PLUMBING

TERMINOLOGIES
AIR GAP, drainage - The unobstructed vertical
distance through the atmosphere between the
lowest opening from any pipe, plumbing fixture,
appliance or appurtenance conveying waste to
flood level rim of the receptor.

AIR GAP, water distribution - An unobstructed

vertical distance through the free atmosphere
between the lowest opening from any pipe or
faucet conveying potable water to the flood-level
rim of any tank, vat or fixture.
BACKFLOW- The flow of water or other liquids,
mixtures, or substances into the distributing pipes
of a potable supply of water from any source of
other than from its intended source.
BACKFLOW PREVENTER- Device or means to
prevent flow of liquid from returning to the source
of supply. Also called Vacuum breaker.
BACK-SIPHONAGE- The flowing back of used,
contaminated or polluted water from a plumbing
fixture or vessel into a water supply pipe due to a
negative pressure in such pipe.
BACKWATER VALVE- A device installed in a
drainage to prevent reverse flow.
BACKVENT PIPE- The part of a vent line, which
connects an individual trap underneath or behind
fixture and extends to the branch or main vent
pipe at any point higher than the fixture traps it
serves. This is sometimes called an individual vent.
BALL COCK- A valve opened and closed by the fall
and rise, respectively, of an attached ball floating
on the surface of the liquid.
BATTERY OF FIXTURES- Any of two or more similar
adjacent fixtures which discharge into a common
horizontal soil or waste branch.
BELL or HUB- That portion of a pipe which, for a
short distance, is sufficiently enlarge to receive the
end of another pipe of the same diameter for the
purpose of making a caulked or push-on joint.
BIBB- Synonymous with faucet, cock, tap, plug,
ect. The word “faucet” is preferred.
BIDET- A plumbing fixture used for washing the
middle private part of the body, especially the
genitals. Also called “sitz” bath.
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.
BUILDING SEWER- That part of the horizontal
piping of a drainage system which starts from the
end 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
CON
water supply to a building or other point
DU of use or
CTO
R
distribution on the lot. Building supply shall also
mean water service.
CAP- A fitting, screwed or caulked over the end of
the pipe for closing the pipe end.
CATCH BASIN- A receptacle in which liquids are
retained for a sufficient period of time to allow
settle able material to deposit.
CONDUCTOR or DOWNSPOUT- A vertical pipe to
convey rainwater.
CORPORATION COCK- A stop valve placed at the
connection of the water service pipe to the water
main.
CRITICAL LEVEL- marking on a backflow prevention device
or vacuum breaker is a point conforming to approved
standards and established by the testing laboratory
(usually stamped on the device by the manufacturer)
which determines the minimum elevation above flood-
level rim of the fixture or receptacle served where the
device may be installed. When a backflow prevention
device does not bear a critical level marking, the bottom
of the vacuum breaker, combination valve or bottom of
any such approved device shall constitute the critical
level.
CESSPOOL- A non-water tight lined excavation in
the ground which receives the discharge of the
sanitary drainage system or part thereof, designed
to retain the organic matter and solids discharging
there from, but permitting the liquid to seep
through the bottom and sides of the cesspool.
CHASE- A vertical shaft for installation of different
pipe stacks.
CHECK VALVE- A valve that automatically closes to
prevent the flow of liquid or gas in a reverse
direction
DEAD END- The extended portion of a pipe that is
closed at one end to which no connections are
made on the extended portion, thus permitting
the stagnation of liquid or air therein.
DEVELOPED LENGTH- The length of a pipe along
its centerline and fittings.
DOMESTIC SEWAGE- The liquid and water-borne
wastes derived from the ordinary living processes,
free from industrial wastes and of such character
that permit satisfactory disposal without special
treatment. It is discharged into the public sewer or
into a private sewage disposal system.
FAUCET- A valve located at the end of a water pipe
through of which water can be drawn from or
LAVATORY
held within the pipe.
FERRULE- A metallic sleeve, caulked or joined to
an opening in a pipe, into which a plug is screwed
thatTOILET
can be removed for cleaning or examining the
interior of the pipe.
BATH TUB
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 a plumbing system.
FIXTURE BRANCH- The water supply pipe between
the fixture supply pipe and the water-distribution
pipe.
