PLUMBING MATERIALS

Plumbing, system of pipes and fixtures installed in a building for the distribution and use of potable (drinkable)
water and the removal of waterborne wastes. It is usually distinguished from water and sewage systems that serve
a group of buildings or a city.

Cast Iron

Appearance: Large-diameter heavy metal pipe, dull black with

a rough, mottled surface.

Description: High-quality sanitary waste drain pipe that is heavy

and deadens the sound of flowing wastewater very well. This
pipe is strong and long-lasting but hard to cut—often requiring
a special cutting tool with sharp chain cutting wheels. Repairs
are often made using plastic PVC piping. Cast iron is rarely
used in new construction; instead many use plastic PVC or
ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) pipe.

Prevalent Use: Use for main soil stack waste lines and vent
pipes.

Cutting and Fitting: Requires heavy-duty reciprocating saw or a special cutting tool called a cast-iron pipe cutter.
Securing cast-iron pipes and fittings together is done using special methods, including lead and oakum in soil pipe
joints, hubbed fittings or hubless couplings using pressure bands, and other methods usually unfamiliar to the
homeowner.

PVC (Poly-Vinyl Chloride)

Appearance: White rigid plastic.

Discription: PVC is now the de-facto standard in-home waste

line materials. It is a strong, chemical-resistant rigid pipe that is
heat resistant and easily cut and fit. It is often used to repair
sections of broken cast-iron waste pipe as well as repairs to
other drain lines.

Prevalent Use: Use for sanitary waste lines, vent pipes, and
drain traps.

Cutting and Fitting: PVC pipe is easily cut with a hacksaw or

tubing cutter. The sections are joined together mechanically,
using plastic pressure fittings for later removal, or permanently
joined using special chemical solvent.
Chromed Brass

Appearance: Bright, shiny chrome-finished pipe of larger

diameter (more than one inch).
Description: Chromed brass is often used in lieu of PVC for
exposed waste line applications, such as “P” traps or other drain
traps where appearance is important.

Prevalent Use: Exposed drains and traps.

Cutting and Fitting: Easily cut with a hacksaw, and joined with
slip fittings.

Chromed Copper

Appearance: Bright, shiny chrome finished pipe of smaller

diameter (3/8” or less).

Description: Chromed copper pipe is often used where the

appearance of exposed water supply lines is important.

Prevalent Use: Exposed water supply lines, such as supply

tubing for toilets or pedestal sinks.

Cutting and Fitting: Easily cut with a tubing cutter or hacksaw, and joined with chromed brass compression fittings.

Galvanized Iron
Appearance: Dull silver-gray rigid metal pipe.
Description: Galvanized iron pipe was once a popular method of
plumbing water supply lines in the home, but it gradually fails
due to corrosion and rust. For this reason, it is no longer
commonly used and has been largely replaced with copper pipe
or PEX plastic pipe. Galvanized iron pipe is difficult to cut and
join and not easily fabricated on site by the homeowner. Repairs
are usually done by replacing the pipes with copper or PEX.
Prevalent Use: Water supply lines and drain lines in older
homes.
Cutting and Fitting: Can be cut using a reciprocating saw or
hacksaw. The pipe is joined by using threaded galvanized iron fittings.

PEX (Cross-linked Polyethylene)

Appearance: Typically blue (cold water), red (hot water), or
white flexible plastic pipe.

Description: PEX is made of cross-linked HDPE (high-density

polyethylene) polymer and is an incredible piping material that
has been in use since the 1970s. PEX is strong and flexible,
withstanding temperatures from below 32 F to 200 F. PEX is
corrosion resistant, and unlike copper pipe, it will not develop
pinholes. Because PEX is flexible and uses fewer connections
and fittings, it is easier and faster to install. The reduced number
of required fittings in a PEX system also reduces the possibility
of leaks.
PEX has become a favorite of contractors installing new plumbing systems and plumbers making major upgrades
to older systems. Increasingly, homeowners are also discovering the merits of PEX pipe.
PrevalentUse: Water supply and radiant heating pipe.
Cutting and Fitting: PEX is cut and fit with specialized fittings and
tools.

Types of Pipe Fittings in

Plumbing System
Elbow Pipe Fittings

Elbows are used to change the direction of flow between two pipes. Elbows are generally available with an angle
of 22.5o, 45o and 90o. If pipes are of same diameter then normal elbows are used otherwise Reducer elbows are
used. Elbows are made of different materials. These are generally coming with female threads and we can fix
them by butt or socket welding also.

Reducer Pipe Fittings

Reducer is a pipe fitting component which reduces the flow size from larger to smaller by reducing size of pipe.
Usually there are two types of reducers are available. One is concentric reducer which is like cone shaped with
gradual decreasing around the pipe but in this case accumulation of air may possible and it results in cavitation.
Other one is eccentric reducer which is having one edge parallel to connecting pipe due to which air accumulation
is not possible.

Tee type Pipe Fitting

Tee type fitting is a component of plumbing
system which is in T-shape. It is having one
inlet and two outlets, outlets are arranged at
90o to the main line connection (inlet). It can
also be used to combine the flow from two
inlets to one outlet. They are also available
in different materials and different sizes. If
the 3 sides of T-fitting are similar in size then
it is called as Equal tee otherwise it is called
as Unequal tee.

Cross
type
Cross type
fittings
contains 4
opening in 4 directions. These are connected when there are 4 pipes are meeting at a point. These fittings
generate more amount of stress on pipe as the temperature changes, because they are located at the centre of
four connection points. Cross fittings are generally used for fire sprinkler systems.

