PLUMBING SYSTEMS

Introduction
– Plumbing systems compromise major
subsystems for conveyance of liquids and
gases in pipes within a building
– The plumbing subsystems have different
objectives and must be kept independent of
each other
 Subsystems
• Water supply systems
• Water distribution systems
• Waste water removal and rainwater
• Heating gas
 Water supply and Distribution
systems
• Water supply and distribution components
– They consist of three major parts:
• Fixtures
• Distribution components
• Distribution accessories
 Fixtures
• These fixtures are used in a building according to
codes , owners choice, or architect/engineer
decision
• They constitute the device which use water such
as:
– Water closets (eastern and western)
– Lavatories (sink with hot and cold water)
– Hose bibs
– Water fountains
– Bathtubs
– Janitor sinks
 Distribution components
• These include piping connecting fixtures to
the water sources, valves, tanks and other
components
• Piping : Ferrous (include iron) rust Non-
ferrous (include copper) Plastic
• Other components: valves, shock
absorbers, pressure regulating equipment
 Distribution accessories
• These include
– Heaters
– Pumps
– Water softeners
– Etc.
 Water supply systems
• Include the following:
– Water sources : public (mains), private (wells)
– Hot and cold service water
– Domestic hot water (DHW) systems
 Need to determine
• Estimation of hot water demand in a
building (Table 21.7)
• Temperature at which hot water should be
provided (Table 21.6)
 Heat sources
• Natural gas
• Electricity
• Oil and coal fired boilers
• Solar energy
• Heat pump
• Heat recovery

• Heating methods: direct heating and indirect

heating)
 Both methods can be utilized in a
variety of equipment
• Storage tank water heater: common for
residential and small commercial uses
• Circulating storage water heaters: in which
water is first heated by a coil, then
circulated through the storage tank
• Tank-less heaters: in which water is very
quickly raised to a desired temperature
within a heating coil and immediately sent
to the point of usage
 Water distribution systems
• Water is supplied through out the buildings
at pressures sufficient to operate plumbing
fixtures
• Water is distributed through street mains
at pressure varying from : 345(50) to 483
(70) k Pa (psi)
 Water pressure should be enough
to overcome
• Water static pressure (in vertical pipes)
• Frictional resistance in pipes, fittings and
valves
• And to operate plumbing fixtures in the
case of up-feed pumping
• Flow pressure required at fixtures range
from: 35 to 210 k Pa (Table 8
ASHRAE.F33.7)
 Static pressure

• The pressure exerted at the bottom of a

stationary “head” of water is directly
related to its height
• One cubic meter of water weighs 1000 kg
( 1 cubic ft. weighs 62.4 lb.)
 Consider a “cube” of water (1mx
1mx1m)
Its weight is 1000 kg rests on a bottom of 1
m2
The static pressure at the bottom is
therefore:

1000 x 9.81 62.4

P  9810 Pa P  144  0.433 psi
1
 In other words:

P  9.81 x H k Pa , where H is the height in m

or
P  2.3 x H Psi , where , H is the height in feet
 Distribution systems
1. up-feed distribution
2. Pumped up-feed distribution

Up-feed Distribution
• Pressure available in water mains is used
to achieve flow pressure at fixtures
• Applicable in small, low buildings of
moderate water demand
Pumped up-feed distribution

1. Pumps are used to deliver water to various

parts of the building

2. Pumps are of variable speed type

operating in sequence according to water
demand as called for by a pressure sensor
at the base of the riser ( meets the
requirements for increasing supply at nearly
constant pressure
3. Used for medium size buildings – those too tall to rely on street
main pressure but not so tall to necessitate heavy storage tanks
on the roof

4. A surge tank , filled by casual flow from street main, can be

used to avoid suction demand on the street min at full operation.
This could seriously reduce the available water pressure in the
neighborhood

5. Up-feed pumping eliminates the house tank problems of

weight, volume , and periodic cleaning. However , it lacks reverse
storage in case of electric power failure unless emergency
pumping is arranged
 Down-feed Distribution
1. Water from street main or from basement “suction
tank” is pumped directly to a roof-storage tank

2. The roof storage tank is usually placed in a

penthouse that encloses many equipment and technical
facilities needed to serve the building ( i.e. A/C e.g. ,
exhaust blowers, ….)

