CHAPTER IV – OBSERVATION

4.1 Pipelines and Risers

A 100mm Ø riser and 4 down feeds having diameters of 100mm, 75 mm,50mm,and 40mm,
made up of galvanized steel iron pipe, standard Schedule 40, were installed to carry water from
underground reservoir to the elevated tank and to convey water to the water line branches
respectively. The riser was screwed connected from underground tank extending to the 23rd floor
of the building where the pump room and elevated water tank is located. The pipe on the most
left (see Fig 4.1) is the down feed noted in the plan as CWDF-2 (see Appendix) supply water to
the ground floor to the 20th floor for the typical one-bedroom units. It is connected to the water
meter assembly in each floor. The blue GI pipe in the middle is the riser supplying the tank on
the tank room. A separate down feed is used to convey water for penthouse units of 21st to 23rd
floors. The schematic riser diagram of the cold water lines is shown in figure 4.2.

100 Ø Riser

100 Ø Down feed

Figure 4.1 – Risers and Down feeds

 Distribution for hot and cold water lines and roughing-ins of toilets are made up of cross-linked
polyethylene (XLPE) with aluminum reinforced aluminum composite pressure pipes standard
with diameters of 25mm for branches and 16mm for unit fixture lines (see Figure 4.2). The lines
are connected by push-on type brass coated fittings. Pipe hangers, inserts and supports are made
up of adjustable wrought iron or malleable iron pipe hangers that are spaced not over 3m apart.
Figure 4.3 shows different kinds of hangers and sleeves used in installation of pipes while Figure
4.4 shows hangers for horizontal distribution lines.

Figure 4.3 – Cross-linked polyethylene for

distribution lines

Figure 4.4 – Kinds of hangers, inserts and sleeves used in La Vie Flats

Figure 4.5 – Hangers for horizontal distribution lines

4.2 Valves and Pipe Fittings

Gate valves used in the site are rising-stem type gate valves. 75mm and larger sizes gate valves
with iron body with bronze trim and are flanged connected and with a minimum working
pressure is 150 psig, while for 65mm and smaller gate valves are all bronze female threaded and
has minimum working pressure of 150 psig. 100mmØ gate valves are installed next to pumps,
tanks and to the pressure reducing valve for shutting-off, while the 65mm gate valves where
installed usually in the water meter assemblies. (See figure 4.5)

Figure 4.6 - 75mm Ø gate valves installed on basement 4

4.3 Water above the underground reservoir tank meter
assembly

Each floor has their main pipe chase where the risers, down feeds, drainage pipe and garbage
chute vertically pass through. The main pipe chase houses the water meter assembly. The water
meter assembly consists of 12 gate valves and water meter for typical floors, and 8 gate valves
and water meter for pent house floors. For detailed drawing of water meter assembly see
Appendix-

4.4 Hydropneumatic Tank

The hydro pneumatic tank is vertically mounted on the roof deck in the pump room as shown in
figure 4.7. It has a capacity of 550 US gallons with operating pressure cut in at 35 psi and cut off
at 55 psi. It was made up of 3/16 stainless steel that is properly drained and cushioned. It was
provided with pressure gage and water level gage. A pressure relief valve will be installed so that
the pressure will exceed to 60 psi.

Figure 4.7 – Hydropneumatic Tank

4.5 Elevated Cylindrical Water Tank

The elevated cylindrical water tank with a capacity of 15 gallons was mounted on a concrete
saddle beside the pump room on the roof deck. The Water tank was divided into two partitions,
connected with an equalizing gate valve with a diameter of 100 mm. The water tank is connected
on the gravity supply down feed and to the pneumatic system. The water tank was equipped
with a water level indicator and a steel ladder rung. Figure 4.8 shows the as built drawing of the
elevated water tank. See appendix

4.5.1 Fabrication and Installation of the Water Tank

The water tank is made up of 8 sheets of 4 ft x 8ft steel sheets of 400mm thick weighing 300 kg
per sheet. It was pre-fabricated into 5 pieces and delivered in the site using two boom trucks.
Hoisting was done through the use of tower crane. Pictures in figure 4.8 show the actual hoisting
of the tank.

To keep the cylindrical shape of the tank, cross 2x2 angular bars steel reinforcement is used for

interior support. The cross is full welded on the tank with stainless weld. The tank was
Figure 4.8 – Hoisting of the pre-fabricated parts of the water tank (left) and mounting of the
water tank parts on the concrete saddle (right)

assembled by full welding it from inside and outside with stainless steel weld. Additional
appurtenances and fittings were installed including the water level indicator and ladder rung.

4.6 Pressure Reducing Valve Assembly

The pressure reducing valve assembly is located at the main pipe chase at the 10 th floor of the La
Vie flats building. It consists of 2 two unit pressure reducer valves with threaded gate valves and
wye strainers. It is connected in series with the cold water line down feed.
 Kind of Fixture Fixture
Unit

Bathtub 2
Figure
Floor drain4.9 – Pressure Reducing Valve Assembly
1
Kitchen sink 2
Residential sink 1.5
Lavatory or wash basin 1
4.7 Maximum and Laundry tub 2
Shower bath 2
Probable Water Slop sink 3
Sink, hotel or public 2
Demand Urinal 5
Water closet 6
Maximum demand Combination fixture 3

refers to the One bathroom group consisting of water closet,

lavatory, bathtub, and overhead shower or water
maximum water closet lavatory and shower compartment 8
For every 15 square foot roof drain 1
charge of fixtures
in terms of fixture
per unit. The maximum demand of water is equal to the total fixture units in the system, where
one unit is valued at 8 gallons of water discharge per minute interval.

4.7.1 Fixture Unit Value

The National Plumbing Code indorsed the use of Fixture Unit Value as a basis for the design of
the size of pipes, where in, to get the demand per unit in the building, the demand is expressed in
the number unit of fixtures present.
 TABLE 4-1 FIXTURE UNIT VALUES

In establishing the size of water service pipe, this Figure may be used to get the Probable
Demand.

TABLE 4-2 PROBABILITY OF SIMULTANEOUS USE OF FIXTURES

Number of Fixture Percentage of Simultaneous Use

Units
1 to 5 50 to 100%
6 to 50 25 to 50%
51 and more 10 to 25%

Total fixture unit for typical one- bedroom unit using 5-1:

6 units x 1 water closet ……….. 6 units

1 unit x 1 lavatory ……………. 1 unit
1 units x kitchen sink ………… 2 units
2 units x shower bath ……….. 2 units
Total …………………………...11 units
Maximum water demand for one-bedroom units is:
11 units x 8 gallon/unit = 88 gallons.

Probable Demand
The 88 gallons of water maximum demand is likely to be consumed in one minute. Thus, it may
be reduced by 25% to 50% to get the probable demand.
Assume 30% reduction of 88 gallons:

Probable Demand = 88 – (0.30) x (88) = 62 gallons

Total fixture unit for typical two- bedroom unit using 5-1:

6 units x 2 water closets ……….. 12 units

1 unit x 2 lavatories ……………. 2 units
1 units x kitchen sink ………… 2 units
2 units x bathtub……………… 2 units
2 units x shower bath ……….. 2 units
Total …………………………...20 units

Maximum water demand for two-bedroom units is:

20 units x 8 gallon/unit = 160 gallons.

Probable Demand = 160 – (0.30) x (160) = 112 gallons