Clash Detection in BIM Modeling

8/18/2019 Clash Detection in BIM Modeling

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Building Information Modeling (BIM)

Building Information Modeling, or BIM as it is most commonly referred to, may be the single

most misunderstood term in the AEC industry. For starters, the word “Building” in the

acronym needs to be droed because the rocess refers to a lot more than !ust wor"ing

within the building en#eloe. Aside from my disli"e of the title, I thin" BIM really is a

brilliant concet and it is the ne$t ste in the e#olution of the design industry.

%hat being said, I still hear eole as" that most basic &uestion' what is BIM, really(

)ell, ut simly BIM is a rocess for integrating intelligent *+ models of e#ery asect of a

design into a single model from which you can e$tract ridiculous amounts of data. In other

words, you build e#ery single comonent of your ro!ect, down to the most e$acting detail

ossible, within a #irtual en#ironment to ensure that all your materials and comonents

wor" the way you want, long before you run into roblems in the field that you might ha#e

o#erloo"ed in a traditional + design en#ironment.

-ow, you may be thin"ing thats a good thing for /eneral Contractors and Architects, but is

it really imortant to the rest of us( After all, we#e been designing in + for centuries and

its wor"ed fine so far. 0ow does BIM benefit transortation or landscaing firms( )heres

the benefit for ME1 or geotechnical fol"s( )ell, the truth is that e#ery single design industry

can rea imortant benefits from BIM if they emloy it roerly. Moreo#er, youre going to

find #ery soon that if you are not BIM caable, youre going to be out of the running for any

ublic wor"s ro!ects you may want to bid on. More and more caital ro!ects in the ublic

sector are demanding BIM models of the wor" to be sulied to the client as art of thedeli#erables for the !ob.

2nce that haens, ri#ate wor" wont be far behind and you may find yourself unable to

land any wor" at all unless you can build a BIM model.

-ow, that may seem li"e a daunting as" at first, but the truth is that most firms already

ha#e the caability to do so, though they may not reali3e it. For years now, most of us ha#e

been using design ac"ages such as Ci#il *+, 4e#it, and Infra)or"s, etc.

•

Bim Construction• Bim CA+

• Bim Building

• Bim 4e#it

• Bim Architecture

)e use them for their intelligent design caabilities and many of us dont reali3e that our

nati#e design ob!ects, li"e walls, surfaces, and corridors are the basic comonents of a BIM

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order. Finding these inconsistencies is #ital, as they would se#erely imact the construction

rocess, causing delays, design changes, materials costs and a cascade of headaches and

budget o#erruns.

Clash detection is not new; it??@ accurate.

%he ad#ent of true BIM modeling included the integration of clash detection search

caabilities in the software, which tremendously enhanced the rocess, both in terms of

seed and accuracy. %hese methods actually ha#e been borrowed from the gaming

community, where 9collision detection9 has been a feature of #irtual reality for a long time.

Can


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clash. Elements that ha#e a low li"elihood of clashing use the faster methods, while ob!ects,

such as floor and ceiling beams, use the more accurate geometries, otimi3ing the rocess

for both seed and accuracy.

Clash detection in BIM modeling loo"s for three classes of clashes'

• 0ard Clash

• =oft ClashClearance Clash• :+)or"flow Clash

Hard cla! is e$actly what it seems; two ob!ects occuying the same sace' a beam where

a lumbing run is designed, a column running right through a wall. =imle stuff. But BIM

modeling hard clash detection brings not only geometry based detection, but semantic and

rule5based detection algorithms, due to the embedded information in the BIM modeling

ob!ects. /eometry based clash detection will return a clash for e#ery recessed ceiling light,

or a ie running through a wall. But clash detection rules based on embedded ob!ect data

can eliminate these common mista"es. %he le#el of detail in BIM modeling is e$tremely

imortant for the accuracy and efficacy of clash detection. =o are selection sets, which allow

a BIM modeling user to run clash detection between secific subsets of a model, such as

ME1 against !ust ceilings, or structural against !ust walls.

Soft Cla!"Clearance refers to ob!ects that demand certain satial6geometric tolerances

or buffers ha#ing ob!ects within their buffer 3one for access, insulation, maintenance or

safety. =oft clashes are one of the real a#enues where BIM modeling clash detection has

brought new caability to the rocess. Custom 9soft clash9 detection can go as far as

chec"ing comonents for building code adherence, based, of course, on a robust ob!ect data

oulation.

#D"$or%flo& cla! detection refers to the ability of a BIM modeling ro!ect to resol#e

scheduling clashes for wor" crews, e&uiment6materials fabrication and deli#ery clashes and

other ro!ect timeline issues.

After running clash detection scan, there are usually many dulicate instances of the same

clash. A lumbing line running through wide5flange beams will show u as clashes,

though in reality it


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modeling design software to integrate multile, non5rorietary models. %he norm, howe#er,

is that different discilines of the design and construction team will do their wor" on

different software latforms. %he structural team may be using %e"la, the architectural

model may be built using 4e#it, the electrical contractor may use Bentley, and the 0GAC

engineers may deloy /rahisoft. %hese alications do not sea" directly to each other and

so cannot alert one another that clashes occur. =o instance D ma"es the most sense and

also generally has more owerful and sohisticated clash detection tools. 0owe#er, the

drawbac" of most BIM integration software is that clashes cannot be fi$ed within the

integrated model. Interoerability issues render this software mostly one5way. Models can

be imorted, but not altered and e$orted. As the non5rorietary, oen5secification

interoerability IFC model secification gains more credence, this issue will be resol#ed.

%he imortance of clash detection in BIM modeling is hard to o#erstate. It has been

estimated that, industry5wide, each identified clash sa#es about H>,??? on a ro!ect. 2n

large ro!ects, ???5*??? clashes are not unusual. %hat


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Clash detection and coordination, though is not an entirely new concet has gain an imetus

in the recent years. It has in#ariably layed an imortant role in lowering down theconstruction costs. It hels in limiting the huge budgets and a#erts the unnecessary and

e$ensi#e delays.

Jnli"e manual rocesses, where charts and drawings are o#erlaid a light table to find the

clashes; *+ grahics allows one to e$amine the intrinsic detection of clashes, at the earliest

stages. 0ence, early *+ may be close to >??@ accurate.

Moreo#er, clash detection and coordination hels one to find the incomatible and

inconsistencies much before the actual construction begins. 0ence, it in a way it lays a

crucial role in a#oiding delays, sa#es time and resources. /enerally; the rocess is di#ided

into three tyes and each has its own significance.

Let4 ee t!ee t!ree different %ind of cla!e and !o& detecting t!em at an earl-

tage 'enefit3

Hard cla!

%his "ind of clash is said to occur with two ob!ects are ta"ing u the same sace. Kets say a

beam which is going through a lumbing run is designed. %his information is entered in the

BIM modeling ob!ects.

0ard clash will ro#ide you the detection based on the geometrical as well as on semantic

and rule5based algorithms.

=uch clash recognition will create the clash ossibilities for e#ery lower ceiling light, or a

ie assing through a wall. %he le#el of detail and selection sets the stage for accurate and

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effecti#e BIM clash detection, as it is erformed amid a secific number of subsets of a

model.

Soft Cla!"Clearance Cla!

=oft clash indicates that the ob!ect needs more ositi#e satial6geometric tolerances, saces

and buffers within their buffer 3one for better accessibility, insulation, maintenance and

safety.

=oft clash generates no#el oortunities where BIM modeling clash detection creates new

ossibility to the method. Customi3ed “soft clash” detection is generally alied to test

elements for building code adherence.

