Republic of the Philippines

DON HONORIO VENTURA STATE

UNIVERSITY
Cabambangan, Villa de Bacolor, Pampanga

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND

ARCHITECTURE
Department of Civil Engineering

A.Course Code / Title : ENGUTIL2: Engineering Utilities

B. Module Number : Module 1 - Introduction to Plumbing and Plumbing

Principle

C.Time Frame : Weeks 1 and 2

D. Description : This module explains the fundamental of plumbing, its

brief history, the main objectives and common
terminologies used in plumbing. It also includes the 22
Basic Principle of Plumbing.

E.Objectives : At the end of this module, the learner should be able to:
1. know the history, importance and basic plumbing
terminologies.
2. familiarize about the codes and standards related to
plumbing.
3. familiarize the basic plumbing principle

F.Contents : I. Introduction to Plumbing

A. Fundamentals of Plumbing
B. Objectives of Plumbing
C. Plumbing Terminologies

II. Basic Plumbing Principle

I. Introduction

A. Fundamentals of Plumbing

Etymology
The word “PLUMB” is originated from the Latin word “PLUMBUM” which means “Lead” as Lead
pipes are the first effective pipes used during Roman Era.

Plumbing- the system of pipes, fixtures and other apparatuses installed for the distribution of
potable water for drinking that can be use for drinking, heating and washing, and waterborne
waste removal.

Plumbing is the art and technique of installing pipes, fixtures and other apparatuses in buildings
for bringing in the supply, liquids, substances and/or ingredients, and removing the; and such
water, liquid and other carried wastes hazardous to health, sanitation, life, property; also the
pipes and fixtures after installation i.e., the plumbing system. (Section 217.6 The Revised National
Plumbing Code of the Philippines 1999)

Plumbing Systems includes all potable water supply and distribution pipes, all plumbing fixtures
and traps; all sanitary and storm drainage systems; vent pipes, roof drains, leaders and

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 downspouts; and all building drains and sewers, including their respective joints and connections;
devices, receptacles, and appurtenances within the property; water lines in the premises: potable,
tap, hot and chilled water piping; potable water treating or using equipment; fuel gas piping;
water heaters and vents for same. (Section 217.12 The Revised National Plumbing Code of the
Philippines 1999)

Plumbing System consist of supply pipe that is connected to the fixtures to conveys water from
the water source and a drain pipe that takes the used water from the fixture.

In summary, Plumbing systems is:

1. Water Supply and Water Distribution
2. Plumbing Fixtures
3. Drainage Systems

Plumbing Cycle

https://www.prodyogi.com/2023/02/plumbing-basics-principle-features.html

3 Classification of Plumbers
1. Apprentice Plumber- A plumber-in-training and a helper to a journeyman. Usually
practices the plumbing trade for 3-5 years.
2. Journeyman Plumber- A plumber that is able to finish his apprenticeship and is able to
install/repair/alter the plumbing system.
3. Master Plumber- A plumber that is technically and legally qualified, and licensed ti
practice the profession of Master Plumbing without limitations.

B. OBJECTIVES OF PLUMBING

Plumbing is the Art and Science of installing pipes, fixtures and other apparatus to
1. Convey and supply water in buildings
2. Disposed of and discharge waste water and other liquids, gases and other substances out of the
building in a safe, orderly, healthy, and sanitary way

Conditions for an Effective Water Supply in Building

a. To provide sufficient amount of water to supply each fixture
b. To prevent backflow of used water into the water supply system.

The drainage system should accomplish the following:

a. Fast removal of the waste with a minimum probability of leakage and stoppage of drains
b. To prevent the entry of house vermin and obnoxious gases into the house from the piping
system.

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C. Plumbing Terminologies

GENERAL TERMINOLOGIES

AIR BREAK- A physical separation, it can be a low inlet into indirect waste receptor from the
fixture, appliance, or device indirectly connected.

AIRGAP - Unobstructed Vertical Distance through free atmosphere between the lowest opening
from any pipe, plumbing fixture, appliance or appurtenance conveying potable water or waste to
the flood level rim of the receptor.

BACKFLOW- The flow of water or other liquids into the distributing pipes of a potable supply of
water from any source other than its intended source.

BACK PRESSURE (Plus Pressure)- occurs due to increased reverse pressure above the supply
pressure. Often cause by pumps, broilers, gravity or other sources of pressures.

