PLUMBING TERMS

1. ALLEY - Alley is any public space, public park borough are less than
three (3) meters but not less than two (2) meters in width which has
been dedicated or deeded to the public for public use.
2. ABS - Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene
3. ACCESSIBLE – having access thereto/ may require prior removal of access
panel.
4. AIR GAP, WATER DISTRIBUTION – an unobstructed vertical distance
through the free atmosphere between the lowest opening from any pipe
to the flood level rim of the receptor.
5. AIRBREAK – a physical separation, which may be a low inlet into the
indirect waste receptor from the fixture, appliance or device
indirectly connected.
6. ALTER OR ALTERATION - is any change, addition or modification in
construction or occupancy. (Change or repair).
7. APPROVED - means accepted or acceptable under an applicable
specification stated or cited in this Code, or accepted as suitable
for the proposed use under procedures and powers at the authority.
8. ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY – individual official, board, department or
agency established or authorized by the office of the President. DOH,
DPWH, DILG, City Mayors of chartered cities, EMB (DENR)for the practice
of Registered & Licensed Master Plumbers.
9. AUTHORITY - in this Code is mean to be the individual official,
board, department or agency established an authorized by the office
of the President (R.A. No. 1378) to administer and enforce the
provisions of this National Plumbing Code as adapted or amended.
(Prof. Sanitary Engineering) – Plans and specs, (Master Plumber) –
Install
10. BACKFLOW - The flow of water into a water supply system from source
other than its regular source. Back siphonage is one type of
backflow.
11. BACK SIPHONAGE – refers to the back flow of used contaminated or
polluted water from plumbing fixture or vessel into a water supply pipe
due to negative pressure in such pipe.
12. BACK PRESSURE - Air pressure in drainage pipes greater than
atmospheric pressure.
13. BACKWATER VALVE – a device installed in a drainage system to prevent
reverse flow.
14. BACK VENT PIPE - the part of a vent line which connects directly with
an individual trap underneath or behind the fixture and extends to the
branch or main, soil, or waste pipe at any point higher than the
fixture or fixture trap it serves. This is sometimes called an
individual vent.
15. BALL COCK - A valve opened and closed by the fall and rise,
respectively of an attached ball floating on the surface of the
liquid. - A float valve with a spherical float.
16. BALL JOINT - A connection in which a ball is held in a cuplike shell
that allows movement in every direction.
17. BATHROOM – a room equipped with a shower stall and a bathtub.
18. BATTERY OF FIXTURES - is any of two or more similar adjacent fixtures
which discharge into a common horizontal soil branch.

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19. BELL OR HUB - That portion of a pipe which for a short distance, is
sufficiently enlarged to receive the end of another pipe of the same
diameter for the purpose of making a joint.
20. B & S – Brown or Sharpe (Specification) / Bell & Spigot (end of pipes)
21. BENDING PIN (OR IRON) - A tool used for straightening or expanding
lead pipe.
22. BIBB - Synonymous with faucet is preferred. Faucet or Spigot.
23. BIDET - A plumbing fixture used for washing the middle part of the
body, especially the genitals. Also, a sitz bath (Used to wash
posterior parts of the body).
24. BLANK FLANGE - A pipe flange that is not drilled for bolt holes.
25. BLIND FLANGE - A flange that closes the end of a pipe. There is no
opening for the passage of water. (Used for black iron pipes).
26. BLOW OFF - A controlled outlet on a pipe line used to discharge water
or detritus. (In Sanitary house trap).
27. BRANCH - is any part of a piping system other than the main, riser or
stack.
28. MWSS / OPWH - Installation of national local water works. - For
installation & excavation respectively.
29. BRANCH INTERVAL - A length of soil or waste stack corresponding in
general to a story height, but- in no case less than eight (8) feet,
within which the horizontal branches from one floor or story of a
building are connected to the stack.
30. BRANCH VENT - A horizontal vent connecting one or more individual
vertical back vents with the vent stack or stack vent.
31. BRAZED JOINT – obtained by joining of metal parts with alloy which melt
at temperature higher than 449C, but lower the melting temperature of
parts to be joined.