#D"$or%flo& Cla!

)ith :+6)or"flow clash detection method, you can determine scheduling clashes for the

crews, e&uiment6materials fabrication deli#ery clashes. Moreo#er, other ro!ect timeline

issues can be e$amined and ercei#ed using a BIM modeling ro!ect.

)raing it u, with these different tyes of BIM Clash and coordination; one can ensure an

error5less, consistent and technical erfect design which can lead to an effecti#e

construction.

B5ILDIN6 DESI6N AND CONST75CTION 87OCESS 9 STE8 B STE8

4easonable eole may disagree, but here are the se&uential stes in designing and

building an A+J. %his is an aro$imation of the stes for my A+J ro!ect, anyway. %his

was for an A+J built in 1ortland, 2regon. =lab on grade, stic" frame constructionLretty

standard A+J construction for this area.

Deign 8roce

• Funding

• Brainstorm with other funder6e$ecutors

• %al" to City 1lanner

• 4ough s"etch some ideas with e$ecutors6friends

• %al" to neighbors

• Integrated +esign 1rocess

• Inter#iew architects test them with some small sace design &uestions' eg. )hat

are a coule things that you would do to ma"e a small sace feel and act bigger( tall

ceilings, !oin li#ing6dining room, high windows, couling functionality

• Find builders and subs ideally, you want to ha#e identified a builder, lumber,

mechanical, electrical subcontractor

• Architect draws u schematics for consideration

• 0a#e meeting5 tal" through design goals

• =chematic refinement

• *+ model use ="etchJD


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• +e#elo drawings for City

• 1ermit rocess5 In 1ortland, rocessing ta"es >? days for new construction, then

another >? days for corrections

• 1ermits see searate ost about design and ermittingD

Construction 1rocess

• Brea" /round

• E$ca#ation• Foundation

• Concrete Forms

• 1our Foundation )all

• Concrete =lab 1our

• /ra#el

• )ater Barrier

• 4igid Foam

• 4ebar and 1E tubing for radiant floor heatingD

• 1our Concrete for =lab

• Jtilities

• =ewer, Electrical, )ater, /as

• Framing

• Balloon Framing

• =heathing

• 4oof

• =tairs

• )indows

• 4oofing

• )eather 4esistant Barrier

• 4ain =creen

• 4ough 1lumbing

• Mechanical =ytems

•

0GAC• Kighting and Electrical

• Ambient

• %as"

• Accent

• 1erimeter

• Air =ealing

• Insulation

• =ray Foam, Blown5in Insulation, or Batt Insulation

• +rywall

• =heetroc", Mudding, =anding, 1rimer

• =iding

• Flooring• %iling

• 1ainting

• Cabinets, =hel#ing

• Finish 1lumbing

• Finish Electrical and Kighting

• Certificate of 2ccuancy

• Modifications


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• Mo#ing In

Concet design

Concet design is the first true design stage. It is the creati#e resonse to the ro!ect

brief for the referred otion.

)hilst concet design may begin with the creati#e ideas of a single indi#idual, it is an

increasingly collaborati#e rocess that in#ol#es a team of designers and ad#isers coming

together, discussing otions, oortunities and constraints, and then searating to carry out

more detailed assessment. Inut from other members of the team will be re&uired on cost,

safety,buildability, rogramme, health and safety and so on, as well as consultation with

third arties such as the local lanning authority. =ecialist inut may be needed as the

concet de#elos and and so the design team may grow.

+uring the concet design stage, the consultant team will de#elo'

%he design concet.

2utline secifications.

=chedules of accommodation.

A lanning strategy.

%he cost lan.

1rocurement otions.

1rogramme and hasing strategy.

Buildability and construction logistics.

Constraints and oortunities

%he design will tend to be led by the architect see lead designerD, although there are

occasionally secialist ro!ects where it may be more aroriate for the design team to be

led by another consultant, for e$amle the ser#ices engineer on a highly5ser#iced building.

%he creati#e itself rocess is an Illusi#e one, and desite attemts to systematise it, it tends

not to follow fi$ed rules. A #ery broad descrition of the design rocess is one of di#ergence,

assessment and then con#ergence. A single thought e$ands into a myriad of ossibilities

that are de#eloed, assessed and comared, before they are rogressi#ely re!ected lea#ing

only the otimal solution remaining. %his means that much of the wor" that is underta"en is

aborted and it can sometimes seem to clients as if there has been little result for significant

e$enditure of fees. %his feeling can be e$acerbated by the fact that creati#e design tends

http://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concept_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concept_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Project_briefhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Project_briefhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concept_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Designershttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Buildabilityhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Health_and_safetyhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Local_planning_authorityhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Design_teamhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concept_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Consultant_teamhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Outline_specificationshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Cost_planhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Procurement_Optionshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Buildabilityhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Architecthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Lead_designerhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Design_teamhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Consultanthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Services_engineerhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Design_processhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Clientshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Feeshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concept_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concept_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Project_briefhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Project_briefhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concept_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Designershttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Buildabilityhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Health_and_safetyhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Local_planning_authorityhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Design_teamhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concept_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Consultant_teamhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Outline_specificationshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Cost_planhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Procurement_Optionshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Buildabilityhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Architecthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Lead_designerhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Design_teamhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Consultanthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Services_engineerhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Design_processhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Clientshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Fees


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to be an internal thought rocess that designers find difficult to e$ress. +esign in#ol#es

attemting to sol#e roblems that may be only loosely understood at the outset, and

solutions are not necessarily been reached by a urely logical rocess. %his can ma"e it

difficult for clients to assess roosals ob!ecti#ely, other than by comaring them to the

re&uirements set out in the brief, #erifying that designersha#e considered aroriate issues

see concet architectural design chec"list and design &ualityD and assessing #alue for

money.

%o a#oid surrises, it is imortant that the client is fully in#ol#ed in the concet

design rocess, and that whilst de#eloing the concet, the ro!ect brief also e#ol#es as the

both the client and the design team come to understand re&uirements and references

better. 2n large ro!ects this may in#ol#e identifying a number client Nchamions gi#en

resonsibility for monitoring the brief and design &uality within a secific area of the

ro!ect. Galue management e$ercises may be necessary where the cost of the e#ol#ing

design begins to e$ceed the budget.

At the end of the stage, the consultant team will reare a concet design reort for

the clientwhich records the basic design concets for the referred otion. %he concet

design reort will also identify any instructions re&uired from the client. %he ro!ect

brief should be fro3en on aro#al of the concet design and change control

rocedures introduced.

An alication for lanning ermission might be made during the concet design stage. %his

is li"ely to be an outline lanning alication if made at the beginning of the stage or

a detailed lanning alication if made once the concet design is comlete.

+etailed design

+etailed design sometimes referred to as design de#eloment or detailed

design and technical designD ta"es on and de#elos the aro#ed concet design.

