The types of fires and additional standards are described in NFPA 10: Standard for Portable Fire

Extinguishers, 2010 edition.

Fire Class Geometric Symbol    Pictogram Intended Use Mnemonic

A Ordinary solid combustibles A for "Ash"

B Flammable liquids and gases B for "Barrel"

C Energized electrical equipment C for "Current"

D None Combustible metals D for "Dynamite"

K Oils and fats K for "Kitchen"

Types of plumbing pipes

Types of household water supply pipes

Copper pipe - Used for decades as the most
common water supply pipe. Copper pipe and
tubing comes in a variety of sizes and types.
Type L - Thick walled hard/soft copper
Type M - Thin walled hard/soft copper
Type K - Thick walled hard/soft copper

PVC - Used as a cold water supply pipe in

many countries around the world because of
the low price and ease of installation.

CPVC - Used as a hot/cold water supply pipe

in many countries around the world because
of the low price and ease of installation.
 PEX - Is cross-linked polyethylene tubing
and has become the standard in new home
construction. PEX comes in a variety of
colors and is used for plumbing and heating
purposes.

Galvanized pipe - May still be found in

many homes but is seldom used anymore
because of water discoloration, cost and
difficult repairs.

Types of household drainage pipes

ABS - A hard walled black plastic drain pipe

used extensively in North America.

ABS Joining Methods

PVC - A hard walled white plastic drain pipe

used throughout the world.

Cast iron - A very common drain pipe in

older homes but is no longer used in
residential plumbing.

Galvanized pipe - Common in many older

homes and prone to maintenance. Easily
discernable by the silver to whitish color and
threaded fittings.

Copper DWV - A hard walled copper drain,

waste and vent pipe(DWV) that was
commonly used in older homes. Still
commonly used in commercial and industrial
construction, but to pricey for residential.
Plumbing Water Supply Fittings
Below are some images of various plumbing fittings used in residential water distribution systems. Although only one
type of each fitting may be shown, there are many different types of each fitting, manufactured using a variety of
materials and joining methods.

Tee
Tee's are used to add a branch to a water
supply. They may have all openings the
same size or be reducing on one or two
sides.

90 degree elbow 
90's are used to make to make a right angle
change in the direction of flow.

45 degree elbow
45's are usually used in pairs to make either
a diagonal offset or they can be rolled to
make a 90 degree offset.

Coupling
Couplings are used to connect lengths of
pipe and to make repairs to damaged
sections.

Reducer
Like a coupling, a reducer joins two pieces
of different sized pipe. They come in either
hub ends (meaning they fit over the pipe) or
"fit in" (meaning that one end will fit inside
the hub of a fitting).

Bushing
A bushing is a reducer that fits inside of
another fitting.

Drop ear 90/ Wingback 90

These fittings have a mounting support
flange attached and are commonly used for
shower heads and fixture supply valves.

Nipple
Although not technically a fitting, nipples
(threaded pieces of pipe 6" or less) are
commonly available with pre-cut threads.

Cap
Caps are typically only used for rough-in's or
for renovations. Leaving sections of water
supply pipe dead ended should always be
avoided.
Water hammer arrestor
These devices are used to prevent the
sudden shock of fast acting valves which
create water hammer. Learn more here:
Water Hammer Arrestors

Ball valve
The most common valve used today as they
don't restrict flow. They also make it very
easy to tell if they are open or closed by the
position of the valve handle. If the valve is
open the handle will be running the same
direction as the pipe.

Gate valve
Used as an isolation valve. Not used for
throttling water flow.

Globe valve
Used as an isolation valve and is suitable
for throttling water flow. Can be visually
differentiated from a gate valves by the
shape, globe valves always have a pot-
bellied appearance.

Saddle valve
These valves typically come in a kit to
supply water to a device (fridge, water
purifier). They clamp to the side of a pipe
and then pierce the pipe wall. They have a
high failure rate and should be avoided.

Angle/ straight stops

These are fixture isolation valves. They
come in 1/2" (threaded, pex or soldered) by
usually 3/8" compression for most fixtures.

Tempering valve
These valves are used to control the
maximum temperature to a fixture or group
of fixtures. They have a hot and cold inlet
and the outlet can be adjusted to the
desired temperature.

Union
Unions are used to connect a pipe where
the need may arise for it to be taken apart at
a later time (IE: Hot water tank)

Dielectric union
A dielectric union is used to prevent
dissimilar metals from contacting each other
as this will cause corrosion (galvanic
action). These are a commonly used on the
exposed galvanized nipples of hot water
tanks.
 Adapter
Adapters are used to change a pipe end to
a male or female end. The image to the right
shows a male adapter.

Plug
A threaded plug is often used to block a
valve end or for rough-in's.

Sediment faucet / Hose Bibb

Used to supply/isolate water to device that
require a standard 3/4" hose end, such as a
washing machine. Learn more here: Hose
Bibbs

Backflow preventers
There are many types of backflow
preventers but the most common residential
ones are single and dual checks which are
installed to prevent any water from going
back into the city supply after it enters your
home. Learn more here: Backflow
preventers

Plumbing Drainage Fittings

The fitting shown and discussed below are some of the common fittings you would use to construct any DVW
(drainage waste and vent) system. They may be made of different materials; such as: copper, ABS, PVC or cast iron
and employ different joining methods but their shape will be roughly the same.

Sanitary tee
In drainage, sanitary tee's (usually just called
a tee) are always installed as the picture
shows it, with the curved part of the tee
connecting a horizontal pipe to a vertical pipe.
In venting a tee may be installed on the
horizontal to connect a vertical vent.

Wye
Wye's are used to connect both horizontal to
horizontal and horizontal to vertical pipes.
Often used in combination with a 45 degree
fitting.

