Building Utilities 1 (BU 1) - Plumbing and Sanitary Systems
HANDOUT # 6
Definitions
Plumbing System
The plumbing system of a building includes the water supply
distributing pipes; the fixture and fixture traps; the soil, waste and
vent pipes; the building drain and building sewer; the storm water
drainage, with their devices, appurtenances and connections
within the building and outside the building within the property line.
Drainage System
All the piping within a public or private premises which conveys
sewage, rainwater or other liquid wastes to a point of disposal. A
drainage system does not include the mains of public sewer
systems or a private or a public sewage treatment or disposal
plant.
Sanitary Drainage and Vent Piping Systems
The sanitary and vent piping system are installed by lite plumber to
remove the wastewater and water-borne waste from the plumbing
fixtures and appliances, and to provide circulation of air within the
drainage piping.
Stack
A general term used for any vertical line of soil, waste or vent
piping
Soil Pipe
A pipe that conveys the discharge of water closets or similar
fixtures containing fecal matter, with or without the discharge of
other fixtures to the building drain or building sewer
Soil stack
Any pipe which conveys the discharge of water closet, urinal or
fixtures having similar function, with or without she discharges from
other fixtures to the building drain or building sewer.
Waste Pipe*
A pipe that conveys only liquid waste free of fecal matter because
at fecal matter.
*A waste pipe is generally smaller than a soil pipe nature or matter
being discharged into the system.
Branch
Any part of the piping system other the main, riser or stack.
Building drain/ House drain
That part of the lowest horizontal piping of a plumbing system
which receives the discharge from soil, waste and other drainage
pipes inside building and conveys it to the building sewer/house
sewer
Building/ House sewer
That part of the drainage system that extends from the end of the
building drain and conveys its discharge to (tie public sewer,
private sewer, and individual sewage disposal system, of other
appropriate point of disposal.
Sewage
Any liquid waste containing animal or vegetable matter in
suspension or solution, it may include liquids containing chemicals
in solution.
Drainage Fittings
A special type of fitting or fittings utilized in the drainage system,
Drainage fittings are similar to cast iron fittings, except that instead
of having a bell and spigot, drainage fittings are recessed and
tapped to eliminate ridges on the inside of she installed pipe.
Dead end
A branch leading from a soil, waste or vent pipe, a building drain, or
a building sewer, and terminating at a developed length of 2 feet or
more by means of a plug, cap or other closer fitting
Drain
Any pipe that carries wastewater or waterborne wastes in a
building drainage system
Materials for Excreta Drainage System
1. Excreta drainage pipings shall be cast iron, ductile iron,
galvanized steel, galvanized wrought iron, lead, copper,
brass, Series 1000 PVC DWV, extra-strength vitrified clay
pipe or other approved material having smooth and uniform
bore.
2. No galvanized wrought iron or galvanized steel pipe shall be
used underground and shall be kept at least 152 mm above
ground.
3. ABS and PVC DWV piping installations shall be used in high
rise buildings, provided that its use shall be the discretion of
the Designer and also with the full consent of the owner.
4. No vitrified clay pipe or fittings for drain or sewer shall be used
above ground or whenever piping is pressurized by a pump or
ejector. They shall be kept at least 0.30 meter below finish
ground level.
5. Drainage fittings shall be of cast iron, malleable iron, lead,
brass, copper, ABS, PVC, vitrified clay, or other approved
materials have a smooth interior waterway of the same
diameter as the piping served and all such fittings shall be
compatible with the type of pipe used.
6. Fittings on screwed pipe joints shall be of the recessed
drainage type. Burred ends shall be reamed to the full bore of
the pipe.
7. The threads of drainage fittings shall be tapped to allow (2)
percent or 20 mm/ m grade.
Table 1 Interceptor (sand, auto wash, etc.) 76 3
Drainage Fixture Unit Values Laundry tub 38 11/2
Drainage fixture Mobile home park trap (one for each 76 3
Type of Fixture unit value Receptor
trailer) (floor sink), indirect waste 38 1 1/2
Bathtubs 2 receptor for refrigerator
Bidets 2 Receptor, indirect waste receptor for 51 2
Clotheswashers 2 commercial sinks, dishwashers, air
Dental units or cuspidors 1 washers, etc.
Drinking fountains 1 Shower, single stall 51 2
Floor drains 2 Shower, gang (one unit per head) 51 2
Interceptors for grease, oil, etc. 3 Sink and/or dishwasher (residential) 38 1 1/2
Interceptors for sand, auto wash, etc. 6 Sink, bar (commercial) 38 11/2
Laundry tub 2 Sink, bar (private) 38 11/2
Mobile home park traps (one for each 6 Sink, commercial or industrial, school, 38 11/2
trailer) etc. including dishwasher, wash up sink
Receptors (floor sink), indirect waste 1 and wash fountain
receptor for refrigerator, coffee urns, water Sink, flushing rim (clinic) 76 3
Sink, service 51 2
station, etc.