By the end of this stage the design should describe all the main comonents of the building

and how they fit together, but the design will not ha#e been ac"aged for tender obtaining

rices fromcontractorsD. +etailed design should ro#ide sufficient information for

alications for statutory aro#als, such as building regulations aro#al, and may include

an alication for detailed lanning ermission if this has not already been done. %his is

li"ely to re&uire a rocess of consultation and negotiation with the local authority and

other sta"eholders and third arties see third art deendenciesD.

http://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Designershttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Clientshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Designershttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concept_architectural_design_checklisthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Design_qualityhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Value_for_moneyhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Value_for_moneyhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Clienthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concept_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concept_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Project_briefhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Clienthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Design_teamhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Clienthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Championshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Design_qualityhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Value_managementhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Budgethttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Consultant_teamhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concept_design_reporthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Clienthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concept_design_reporthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concept_design_reporthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Clienthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Project_briefhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Project_briefhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concept_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Change_control_procedureshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Change_control_procedureshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Planning_permissionhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concept_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Outline_planning_applicationhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Detailed_planning_applicationhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concept_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Detailed_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Detailed_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Design_developmenthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Detailed_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Detailed_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Technical_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concept_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Packagehttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Tenderhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Contractorshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Detailed_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Statutory_approvalshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Building_regulationshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Detailed_planning_permissionhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Local_authorityhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Stakeholdershttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Designershttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Clientshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Designershttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concept_architectural_design_checklisthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Design_qualityhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Value_for_moneyhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Value_for_moneyhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Clienthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concept_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concept_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Project_briefhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Clienthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Design_teamhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Clienthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Championshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Design_qualityhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Value_managementhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Budgethttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Consultant_teamhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concept_design_reporthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Clienthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concept_design_reporthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concept_design_reporthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Clienthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Project_briefhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Project_briefhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concept_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Change_control_procedureshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Change_control_procedureshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Planning_permissionhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concept_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Outline_planning_applicationhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Detailed_planning_applicationhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concept_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Detailed_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Detailed_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Design_developmenthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Detailed_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Detailed_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Technical_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concept_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Packagehttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Tenderhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Contractorshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Detailed_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Statutory_approvalshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Building_regulationshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Detailed_planning_permissionhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Local_authorityhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Stakeholders


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%he comleted detailed design should include'

2#erall layout.

4oad layouts and landscae.

2erational flows.

0ori3ontal and #ertical circulation routes.

=chedules of accommodation. Identification of standard and non5standard room layouts.

If aroriate, room data sheets.

Building dimensions and gridlines.

Architectural lans sections and ele#ations of buildings, arts of buildings and

comonents.

2utline secification including schedules of comonents, defining the erformance

and6or material standards re&uired including coloursD.

Elements of design that re&uire secialist inut or early choice of manufacturer.

4e&uirements for moc"5us, testing, samles or models necessary to satisfy

erformance or ublic relations re&uirements including comuter generated imagesD.

Oey assemblies, comonent drawings and schedules.

Initial schedules of finishes, doors and ironmongery, sanitary fittings, room numbers

and signage.

=tructural lans sections, ele#ations and secifications.

Building ser#ices lans, sections and ele#ations.

+efinition of hases if the ro!ect is to be hased.

=afety strategy.

Fire strategy.

Acoustic searation and acoustic conditions.

%he use of materials and the otential for re5use, recycling and waste handling.

+etailed cost lan showing the caital and lifecycle costs for all the comonents.

4is" assessment including oerational issues such as lifts, cleaning of atrium roofs

and facade etc.

=ee detailed design for more information.

Increasingly, detailed design in#ol#es inut from secialist designers. %hese may;

be contractorsor suliers aointed in the first instance to carry out design and

subse&uently to carry out the wor"s on site or to suly goods or ser#ices, or aointed by

the client to carry out design and then erhas to monitor wor"s on site, or sub5

http://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Detailed_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Roadhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Room_data_sheetshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Architecthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Elevationshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Outline_specificationhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Mock-upshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Sampleshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Component_drawinghttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Doorshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Ironmongeryhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Fittingshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Elevationshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Specificationshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Building_serviceshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Elevationshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Firehttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Recyclinghttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Cost_planhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Risk_assessmenthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Liftshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Detailed_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Detailed_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Specialist_designershttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Contractorshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Supplierhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Clienthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Sub-consultantshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Detailed_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Roadhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Room_data_sheetshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Architecthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Elevationshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Outline_specificationhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Mock-upshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Sampleshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Component_drawinghttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Doorshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Ironmongeryhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Fittingshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Elevationshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Specificationshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Building_serviceshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Elevationshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Firehttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Recyclinghttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Cost_planhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Risk_assessmenthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Liftshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Detailed_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Detailed_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Specialist_designershttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Contractorshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Supplierhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Clienthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Sub-consultants


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consultants to a member of the consultant team. =ee secialist designers for more

information. A design co5ordinator might be aointed to ensure roer integration and co5

ordination of secialist designs into the o#erall design.

As with the concet design stage, #alue management e$ercises may be necessary where the

cost of the e#ol#ing design begins to e$ceed the budget.

A detailed design reort should be reared for aro#al by the client before roceeding to

the ne$t stage.

1roduction information

%he roduction information stage is concerned with rearing the information that

thecontractorsD will need to construct the ro!ect. It should also include the comletion of

alications for statutory aro#als such as building regulations aro#al. %he &uality

of roduction information is e$tremely imortant. Jnless it is reared and co5ordinatedroerly, there will be disutes and delays on site, and unecessay costs will be incurred.

1roduction information may include'

+rawings location drawings, comonent drawings and dimensioned diagramsD.

=ecifications, design criteria and calculations.

Bills of &uantities or schedules of wor"..

Increasingly software is used to reare elements of roduction information such

as comuter aided design CA+D to reare drawings and rorietary systems for the

rearation of secifications. 4ecently, building information modelling BIMD has begun to

allow the automatic generation of all elements of roduction information from a single co5

ordinated model, resulting in a reduction in errors and so costs.

At the end of this stage, a roduction information reort should be reared for the clients

aro#al. %his is the last oortunity for the client to consider issues to do with the design

of the de#eloment before the tender rocess begins. It may also be the first time that

the client has seen drawings describing "ey comonents such as door handlesD, assemblies

and secialist items. As a result, the client may wish to issue the roduction information

reort or arts of itD for consideration to "ey users and erhas to their lawyer or

other indeendent client ad#isers. 2nce the main contractor has been aointed,

subse&uent changes can become #ery e$ensi#e.

http://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Sub-consultantshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Consultant_teamhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Specialist_designershttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concept_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Value_managementhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Budgethttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Detailed_design_reporthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Clienthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Production_informationhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Production_informationhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Contractorhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Statutory_approvalshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Building_regulationshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Production_informationhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Disputeshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Production_informationhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Drawingshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Drawingshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Component_drawinghttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Specificationshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Bills_of_quantitieshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Schedules_of_workhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Production_informationhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Computer_aided_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/CADhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Drawingshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Specificationshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Building_Information_Modellinghttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Bimhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Production_informationhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Production_information_reporthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Clienthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Clienthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Tender_processhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Clienthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Drawingshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Clienthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Production_information_reporthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Production_information_reporthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Independent_client_advisershttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Main_contractorhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Sub-consultantshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Consultant_teamhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Specialist_designershttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Concept_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Value_managementhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Budgethttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Detailed_design_reporthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Clienthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Production_informationhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Production_informationhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Contractorhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Statutory_approvalshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Building_regulationshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Production_informationhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Disputeshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Production_informationhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Drawingshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Drawingshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Component_drawinghttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Specificationshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Bills_of_quantitieshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Schedules_of_workhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Production_informationhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Computer_aided_designhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/CADhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Drawingshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Specificationshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Building_Information_Modellinghttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Bimhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Production_informationhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Production_information_reporthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Clienthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Clienthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Tender_processhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Clienthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Drawingshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Clienthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Production_information_reporthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Production_information_reporthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Independent_client_advisershttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Main_contractor


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2ngoing design de#eloment

)hen roduction information is comlete, the ro!ect can be tendered and

a contractor aointed to comlete the wor"s.