3. Water pressure increases with height above

plumbing fixtures
4. For tall buildings , it is necessary to separate groups of floors into
zones with a maximum height ( for plumbing pressure limits). This
minimizes problems of pipe expansion, excessive pipe sizes, and
high pressure in lower stories

5. The “Suction Tank” is a buffer between the system and the street
mains. It holds enough reserve to allow the pumps to make up the
periodic depletion in the house tank. It refills automatically by
gravity from street mains

6. Excessive pressure on bottom plumbing fixtures can be reduced by

using pressure reducing valves

7. Top fixtures require minimum head to operate of about 10 m

The static pressure for 10 m head is 9.81 k Pa /m x 10 m= 98 k Pa
 Pressure Tank
• Serving also for water storage
• These tanks are frequently used both to
maintain a constant pressure on a pump-
supplied water system and to allow for
temporary peaks in water supply rates that
exceed the capacity of the pump

Pump selection
• Table 21.4
• The capacity of pressure tanks usually is
small in comparison to the daily total water
consumption, they provide short-term
responses to peak flow demands
• The pressure tank should be sized to
deliver about 10 times the pump’s capacity
in gpm.
• For a typical residence allow 10 to 15 gal
tank capacity per person served
 • For larger installation,
the size of a pressure
storage tank can be
calculated by
Qm
Q  9810 Pa
P
1 1
P2

Where Qm is 15 minutes of storage at peak usage rate

P1 and P2 are the minimum and maximum allowable operating pressure
 Example 21.1
• Pump and a well
• The peak demand is 50 gpm
• P1=50 psi
• P2=70 psi
• What is size of the tank?
 Solution

Q m  15 x 50  750 gallon
Qm 750 750
Q   
P1 50  14.7 1  0.76
1 1
P2 70  14.7
 3125 gal
• The capacity of the elevated tank is
usually equal to at least 2 days of average
water usage.
• Table 21.6 represents the hot water
temperature
• Table 21.7 domestic hot water
consumption
• Table 21.8 HUD-FHA (Housing and Urban
Development) (Federal Housing
Administration), minimum water heater
capacities , residential
• 21.10 domestic hot water consumption
 Example 21.2
• Select a natural gas water heater for a five
bedroom house with three baths.
• From Table 21.8: 50 gal, 47 000 Btu/h, 90
gal draw per hour and 40 gph recovery
 Solution
• From fig 21.22 and Table 21.9 a model
BTH 120 is selected since it exceeds all
the minimums
 Example 21.3
• A women’s dormitory housing 300 students, with
a cafeteria serving 300 meals in one hour, is to
be built.
• Find the required hot water storage size for two
conditions:
– Assuming a minimum recovery rate for both dorm and
cafeteria and
– Assuming a dorm recovery rate of 2.5 gph, which is
half the maximum hourly given in table 21.10 and a
cafeteria recovery rate of 10 gph which is two-third of
the maximum hourly value given in table 21.21
 Solution
• Use the figures.
• Figure 21.23 a, the minimum recovery rate for women’s
dormitories is 1.1 gph
• For 300 students:
» 300 x 1.1 =330 gph recovery
• At this rate from figure 21.23 a, the minimum usable
storage capacity is 12 gal/student. Assume that 70% of
the total capacity is usable capacity. This means that
70% of the stored hot water is withdrawn , the remaining
water has been cooled (by incoming water) to an
unusable low temperature.
• Storage tank size must be increased by
» 100%/70%=1.43
• Thus 12x300x1.43=5150 gal storage
• From figure 21.23.e, the minimum
recovery rate for the cafeteria (serving full
meals Type A) is 0.45 gph. For 300 meals,
» 300 x 0.45=135 gph recovery
• At this rate the minimum usable storage
capcity is 7 gal/meal.
• Thus
» 300 x7 x 1.43=3000 gal storage
• Combining the requirements for dorm and
cafeteria:
» Recovery=330+135=465 gph
» Storage =5150+3000=8150 g
• Faster recovery:
• At the specified dorm recovery rate of 2.5 gph,
» 300 x 2.5=750 gph
• And the minimum usable storage required is 5
gal/student
• Thus
» 300 x 5 x1.43=2150 gal
• And the specified cafeteria recovery rate of 1.0 gph,
» 300 x 1.0 =300 gph
• And the minimum usable storage required is 2 gal/meal.
Thus:
» 300 x 2.0 x 1.43 = 860 gal
• Combining these requirements for dorm
and cafeteria:
» Recovery = 750 +300=1050 gph
» Storage = 2150 + 860 = 3010 gal
• For this example , an increase in heater
size of 225% for faster recovery allows the
size of the tank to be reduced to only 37%
 Expansion air chambers

• Absorb and reduce the shock of “water

hammer” when faucets are shut off abruptly.
On hot water run-outs , they also allow for
the expansion of the hot water as it increases
in volume with increasing temperature
 Vacuum Breakers

