BUILDING UTILITIES 01 [ PLUMBING AND SANITARY SYSTEMS ]
HOUSEHOLD WATER SUPPLY
Water
– a prime necessity in all types of
households and buildings.
- conveyed to the household or buildings by
means of pipes classified as:
House service – the pipe from the public water
main or any source of water supply to the
building served
Riser – the vertical supply pipe which extends
upward from one floor to the next
Branches – the horizontal pipes that serves the
faucets or fixtures
Water main – refers to the public water system
which are laid underground along the
streets where the house service is
connected
The water service pipe is connected or
tapped into the water main by the waterworks
authorities. The tap is made with a special
tapping device and accomplished without
necessary shutting off the city or municipal
water supply. The tapping of water service
requires the use of corporation cock, curb cock,
& the meter stop.
- Corporation cock/stop – a valve which is
placed in a water or gas service pipe of a
building, near its junction with the public
water or gas main.
- Curb cock/stop – in a water-service pipe, a
control valve for the water supply of a
building, usually placed between the
sidewalk and curb used to shut-off the water
supply in case of emergency
- Meter stop – an off-on valve in a water
service pipe for stopping the flow of water to
a building
- Water meter – a mechanical device used to
measure the volume of water passing through
a pipe or outlet
PLUMBING MATERIALS
The materials commonly used in plumbing
installation, past and present are:
- Cast Iron Pipe
- Acid Resistant Cast Iron Pipe
- Asbestos Pipe
- Bituminous Fiber Sewer Pipe
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- Vitrified Clay Pipe
- Lead Pipe
- Galvanized Steel Pipe
- Galvanized Wrought Iron Pipe
- Brass Pipe
- Copper Pipe
- Plastic or Synthetic Pipe
- Stainless Steel Pipe
The choice of the kind of pipe to be installed
depends on the following considerations:
- Quality and durability
- Resistance to external and internal contact
with foreign matters
- Resistance to acid waste and other chemical
elements that will pass into it
- Cost of materials and labor
- Sometimes a combination of 2 or more
types of plumbing materials is considered to
suit the purpose intended for the
installation while availing of the advantages
it offers to plumbing.
Cast Iron Pipe
- The most popular and generally specified
materials for drainage installation in
buildings
- Durable, conveniently installed
- Answer to the most plumbing needs of all
types of buildings less than 25 meters high.
Buildings taller than 25 storeys high do not
specify the use of cast iron pipe because of
vibrations which causes leakage at the pipe
joints
- The most popular and generally specified
materials for drainage installation in
buildings
- Durable, conveniently installed
- Answer to the most plumbing needs of all
types of buildings less than 25 meters high.
Buildings taller than 25 storeys high do not
specify the use of cast iron pipe because of
vibrations which causes leakage at the pipe
joints
- The most popular and generally specified
materials for drainage installation in
buildings
- Durable, conveniently installed
- Answer to the most plumbing needs of all
types of buildings less than 25 meters high.
Buildings taller than 25 storeys high do not
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BUILDING UTILITIES 01 [ PLUMBING AND SANITARY SYSTEMS ]
specify the use of cast iron pipe because of
vibrations which causes leakage at the pipe
joints
Two types of Cast Iron Pipe
SV – generally used for building installation
XV – classified as extra duty pipe used for
underground installations
Four Varieties of Cast Iron Pipes:
1. Standard pipe
2. Single hub pipe
3. Double hub pipe
4. Hub less pipe
Hub/bell – the portion of a pipe which is
enlarged to receive the end of another pipe of
the same diameter for the purpose of making a
joint
Spigot – the end of a pipe that fits into a bell
Acid Resistant Cast Iron Pipe
- Made of an alloy of cast iron or silicon
- Technical dimensions and design is the
same as that of the cast iron pipe
- Installed in chemical laboratories, industries
or other installations where acid wastes are
being discharged
- Basically brittle. For horizontal runs each
pipe is supported to prevent sagging at the
joints
Asbestos Pipe
- Made of asbestos fibers and Portland
cement
- Thickness is twice as that of the standard
cast iron pipe
- Generally, asbestos pipe could be used as
soil, waste, ventilation pipe and downspout
- This kind of pipe is remarkably suited for
embedment in concrete structure because
both materials have the same properties
Bituminous Fiber Sewer Pipe
- The cheapest of all types of pipe
- Sometimes recommended for house sewer
and for septic tank installations
- Light in weight, slightly flexible and could
take slight movement without danger of
cracking or pulling out of its joint. However,
excessive hot water or chemical flow may
soften and damage the pipe
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Vitrified Clay Pipe
- Considered as one of the oldest material
used for sewer lines
- Made from clay cast into length of 75 cm.
treated with glazing compound and heated
in a large kiln under a temperature of
1370°C making it impervious to moisture
- Clay pipe is highly resistant to most acids
and is well suited in underground
installations working either as a public
sewer or storm drain or both. Being made
of clay, the physical characteristics of this
pipe is brittle, thus it easily cracks when laid
on unstable ground or base
Lead Pipe
- Also one of the oldest plumbing material
used by the Egyptians, the Greeks and the
Romans as soil and waste pipe
- Highly resistant to acid and is very suitable
for underground installations. But because
lead is poisonous and injurious to human
health, it is never recommended to convey
water for human consumption.