+esign may still be necessary, for e$amle, if it had not been ossible to comlete the

design of e#ery asect of the building before aointing the contractor, or if the ro!ect is

constructed in hases. %here may also need to be solutions de#eloed to roblems that

emerge on site.

2n different rocurement routes, such as construction management, the construction of

below ground wor"s such as foundations may begin before the design of the abo#e ground

wor"s is comlete. 0owe#er this are inherently ris"y and may lea#e the client e$osed to

additional costs.

+esign wor" also be carried out by the contractor, suliers and sub5contractors, but thisshould fall outside of the resonsibility of the main design team, unless co5ordination or

aro#al is re&uired.

Plumbing, Drain and Sewer Glossary

Definitions and explanations of common plumbing, drain and sewer

terms, tools, techniques and fixtures.

• ABS: Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene. A black plastic pipe used in plumbing for drains and

ents.

• Absorption Field: A leeching or seeping field engineered to receie septic tank effluent.

• Adjustable Hot Limit Stop: !estricts hot water output in single control faucets and showers

to protect against scalding by limiting the swing to the hot side.

• Aerator: A screen"like insert screwed onto a faucet outlet. #t mixes air with the flowing water

to reduce splashing.

http://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Design_developmenthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Production_informationhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Tenderhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Contractorhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Contractorhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Procurement_routehttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Construction_managementhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Foundationshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Clienthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Contractorhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Supplierhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Sub-contractorshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Design_teamhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Design_developmenthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Production_informationhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Tenderhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Contractorhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Contractorhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Procurement_routehttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Construction_managementhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Foundationshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Clienthttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Contractorhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Supplierhttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Sub-contractorshttp://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Design_team


14/63

• Air Admittance Valve: A plumbing deice that replaces a traditional ent to allow air to enter

the pipe and equali$e pressure, presering the seal of water in the fixture trap.

• Air Gap: #n the drainage system, the unobstructed ertical opening between the lowest

opening of a waste line and the flood leel of the deice into which it empties. #ts purpose isto preent backflow contamination.

• Auger (or Closet Auger): A bendable rod with cured end used by plumbers to remoe

clogs from a toilet%s trap.

• Bac !ressure: Pressure that resists the flow of fluid in a piping system.

• Bac Flo": &hen water traeling from one system backs into any part of the main

distribution system, usually by siphoning.

• Bac Flo" !reventer: A deice to preent back flow, especially into a potable water supply.

!equired for sprinkler systems, handheld showers, pullout faucet spouts, and kitchensprayers.

• Bacup: 'erflow of a plumbing fixture due to drain stoppage.

• Ba##le: An ob(ect placed in an appliance to change the direction of, or slow down the flow of

air, gases or water.

• Balancing Valve: A water heater ale that controls water flow and balances heat

distribution to different locations.

• Ball C$ec Valve: A ale that uses a ball to seal against a seat to stop flow in one

direction.

• Ball %oint: A spherical assembly in shower heads that allows the head to piot and rotate.

• Ballcoc: A ale in the tank of a graity"operated toilet that controls refilling of the tank. #t is

connected to a float ia a metal arm. After flushing, the toilet refills until the float rises highenough to shut off the ale.

• Bac#lo" !reventer: A deice that preents wastewater and other contaminants from

flowing into the potable water supply. Generally required for sprinkler systems, hand"heldshowers installed in bathtubs, faucets with pullout spouts, kitchen sprayers, and the like.

• Bidet: A plumbing fixture similar in appearance to a toilet bowl used for personal hygiene. #t

is floor mounted, usually next to a toilet, and consists of a washing basin, faucet and sprayer.

•

Blac"ater: &aste water from a toilet.

• Bleed: )o drain a pipe of excess air by opening a ale at the end of the pipe.

• Blo" &orc$: A torch used by plumbers to solder pipes, actiated by pressuri$ed fuel and air

to generate its flame.


15/63

• Blo"bag: A drain"cleaning deice consisting of a rubber bladder with a hose fitting on one

end and a no$$le on the other. )he deice attaches to a water hose and is inserted into aclogged drainpipe. As water is introduced, it expands to grip the pipe, and releases pulsatingbursts of water through the no$$le, forcing water through the pipe to clear the obstruction.

Also known as a blowfish.

• Blo"do"n: Partial enting or draining, under pressure, of the water side of a boiler to

reduce or remoe unwanted contaminants. Also the pressure drops after releasing apressure"relief ale.

• Boiler: A sealed tank where water is turned to steam for heating or power.

• Boiler Feed: A check ale controlling inlet water flow to a boiler.

• Bonnet: )he top portion of a compression ale assembly, it holds the ale in place as it is

tightened against the ale seat at the other end of the assembly.

• Bracis$ 'ater: &ater containing bacteria between *,+++ and *,+++ ppm of dissoled

solids.

•

Brass: Slang for faucets and fittings regardless of materials used.

• Burst !ressure: )he internal pressure that will cause a piece of tubing to fail.

• Branc$ rain: Plumbing fixture drain that leads to the main drain line.

• Bus$ing: A fitting that%s threaded inside and outside that (oins pipes of different si$es.

• C!VC: Stands for chlorinated polyvinyl chloride. A black plastic pipe that can handle high

temperatures. -ostly used in water supply systems.

• Cleanout !lug: A plug in a trap or drain pipe that proides access for the purpose of clearing

an obstruction.

• Closet Bend: A cured waste pipe fitting under a toilet that connects the closet flange to the

drain.

• Closet Flange: A ring that anchors the toilet to the floor and connects it to the closet bend.

Also known as a Floor Flange.

• Collar: A galani$ed sheet metal restricting deice used in con(unction with plastic pipe. #ts

function is to direct and control the intumescent action of the firestopping material.

• Compression Fitting: A kind of tubing or pipe connection where a nut and a sleee orferrule is placed oer a copper or plastic tube and is compressed tightly around the tube asthe nut is tightened forming a positie grip and seal without soldering.

• Coupling: A short fitting used to (oin two pieces of pipe.

• Co"l: A short fitting used to (oin two pieces of pipe.


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• am: A barrier in the trapway of a toilet that controls the water leel in the toilet bowl.

• iap$ragm: A flexible membrane in a ale that deflects down onto a rigid area of the ale

body to regulate water flow from the supply lines. )his eliminates the possibility of debrisbuild"up within the ale.

• i##user: A deice used to reduce the elocity and increasing the static pressure of a fluid

passing through a system.

• ip &ube: A tube inside the water heater that sends cold water to the bottom of the tank.

• iverter: A faucet ale that redirects water from the tub faucet to the shower head.

• ope: A lubricant used by plumbers on pipe threads.

• rain'asteVent S*stem A pipe system that drains wastewater from the bathroom and

ents the drain system.

• +##luent: Septic system liquid waste.

• +lbo": A cured fitting, usually /+0 or 10, used to change the direction of a pipe run. Alsocalled an 2ell.3

• +scutc$eon: A decoratie metal flange or plate that coers and hides the supply line hole in

the fixture or wall.

• Fitting: Any part that (oins together two sections of pipe. 4omes in many shapes, si$es 5

connection styles. 6xamples elbows, couplings, bends, wyes, etc.

• Fi,ture: Anything that accepts or discharges water or wastewater faucets, sinks, toilets,

tubs.