• Prevent back-flow of polluted water into

pipes carrying potable (hot or cold) water
• Treatment is most often performed to
reduce hardness that could clog piping
and equipment, or to neutralize acidity- a
source of corrosion
 Pipe and tube expansion
As the temperature of water rises in pipes
and tubes from shut-down status (21 o C)
to hot water operating status (71 o C),
EXPANSION in water and pipes occur
This expansion, and therefore elongation in
pipes, can be appreciable in tall buildings
and can be controlled by the use of
expansion joints (Table (21.12))
 Example
A 20 story zone in a tall building has a
height of 80 m. what will be the elongation
in a copper tube carrying “service hot
water” when heated from 21 to 71 o C
 Solution
T= 50 o C

Table 21.12 elongation is:

(0.44+0.67)/2=0.555 mm/m
Expansion = 80 x 0.555 mm/m= 44.4 mm
 Maintenance Issues
• Corrosion/scaling are the major problems
which normally result in leaks
• Water leakage from plumbing systems can
cause damages and extensive repair
actions and expenses
• Paper selection of materials specifications,
and proper installation are key issues in
the operation and maintenance of these
sub-systems
• Access for maintenance of these components
can reduce maintenance efforts and expenses
• Provision of adequate isolation valves to permit
maintenance of some components without
interrupting the operation of others is important
• Water treatment is critical for proper operation of
these sub-systems as good health of occupants
• Breakdown maintenance may be most
appropriate for plumbing fixtures since
multiple fixtures provide diversity
• Breakdown maintenance is most
appropriate approach for distribution
components , although regular inspections
may be used in preventing secondary
materials damage
• Breakdown maintenance is often practiced
for distribution accessories , although
corrective maintenance using inspections
is probably a preferable approach
 Sizing of water pipes
• Equations are used to calculate pressure
drop in hot and chilled water piping.
However, charts were developed based on
the equations to provide ways
determination of pressure drops for
specific fluids and pipe standards
• Pipe friction loss is in the range of 100 and
400 Pa/m. A mean value for most systems
is 250 Pa/m.
• Valve and fitting pressure drop can be
listed in elbow equivalent to a length of
straight pipe
• Tee fittings pressure drop varies with flow
through the branch
Service water System pipe sizing
procedure

1.Sketch the main lines , rises and

braches and indicate all fixtures to be
served
2.Determine the rate of flow of each
fixture. The rate of flow desired for
many common fixtures and the average
pressure necessary to give this rate of
flow are given in table 8 of 1993
ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamental-33
3. Determine the probable rate flow in any
particular section of the piping. Rarely , all
fixtures will operate at the same time. Therefore,
the rate of flow in the service line, risers, and
main branches , rarely equals the sum of the
rates of flow of all connected fixtures
4. Find the demand weights of the fixtures in
fixtures.
5. Determine the total demand in fixture units en
6. Determine the equivalent length pipe in main line , risers
and branches . Add the equivalent lengths, starting at
the street main and proceeding along the device line, the
main line of the building and up the riser to the top fixture
in the building.
Since the sizes of the pipes are not known , the exact
equivalent length of various fittings cannot be made
A frequently used rule of thumb is to assume design length
of pipe 50 to 100% longer than actual to account for
fitting losses for initial pipe sizing
7. Determine the average minimum pressure in
the street main and the min. pressure required
for the operation of the top most fixtures. This
should be 50 to 170 k Pa above atmospheric
8. Calculate the appropriate design value of the
average pressure drop per unit length of pipe
in the approximately determined equivalent
length of pipe:

P  [ Ps  ( 9.81 x H  Pf  Pm )] / L
• Where:
• P= average pressure loss per meter of
equivalent length of pipe, k Pa/m
• Ps=pressure in street main, k Pa
• Pf=minimum pressure requires to operate
topmost fixture, k Pa
• Pm= pressure drop through water meter, k
Pa
• H= height of highest fixture above street
main, m
• L = equivalent length of pipe , m
• The pressure due to height of water is 9.8
H, k Pa)
• If the system is down feed supply from a
gravity tank, the term 9.8 H is added
rather than subtracted and replaces Ps:

P  [9.81 x H  ( Pf  Pm )] / L

H is the vertical distance of the fixture below

the bottom of the tank, m
9. From the expected rate of flow , as
determined in 5 above , and the value of ∆P
(k Pa/m) calculated in 8 above, the proper
sizes of pipes can be selected
 Example
• Assume a min. street main pressure of
375 k Pa above atmospheric, a height of
topmost fixture ( shower of 20 m above
street main); pipe length of 40 m from
water main to highest fixture units. The
water closest are flush value operated.
Find the required size of supply main.
Assume 40-mm water meter.
 Solution
• From fig. 21.65, the peak water
demands ( for number of fixtures 50) is
3.2 L/s
• The min pressure to operate topmost
fixture, Pf is 85 k Pa.
• The pressure drop through water main
( assuming 40 mm meter) for a flow of
3.2 liter /sec is:
Pm=45 k Pa
• The pressure drop available for
overcoming friction in pipes and fittings
is:

P  375  (9.81 x 20  85  45)  49 k Pa

 To find the pressure drop per unit
length of the pipe , the equivalent
pipe length of fittings on the direct
line from street main to the highest
fixture needs to be estimated.
Velocity in branches leading to
pump suction should be limited to
1.5 m/s
 Example 21.7
• Using the following data , find the proper size for
a metered water supply main:
– Street main pressure 345 k Pa
– Height, topmost fixture above main 10 m
– Topmost fixture type water closet flush valve
– Fixture units in the system 85 wsfu
– Developed length of the piping (to the highest and most
remote fixture) 30 m
– Pipe length equivalent to fittings (commonly estimated
at 50% of developed length) 15 m
– System uses predominantly flush water
 Solution
• For the minimum street main pressure, subtract
the sum of the fixture pressure , the static head,
and the pressure lost in the meter. This sum is:
– A: fixture pressure (Table 21.14) 103 k Pa
– B: static head 10 m x 10 k Pa/m 100 k Pa
– D: Pressure loss in meter (estimated, fig.21.63)
55 k Pa
– Subtotal 258 k Pa
– E: pressure in street main 345 k Pa
– (A+B+D) -258
– E-(A+B+D) 87 k Pa
• The pressure lost in 30 m (developed length) of
piping plus the 15 m of piping equivalent to the
pressure lost by friction in the fittings can total
87 k Pa.
• Total equivalent length is 45 m.
• This procedure assures 103 k Pa at the critical
fixture
• The unit friction loss, k Pa/100 m of pipe , will
be:
» 87 k Pa x 100/45 (total equivalent length)=193 k Pa/100
• From figure 21.65 b , curve 1, a flush valve system with
85 wsfu (water supply fixture units) will have a probable
flow (diversified demand) of about 4 L/s.
• Given this information, enter Fig. 21.64 b horizontally at
4 L/s and vertically at 193 k Pa/100 m
• At the intersection of these lines, the pipe diameter and
velocity are determined
• Between 38 mm and 51 mm diameter pipe:
• Velocity = about 2.4 m/s ( less than 3 m/s, so it is OK)
• Therefore , a 50 mm diameter supply
• At this point, exact pipe sizes are not
known and equivalent length has to be
approximated, to tentatively select pipe
sizes
• If the computed pipe sizes differ from those
assumed in determining the equivalent length of
pipe fittings , a recalculation would necessary,
using the computed pipe sizes for the fittings
• Assuming equivalent length of fittings=20 m
• ∆P permissible = 49/(40+20)=0.817 k Pa/m
• ∆P=8.7 Pa /m
• We choose a pipe diameter of 50 mm where the
velocity is about 1.9 m/s
Sizing of branches of the building
main, the risers and fixtures
branches follows these principles
• For example , assume a branch of the
building main carrying cold water with a
demand of 2.4 L/s. Using the permissible
pressure loss of 0.817 k Pa/m, and the
charts for 2.4 l/s flow rate, the required
branch pipe size is 40 mm (1.7 m/s)
 For actual piping layout of a
building, calculate actual losses
of all fittings

• The general range of pipe friction loss in

hydronic systems is between 100 and 400
Pa/m ( 250 Pa/m as a mean value)
 Liquid waste
• Waterless toilets and urinals
• This includes toilets in which chemicals or
oil are substituted for water
• These devices are commonly used in
airplanes, vehicles, and boats as well as in
environmentally sensitive areas
• The chemicals must be frequently
recharged and the waste products
removed
 Design of residential waste piping
• In residential applications and in other
relatively small buildings, standard size of
4 in soil stack and building drain is
adequate
• Table 22.2 through 22.5 list minimum pipe
sizes to carry waste and serve for venting
 Example 22.1
• Design , lay out and size the piping for the
sanitary drainage system for the house
shown in figure 22.22
 Solution
• The first step is to identify the location
where hot and cold water is needed at
fixtures and where soil or waste drains
must be provided
• Fig 22.23a illustrates how this is done
• A plan layout for the drains in both levels
follows (fig22.23b)
• Next comes the plumbing section (fig
22.24
• The local administrative authority usually
requires this to be submitted for approval
• Sizes of all piping are determined from
table 22.2 through 22.5
• Drainage fixture units (dfu) for this system
are summarized in table 22.6 from data
given in Table 22.2
Residential Fixture Drainage Fixture Units (dfu)

Bar sin 2

Kitchen sink with dishwasher 2

Lavatory 1

Water closet 4

Automatic clothes washer 2

Master bathroom group 6

Extra lavatory 1

Shower 2

Lower floor bathroom group 6

Total 26