Galvanized Steel Pipe
- Made out of a mild steel drawn through a
die and welded case in 6.0 meters length
- Easily corroded by alkaline and acid water
- The carbonic acid in water attack the zinc
coating and ultimately the steel itself
- Subject to deposit of salt and lime which
gradually accumulates and eventually choke
the flow of water
- This pipe deteriorates faster when used as
hot water supply line
Galvanized Wrought Iron Pipe
- Better in quality than the steel pipe for
plumbing installation
- Test showed that this kind of pipe is
resistant to acid waste than the steel pipe
Brass Pipe
- The most expensive of all types of pipe
- Made of alloy or zinc and copper mixed at a
proportion of 15% and 85% respectively
- Superior material for waste and water
installations because of its smooth interior
surface aside from its high resistance to
acids
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BUILDING UTILITIES 01 [ PLUMBING AND SANITARY SYSTEMS ]
Copper Pipe
- A durable material which is extremely
corrosive resistant
- Easy to install as compared to other types
of pipes
- Comparatively, copper pipe cost little more
than the steel pipe, but its fittings on the
other hand cost lesser than that of the steel
pipe
- Because of its very smooth interior surface,
a one size smaller pipe could be used
without substantial reduction of flow. For
instance, where a 25mm (1”) diameter pipe
is required, a 20mm (3/4”) copper is equally
sufficient.
Three Classifications of Copper Pipes
Depending Upon its Wall Thickness
- K type – heaviest; suitable for underground
installation
- L type – lighter than K; available in both the
rigid and flexible form; commonly used in
residential water supply line and for radiant
heating installations
- M type – the thinnest and is available only
in rigid form; this type of copper pipe is
specially designed for small water supply
lines and also for radiant heating
installations
Plastic or Synthetic Pipes
- A new concept in the field of plumbing
- Developed in Germany in 1935 but was only
introduced in the Philippines in mid 70s
- Has gained widespread acceptance after it
has in many ways proven itself to be
superior as sewer or cold water pipe line
material
- Test indicated that plastic pipe will last for
more than 50 years under normal condition
Types of Plastic or Synthetic Pipes
Rigid type:
- Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
- Acrylonitrite Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
- Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (cPVC)
- Polypropylene (PP)
- Unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride (uPVC)
- Styrene Rubber Plastic (SR)
cPVC, Polyvinyl Dichloride (PVDC) and PP
are commonly used for hot water lines, but
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whether it could withstand hot water at 180°F
or higher temperature plus the pressure of
hot water for years without any amount of
substantial collapse or damages to itself is still
a matter of fact to be proven
Flexible Type
- Polyethylene (PE)
- Polybutylene (PB)
These types are in coil form available at
30 meters length. Moreover, PB is
manufactures with special length up to
150 meters long in coil form
Some Advantages of Plastic Pipes
- More resistant to rust and corrosion
- Water conveyed has no pipe taste
- With its smooth interior surface, there is
no turbulence of water and therefore, has
a minimum resistance to flow
- Cast in longer length and is easy to cut
and install
PIPE FITTINGS
- A pipe part, usually standardized, such as a
bend, coupling, cross, elbow, reducer, tee,
union, etc., used for adjoining two or more
sections of pipe together.
o Bend / pipe bend – used to change a
direction
o Coupling – a short internally threaded
section of pipe, used to join two pipes or
conduits
o Cross / pipe cross – a pipe fitting having
four openings in the same place, at right
angles to each other; for 90° branches
opposite each other
o Reducer / reducing pipe – a pipe coupling
with inside threads, having one end with a
smaller diameter than the other; both
openings have the same center line; for
connecting pipes of different size (i.e. 4” x
2”)
o Tee / pipe tee – a tee-shaped pipe fitting
with two outlets, one at 90° to the
connection to the main line; for 45° or 90°
branches from one side
o Union – used to connect the ends of two
pipes, neither of which can be turned;
consists of three pieces, the two end pieces
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BUILDING UTILITIES 01 [ PLUMBING AND SANITARY SYSTEMS ]

(having inner threads), which are tightened
around the pipe ends to be joined, and a
center piece which draws the two end
pieces together as it is rotated, effecting a
seal.
o Wye / Y-fitting – one end of which
subdivides, forming two openings at an
angle, usually 45° to the run of pipe.
o Elbow – a pipe, sheet metal or conduit
fitting having a bend, usually 90° (a 90°
elbow is also called an ell); for connections
at 45° or 90°
damages in the installation. Sufficient
number of valves provides water control for
a certain section of the installation and
localizes the inconvenience caused by the
repair.