Coupling
A coupling is used to connect the pipes of same diameter. Coupling is also useful if the pipe is broken or leakage
occurs. Generally there are two types of couplings are available.
Compression coupling is regular coupling which is connected between two pipes and it prevents leakage by the
arrangement of gaskets or a rubber seal on both sides, otherwise glue is provided. Slip coupling is easier to install
and it contains two pipes which are arranged as one into other, inner pipe can slide up to some length. So, we can
fix long length damaged pipe by slip coupling.

Unions
Union is a type of fitting, which
functions as similar to
coupling. But coupling
cannot be removed after
fixing but in this case we can remove the union whenever we needed. Unions consists nut, male and female
ended threads. So, this is also useful for maintaining purpose of
pipe.

Adaptors
If the pipes are not having special ends or plain ends then
adaptors make them threaded either male or female whichever is
needed. Adopters are generally used for copper and PVC pipes.
Male adapters contain male threads and a female
adapter contains female threads. One end of
adapter is plain which is glued or welded or
soldered to the plain pipe end.

Olet
Olets are used when there is standard sizes of
fittings are not suitable for our requirement. Sometimes the inlet pipe size is larger compared to outlet pipes in t-
sections then also Olets are used.
There are many types of olets are available. Some important types of olets are:
  Butt-Weldolet
 Socket weld Olet
 Threaded olet
 Elbow olet
 Nipple olet
 Lateral olet
 Sweepolet
 Flange olet

Plug
Plug is a component of plumbing component which is generally used to close
pipe opening during inspections and repairs. Plug are generally contains male
threads.

Cap
Cap is a type of pipe fitting which function is same as plug but the only
difference is plug contain male threads and cap contain female threads
which is screws on the male thread of pipe. These are available in
different materials like rubber, copper, steel, plastic etc.

Valves in Pipe Fittings

Valves are components of plumbing system which are used to stop or
regulate flow of fluid in its path. Different types of valves are available
depending up on their applications

.Some important types of valves and its applications are listed below.
 Gate valve, plug valve and Ball valve - used for isolation only
 Globe valve - used for throttling
 Check valve - used for preventing reverse flow (non-return)
 Butterfly valve - used for isolation as well as throttling
 Diaphragm valve - used for isolation as well as throttling
ELECTRICAL MATERIALS

Electrical Material is basically the parts or elements used in the making of any electrical construction project. This
can vary from a small house circuit to as big as a large industrial plant.The electrical materials have many
purposes, they can be used to control the current flow in an electric circuit. There are certain electrical
materials like cicuit breaker and fuses which can be used to protect the electrical appliances and devices and it
can prevent fire hazards and damage. Electrical material such as insulators can prevent users from getting electric
shocks while operating electrical appliances or instruments. Electrical materials such as current-carrying  wires or
conductors are used to transfer the current from source to the load .

 ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES & MATERIALS

 Electricity , A form of energy resulting from the existence of charged particles (such as electrons or
protons), either statically as an accumulation of charge or dynamically as a current. New Latin electricus
produced from amber by friction, electric, from Medieval Latin, of amber, from Latin electrum amber,
electrum, from Greek ēlektron; akin to Greek ēlektōr beaming sun.

Connectors Convenience Outlet

A device that acts as a convenient source of electrical energy for
current consuming appliances, It is where the male plug of an
appliance is inserted and is usually fastened on the wall or connected
in an extension cord. It may be single, duplex, triplex and could be
source type or flush type.

Male Plug
A device inserted to a convenience outlet to conduct electric current.A
flat cord is attached to it on one end and the other end is connected to
a current- consuming instrument or appliance.

Lamp Holders
A device that hold and protect the lamp and are also called Lamp
Sockets/receptacles.These come in many designs and sizes.They
are classified as flush, hanging (weather proof/chain), and surface
types.
Switch

A device that connects and disconnects the flow of electric current in a

circuit. There are many shapes, designs, and types ad they are classified
as hanging, flush and surface types.

Fuse

A fuse is an electrical safety device that operates to provide over

current protection of an electrical circuit. Its essential component is a
metal wire or strip that melts when too much current flows through it,
thereby stopping or interrupting the current.
 

Circuit Breaker

A protective device used to automatically blow and cut the current when
trouble in the circuit such as short circuit or overload occurs.

Junction Box

An octagonal shaped electrical material where the connections or

joints of wires are being done. It is also where the flush type lamp
holder is attached. This could be made of plastic or metal (PVC)
Polyvinylchlorod.

Utility Box
A rectangular shaped plastic or metallic (PVC) material in which flush type
convenience outlet and switch are attached.

Flat Cord
A duplex stranded wire used for temporary wiring installation and
commonly used in extension cord assembly. It comes in a roll of
150 meters and sizes of gauge # 18 and gauge #16 awg
( American Wire Gauge).

Electrical Wire /Conductor Stranded Wire Solid Wire

A device that hold which is made of multiple strands joined together to
make a single wire. It is made of a single strand of copper or aluminium
wire. These are used in wiring installation inside the buildings.
  

Conduits/Pipes
An electrical materials used as the passage of wires for protection and
insulation. These could be rigid metallic, flexible metallic conduit (FMC),
rigid non-metallic (PVC), and flexible non- metallic or corrugated plastic
conduit (CPC).

Clamps

It is an electrical materials used to hold and anchor electrical

conduits to their proper position. In electrical and electronic
engineering, a current clamp, also known as current probe, is
an electrical device with jaws which open to allow clamping
around an electrical conductor. ... Some clamp meters can
measure currents of 1000 A and more. Hall effect and vane
type clamps can also measure direct current (DC).

Connectors

It is used to attach metallic or non-metallic conduit to the junction or utility

boxes. Electrical connectors allow you to join various components of
an electrical circuit like wires and cables. The connectors create a
continuous path for the electrical current to flow through the connection or
circuit. Connectors can come with male-end plugs or female-end jacks.