six lavatories, six
residential sink and six slop sink.
2. What diameter of soil branch will be satisfactory to serve a battery
of 35 water closets?
SAMPLE PROBLEM
1. Determine the diameter of the horizontal, vertical, and vent pipe
that serve two water closets (private), two lavatories, and two floor
drains. Determine the maximum length of the vertical pipe and the
vent pipe.
2. Determine the diameter of the horizontal, vertical, and vent pipe
that serve five water closets (public), three lavatories, and three
floor drains. Determine the maximum length of the vertical pipe
and the vent pipe.