BACK SIPHONAGE- the flowing back of used, contaminated, or polluted water from a plumbing
fixture into water supply pipe due to negative pressure in such pipe. (Negative Pressure-Back
flow)

BATTERY OF FIXTURE- Any two or more similar adjacent fixtures when discharge into a common
horizontal soil or waste branch.

BRANCH - any part of the piping system other than a main, riser or stack

CHASE- a vertical shaft for installation of different pipe stacks.

DIAMETER - unless specifically stated, the term "diameter'' is the nominal diameter as designated
commercially. I. D. denotes inside diameter of pipe and O.D. denotes outside diameter of tube.

FIXTURE - a receptacle other than a trap attached to a plumbing system in which water or wastes may be
collected or retained for ultimate discharge into the plumbing system.

FIXTURE UNIT - is an arbitrary quantity in terms of which the load producing effects or water requirements
on the plumbing system of different kinds of plumbing fixtures are expressed in some arbitrarily chosen
scale. One fixture unit is equivalent to a rate of flow at 28.3 liters per minute ( 1 cu. ft./minute).

FLOOD LEVEL RIM -is the top edge of a receptacle from where water overflows.

HORIZONTAL PIPE - is any pipe or fitting installed in a horizontal position or which forms an angle of not
more than forty-five (45) degrees with the horizontal plane.

NAMPAP- National Master Plumbers Association of the Philippines.

PLUMBING APPLIANCE -· any one of a special class of device or equipment intended to perform a special
plumbing function. Its operation and/or control may be dependent upon one or more energized
components, such as motors, controls, heating elements and pressure-temperature-sensing elements.

PLUMBING APPURTENANCE - a manufactured device or a prefabricated assembly or an on-the-job

assembly of component parts, and serves as adjunct to the basic piping system and plumbing fixtures. An
appurtenance demands no additional water supply nor does it add any discharge load to a fixture or the
drainage system. It performs some useful functions in the operation, maintenance, servicing, economy or
safety of the plumbing system.

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PLUMBING FIXTURES - are approved-type installed receptacles. devices or appliances supplied with water
or receive liquid or liquid-borne wastes and discharge such wastes into the drainage system to which they
may be directly or indirectly connected.

RISER - a water supply pipe, which extends vertically to one full story or more to convey water into pipe
branches or plumbing fixtures.

ROUGHING-INS - the installation of all piping and fitting parts of the plumbing system, which can be
completed prior to the installation of fixtures and accessories. These include sanitary and storm drainage,
tap, hot and chilled water supplies, gas piping, vent piping and the necessary fixture supports.

TERMS FOR WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

WATER SUPPLY/DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM - of a building or premises consists of the water service pipe,
water supply line, water distributing pipe and the necessary branch pipes, fittings, valves and all
appurtenances required for the supply of potable water.

WATER- DISTRIBUTING PIPE - a pipe which conveys potable water from the building supply pipe to the
plumbing fixtures and other water outlets.

WATER MAIN - or street main is the water-supply pipe for public or community use.

WATERWORKS- the system of reservoirs, channels, mains, and pumping and purifying equipment by which
a water supply is obtained and distributed (as to a city).

TERMS FOR DRAINAGE SYSTEM

DRAINAGE SYSTEM - includes all the piping within public or private premises which convey sewage or
other liquid wastes to a legal point of disposal but does not include the mains of a public sewer system or a
public sewage treatment or disposal plant.

BUILDING DRAIN - that part of the lowest horizontal piping of a drainage system which receives the
discharge from soil, waste and other drainage pipes inside the walls of the building and conveys it to the
building sewer beginning 0.6 meter outside the building wall.

BUILDING SEWER - that pat1 of the horizontal piping of a drainage system which starts from the end of the
building drain and which receives the discharge of the building drain and conveys it to a public sewer,
private sewer, individual sewage disposal system or other point of disposal.

BUILDING SUPPLY - the pipe carrying potable water from the water meter or other source of water supply
to a building or other point of use or distribution on the lot. Building supply shall also mean water service
connection.

SEWAGE - any wastewater containing animal or vegetable matter in suspension or solution and may
include liquids containing chemicals in solution.

SEWER- a pipe or conduit for carrying sewage and wastewater.

SEWERAGE OR SEWERAGE WORKS - a comprehensive term, including all constructions for collection,
transportation. pumping. treatment and. final disposition of sewage.