FIXTURE DRAIN- The drainpipe from the trap of a
fixture to the junction of that drain with any other
drain pipe.
FIXTURE SUPPLY- A water supply pipe connecting
the fixture with the fixture branch.
FLOOD LEVEL RIM- Is the top edge of a receptacle
from where water overflows.
FLUSH TANK- A tank located above or integral with
water closet, urinal or similar fixtures for flushing
or removing excrements in the fixture.
FLUSH VALVE- Is a device located at the bottom of
the tank for the purpose of flushing water closet
and similar in fixture.
FLUSHOMETER TANK- Is integrated within an air
accumulator vessel which is designed to discharge
a predetermined quantity of water fixtures for
flushing purposes.
FLUSHOMETER VALVE- Is a device, which
discharges a predetermined quantity of water into
fixtures for flushing purposes and is actuated by
direct water pressure.
GATE VALVE- A valve in which the flow of water is
cut off by means of a circular disc fitted against
machine-smoothed faces, at the right angles to
the direction of flow. The disk is raised or lowered
by means of a threaded stem connected to the
handle of the valve. The opening in the valve is
usually as large as the full bore of the pipe.
GLOBE VALVE- A valve in which the flow of fluid is
cut off by means of a circular disc that fits over
and against the horizontal valve seat. The
movement of the plane of disc is parallel to the to
the normal direction of flow of water through the
orifice resulting to a tortuous passage which offer
a high pressure loss.
GOOSE NECK- A return bend of small-sized pipe,
one end of which is about 30cm long and the
other end is about 7.5cm. It is commonly used as a
faucet for a pantry sink. Also, the term means the
flexible tubing connection between a service pipe
and water main.
GREASE TRAP- A device designed to retain grease
from one to a maximum of four fixtures.
HORIZONTAL BRANCH- Is a drain pipe extending
laterally from a soil or waste stack or building
drain or without vertical sections or branches,
which receives the discharge from one or more
fixture drains and conducts it to the soil or waste
stack or building drain.
HORIZONTAL PIPE- Is any pipe or fitting installed
in a horizontal position or which forms an angle of
not more than 45 degrees with the horizontal
plane.
HOUSE DRAIN- Is the part of the lowest horizontal
piping of a plumbing system which receives the
discharges from soil, waste and other drainage
pipes inside of a building and conveys it to the
house sewer outside of the building.
HOUSE SEWER- Is that part of plumbing system
extending from the house drain at a point 0.6
meters from the outside face of the foundation
wall of a building to the junction with the street
sewer or to any point of discharge, and conveying
the drainage of the building site.
HOUSE STORM SEWER- Is the pipeline from the
building to the public or street storm drainage
system.
INVERT- The lowest portion of the interior part of
any pipe or conduit that is not vertical.
LATRINE- A water closet consisting of a continuous
trough containing water. The trough extends
under two or more adjacent seats. Prohibited by
health authorities for permanent installations.
LAVATORY- A fixture designed for the washing of
the hands or face. Sometimes called the wash
basin.
LEACHING CESSPOOL- A cesspool that is not
watertight.
LEADER- A pipe connected from building gutter to
the downspout or conductor.
MANHOLE- A large opening in a sewer line or part
of a plumbing system constructed with sufficient
size for a man to gain access therein for
maintenance purposes and facility for changes of
line and/or grade of pipeline.
MASTER PLUMBER- A person technically and
legally qualified and licensed to practice the
profession of Master Plumbing without limitations
in accordance with Republic Act 1378, having
passed the examinations conducted by the
Professional Regulation Commission, has received
a Certificate of Registration from the Board of
Master Plumbing and possesses the current
license to practice.
NAMPAP- National Master Plumbers Association
of the Philippines.
PB (polybutylene)- Tube made of plastic material
and colored black. The cross-sectional shape is
normally oval and is denoted by its outside
diameter or O.D. Normally used as water service
connection from main to meter.
PE (polyethylene)- Tube made of plastic material
and colored black. The cross-sectional shape is
circular and is denoted its outside diameter or
O.D.
 PLUMBING APPLIANCE- Any one of a special class of
device or equipment intended to perform a special
plumbing function. Is 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 is
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.
LIST OF SOME PLUMBING APPURTENANCE:

•Internal Water Supply Lines — Sizing Of Pipes

•Service Connection
•Valves
•Water Supply Distribution Pipeline and Its Cleaning
•Traps
•Floor Trap
•Water Closet
•Urinals
•Fire Hydrants
•Water Meters
 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 drainage system to
which they may be directly or indirectly
connected.
PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM- A septic
tank with the effluent discharging into a
subsurface disposal field, into one or more
seepage pits or into a combination of subsurface
disposal field and seepage pit of such other
facilities as may be permitted under the
procedures set forth elsewhere in this code.
PRIVATE SEWER- A building sewer, which receives
the discharge from more than one building drain
and conveys it to a public sewer, private sewage
disposal system, or other points of disposal.
PRIVY- An outhouse or structure used for the
deposition of excrement.
PRIVY VAULT- A pit beneath a privy where
excrement collects.
PUBLIC SEWER- A common sewer directly
controlled by public authority to which all abutters
have equal rights of connections.
PVC- Polyvinyl Chloride. Potable water pipings are
color-coded blue. Drainpipes are manufactured
with toxic components and are color-coded gray,
orange or brown.
RETURN BEND- An open return bend usually
made up two 90-degree bends with inside and
outside threads, flanged or welded fittings; and
applied also to a 180-degree bend in copper
tubings.
RIM- An unobstructed top open edge of a fixture.
RISER- A water supply pipe, which extends
vertically to one fully story or more to convey
water into pipe branches or plumbing fixture
SANITARY SEWER- A sewer intended to receive
sanitary sewage with or without pre-treated
industrial wastes and without the admixture of
rain or ground water.
SEEPAGE PIT- A loosely lined excavation in the
ground, which receives the discharge of a septic
tank and designed to permit the effluent from the
septic tank to seep through pit bottom and sides.
SERVICE PIPE- The pipe from the street water
main or other source of water supply to the
building served.
SEWER- A pipe or conduit for carrying sewage and
wastewater.
SEPTIC TANK- A water-tight receptacle which receives the
discharge of a sanitary plumbing system or part thereof,
designed and constructed to retain solids, digest organic
matter through a period of detention and allow the
liquids to discharge into the soil outside of the tank
through a system of open-jointed subsurface pipings or a
seepage pit meeting the requirements of this code.
SWIMMING POOL- A water basin used for
swimming designed to accommodate many
bathers at a time and properly connected to a
disposal system, fills and draws water supply or
provided with approved water purification and
recirculation system.
TAPPED TEE- A tee with the branch tapped to receive a
threaded pipe or fittings.
TRAP- A fitting or device designed and constructed
to provide, when properly vented, when properly
vented, a liquid seal which prevents the backflow
of foul air or methane gas without materially
affecting the flow of sewage or wastewater
through it.
TRAP SEAL- The maximum vertical depth of liquid that a
trap will retain, measured between the crown weir and
the top of the dip of the trap.
TUBE- A cylindrical conduit or conductor
conforming to the particular dimensions known as
“tube size” and denoted by outside diameter O.D.
VACUUM- An air pressure less then atmospheric. Also,
implies siphonage in piping system.
VERTICAL PIPE- Any pipe or fitting installed in a
vertical position or which forms an angle of not
more than 45 degrees with the vertical line.
WASTE PIPE- A pipe, which conveys only wastewater or
liquid water free of fecal matter.
WATER DISTRIBUTION 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.
WATER SUPPLY 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.

WYE- A hose connection with two-gated outlets

permitting two connections of the same or smaller
coupling diameter to be taken form a single supply
line. Also, a pipe fitting of the three branches that
form a letter “y”
 THANK YOU!
REPORTERS:
• JOHN LYNDON LIBAG
• JHONARD DELA CRUZ
• WILLIAM PAUL BARBIRAN
• EDWIN BASCOS
• JOSIAH NIEL BATO