Receptors, indirect waste receptor for 3 Urinal, pedestal type (trap arm only) 76 3
commercial sinks, dishwasher, air Urinal, stall type (separate trap) 51 2
washers, etc. Urinal, wall mounted, integral trap (trap 51 2
Shower, single stall 2 arm only)
Shower, gang (one unit per head) Urinal, wall mounted, blowout, integral 76 3
Sinks and/ or dishwashers (residential) 51 2 trap arm only)
(trap
mm min. waste Urinal, wall mounted, washdown or 51 22
Sinks, bar, commercial 51. mm min.' 2 siphon jet, integral trap (trap arm only)
waste
Sinks, bar, private 38 mm min. waste 1 Urinal, wall mounted, washout, separate 38 1 1/2
Sinks, commercial or industrial, schools, 3 trap
etc. including dishwashers, wash up sinks Wash basin, in sets 38 11/2
and wash fountains 50 mm waste Wash basin (lavatory), single 32 11/4
Sink, flush rim, clinic 6 Water closet, private installation 76 3
Sink, service 3 Water closet, public installation 76 3
Urinal, pedestal, trap arm only 6
Urinal, stall, separate trap 2
Urinal, wall-mounted, integral trap, trap 3
arm only^
Urinal, wall-mounted, blowout, integral 6
trap, trap arm only Table 3
Urinal, wall-mounted, washdown or 2 Maximum Drainage Fixture Unit (dfu) Loads for Horizontal
siphon jet, integral trap, trap only Branches
Urinal, wall-mounted, washout, separate 2 Diameter of horizontal drain pipe Horizontal branch
trap 50 mm min. waste mm In. drain* in dfu (2%
Wash basins, in sets 2 slope)
Wash basin (lavatory) private installation 1 32 1 1/4 1
Water closet, private installation 4 38 11/2 3
Water closet, public installation 6 50 2 6
65 21/2 12
75** 3** 32***
Table 2 100 4 160
Minimum Trap and Trap Arm Sizes 125 5 360
Fixture Trap and Trap and 150 6 620
Trap Arm Trap Arm 200 8
Size Size 250 10
(mm) (inches) 300 12
375 15
Bathtub 38 11/2
Bidet 38 11/2 * Includes horizontal branches of the drain
Clotheswasher 51 2 ** No water closet shall discharge into a drain less than 75 mm
Dental unit or cuspidor 32 1 1/4 (3 ins.)
Drinking fountain 32 1 1/4 *** Not over two (2) water closets
Floor drain 51 2
Interceptor (grease, oil, etc.) 51 2
Changes in Direction of Excreta Drainage Flow
1) Changes in direction shall be made by the appropriate
use of approved fittings and shall be of the angles
presented by a 22 1/2° or 1/16 bend, 45° or 1/8 bend
and 60° or 1/6 bend or other approved fittings of
equivalent sweeps.
2) Horizontal drainage branch lines, connecting with a
stack shall enter through 45 or 60 wye branches,
combination wye and 1/8 bend branches, sanitary tee or
sanitary tapped tee branches or other approved fittings
of equivalent sweeps. No fitting having more than one
inlet at the same level shall be used unless such fitting is
constructed so the discharge from one inlet cannot
readily enter into the other inlet. Double sanitary tees
may be used when the barrel of the fitting is at least two
(2) pipe sizes larger than the largest inlet (pipe sizes
recognized for this purpose are 51,64, 6,89,102,114,127
and 152 mm diameters).
3) Horizontal drainage lines connecting with other
horizontal drainage line shall enter through forty-five
degree wye branches, combination wye and 1/8 bend
branches or other approved fittings of equivalent sweep.
4) Vertical drainage lines connecting with the horizontal
drainage lines shall enter through forty-five (45°) degree
branches or other approved fittings of equivalent sweep.
Sixty (60°) degree branches or offsets may be used only
when installed in a true vertical position.
Grade of Horizontal Drainage Piping
Horizontal drainage piping shall be run in practical alignment and
at a uniform slope of not less than 2% or 20mm/m towards the
point of disposal, provided that, where it is impractical due to the
depth of street sewer or to adverse structural features or to some
irregular arrangements of affected building or structure to obtain a
slope of 2% or any such pipe or piping 102 mm or larger in
diameter may have a slope of not less 1 % or 10 mm/m when first
approved by the Authority.
Cleanouts
1. Each horizontal drainage pipe shall be provided with a
cleanout at its upper terminal and each run of piping
which is more than 15 meters in total developed length
shall be provided with a cleanout and at every 15 meter
length or a fraction thereof.
2. Cleanouts may be omitted on a horizontal drain line less
than 1.5 meters in length unless such line is serving
sinks or urinals.
3. Cleanout may be omitted on short horizontal drainage
pipe installed at an angle of seventy two degrees or less
from the vertical line.
4. An approved type of two-way cleanout fitting, installed
inside the building wall near the connection between the
building drain and building sewer or installed outside of a
building at the lower end of the building drain and
extended to grade, may be substituted for an upper
terminal cleanout.