• Flange: )he rim or edge at end of a pipe shaft that aids in connecting it to another pipe or

anchoring it to a surface.

• Flapper: A rubber flap with ball"like shape in the bottom of a toilet lifts to allow flushing and

seals off the tank for refilling. Allows water to flow from the tank into the bowl.

• Fle, Coupling: A rubber fitting that uses steel band clamps to attach to the pipe ends.

-ostly used to (oin sections of D&7 pipe, but also connects P74 to clay or cast iron pipe.

• Flo" Control Valve: Deice designed to reduce water flow to a plumbing fixture. 'ften used

to improe efficiency and reduce operating costs.

• Flo" -ate: -easurement of water flow through a plumbing system in gallons per minutes

8GP-9 or gallons per hour 8GP:9.

• Float Ball: A floating deice connected to the ballcock inside the toilet tank to actiate or

shut off the ballcock.


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• Flu,: A (elly"like substance used in soldering copper pipes and fittings. Applied before

soldering to aid bonding and preent oxidation.

• Galvani.ing: )he process of applying a coating of $inc to the finished product to proide

corrosion protection. )he coating can be applied by hot dipping or electrolytic deposition.

• Gaset: ;lat deice usually made of fiber or rubber used to proide a watertight seal

between metal (oints.

• Gate: A deice that controls the flow in a conduit, pipe, or tunnel.

• Gate iverter: )he pop"up leer on a tub faucet that actiates the dierter ale.

• Gauge: )he thickness of stainless steel and is commonly used in reference to quality grades

on certain types of laatories and sinks. *+ and


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• Leac$ Lines Pipes that carry effluent from the septic system out to the leach field, a porous

soil area where treated waste is emptied.

• Lo" Consumption &oilet: A class of toilet designed to flush using *.= gallons of water or

less. Also known as 2water"saing3 toilets.

• 1 &ubing: An industry standard for copper tubing defined by the tube wall thickness.

#dentified by a 2red3 stripe.

• 1ain: )he primary artery of the supply or drain system to which all the branches connect.

!eferred to as the -ain 7ent in the ent system.

• 1ani#old: A fitting that connects a number of branches to the mainC seres as a distribution

point.

• 1app Gas: A colorless, flammable gas made by combining liquefied petroleum gas with

-ethylacetylene"Propadiene. #t is a stable, non"toxic fuel used in bra$ing and soldering.

• 1CL: Maximum Contaminant evel )he maximum leel of a contaminant allowed in water

by federal law.

• 1etal Fatigue: A breakage of the metal caused by the bending and flexing or the expansion

and contraction of a metal part beyond its endurance limit.

• 2ipple: A short piece of pipe installed between couplings or other fittings.

• 2oHub Connector: A connector for no"hub iron pipe consisting of a rubber sleee and a

stainless steel band secured by hose clamps. A ariation, a neoprene sleee with twoad(ustable steel bands, is used for connecting dissimilar materials, as when connecting newplastic pipe to an existing cast"iron drainpipe.

• 2on#errous: @ot containing iron.

• /aum: Boosely woen hemp rope that has been treated with oil or other waterproofing

agentC it is used to caulk (oints in a bell and spigot pipe and fittings.

• /ver#lo" Hood: 'n a bath drain, the decoratie hood concealing the oerflow.

• /ver#lo" &ube: )he ertical tube inside a toilet tank that directs water into the bowl in case

the ballcock malfunctions and preents potential water damage caused by a tank oerflow. Aconstant running condition alerts the user to an oerflow problem. 'n most toilets, theoerflow tube also has a refill tube flowing into it, which directs water from the ballcockthrough the oerflow tube to the bowl, after a siphon break.

• /-ing: A rubber washer that is round instead of flat. ?sed in ale stems to create a

watertight seal.

• /: Stands for “outside diameter.” -easures the outside width of a pipe.

• !B: Stands for poly!utylene. A bendable plastic tubing most often used to supply water to

bathroom fixtures.


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• !+: Stands for polyethylene. A flexible plastic supply line.

• !+3: Stands for cross"lin#ed polyethylene. A flexible plastic supply line that is stronger than

P6. #n bathrooms, it is used for water supply lines.

• !lumber4s !utt*: A dough"like putty that seals (oints between fixture surfaces and metal

pieces, such as the drain.

• !lumbing Snae: A thin, flexible length of spiral"wound metal, which is inserted into a drain

and rotated to clear anything that is clogged in the pipes.

• !lunger: A rubber suction cup approx =E in diameter attached to a wooden dowel handle

used to free drain clogs. Also known as a 2plumber%s helper3.

• !op5p rain: !emote control drain assembly. Also known as a 2trip leer drain3 for tubs.

• Potable &ater that is suitable for consumption.

• !ressure Balance Valve: A shower ale that monitors fluctuations in pressure to maintain

balance between hot and cold water so that temperature remains constant.

• !ressure Head: Pressure in a plumbing system. )he unit of measure which is the ertical

force exerted by water at a depth of one foot.

• !VC: Stands for polyvinyl"chloride. A rigid white plastic pipe used for bathroom drain, waste

and ent pipes.

• -educer: A fitting that allows pipes of different si$es to be (oined together.

• -elie# Valve: A ale that opens to reliee excess temperature andFor pressure in the

system.

• -eturn: A plumbing fitting with a *+"degree bend.

• -iser: A supply line pipe that rises from one story to the nextC also the short ertical pipes

that bring water from the branch to the fixture.

• Scald Guard: A ale designed to preent extreme water temperature changes through

pressure balance technology. &hen there is a drop in hot or cold water pressure, the scald"guard ale shifts back and forth behind the shower handle to compensate for the suddenchange. )his ale maintains a constant water temperature to help gie you and your familya safe and en(oyable bathing experience.

• Scale: A thin coating or layer, usually calcium on the bottom of a tank or interior parts thatmay preent heat transfer.

• Sediment: )he substance that settles on the bottom of a water tank. Also known as lime.

• Septic &an: A tank used to detain domestic wastes to allow the settling of solids prior to

distribution. Septic tanks are used when a sewer line is not aailable to carry them to atreatment plant.


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• Service !artner !lan (S!!): )he :ori$on Services Service Partner Plan 8SPP9 is a great

way to be sure that in case of an emergency, you are guaranteed the priority serice youdesere as a alued customer. Henefits, include, priority serice for plumbing, heating andair conditioning calls 8routine or emergency9, a *I discount on all repairs, and no additionalcharge for oertime or emergency callsJ

• S$uto## Valve: 7ales installed under sinks and toilets used to shut off water supply in the

eent of a malfunction or repair. Also called an Angle Stop, Straight Stop or Supply Stop.

• Sip$oning: )he suction or pulling effect that takes place in the trapway of a toilet as it isfilled with outgoing water and waste.

• Sleeve: A pipe which is passed through a wall for the purpose of inserting another pipe

through it.

• So#t 'ater: &ater that has been treated so that it has low mineral content.

• Solder: A metal alloy that is melted to create a fused (oint between metal pieces. Also the act

of melting solder into the (oint.

•

Soil !ipe: A pipe that carries waste from toilets.

• S"eep: A pipe bend fitting used in drains to permit smooth passage of waste.

• &6! Valve: )emperature and pressure ale. A ale that opens to release excess pressure

and temperature in a system.

• &ailpiece: )he section of pipe that runs between a fixture outlet and the trap.

• &ee: A plumbing fitting in the shape of the letter 2),3 used to connect three sections of pipe.

• &ee Fitting: A fitting that allows another pipe to be (oined at a /+"degree angle.