90 degree
Not to be used at the bottom of a vertical
drainage pipe on sizes smaller than 4".

45 degree
Are commonly used in a DWV system to
gradually change direction of flow, such as at
the base of a stack. They are also often used
in combination with a wye.
22.5 degree
Not commonly used but may help create
difficult offsets.

Coupling
Used to connect two sections of pipe.

P-trap
Used at each plumbing fixture to prevent
sewer gasses from escaping by keeping a
water seal in the trap.

Trap adapter
Used to connect the fixture outlet pipe (tail
piece) to the trap.

Double wye
Same as a wye but typically used to connect
back to back fixtures.

Double sanitary tee

Can only be used on the vertical and will
require a cleanout above the flood level rim of
the fixtures connected to it.

Reducer
Used to reduce upstream pipe size.

Bushing
Same as a reducer but fits inside the hub of
another fitting.

Plug
Plugs are commonly installed as an access
port (clean out) at various points in a DWV
system.

Cap
Used to keep an air tight seal on an unused
pipe end.

Backwater valve
Used on below grade drainage pipes to
protect from sewer back-ups. To learn more
see: Backwater valves.
 Clean out
Must be installed to allow cleaning of the
drainage system. To learn more see: clean
outs 

Toilet flange
Used to mount a water closet to. See
installing a water closet.

What's in a plumber's tool box

Basic plumbing hand tools

Tape measure  Claw hammer

Hack saw Various adjustable wrenches

Multi tip screwdriver Ball-peen hammer

Regular and stubby screwdrivers Needle-nose pliers

Vise grip pliers Side cutters

Cold/wood chisels 2ft level

Allen keys imperial/metric Socket set

Files, round/flat Crow bar

Shovels, long/short Tin snips

Step ladder Caulking gun

Safety, Gloves/goggles/ear plugs Sledge hammer

 Flashlight, small/large Drywall knife/ box cutter

Trowel Hand saw

Hole saw kit Wire strippers

Plumbing hand tools

Mini pipe cutter

Medium copper pipe cutter 2"

PEX Crimpers

PEX cinch ring crimper

PVC Hand saw

Steel pipe cutter

Spud wrench Flaring tool kit

Offset pipe wrench 14"

Pipe wrenches 6"/10"/14"/18"/24"

Strap wrench

Offset hex wrench

Cast iron snap cutter

Basin wrench / telescopic

Torpedo level Pipe extractors

Pipe tapping tools

Ratcheting pipe threading set

Internal pipe wrench Plastic tube cutter/ scissor type

 Spring benders various sizes

Internal pipe cutter

Pipe reamer

Torch head / Turbo torch

Gasket cutter / punches

Sparking igniter

Faucet seat extractor

Fire extinguisher

Faucet seat refinisher

Faucet handle puller

Plunger Sink plunger

 PO wrench

Plumbing power tools and shop equipment

Reciprocating saw Jig saw

Circular saw Angle grinder

Hammer drill / concrete bits Portable pipe stand/ pipe vise

Cordless drill / spare batteries Angle drill

Handheld power threader Power threader

Sewer auger Closet(toilet) auger

Drill type auger/ hand spinner Medium auger/ K50

 Garden hose Extension cords

Electrical multi-meter Sump pump

Thrash pump/hose Generator

Metal detector Welding and cutting equipment

Pipe freezer Pipe thawer

Inspection camera Core drill

Consumable plumbing materials

Teflon tape

Lead free solder

Sand cloth

50/50 solder (Drainage)

 Flux / soldering paste
Gasket material

Silicone Fitting brush

Nails/ screws

Copper strapping

Pipe dope Plumbers putty

Water Supply Backflow Preventers

The backflow preventers shown below are the most common types used to protect water distribution systems from
cross connections caused by backflow, backpressure or backsiphonage.
Swing check valve
These simple backflow preventers have a single
disc type check that swings open under flow
and closes under no flow or backflow
conditions. They are typically used for
commercial / industrial applications but may
also be found in residential heating systems.

Inline check valve

Typically used in well systems, these single
check valves have a spring actuated disc that is
only open under flow conditions.

Dual check valve

These backflow preventers are typically used in
low health risk applications, such as to protect
the municipal system from a residential potable
system. They are non testable, have two spring
loaded check valves and are typically installed
immediately downstream of the water meter.

Double check valve assembly (DCA)

These backflow preventers do not provide any
additional protection over a dual check valve
except that they are testable and incorporate
isolation valves that permit easy servicing.
DCA's are typically used to prevent cross
connections in scenario's that don't pose a
significant health risk.

Double check valve with atmospheric port

(DCAP)
These backflow preventers are used in low
health risk systems, such as a boiler feed. They
have two spring loaded check valves with an
intermediate opening that will allow water to
discharge if the second check fails to properly
seat under backflow conditions.

Reduced pressure zone assembly (RPZ)

The ultimate in backflow prevention, these
devices provide three layers of protection that
can be used in high health risk hazards. RPZ's
have two check valves and an intermediate
chamber that diverts water out of the system if
backpressure or backsiphonage occurs. It is a
testable device and incorporates upstream and
downstream stops for servicing.
Anti-Siphon vacuum breaker
As the name suggests, these devices will
prevent siphonic action from introducing
possible contamination into the potable water
system by allowing air into the pipe and
breaking the siphon.

Spill resistant anti-siphon vacuum breaker

Same as above but is testable and also
includes a spill resistant cap that is better suited
for some indoor applications.

Hose bib vacuum breaker

Your home garden hose poses the single
greatest backflow risk to your potable water
system as they are often left filling up pools,
ponds and other chemical concoctions. They
revent backsiphonage by allowing air into the
system.