32. BUILDING - Building is any structure built, erected and framed of
component structural parts designed for the housing, shelter,
enclosure or support of persons, animals, or property of any kind.
33. BUILDING DRAIN - is that part of the lowest horizontal piping of a
plumbing 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 meters outside the building wall.
34. BUILDING SEWER - is the pipeline from the building to the public
storm.
35. BUILDING SUBDRAIN -That portion of a drainage system which cannot
drain by gravity into the
building sewer. (Any piping system which needed to be elevated from
basement to the N.G.L.)
36. BUILDING SUPPLY – also mean water service connection.
37. CAULKING - Plugging an opening with oakum, lead or other materials
that are pounded into place. Also, the material that is pounded into
the opening.
38. CAP - A fitting into which the end of a pipe is screwed for the
purpose of closing the end of the pipe.
39. CATCH BASIN - A receptacle in which liquids are retained for a
sufficient period to deposit settle able material
40. CESSPOOL - A pit for the reception or detention of sewage/ non-
watertight line excavation, permitting liquid to seep through the
bottom and sides.

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41. CERTIFIED BACKFLOW ASSEMBLY TESTER – has the competence to test and
maintain backflow assemblies.
42. CHECK VALVE - A valve that automatically closes to prevent the flow
of water or gas in reverse direction. (Prevents reverse flow)
43. CHASE – a vertical shaft for installation of different pipe stacks.
44. CIRCUIT VENT - A group vent extending from in front of the last
fixture connection on a horizontal branch to the vent stack. See also
loop vent. (Loop vent, Branch vent)
45. CLARIFIER – intercept or to separate and prevent the passage of oil,
grease, sand.
46. COMBINATION WASTE AND VENT SYSTEM – is especially designed system of
waste piping embodying the horizontal wet venting of one or more sink or
floor drains by means of common waste and vent pipe adequately sized to
provide free movement of air above the flow line of the drain.
47. COMMON – part of a plumbing system designed /installed to serve more
than 1 appliance, fixture, building or system.
48. COMMON VENT - See unit vent and dual vent
49. COMBUSTIBLE CONSTRUCTION – a structure which any part of its structural
framework will ignite and burn at a temperature of 756 deg. Centigrade
or less.
50. CONDUCTOR, LEADER, OR DOWNSPOUT - A vertical pipe to convey rain
water.
51. CONTINUOUS VENT - is a vertical vent that is a continuation of the
drain, to which the vent connects. (Or VSTR)
52. CONTINUOUS WASTE – a drain connecting the compartments of fixtures to
a trap or connecting other permitted fixtures to a common trap.
53. CONTAMINATION – impairment of the quality of potable water, defined as
High Hazard.
54. CONFINED SPACE – a room/space less than 1.4 cum. With 250 kg calorie of
aggregate input rating if fuel -burning appliances installed in that
space.
55. CORPORATION COCK - a stop valve placed in a service pipe close to its
connection with a water main.
56. COURT - is an open, unoccupied space bounded on two (2) or more sides
by the walls of the buildings. An inner court is a court entirely
within the exterior walls of a building. All other courts are outer
courts.
57. CRITICAL LEVEL – C-L or C/L marking on a backflow prevention device or
vacuum breaker. Determines the minimum elevation above the flood level
rim of the fixture.
58. CROSS CONNECTION - Any physical connection or arrangement of pipes
between two otherwise separate building water-supply pipes or a
system through which or by means of which water supply may flow from
one system to the other, the direction of flow depending on the
pressure differential between the two systems.
59. 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 water or air therein. (Water hammer
arrester or air gap or air chamber).
60. DEVELOPMENT LENGTH -The length along the center line of the pipe and
the fittings.

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61. DIAMETER – a tube shall mean the nominal internal diameter (I.D.) of
such pipe; except brass and copper tubing wherein the term shall mean
the outside diameter (O.D.) of tubing.
62. DOMESTIC SEWAGE - The sewage containing human excrement and liquid
household waste; also called sanitary sewage.