• &e#lon &ape: &hite tape made of fluorocarbon polymer. #t has non"stick properties and is

wrapped around pipe threads in a (oint to create a tight seal.

• &rap: A cured section of drain that traps a small portion of water to preent sewer gases

from escaping into the bathroom. 2P3 traps and 2S3 traps are the types of traps mostcommonly found in bathrooms.

• &rap Seal: )he water in a trap or toilet that preents sewer gases from escaping back

through the drain.

• Valve: A deice that regulates the flow of water.

• Valve Seat: )he immoable portion of a ale. &ater flow is stopped when the moable

portion of the ale comes in contact with the ale seat.

• Vent: A ertical or sloping portion of drain pipe that allows sewer gasses to escape from the

house into the outdoor air and lets air into the drain system to keep air pressure balancedand preent water in traps from being siphoned off.


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• 'ater Hammer Arrestor: A deice installed near a fixture to absorb the hydraulic shock that

happens when a fixture%s supply is suddenly shut off, causing water hammer, a loud bangingnoise in the pipes.

• 'et Vent: A pipe that both drains wastewater and ents air into the drains. 4onnects two or

more fixtures.

• 'a, -ing: A seal located between floor flange and toilet to preent leakage and fumes.

• '*e Fitting: A drain fitting that allows one pipe to be (oined to another at a 1"degree angle.

B#S) '; PB?-H#@G )6!-#@'B'GK

ABS – Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene. Rigid black plastic pipe used for Drain, waste, and

ABS Pipe and Fittings

vent lines. Please check your local codes to see if this material is code approve d. n most ma!or

metropolitan areas it is not a code approved material.

Absorbent – A material that is used to hold gases, li"uids or solids or suspended solids on it#s

surface or inside pores. $he most common absorbent used in the plumbing world is activated

carbon.

Absorption Field – $his is a seeping field designed to disperse the li"uid waste from a septic

tank through a filter bed. $he septic tank fills with li"uid and solid waste and the li"uid waste

drains off to the absorption field leaving the solid waste behind.


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Access Panel -A covered opening in wall made near a plumbing or electrical fi%ture to allow

access for maintenance. n plumbing an access panel would hide control or shut off valves or

cleaouts for rodding plumbing fi%tures.

Acid Dilution Basin – A plumbing appurtenance connected to waste piping servicing a part of a

building receiving corrosive or acid waste. &ost acid neutrali'ing basins use limestone as the

neutrali'ing media. (ere are some applications where an acid dilution should be used, school

labs, hospitals, research facilities, pharmaceutical manufacturing, printing facilities, automotiveservice centers, film processing, etc.

Acid Waste – Any waste water containing corrosives or acidic li"uids that must be neutrali'ed

before entering the municipal sewer system. &ost often fi%tures receiving acid waste are

connected to an acid dilution basin which neutrali'es acid before the waste water enters the

sewer.

Acid Waste Piping – )imply put its waste piping and fittings that are resistant to acid

Orion Acid Waste Products

waste. *%amples of applications where this is used, laboratories, hospitals, photo labs and

printing presses. )ome of the materials used in making acid resistant pipe and fittings+ glass,

polypropylene and polyvinylidene fluoride for really harsh situations. Polyvinylidene fluoride is

also fire retardant and when approved can be used in a plenum ceiling.

http://www.us.schott.com/tubing/english/special_glass/processed_tubing/drainline/koch_knight_ware.htmlhttp://www.us.schott.com/tubing/english/special_glass/processed_tubing/drainline/koch_knight_ware.html


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Acrylic – A very strong and hard thermoplastic and in plumbing it is used as a surface material

for bathtubs, shower bases, tub or shower surrounds. hen used in bathtubs and showers acrylic

is usually back with fiberglass to add strength and rigidity. Acrylic is also used to make

ple%iglass shower doors.

ADA – Americans with Disabilities Act $his term is very important as it relates to plumbing.

t affects the height that water closets can be mounted, the types of handles you can install on a

lavatory faucet, how much pressure it takes to push down a flush valve handle and those are !ust

a few. (ere is a link to the /010 ADA )tandards

publicationwww.ada.gov2regs/0102/010ADA)tandards2/010ADA)tandards.pdf

Adaptor – A fitting used to !oin dissimilar piping methods i.e. sweat copper to threaded fittings,

P34 to cast iron.

Adjusting Linkage – An ad!ustable rod or strap that forms the connection between the lift rod

and the ball lever assembly of the drain.

Aeration – a method to introduce air with water to help in releasing dissolved gasses that

contribute to foul odors or unpleasant taste. Aeration can be done in several different ways, air

can be bubbled up through the li"uid, li"uid can be sprayed into the air or the li"uid can be

agitated o%ygenating it by bringing the surface water in to contact with the air. $he best e%ample

we can give for the use and effects of aeration is the cleansing of the 4alumet )ag River in

llinois. 5arge parks where created along the 4alumet )ag River pumping millions of gallons of

water through attractively created waterfalls. $he results have been staggering.

Aerator Fittings – a type of fitting installed on a plumbing fi%ture that mi%es water with

http://www.ada.gov/regs2010/2010ADAStandards/2010ADAStandards.pdfhttp://www.ada.gov/regs2010/2010ADAStandards/2010ADAStandards.pdf


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Faucet Aerator Fitting

air. $hese fittings help with water conservation and reduce splashing.

Aerobic Bacteria – 6acteria living, active and occurring in the presence of o%ygen.

AA – American as Association

A!"!A -American "nstitute o# Architects $his is basically a self policing regulating body that

promotes e%cellence in architecture. $hey are heavily involved in all facets of education for their

members from internship, to mentoring to licensing and support. A..A. is also the preferred

method by which sub contractors invoice their customers. 4hances are if you#ve been a

subcontractor for awhile you know e%actly what 7801, 780/ and a 7809 form is for. f you are

familiar with all of the AA forms are you probably have a head ache, they can be tedious but

they are ultimately there to protect the :wner.

Air Admittance $al%e – $he most common of these is called a S&'DO( vent, these valves are

designed to allow air into a drainage system with out using a vent. t opens to allow air to

e"uali'e pressure in the drainage system but closes to stop sewer odors and gases into the living

space.

Air )hamber -A vertical air filled pipe or manufactured


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&ypical Shower Air )hambers

spring coil installed above the waterline in a potable water system that absorbs pressure

fluctuations when valves are turned off i.e. a shower is turned off or a fill valve in a toilet slams

shut. $he pressure absorbing devices reduce water hammer. (aving air chambers on plumbing

fi%tures with water connections is code for most municipalities.

Air ap on a La%atory

Air ap – $he unobstructed physical distance between the outlet end of a plumbing apparatus

or piping delivering potable water to a plumbing fi%ture to the flood rim level of the receptacle

sink, dishwasher, clothes washer or tank $hink of a kitchen sink faucet with a pullout spray if

you pulled it out and laid it in the sink you would have no air gap. $he air gap protects the

potable water system from cross contamination. Please see 6ackflow Prevention Device,

3acuum breaker, double detector check valves.

All &hread (od * a connecting rod used in almost every construction trade. n the mechanical

trades it is mostly used to hang piping materials from the underside of a the structure of the

building.. $hreads are in one direction and standard he% nuts can easily be screwed on to secure a

multitude of different hangers. 4ome in a variety of si'es and finishes. &ost common si'es in the


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piping trades are 12;


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Americast – A patented process from American Standard that uses a porcelain surface, an

enameling grade steel material and a structural composite backing bonded together to create a

sink that is similar to cast iron in durability, heat retention and sound deadening but weighs

considerably less therefore it is cheaper to install.

