HOME  »  Mechanicals

Mechanicals - Plumbing Systems

Plumbing consists of the pipes that carry water or gas into or out of a building, and the fixtures that use water or gas.

A pipe is a tube for transporting liquid or gas. A fixture is anything that has a fixed position and function.

Plumbing System refers to a group of pipes and fixtures that are connected together to perform a common function.


Plumbing Codes are regulations established by local government authorities which govern design and installation requirements, as well as the minimum number of fixtures needed, based on building use and the number of occupants.

These codes are designed to protect public health, and ensure that every inhabited building has a supply of safe drinking water, fixtures and appliances that operate properly, and a sanitary drainage system for wastewater disposal.

• Water Supply System
  Water supply piping brings water to the house from the water meter (public water system) or from a private water system (well or cistern).
  
  It then distributes the water to fixtures and appliances, including outdoor sprinklers and irrigation.
  
  The water supply system includes the water service pipe, the water distribution pipes, and the necessary connections, fittings, control valves, to bring water to all fixtures in, or adjacent to, a building or premises.
  
  
• Plumbing Fixtures & Appliances
  Simply put ... a plumbing fixture is a receptacle or device that requires water, and is connected to the plumbing system to get that water, and/or discharges liquid wastes or sewage into the drainage system.
  
  Faucets, valves, sinks, bathtubs, and showers are all examples of plumbing fixtures.
  
  Plumbing appliances are considered a special class of fixture, designed to perform a special function, such as washing machine, dishwasher, water heater, ice maker, etc.
  
  Typically, plumbing appliances use one or more energized components, such as motors, controls, heating elements, or pressure or temperature-sensing elements for their operation or control.
  
  
• Drainage System
  Drain and waste piping transpot used water, rain water, and waterborne wastes (derived from ordinary living processes) to an appropriate point of disposal.
  
  Drainage systems include the drain and waste pipe and necessary connections, fittings, and control valves.
  The household drainage system does not include public sewer system mains, or private (septic tanks, etc.) or public sewage treatment or disposal plants.
  
  
• Vent System
  Vent piping exhausts sewer gasses to the outside air (usually through a pipe exiting the roof), and provides proper pressure for the drainpipes to prevent back pressure (backflow)..
  
  Backflow is the reversal of the direction of water or sewage due to a reversal of pressure. This reversal results in the contamination of drinking water in an individual building or extend to the city water supply, or creates a sewage backup in the building.
  
  
• Gas Distribution System
  The natural gas plumbing supply line distributes gas from the point of entrance into the home, to the main operating valve at each natural gas appliance (water heater, range, etc.) within the home.
  
  
• Specialty Plumbing Systems
  Specialty plumbing systems serve special needs. A few examples are: Swimming Pools, Water Treatment, Compressed Air & Vacuum, etc.
  
  
  

Water Supply: Pipe, Valves, Flanges, Fittings Water Backflow Prevention Pumps Pressure Boosters Water Heaters

Drain, Vent, Sewage (DSV): Grease Drains/Interceptors Sewage Backflow Prevention

 
See Also:

Forms:
A Fixture Checklist for your Project  (PDF)

Links to Related Websites:
History of Plumbing: The Plumber - Interesting articles on the history of plumbing throughout the world

 BACK