63. DOUBLE-BEND FITTING - A pipe fitting shaped like the letter “S”.
64. DOUBLE OFFSET - Two offsets in succession or in series in the same
line.
65. DOWNSPOUT - The vertical portion of a rainwater conductor.
66. DRAIN - A sewer or other pipe or conduit used for conveying ground
water, surface water, storm water, or sewage.
67. DRAINAGE SYSTEM -The drainage pipes of a plumbing system take the
water from the plumbing fixtures and deliver it to the sewer or some
other outlet. The drainage pipes must be gas-light, and water-light.
The passage of air, odors or vitamin from the sewer into the building
must be prevented.
68. DRY VENT - A vent that does not carry liquid or water- borne wastes.
69. DUAL VENT - An arrangement of venting so installed that one vent pipe
will serve two (2) traps also called as unit vent.
70. DURHAM SYSTEM – a term to describe soil or waste system where all
pipings are of threaded pipe, tubing or other such rigid construction
using recessed drainage fittings to correspond to the types of piping.
71. EXISTING WORK - The term shall apply to those portions of plumbing
system which have been installed and approved prior to the
contemplated additions, collections, or corrections. The on-going
installation of the plumbing system or any part thereof which has
been installed prior to the effectivity of this code.
72. EFFECTIVE OPENING – minimum cross-sectional area at the point of water
supply discharge measured or expressed in terms of (1) diameter of a
circle (2) opening is not circular, the diameter of a circle of
equivalent cross-sectional area.
73. FAMILY - is one person living alone or a group of two (2) or more
persons living together, whether related to each other by birth or
not.
74. FAUCET - A valve on a water pipe by means of which water can be drawn
from or held within the pipe. The valve is placed on the end of the
pipe.
75. FERRULE - A metallic sleeve, called or otherwise, joined to an
opening in a pipe, into which a plug is screwed that can be removed
for the purpose of cleaning or examining the interior of the pipe.
76. FIXTURE - A receptacle attached to a plumbing system other than a
trap in which water or wastes may be collected or retained for
ultimate discharge into the plumbing system.
77. FIXTURE BRANCH - The supply pipe between the fixture and the water
distributing pipe.
78. FIXTURE DRAIN - The drain from the trap of a fixture to the junction
of the drain with any other drain pipe.
79. FIXTURE SUPPLY – is water supply pipe connecting the fixture with the
fixture branch.
80. 1 FIXTURE UNIT - One fixture unit is equivalent to a flow rate of (1)
cu. ft/min. or seven and a half (71/2) gallons of water per minute or
28.3 lit/min.

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81. FLASHING - A piece of sheet metal fitted under another piece of flat
metal or wood over which water is expected to run.
82. FLOOD LEVEL - The level in a fixture at which water begins to
overflow the top or rim of the fixture.
83. FLOOD LEVEL RIM – is the top of a receptacle from where water
overflows.
84. FLOOR AREA - The area included within surrounding walls of a building
(or portion thereof), exclusive of vent shafts and courts.
85. FLUSH VALVE – is a device located at the bottom of the tank for the
purpose of flushing water closet and similar fixtures.
86. FLUSH TANK – a tank located above or integral with the water closet,
urinal or similar fixtures for flushing or removing excrements in the
fixtures.
87. FLUSHOMETER VALVE – is device which discharges a predetermined
quantity of water to the fixture for flushing purposes activated by
direct water pressure.
88. GATE VALVE - A valve in which the flow of water is cut off by means
of a circular disk, fitting against machine-smoothed faces, at 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. Vis
89. GLOBE VALVE - A valve in which the flow of water is cut off by means
of a circular disk that fits against the horizontal valve seat. The
plane of movement of the disk is parallel to the normal direction of
flow of water, which is turned through a tortuous passage to direct
the flow normal to the face of the disk.
90. GOOSENECK - A return bend of small-sized pipe one end of which is
about one (1) foot long and the other end is about three (3) inches
long. It is commonly used as a faucet for a pantry sink. Also, the
term means the flexible tubing connection between a service pipe and
a water main.
91. GRADE - The slope or fall of a line of pipe in reference to a
horizontal plane usually expressed in percent, also known as Pitch.