Annealing – n plumbing the process by which rigid copper is made soft and pliable. $he

process consists of heating the metal to a certain temperature and holding that temperature for a

set amount of time then allowing the metal to cool slowly to room temperature.

Anode (od – $hese sacrificial anode rods are installed at the top of a water heater tank and are

generally made of magnesium or aluminum with a steel core. )imply put, through electrolysis

the anode rods will corrode before the e%posed metal in the tank. f the anode rod has been

corroded the water begins to attack the e%posed metals in your water heater which will

eventually cause it to fail.

Anti/Siphon $al%e -$acuum Breaker. – $he simple definition is an anti-siphon

valve is a device installed on a water supply line that prevents water from backing up into the

potable water system. 3acuum breakers are an e%ample of an anti-siphon valve. Anti-siphon

valve are most commonly spring loaded one way valves. hen the direction of flow is going in

desired direction all works well, if the direction of li"uid changes the valve slams shut prevent

back siphonage.

Bathtub Apron

http://www.americanstandard-us.com/learn/american-standard-advantage/innovations/default.aspx?f=21http://www.theplumbinginfo.com/water-heaters/http://www.americanstandard-us.com/learn/american-standard-advantage/innovations/default.aspx?f=21http://www.theplumbinginfo.com/water-heaters/


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Apron -or Skirt. * $he decorative portion of a bathtub that covers the rough-in area of the tub.

t is most easily recogni'ed on a whirlpool tub, the apron is most often removable to be able to

service the tubs plumbing and or motor.

ASA – American Supply Association Cormally founded in December of 1@@ the A)A is an

organi'ation that represents wholesale distributor and their supplier in the plumbing, heating,

cooling, industrial and mechanical pipe, valve and fittings industries.

AS,0 * -American Society o# ,echanical 0ngineers. A professional member ship group

founded in 1=@0, this group originally came together to test steam vessels because of the

numerous failures. ow it is the premiere standards development organi'ation. )etting codes and

standards throughout the mechanical trades.

ASS0* -American Society o# Sanitary 0ngineering. Counded in 1@0 by (enry Davis 4hiefPlumbing nspector for the District of 4olumbia. $his group consisted of plumbing engineers,

plumbing inspectors and installers all with the common idea of making plumbing safer and more

universal though out the Bnited )tates. $hey also have "uite a bit of influence as to the adoption

of plumbing code and the vital testing of plumbing product and theory.

AS&, "nternational – formerly know as American Society #or &esting ,aterials Cormed in

1=@= by chemists and engineers from the Pennsylvania Railroad they organi'ed the railroad#s

new chemistry department, where they investigated the technical properties of oil, paint, steel,

and other materials the Pennsylvania Railroad bought in large "uantities. :rgani'ed a new set of

standard that they e%pected their suppliers to follow. At the present they are Eglobally recogni'ed

leaders in the development and delivery of international voluntary consensus standardsF Please

visit their web site for a more detailed history.

Back Fl1w – $he circumstance of water traveling from one system back into any part of the

main distribution system, usually by siphoning.

Back Flow Pre%enter – $he two most common types of back flow prevention devices are a

double detector check assembly and an RPG. A double detector check assembly is one device

that houses two check valve assemblies in the line of flow. $he check valves are spring actuated

and are designed to open with 1 pound of pressure.


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$he double detector check assembly is installed with one 1 gate valve on the inlet of the valve

and one 1 gate valve on the outlet side of the valve. $hese assemblies prevent back flow or

back pressure in nonha'ardous situations and are most used to protect the potable water system

of a building from the water in a fire prevention system.

A detector check is made with a by-pass assembly and meter to detect any unauthori'ed or illegal

taps, test cocks are also present so that re"uired yearly testing can take place. *ach check valve

can be isolated and tested independently to see if they are leaking and operating properly.

An (P2 * is very similar to the double detector check in that it houses two testable check

valves. t has two gate valves one 1 on the inlet and one 1 on the outlet. (ere is where things

change, an RPG is used in high ha'ard situations, where contamination of the water supply

would pose a significant health ha'ard.RPG reduced pressure 'one backflow preventer and

Double Detector 4heck 3alve

Backpressure in a Plumbing System – Pressure that is less than atmospheric pressure. f a

sewer drain line is running at 100H capacity and with greater than intended velocity if the waste

water passes another drain outlet it could cause a negative pressure. $his negative pressure can

pull a water seal from a trap causing sewer gas or vermin into the living space. *%tremely high

winds can also pull the air from the plumbing vent pulling the trap seals with it.

Backup -Sewer. – $he overflow of water usually combined with waste from a plumbing fi%ture

caused by a blockage in the fi%ture drain or waste line servicing the aforementioned plumbing

fi%ture.

Back/up Sump Pumps – 5iterally any pumping device that acts to back-up the primary

Battery Back/up System

http://www.theplumbinginfo.com/beeco-backflow-preventers-company-cares-installation/http://www.theplumbinginfo.com/battery-back-up-sump-pump-installation/http://www.theplumbinginfo.com/beeco-backflow-preventers-company-cares-installation/http://www.theplumbinginfo.com/battery-back-up-sump-pump-installation/


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sump in case of power failure or primary pump failure. &ost back-up sump devices include

some sort of marine battery either wet cell or maintenance free gel battery. $here are back-up

sump pumps that use no electricity and function on incoming water pressure.

Backwash )ycle – o this isn#t what you#re sibling leaves in the bottom of the 7atorade bottle.

$he 6ackwash cycle is a process a water softener or water filter goes into, usually pre-

programmed for off hours, whereby the water flow is reversed cleaning the filter media. $he

waste water is sent to an open site drain.

Backwater $al%e – A valve that is installed on the house sewer that prevents water from backing

up into the house. $he most common use for a backwater valve is in situations where the city

sewer is combined waste and storm. n these cases during torrential rain the city sewer runs full

with only one place to go, back into the house or businesses connected to it, a backwater valve is

installed in this situation.

Ba##le – An ob!ect or screen placed in a plumbing fi%ture or appurtenance to change the direction

of or retard the flow of water or flue gasses. $he most common baffles used in plumbing are the

ones found in a grease separator. $he baffles are used to slow down the incoming waste water,

allowed the suspended grease and solids to cool and rise to the top for easy removal.

3!(! Smith Backwater $al%es

Balancing )ocks or $al%es * A valve with an ad!ustable partition or gate which can be used to

increase or decrease flow. $hey also have self sealing ports in which thermometers can be

inserted to check the temperatures of the li"uids.

Ball )ock – $he valve by which the water enters a tank type toilet water closet, fills the tank

and shuts the flow of water off when the water reaches a predetermined height in the tank.

Barrier Free – $his relates to ADA and handicap access, the easiest to understand is the barrier

free shower base. A barrier free shower base has little or no threshold to encumber a wheelchair

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from entering or e%iting.

Basin Wrench – s a tool that only has one real use , it#s ine%pensive and pretty easy to

Standard Basin Wrench

use. A basin wrench actually looks like a steel bar with a curved head with teeth on one end. $he

other end ends with a $ handle. :bviously turn the water off before using. 7o under the sink and

position the head at a @0 angle catching the nut, turn in the appropriate direction to remove and

your all set. f the sink faucet is too high to reach you may have to pull out the e%tended handle.

Basket Strainer – A device shaped like a cup or a basket with holes or slots that fits inside a

drain that allows water to drain out but catches debris before it enters the waste piping.

