One House ... Many Systems
Building Mechanicals are defined as the plumbing, HVAC (heating, ventialtion, air conditioning) and electrical systems.
This section focuses on plumbing mechanicals.
Plumbing consists of the pipes that carry water, gas, or sewage in a building, and the fixtures that use water or gas, including the components with moving parts such as pumps, and motors.
A Plumbing System refers to a group of pipes and fixtures that are connected together to perform a common function.
A house actually contains several different plumbing systems working together, including:
- Water Supply
brings water to the house and distributes it to fixtures and appliances
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- Drain, Waste, Vent
removes water and sewage from the house and transports them to a sewer or other disposal receptacle
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- Natural Gas Distribution
distributes gas from the point of entrance into the home, to the main operating valve at each natural gas appliance
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- Foundation Drainage
natural and artificial removal of surface and
subsurface water from a particular area
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- Specialty Systems
Swimming Pools, Water Treatment, Compressed Air & Vacuum, etc., Greywater recycling, irrigation, rain water
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Components of a plumbing system include:
- Pipe: a tube for transporting liquid or gas.
- Fitting: allows pipe to be installed, joined where necessary, and terminated in the appropriate place.
- Valve: a device that controls the flow of fluids and gases.
- Flange: a protruding rim, edge, rib, or collar, used to connect pipe to a wall, floor or any flat surface.
- Fixture: anything that has a fixed (permanent) position and function.
(Faucets, valves, sinks, bathtubs, and showers are examples of plumbing fixtures)
- Plumbing Appliance: a special class of fixture, designed to perform a special function.
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.
(Washing machines, dishwashers, water heaters, ice makers, pumps, etc. are examples of plumbing appliances)
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