92. GROUND WATER - The water that is standing in or passing through the
ground.
93. GROUP VENT - A branch vent that performs its function for two (2) or
more traps.
94. GREASE INTERCEPTOR – interceptor of 3 cum capacity
95. GREASE TRAP – device to retain grease from 1 to 4 fixtures (maximum)
96. HEIGHT OF BUILDING - The vertical distance from the “Grade Line” to
the highest point of the coping of a flat roof or to the deck line of
a attic roof or to the average height of the highest gable of a pitch
or hip-roof.
97. HORIZONTAL BRANCH - A branch drain extending laterally from soil or
waste stack, with or without vertical sections or branches, that
receives the discharge from one or more fixture drains and conducts
it to the soil or waste stack or to the building drain.
98. HORIZONTAL PIPE – Means any pipe or fitting which makes an angle of
more than 45 deg from the vertical.
99. HOUSE DRAIN - is that part of the lowest horizontal piping of a
plumbing system which receives the discharge from soil, waste, and

5
 other drainage pipes inside of a building conveys it to the house
sewer.
100. HOUSE SEWER – is that part of a plumbing system extending from the
house drain at a point 0.6m 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 one building site.
101. HOUSE STORM SEWER - A is the pipeline from the building to the
public storm sewer system.
102. HUBLESS PIPE – are cast iron soil pipes with plain ends connected
together with bolted stainless-steel bands and neoprene gaskets.
103. INDIRECT WASTE PIPE – is a pipe that does not connect directly with
the building drainage system but discharges into a plumbing
fixtures, interceptor or receptacle directly connected to the
drainage system.
104. INDIVIDUAL VENT – is a pipe installed to vent a fixture trap ad
which connects with the vent system above the fixture served or
terminates in the open air. This is sometimes called Back Vent and
Revent.
105. INDUSTRIAL WASTES - are liquid waste resulting from the processes
employed in industrial establishments and are free from fecal
matter.
106. I.P.S. – Iron Pipe Size
107. INSANITARY - Contrary to sanitary principles or injurious to health.
108. INTERCEPTOR - A receptacle designed and constructed to intercept or
separate, and prevent the passage of oil, grease, sand, or other
materials into the drainage system to which it is directly or
indirectly connected.
109. INVERT - The lowest portion of the inside of any pipe conduit that
is not vertical.
110. LATERAL - In plumbing, a secondary pipe line. In average, a common
sewer to which no other common sewer is tributary, receives sewage
only from building sewers.
111. LATRINE - A water closet consisting of a continuous trough
containing water. The trough extends under two (2) or more adjacent
seats. Prohibited by most authorities for permanent installations.
112. LAVATORY - A fixture designed for the washing of the hands or face.
Sometimes called a wash basin.
113. LEACHING CESSPOOL – A cesspool that is not watertight.
114. LEADER - A vertical pipe to convey rain water or a pipe connected
from building gutter to the downspout & conductor.
115. LENGTH OF PIPE - measured along its centerline.
116. LIQUID WASTE – is discharge from any fixture, appliance or appurtenance
in connection with plumbing system which does not receive fecal matter.
117. LOCAL VENT - A pipe or shaft serving to convey foul air from a
plumbing fixture or a room to the outer air.
118. LOOPED OR CIRCUIT VENT - A continuation of a horizontal soil or
waste pipe beyond the connection at which liquid wastes from a
fixture or fixtures enter the waste or soil pipe. The extension is
usually vertical immediately beyond its connection to the soil or
waste pipe. The base of the vertical portion of the vent may be
connected to the horizontal portion of the soil or waste stack
between fixtures connected thereto.

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 119. MAIN - is the principal artery of the system, to which branches may
be connected.
120. MAIN SEWER – is a sewer line or system directly controlled by public
authority.
121. MAIN VENT – is the principal artery of venting system to which vent
branches may be connected.
122. MANHOLE - An opening constructed in a sewer or any part of a
plumbing system of sufficient size for a, and to gain access
thereto.
