CHAPTER FOUR

BUILDINGS WATER SUPPLY AND SANITARY INSTALLATION

A building is supplied with water through a service pipe connected with the public distributing
main by means of a corporation cork. The plumbing system of a building begins where water
enters the building and terminates where drainage pipe leaves the building.
A plumbing system consists of all of the elements that provide water or convey water or
wastewater within the building.
Water supply pipes
Fixture A device that uses water (sink, toilet, dishwasher, etc.)
Soil, waste, and vent pipes
Drain and sewer
Gas pipes
Storm water drainage

A building water supply system consists

Network of pipes that transport hot and cold potable water under pressure
Fixture A device that uses water (sink, toilet, dishwasher, etc.)
Water Heater Large insulated tanks that heat cold water to be distributed in the hot
water supply lines
Trunk Lines Hot or cold water pipes that serve many fixtures
Branch Lines Hot or cold water pipes that serve only one or two fixtures
Water Main Supply pipe installed and maintained by a public entity and on public
property
Water Service Pipe from the water main to the building supply pipes
Meter Measures the amount of water transported through water service
Valve A fitting used to control water flow (located next to the meter)
A building wastewater system consists
Drain Pipe A pipe that carries wastewater in a building
Vent Pipe A vertical pipe that provides circulation of air to and from the drainage
system
Trap A fitting (usually U-shaped) that provides a seal to prevent the flow of sewer
gases
Stack A vertical pipe (waste or vent) that extends through at least one story
Cleanout An access opening to allow cleanout of the pipe
Sewage Any liquid waste containing animal or vegetable matter, including liquids
containing chemicals
Sanitary Sewer A sewer pipe that carries only sewage
Storm Sewer A sewer pipe that carries storm water or other drainage (but not sewage)
Building Sewer or Sewer Lateral Part of the drainage system from the building to the
public, private, or individual sewer disposal system
Sewer Main A sewer pipe installed and maintained by a public entity and on public
property

6.2 Plumbing Fixtures

1. WATER CLOSETS

2. LAVATORIES

3. URINALS

PLUMBING DRAWINGS
Plumbing drawings are usually not on the same sheet as the complete floor plan. The only
plumbing items shown on the floor plans are fixtures, as previously explained. The plumbing
drawing is generally drawn separate from the floor plan, with the floor plan used
as a base drawing.

Typical plumbing pipe symbols

Plumbing system design

Demand load
The demand load in a plumbing system can not be determined exactly. Important considerations
are satisfactory to supply water to a given fixture and number of fixtures used simultaneously.
Satisfactory flow depends up on the consumers standard of living, professional needs, size of
family, garden requirements, etc.
Fixtures flow rate
Loading units- a factor or number given to an appliance relating flow rate to the duration and
frequency of use (probable usage
The Fixture Unit
A factor given to an appliance relating the flow rate at its terminal fitting to
Length of time in use
Frequency of use for a particular type
Use of building
The estimated demand load for fixtures used intermittently on any supply pipe is obtained
by multiplying the number of each kind of fixture supplied through that pipe by its
weight which is given in table below.
Fixture or group

Occupancy

Type of control

Water closet
Water closet
Wall urinal
Wall urinal
Lavatory
Bath tub
Shower head
Kitchen sink
Water closet
Water closet
Lavatory(wash basin)
Bath tub
Shower head
Bath room group
Bath room group
Separate shower
Kitchen sink
Laundary tray(1-3)
Combination fixture

Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Public
Hotel or restaurant
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private
Private

Flush valve
Flush tank
Flush valve
Flush tank
Faucet
Faucet
Mixing valve
Faucet
Flush valve
Flush tank
Faucet
Faucet
Mixing valve
Flush valve for w.c
Flush tank for w.c
Mixing valve
Faucet
Faucet
Faucet

Weight in fixture
units
10
5
5
3
2
4
4
4
6
3
1
2
2
8
6
2
2
3
3

Table6. 3 Estimation of demand load from fixture units(US)

10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100

34.1
45.4
75.7
83.3
113.3
121.1
143.8
151.4
159.0
170.3

94.6
132.5
153.5
177.9
196.8
212.3
223.3
232.8
246.0
264.6

EXAMPLE 1
Determine the total weight of fixture units and the demand load in residential building with the
following fixtures using US standard.
3water closets (tank type); 3 lavatory basins; 2 kitchen sinks; and 2 shower heads.
Solution
(U.S. Standard)
a)Total fixture weight(3x3)+(3x1)+(2x2)+(2x2)=20
b) Demand =45.4l/min=0.76l/secfrom table 3