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II. Basic Principles of Plumbing
There are 22 basic principles of the 1999 National Plumbing Code of the Philippines which are
updates of the tenets in the “Plumbing Law of the Philippines” approved on 18 June 1955 as amended on 28
November 1959 and revised on 21 December 1999.
The basic principles are as follows:
All premises intended for human habitation, occupancy or use shall be provided with a supply of pure and
wholesome water, neither connected with unsafe supplies nor subject to hazards of backflow or back
siphonage.
1. CLEAN WATER: All premises intended for human habitation, occupancy or use shall be provided with a
supply of pure and wholesome water supplies nor subject to hazards of backflow or back-siphonage.
2. VOLUME AND PRESSURE: Plumbing fixtures, devices and appurtenances shall be supplies with water in
sufficient volume and at pressure adequate to enable them to function satisfactorily and without undue
noise under all normal conditions.
3. EFFIECIENCY: Plumbing shall be designed and adjusted to use the minimum quantity of water consistent
with proper performance and cleaning.
4. EXPLOSION: Devices for heating and storing water shall be so designed and installed as to prevent dangers
from explosion through overheating.
5. SEWER: Every building having plumbing fixtures installed and intended for human habitation, occupancy
or USC on premises abutting on a street, alley or easement where there is a public sewer, shall be connected
to the sewer system.
6. PLUMBING UNIT: Each family dwelling unit on premises abutting on a sewer or with a private sewage-
disposal system shall have at least one water closet and one kitchen type sink. Further, a lavatory and
bathtub or shower shall be installed to meet the basic requirements of sanitation and personal hygiene.
7. VENTILATION: Plumbing fixtures shall be made of smooth non· absorbent material, free from concealed
fouling surfaces and shall be located in ventilated enclosures.
8. CLEANOUTS: The drainage system shall be designed, constructed and maintained to safeguard against
fouling, deposit of solids, clogging and with adequate clean outs so arranged that the pipes may be readily
cleaned.
9. NAMPAP: All pipings of plumbing systems shall be of durable NAMPAP (National Master Plumbers
Association of the Philippines) APPROVED materials, free form defective workmanship, designed and
constructed by Registered Master Plumbers to ensure satisfactory service.
10. TRAP: Each fixture directly connected to the drainage system shall be equipped with a water-sealed trap.
11. AIR CIRCULATION: The drainage piping system shall be designed to provide adequate circulation of air
free from siphonage, aspiration or forcing of trap seals under ordinary use.
12. VENTI TERMINALS: Vent terminals shall extend to the outer air and installed to preempt clogging and
the return of foul air to the building.
13. TEST: Plumbing systems shall be subjected to such tests to effectively disclose all leaks and defects in the
workmanship.
14. SEWAGE HARM: No substance which will clog the pipes, produce explosive mixture, destroy the pipes or
their joints or interfere unduly with the sewage-disposal process shall be allowed to enter the building
drainage system.
15. CONTAMINATION: Proper protection shall be provided to prevent contamination of food, water, sterile
goods and similar materials by backflow of sewage. When necessary, the fixture, device or appliance shall
be connected indirectly with the building drainage system.
16. WC LIGHT: No water closet shall be located in a room or compartment which is not properly lighted and
ventilated
17. SEPTIC TANK: If water closets or other plumbing fixtures are installed in buildings where there is no sewer
within a reasonable distance, suitable provision shall be made for disposing of the building sewage by some
accepted method of sewage treatment and disposal, such as a septic tank.
18. SEWAGE BACKFLOW: Where a plumbing drainage system may be subject to backflow of sewage, suitable
provision shall be made to prevent its overflow in the building.
19. RMP: Plumbing systems shall be maintained in serviceable condition by Registered Master Plumbers.
20. ACCESSIBLE: All plumbing fixtures shall be installed properly spaced, to be accessible for their intended
use.
21. STRUCTUIRAL STABILITY: Plumbing shall be installed by Registered Master Plumbers with due regard to
the preservation of the strength of structural members and the prevention of damage to walls and other
surfaces through fixture usage.
22. SEWAGE TREATMENT: Sewage or other waste from a plumbing system which may be deleterious to
surface or sub-surface waters shall not be discharged into the ground or into any waterway, unless first

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rendered innocuous through subjection to some acceptable form of treatment.

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