123. MASTER PLUMBER - A person with knowledge of and experience in
plumbing who employs journeymen plumbers or who conducts a plumbing
business.
124. NAMPAP – National Master Plumbers of the Philippines
125. OAKUM - Hemp or old hemp rope soaked in oil to make it waterproof.
126. OFFSET – in a line of piping is a combination of elbows or bends, which
brings one section of the pipe out of line but into a line parallel
with the original section.
127. OCCUPANCY - is the purpose for which a building is used or intended
to be used. The term shall also include the building or room housing
such use. Change of Occupancy is not intended to include change of
tenants or proprietors.
128. PERSON - A natural person, his heirs, executors, administrators,
it’s or their successor or assigns, or the agent of any of the
aforesaid.
129. PITCH - The slope or fall of a line of pipe in reference to a
horizontal plane usually expressed in percent or grade.
130. PLUMBING - The art and technique of installing in buildings the
pipes, fixtures, and other apparatuses for bringing in the water
supply, liquids, substances or ingredients and removing them and
such water, liquid, and other carried-wastes affecting health and
sanitation and hazardous to life and property; also, the pipes and
fixtures after they have been installed, i.e., the plumbing system.
131. PLUMBING FIXTURE - A receptacle attached to a plumbing system other
than a trap in which water or
wastes may be collected or retained for ultimate discharge into the
plumbing system.
132. PLUMBING SYSTEM - system of a building, institution,, factory or
industrial establishment, includes the water-supply, liquids,
substances and or ingredients distributing pipes; and those pipes
removing them and such water, liquid, and other carried-wastes; the
fixtures and fixture traps; the soil, waste, and vent
pipes; the house drain, the foundation drain, and the house sewer;
the storm-water drainage; drainage ejectors, all with their devices,
appurtenances, and connections within or on a building, a factory, or
an industry.
133. PLUMBING OFFICIAL - The authority or the officer charged with the
administration and enforcement of the National Plumbing Code, or his
regularly authorized deputy.
134. PLUMBING UNIT – a minimum standard quantity of plumbing fixtures
that discharge wastes into a plumbing installation including: 1
water meter, 1 water closet, 1 lavatory, 1 shower head and drain or
a bathtub or shower stall, 1 kitchen sink, 1 laundry tray, 3 floor
drains and 4 faucet/hose/bibb.
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 135. POTABLE WATER - is water which is satisfactory for drinking,
culinary, domestic purposes and meets the requirements of the health
authority having jurisdiction the Philippine National Standards for
Drinking Water.
136. POLLUTION – known as Low Hazard
137. POLYETHYLENE (PE)– the cross-sectional shape is circular and is denoted
by its outside diameter or O.D. also known as P.E.
138. POLYBUTYLENE (PB)– 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, also known as P.B.
139. POLYVINYL CHLORIDE (PVC)– potable water pipings are color-coded BLUE,
also known as PVC.
140. PRIMARY BRANCH - branch of the building drain is the single sloping
drain from the base of a stack to its junction with the main
building drain or with another branch thereof.
141. PRIVATE OR PRIVATE USE - applies to fixtures in a residence where
the fixtures are intended for the use of a family or an individual.
142. PRIVATE SEWER - is a sewer privately owned and not directly
controlled by public authority.
143. PRIVY - An outhouse or structure used for the deposition of
excrement.
144. PRIVY VAULT - A pit beneath a privy in which excrement collects.
145. PUBLIC OR PUBLIC USE - In the classification of plumbing fixtures,
public applies to fixtures in general toilet rooms of schools,
gymnasiums, hotels, railroad stations, public buildings, bars, public
comforts stations, or places to which the public is invited or which
are frequented by the public without special permission or special
invitation, and other installations (whether pay or free) where a
number of fixtures are installed so that their use is similarly
unrestricted.
146. PUBLIC SEWER - is a common sewer directly controlled by public
authority to which all abutters have equal rights of connections.
Also known as Main Sewer.
147. RELIEF VENT - is a vent the primary function of which is to provide
circulation of air between drainage and vent system. Acts as
auxiliary vent (yoke vent)
148. REPAIR - The reconstruction or renewal of any part of an existing
building for the purpose of its maintenance.
