DRAIN AND VENT PIPE

DESIGN
Drainage Fixture Units
● The draining rate for plumbing fixtures is based upon the drainage
fixture unit (DFU).
● Similar to the water supply fixture unit introduced in Chapter 13,
the DFU is an arbitrarily chosen measure that allows all of types of
plumbing fixtures to be expressed in common terms; that is, a
fixture having twice the instantaneous drainage flow rate of a
second fixture would have a fixture unit value twice as large.
● The WSFU and DFU may differ slightly for a single fixture, because
the rates of filling and draining are different.
Design Approach
● The approach used to size drain and vent lines relies on tabular
information found in code.
● Table 14.2 indicates the maximum load in DFU and maximum pipe length
for a given pipe diameter.
● The minimum pipe diameter is based on the total connected DFU.
● In the case of vent lines, maximum developed length for a given pipe is
also a criterion.
● Developed length is the “centerline” length of the lines, excluding traps
and trap arms.
● It is important to ensure that a larger pipe diameter does not flow into a
pipe having a smaller diameter.
● Traps and trap arms are sized based on a specific type of fixture. Refer to
Table 14.1 for minimum trap sizes. Some fixtures such as urinals and water
closets have integral traps built into the fixture so trap size does not need
to be specified.
Example 14.1
The following number and type of plumbing fixtures serve two apartment
units: two bathtubs, two water closets, two lavatories, and two kitchen
sinks. Assume the horizontal fixture branch serving these fixtures flows into
the waste stack. Assume the vent stack extends through the roof and is 22
ft long. Determine the minimum pipe diameter required for the horizontal
fixture branch, waste stack, and vent stack.

From Table 14.1, the DFU values for the plumbing fixtures are extracted.
DFU are then totaled:

● 2 Bathtubs (2 DFU each) 4

● 2 Water closets—flush tank (4 DFU each) 8
● 2 Lavatories (1 DFU each) 2
● 2 Kitchen sinks (2 DFU each) 4
For the horizontal fixture branch, from Table 14.2, a 3-in diameter pipe
is selected. A 3-in diameter pipe used as a horizontal fixture branch can
serve up to 20 DFU.

For the waste stack, from Table 14.2, a 2½ in diameter pipe can be
selected but the 3 in diameter horizontal fixture branch would then flow
into a smaller pipe. A 3 in diameter waste stack is a prudent choice.

For the vent stack, from Table 14.4a, a 2 in diameter pipe is selected,
based on a 3 in diameter soil and waste stack and a capacity of up to
30 DFU.
Example 14.2
The following number and type of plumbing fixtures serve six apartment units
with two apartments on each floor: six bathtubs, six water closets, six
lavatories, and six kitchen sinks. Assume horizontal fixture branches serving
these fixtures flow into the waste stack at three locations (three intervals), two
apartments per interval. Assume the building drain is sloped at ¼ in per ft and
the vent stack extends through the roof and is 42 ft long. Determine the
minimum pipe diameter required for the horizontal fixture branches, waste
stack, building drain, and main vent stack.
● 6 Bath tubs (2 DFU each) 12
● 6 Water closets—flush tank (4 DFU each) 24
● 6 Lavatories (1 DFU each) 6
● 6 Kitchen sinks (2 DFU each) 12

Total DFU: 54
For the horizontal fixture branch, from Table 14.2, a 3 in diameter pipe is
selected. A 3 in diameter pipe used as a horizontal fixture branch can serve
up to 20 DFU. Two apartment units have two bathtubs, two water closets,
two lavatories, and two kitchen sinks—a total of 18 DFU (see Example 14.2)

For the waste stack, from Table 14.2, a 4 in diameter waste stack is selected.
A 3 in diameter pipe used as a waste stack can serve up to 240 DFU.

For the building drain, from Table 14.3, a 4 in diameter pipe is required. A 4
in diameter pipe used as a building drain can serve up to 216 DFU at a slope
of 1 ⁄4 in/ft.

For the vent stack, from Table 14.4a, a 21 ⁄2 in diameter pipe is selected,
based on a 4 in diameter soil and waste stack, a capacity of up to 100 DFU,
and a developed length of 42 ft.
SYSTEM INSTALLATION
● On a small project, the drainage piping typically varies in size from 1½ to 4 in. It
can be much larger in large hotels, apartments, and office buildings. This larger
size of pipe often requires special provisions in wall width or furred-out areas.
● Poured concrete slabs will require that the plumbing layout be carefully
considered. The pipes need to be placed in the ground before the slab is poured,
so accurate placement is crucial. Typically, both the water supply and drainage
pipes are laid out next to each other, as they go to the same areas of the
building.
● Many times, they are planned so they will come up in a wall. However, the tub,
shower, and water closet piping will need to be placed in the exact location where
the fixture is to go.
● All piping must be carefully located and the system checked for leaks before the
concrete is poured because any relocation or repairs of pipes would be costly.
● On larger projects with concrete walls and ceilings, it is usually
necessary to provide sleeves (holes) in the concrete for the pipes to
pass through to get from space to space. It will also be necessary to
provide inserts and hangers to support the pipes.
● The open spaces provided in truss-type construction make it easier to
run piping through to the desired location. The only points of difficulty
would be where it needs to pass by ductwork or some other large pipe
that is going in the opposite direction. This will require coordination
with the contractor installing any heating, air conditioning, or
ventilating ductwork.
● There are times when the width of a wall needs to be increased to
allow for pipes running horizontally to pass by drainage pipes (or
other pipes) running vertically.
● Pipe chases run from floor to floor to allow stacks and vents to pass
vertically between floors.
● Pipe tunnels may be used on large projects to provide concealed
space for the passage of mechanicals at ground level and from
building to building. Hangers from the top or side of the tunnel are
used to support the pipes. Access may be from either end of the
tunnel or access floors may be provided.
Drain pipe sizing using
Philippine Code
Section 703- SIZE OF DRAINAGE PlPlNG
703.1 The minimum sizes of vertical and/or horizontal drainage piping
shall be determined from the total of all fixture units connected thereto,
and additional, in the case of vertical drainage pipes, in accordance with
their height or length.

703.2 Table 7.5 shows the maximum number of fixture units allowed on
any vertical or horizontal drainage pipe, building drain or building sewer
of a given size, the maximum number of fixture units allowed on any
branch interval of a given size, the maximum length meters of any
vertical drainage pipe of a given size.
Example
Determine the diameter of the horizontal, vertical and vent pipe that
serve 2 water closets (private), 2 lavatories and 2 floor drain. Determine
the maximum length of the vertical pipe and the vent pipe.

Solution

From table 7-2 of the National Plumbing Code

2 Water Closet x 4 DFU = 8 DFU

2 Lav x 1 DFU = 2 DFU

2 FD x 2 DFU = 4 DFU

TOTAL = 14 DFU
From table 7-5 of the National Plumbing Code

Vertical pipe = 76 mm ( 3 in )

Horizontal Pipe = 76 mm ( 3 in )

Vent Pipe = 51 mm ( 2 in )
● Diameter of vent should not be less than 32 mm.
● Diameter of vent should not be less than ½ of drain pipe it is
connected:

76/2 = 38 mm

Maximum length of Vertical pipe is: 65 m

Maximum length of Vent pipe is: 37m