5. An additional cleanout shall be provided on a horizontal
line with an aggregate offset angle of direction
exceeding one hundred and thirty five (135°) degrees.
6. Each cleanout shall be installed so it opens in the
direction of flow to allow cleaning of the soil or waste
pipe or at right angles thereto and, except in the case of
a wye branch and end-of-line cleanouts, shall be
installed vertically above the flow line of the pipe.
7. Each cleanout extension shall be considered as
drainage piping and each ninety (90°) degrees cleanout
extension shall be extended from a wye type fitting or
other approved fitting of equivalent sweep.
8. Each cleanout for an interceptor shall be outside of such
interceptor.
9. Each cleanout, unless installed under an approved cover
plate, shall be above grade, readily accessible, and so
located to serve the purpose it is intended. Cleanout
located under cover plates shall be installed to provide
the clearances and accessibility required.
10. Each cleanout in piping 51 mm or less in size shall be
installed so that there is a clearance of not less than 305
mm in front of the cleanout. Cleanouts in piping larger
than 51 mm shall have a clearance of not less than 450
mm in front of the cleanout. Cleanout in underfloor piping
shall be extended to or above the finish floor or shall be
extended outside the building when there is less than
0.45 m vertical and 0.75 m horizontal from the means of
access to such cleanout. No underfloor cleanout in any
residential occupancy shall be located more than 6.1 m
from an access door, trap door or
crawl hole.
11. Cleanouts shall be provided for pressure drainage
systems.
12. Countersunk Cleanouts plugs shall be installed where
raised heads may cause hazard to passing personnel or
vehicle.
13. When a hubless blind plug is used for a required
cleanout, the complete coupling and plug shall be
accessible for removal or replacement.
Table 4
Cleanouts Parts of a Sanitary Drainage System
Size of Pipe (mm) Size of Cleanout Threads per 25.4 mm
(mm) length House Sewer
38 38 111/2 – It extends from the public sewer to the private sewage-disposal
51 38 111/2 tank to the wall of the structure and is entirely outside the building
64 64 8
76 64 8 House Drain
1 02 & larger 89 8 – The horizontal main into which the vertical soil and waste stacks
discharge. It connects directly to the house sewer.
Sanitary Drainage Pipe Sizing
Soil and Waste Stacks
Fixture Drain Sizes – The soil and waste stacks collect the sewage from the fixtures
Fixture drain sizes can be obtained by referring to Table 1 through their branches.
(Minimum Trap and Trap Arm Sizes). These values are - Supported at intervals of 10’ with stout wall hangers or brackets
pre-calculated, that is, sizes of fixture drain pipes were derived or on beams
based on the actual quantities of waste that pass through it.
Drainage fixture units (dfu) are the basis by which these pipes Fixture Branches
were sized. For example, a lavatory with 1 dfu value requires a – Connect the fixtures with the stacks
drainpipe size of 32 mm (11/4 in.). – Waste or soil branches are connected to the trap of each fixture
– Horizontal branch should not be more than 5’ (from the vertical
inlet of the trap to the vent opening
Table 5
Drainage Fixture Unit (dfu) Values for Fixture Drains or Traps Traps
– Traps catches water after each discharge from a fixture so as not
Fixture drain or Trap Size (mm) Drainage Fixture Unit (dfu) to allow unpleasant ad obnoxious gases in a sanitary drainage
32 Value
1 system to escape through the fixture
38 2 – Trap seal must have a min depth of 2” and max of 4” depth
50 3
65 4 Vents
75 5 – Vents are the extension of soil and waste stacks through the roof
5100 6 and a system of pipes largely paralleling the drainage system for
the admission of air and discharging of gases.

Privy SPECIAL DEVICES

– The oldest form of disposal of organic waste
– It consists of a water tight vault constructed of concrete for the
collection of raw sewage and a wooden shelter.– It must be 50’ to
150’ (15m to 45 m) away from the water supply
Septic Tank and Seepage Pit
In this type of sewage disposal, the cycle is completed below
ground and within the property. Liquid wastes are purified due to
the action of anaerobic bacteria through precipitation in the
digestion chamber and effluent is discharged in the leaching
chamber by natural percolation.
- Size of tank:
Residence
- 6 persons min capacity of 50 cu ft, and for larger
household 5-6 cu. ft/person
Commercial, industrial and institutional
- 2-3 cu ft/person
Interceptors
– device designed and installed so as to separate and retain
deleterious, hazardous, or undesirable matter from normal waste
and permit normal sewage or liquid waste to discharge into the
disposal terminal by gravity
Sump and Ejectors
– A sump is a tank or a pit which receives sewage or liquid waste,
located below the normal grade of the gravity system and must be
emptied by a mechanical means
Backwater valves/check valve
– A backwater valve closes to prevent reverse flow from a sewer to
low facilities when there is a heavy drainage load for short periods
that can cause building up and over flow of wastes.
Roof Drain
– Is a receptacle designed to collect surface or rain water from an
open area and discharge to a catch basin.

Floor Drain
– Is any pipe which carries water or waterborne wastes in a
building drainage system