149. RETURN BEND - usually with inside threads, but applied also to a one
hundred eighty (180 degree) bend in a pipe.
150. REVENT PIPE - This is sometimes called an individual vent or back
vent pipe.
151. RISER - A water supply pipe that extends vertically one full story or
more to convey water to branches or fixtures.
152. ROUGHING-IN - The installation of all pipes in the plumbing system
that are in partitions and under floors. It includes the plumbing
work done before the setting of the fixtures, or finishing.
153. RIM – an unobstructed top open edge of a fixture.
154. SANITARY SEWAGE - The sewage containing human excrement and liquid
household waste; also called domestic sewage.
155. SANITARY SEWER - A sewer intended to receive sanitary sewage with or
without industrial wastes and without the admixture of surface water,
storm water, or drainage.
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156. SEAL - The vertical distance between the dip and the crown weir of a
trap. Also, the water in the trap between the dip and the crown weir.
157. SECONDARY BRANCH - A branch in a building drain other than the
primary branch.
158. SEEPAGE PIT – a loosely line 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.
159. SEPTIC TANK - is a watertight receptacle, which receives the
discharge of a plumbing system or part thereof, and is designed and
constructed so as to separate solids from the liquid digest the
organic matter through a period of detention, and allow the effluent
to discharge into a storm drain; or directly to the ground outside
the tank through a system of open joint or perforated piping.
160. SERVICE PIPE - The pipe from the street water main or source of water
supply to the building served.
161. SEWAGE - any waste water containing animal or vegetable matter in
suspension or solution and may include liquids containing chemicals in
solution. The liquid wastes conducted away from residences, business
buildings, institutions, industrial establishments; and with such
ground, surface, and storm water as may be present.
162. SEWER - A pipe or conduit for carrying sewage and waste liquids.
163. SEWERAGE, OR SEWERAGE WORKS - A comprehensive term, including all
construction for collection, transportation, pumping, treatment and
final disposition of sewage.
164. SHAFT - A vertical opening through a building for elevators, dumb-
waiter, ventilation or similar purpose.
165. SHALL - As used in this Code, is mandatory.
166. SHIELDED COUPLING – a approved elastomeric sealing gasket with an
approved outer shield and a tightening mechanism.
167. SIAMESE CONNECTION - A wye connection used on fire lines so that two
lines of hose may be connected to hydrant or to the same nozzle. The
inlet fitting of a fire standpipe located above ground level.
168. SIPHONAGE. - A suction by the flow of liquids in pipes. A pressure
less than atmospheric.
169. SIDE VENT – is a vent connecting to the drain pipe through a fitting at
an angle not greater than 45 deg to the vertical.
170. SLIP JOINT – an adjustable tubing connection, consisting of a
compression nut, a friction ring, and a compression washer. Designed to
fit a threaded adapter fitting or a standard taper pipe thread.
171. SOIL PIPE - is any pipe which conveys the discharge of water closets,
urinals, or fixtures having similar functions. Also, a cast-iron
pipe, with bell and spigot ends, used in plumbing to convey fecal
matter or liquid wastes.
172. SOIL STACK PIPE - A vertical soil pipe conveying fecal matter and
liquid waste.
173. SOLDERED JOINT – pipe joint obtaining by joining metal parts with
metallic mixtures or alloy which melt at temperature below 427 C and
above 149 C.
174. SPIGOT - The end of a pipe, which fits into a bell. Also, a word used
synonymously with faucet.
175. STACK - A general term used for any vertical line of soil, waste, or
vent piping. A vertical main of a system of soil, waste or vent

9
 pipings extending through one or more stories and extended thru the
roof.
176. STACK GROUP – is a term applied to the location of fixtures in relation
to the stack so that by means of proper fittings, vent maybe reduced to
minimum.
177. STACK VENT - is the extension of a soil or waste stack above the
highest horizontal drain connected to the stack.
178. STACK VENTING – is a method of venting a fixture through the soil or
waste stack.