Basket Strainer

Beam )lamps – A clamping device used when beams are the only thing used for support. $hey

are used in con!unction with pipe hangers to ensure proper support and pitch. $he beam can be c-

clamp type or can span the entire beam.

Bench ,ark – t is a known elevation set throughout a building or !ob site that all trades can use

to locate proper elevations for doors, windows, plumbing fi%tures etc. An elevation will be set

usually by the general contractor in accordance with the engineer and all trades can measure


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from that elevation. t can also be a mark on a permanent flat service whereby it is used to lay

out walls, columns, stairwells, etc.

Bends – A generic term given to all elbows made from all types of piping material.

Bidets – A plumbing fi%ture about the same height as a seat of a chair that is most often used for

the bathing of the e%ternal genitals and the posterior parts of the body.

Biodegradable – Any material sub!ect to degradation to simpler substances by way of biological

action i.e. aerobic and anaerobic decomposition. )ubstances that are considered biodegradable

are detergents, human waste, organic matter.

Black Water – aste water from toilet, urinals, bidets or food prep receptacles or waste water

from drains receiving chemical waste.

Bleed -Water System. – $o drain a pipe or piping system of e%cess air by opening plumbing

valves or appurtenances e%posed to the atmosphere i.e. shower valves, faucets and drain down

valve.

Blind Plug – A plug or cap used on no-hub piping to end a drain line. t is affi%ed to the end of

the pipe by a no-hub coupling.

BO)A )OD0 – 6uilding :fficials 4ode Administrators nternational

Body Sprays – Cor all practical purposes these are shower heads. )ome are hand held,

Body Spray &iles

some are on a sliding bar so that the can be moved up or down and some are positioned

throughout a shower to spray on different parts of your body while showering.

Boilers * )ee Plumbing&echanical *"uipment


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Brackish Water – Any water containing bacteria between 1,000 and 1>,000 ppm of dissolved

solids.

Braided Supplies – A fle%ible pressure tubing usually made of synthetic material that is encased

in braided threads of steel or stainless steel. $he braided covering protects the synthetic tubing

from damage due to abrasions and crimping.

Branch $ent – A vent connecting one or more individual vents with the vent stack.

Branch Water Piping – $he local domestic water piping that e%tends from the vertical risers or

other mains and supplies water to plumbing fi%tures or e"uipment.

Brass Seats and Seals – n a plumbing valve the surface area on the moving part of a valve and

the stationary part of the valve. hen the moving part of the valve comes in contact with the

non-moving part the flow of water stops completely. $he most common material used for valves

seats is brass. 6rass seats eventually have to be repaired or replaced because with continual use

the seating surface degrades over time.

Bra4ing – uses (ow $o )imilar to soldering, bra'ing is the process of filling a void for

plumbing in a pipe !oint with a filler metal to !oin pieces of pipe or fittings. 6ra'ing filler metals

generally have melting temperatures above 1,100 degrees Cahrenheit. &ost bra'ing filler metals

contain some amount of silver, copper and phosphorus.

Break &ank – A type of vessel that holds a supply of water that is to be used for a specific

purpose mainly heating other than for consuming or flushing plumbing fi%tures. t is filled

through an air gap to prevent contamination of the domestic water system and the water

supplying the tank shuts off, when filed to a predetermined height, by an automatic shut off

valve.

Bubbler – $he word bubbler has a rather interesting back story. t#s definition is simple, it#s

another word to describe a drinking fountain like the ones you see at a park. (owever, there is

really only one place in the country where it is used with regularity and it#s in the 6adger )tate of

isconsin. 4heck out this article for more on this strange little regional phenomenon.

Building Drain – $he lowest point of a drainage system where all of the interior drainage piping

meets and is discharged into the sewer.

http://whoonew.com/2013/03/why-a-bubbler/http://whoonew.com/2013/03/why-a-bubbler/


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Bushing – A pipe fitting used to !oin two pieces of dissimilar si'ed piping. $here are many

different !oining methods but the most fre"uently used is threaded on both ends.

Butter#ly $al%es * $he butterfly valve has some similar features to that of the wafer

+ibco Butter#ly $al%e

check valve. t is very thin and lightweight so space and support are not issues. t is closed using

a wafer or disc that is mounted on a rod that is secured in the middle of the valve. $he rod e%its

the valve at the top and ends with a handle that incrementally controls the internal disc.

n the open position the disc is parallel to the pipe in the closed position the disc is perpendicular

to the pipe closing off flow.

$hese types of valves can be used to control flow and are especially affective in tight spots. &ost

times the handles are spring loaded and allow you to lock the valve into a certain position.

)AD -)omputer Aided Design. – A method of designing building mechanical systems using a

well known computer software. Prior to 4AD, engineers and architects had to design and layout

all of the different piping trades by hand and with the aid of the subcontractors Eshop drawingsF.

ow most of it#s done via computer. $here are still changes in the field but those changes are

always relayed to the engineer and are updated on the master 4AD files.

)ast "ron Pipe and Fittings – Plumbing sewer and vent pipe and fittings that are made from

cast iron. t is manufactured in two / types–hub and spigot, and no-hub. $he hub and spigot pipe and fittings are manufactured as either service


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)ast "ron Waste Fitting

weight or e%tra heavy. $his relates to the wall thickness of the pipe and fittings, the e%tra heavy

having a thicker wall thickness. $he e%tra heavy pipe and fittings are rarely used today and

availability of various fittings is limited. $he hub and spigot type pipe is manufacture in three

9 lengths–five > and ten 10 foot single hub, five > double hub and thirty 90 inch double

hub. )ingle hub means the pipe has one 1 end that is plain and the other has a hub and double

hub means there are hubs on both ends. $he no-hub pipe and fittings are manufactured in serviceweight and the pipe only comes in 10 foot lengths.

$he hub and spigot pipe and fittings are !oined by using either neoprene gaskets or lead and

oakum. $he no-hub pipe and fittings are !oined by using a stainless steel band with neoprene

gasket that is manufactured specifically for the no-hub pipe.

)eramic Discs – similar to brass seating material, ceramic is the hardest material you can use in

seating material. :ne ceramic disc rotates and slides against the other. As the holes or notches in

the discs align the water passes through. 4eramic discs are completely unaffected by water

temperature so the neither e%pand nor contract, they are not damaged by debris in the water line.

)hair )arrier – Please see Ci%ture 4arrier

Brass +ibco )heck $al%e


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)heck $al%es * A check valve is a one way valve in that is has one inlet and one outlet that

allows the a li"uid to travel in one direction. t is used to halt the flow of the aforementioned

li"uid in case of a drop in pressure or reverse in directional flow. $he ma!ority of check valves

used in the plumbing industry work automatically meaning when the pressure or direction

changes the valve slams shut.

)ircuit Setter -A circuit setter is a balancing type valve used in an (3A4 or plumbing system to

regulate pressure in the whole system or within part of the system.

n a plumbing system it is used to regulated pressure between hot and cold water inside the

potable water system. &any years ago a check valve and a ball valve where used, the check

valve would shut down a hot or cold water supply if there was a sudden drop in pressure and the

ball valve with a memory stop was used to regulate flow. $his prevented cold or hot water bleed

over if the pressure was increased or decreased in either supply piping.

)ircuit $ent – A branch vent that serves two or more fi%tures with integral traps like a water

closet or fi%tures with p-traps installed in a battery fi%tures grouped together. $he vent e%tends

from the top of the hori'ontal waste branch in front of the last fi%ture waste to the main vent

stack of a building drainage system.

)leanout – An access

Documents

Clash Detection in BIM Modeling