- It is necessary to know the different types
of valves and their respective uses to avoid
installation where they are not supposed to
be.
Valve – a device which regulates or closes off
the flow of a fluid

5 TYPES OF FITTINGS: Different types of valve used in the system

1. Gate valve – used mainly
1. Threaded or screw connection to completely close or
Thread: the prominent spiral part of a screw; a completely open the line
ridge or uniform section in the form of a but not necessarily to
helix on the external surface of a cylinder control the flow of water.
2. Flanged – a joint consisting of two - The name gate valve is
companion flanges, bolted together and taken from the gate-like
made leak proof by means of a gasket disc that moves across
3. Soldered or welded the flow
Soldered – a gas tight metal pipe joint, made by - Consists of a wedge-
soldering materials shaped plug which is
Solder – an alloy, usually having a lead or tin screwed down to
base, which is used to join metals by fusion; seat between two
has a melting point which does not exceed brass rings
800°F (427°C) surrounding the inlet
Welded – a joint obtained by uniting metal pipe so that a double seal is obtained
parts, such as iron and steel that require - Either end may be used as inlet
welding, in the plastic or molten state - For main supply and pump lines
Weld – to unite metals by heating them to 2. Globe valve – is
suitable temperatures, with or without the actuated by a stem
application of pressure, and with or without screw and hand
the use of filler metal (welding rod) wheel suited for
4. Compression – any joint formed by a fitting installation that calls
designed to join piping or tubing by means of for throttling.
pressure - Affords greater
5. Glue or cement (solvent cement for plastic resistance to flow
pipes) than the gate
valve because of
WATER SERVICE FITTINGS AND DEVICES the change in
- Plumbing installations are subject to flow directions
breakdown because of their so many - Operated by
working parts. It is therefore necessary that screwing down a
all types of water system must be provided disk with soft packing until it presses
with sufficient number of valves installed at tightly upon a metal seat. When the disk
locations where they are mostly needed. is raised and the valve is open, the course
- Where breakdown occurs, valves are of of water is deflected up through the
utmost importance to avert serious

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BUILDING UTILITIES 01 [ PLUMBING AND SANITARY SYSTEMS ]
opening in the seat and the flow is
restricted
- Same end must always be used as inlet.
- For cold and any temperature service, oil,
gasoline, steam, hot or cold water
3. Angle Valve – operates in the same
manner as the globe valve but is used in
making a 90° turn in a line
4. Check valve – the main function is to
prevent reversal of flow in the line
2 types of check valve:
a. Swing check valve – has a pivoted flap
which is readily pushed open by the
pressure of water from one side but is
tightly closed by the force of a reverse
flow.
b. Lift check valve – consists of a loose disk
which closes by gravity when the
pressures on both sides are equal.
5. Foot valve – located at
the lower end of the
pump and used mainly to
prevent loss of priming
(to put into working
order) of the pump.
Sometimes referred to as
retention pump.
6. Safety valve – used on
water systems, heating systems,
compressed air line and other
pipe lines with excessive
pressure; automatically opens
and release a fluid when the
pressure in a chamber (boiler of
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a steam engine) approaches a dangerous
level
FAUCETS
- also called as bibcock or water tap
- a water outlet valve, also called a cock
1. Key cock – operate by means of a round
tapering plug perforated in
one direction perpendicular
to its axis and ground to fit
a metal seat.
The faucet is open
when the perforation is in
line with the pipe and is
quickly closed by turning
the plug so that the
perforation is across the
line of flow
2. Compression cock – operate by the
compression of soft packing upon a metal seat.
They close against the flow of water and can be
used upon high pressure pipes with causing
water hammer.
3. Hose bibb – similar to a compression
cock but has a screw outside for connection of
water hose. Two of this is usually installed in a
house: one at the laundry or garage area and
the other is at the garden
4. Self-closing faucet – arranged to
discharge water while they are held upon by the
hand and to close by a spring inside the faucet
as soon as the pressure of the hand is removed
5. Sensor-type
Pressure regulator
- A device used for limiting the pressure
of the water discharged from a pipe to a fix
amount whatever may be the pressure of the
water supplied to the pipe
- Used to reduce the stress upon the
piping within the building when the pressure in
the street main is too high and to decrease the
pressure upon the branch piping to fixtures on
the lower flow of tall buildings using adownfeed
water system.
Air chamber – in a water piping system near
a valve or faucet , a vertical pipe stub which is
sealed at the top and contains air; the
entrapped air provides a cushion when the
valve is closed suddenly thereby eliminating the
noise of water hammer.
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