179. STANDPIPE - A vertical pipe usually used for the storage of water,
frequently under pressure.
180. STORM WATER - is that portion of the rainfall or other precipitation,
which runs off over the surface after the storm and for such a short
period following a storm as the flow exceeds the normal runoff.
181. STORY - is that portion of a building included between the upper
surface of any floor and the upper surface of the floor next above,
except that the topmost story shall be that portion of a building of
a building included between the upper surface of the topmost floor
and the ceiling or roof above. If the finished floor level directly
above a basement or cellar is more than six (6) feet above grade such
basement or cellar shall be considered a story.
182. SUBSOIL DRAIN - are underground drain pipes that receives only sub-
surface or seepage water and convey it to place of disposal.
183. SUMP – an approved tank or pit which receives sewage or wastewater
and is located below the normal grade of the gravity system and must
be emptied by mechanical means.
184. SUPPORTS - hangers, anchors, brackets, cradles are devices for
holding and securing pipes and fixtures to walls, ceiling, floors, or
structural members.
185. SURFACE WATER - is that portion of a rainfall or other precipitation
which runs off over the surface of the ground.
186. SWIMMING POOL - A water receptacle used for swimming designed to
accommodate more than one bather at time and properly connected to a
disposal system.
187. TAIL PIECE – the pipe or tubing that connects the outlet of a plumbing
fixture to the trap.
188. TAPED TEE - A cast-iron bell-end tee with the branch tapped to
receive a threaded pipe or fittings.
189. TRAP - A fitting or device so constructed as to prevent the passage
of air, gas, and some vermin through a pipe without materially
affecting the flow of sewage or waste water through it.
190. TRAP ARM – that portion of a fixture drain between a trap and the vent.
191. TRAP SEAL – the maximum vertical depth of liquid that a trap will
retain measured between the crown weir and the top of dip of the
trap.
192. UNIT VENT - An arrangement of venting so installed that one vent pipe
will serve two (2) traps.
193. VACUUM - An air pressure less than that atmospheric. Also, siphonage.
194. VACUUM BREAKER – a device or means to prevent flow of liquid from
returning to the source supply.
195. VENT PIPE - A pipe or opening used to ensuring the circulation of air
in plumbing system and for reducing the pressure exerted on trap
seals.
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196. VENT STACK – is a vertical pipe installed primarily for the purpose of
circulation of air to different parts of the drainage system.
197. VENT SYSTEM – is a pipe or pipes installed to provide flow or
circulation of air within the plumbing system to protect trap seals
siphoning and back pressure.
198. VERTICAL PIPE – is a pipe installed in a vertical position or at an
angle not more than 45 deg with the vertical.
199. WET VENT – that portion of a vent pipe through where wastewater also
flows through.
200. WET STANDPIPE – a vertical pipe, or a reservoir, into which water is
pumped to give it at a head, as classified; A water pressure is
maintained at all times.
201. WELDED JOINT OR SEAM – obtained by joining of metal parts in a plastic
in a molten state.
202. WASTE PIPE - is a pipe, which conveys only liquid waste, free of
fecal matter.
203. WATER DISTRIBUTING PIPE – is a pipe that conveys water from the water
service pipe to the plumbing fixtures and other water outlets.
204. WATER MAIN – Street main is the water supply pipe for public or
community use.
205. WATER SERVICE PIPE – is the pipe from water main or other source of
water supply to the building served.
206. WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM – consist of water service pipe, water distributing
pipes and necessary connecting pipes, fitting, control valves and all
appurtenance in or adjacent to the building or premises.
207. WATER TREATMENT – is a device which conditions or treats water supply
to improve water quality, remove suspended solids by filtration.
208. WYE – a pipe fitting of three branches that form the letter “Y”.
209. YARD - A yard is an open, unoccupied space, other than a court,
unobstructed from the ground to the sky, except where specifically
provide by this Code, on the lot on which a building is situated.
210. YOKE VENT – a pipe connecting upward from a solid or waste stack below
the floor and below horizontal connection to an adjacent vent stack at a
point above the floor and highest spill level of fixtures for preventing
pressure changes in the stacks.

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