ARCHITECTURE REVIEW:

Building
Utilities
A collection of notes from Ar. Chris Luna

2018 Edition

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 Comprehensive Architecture Review By: Ar. Christopher P. Luna, uap
BUILDING UTILITIES

PLUMBING AND SANITARY

Plumbing is the art and science of installing pipes, Historical Background

fixtures and other apparatus to convey and supply  The first artifact to have been unearthed was
water in buildings and to dispose and discharge a copper pipe used in a water system in the
waste water and other liquids, gases and other ancient palace ruins in the Indus Valley. It
substances out of buildings in a safe, orderly healthy was estimated to be 5,500 years old. Such
and sanitary way to ensure health and sanitation of discovery established the earliest known
life and property knowledge on plumbing systems.
 Around 2,500 BC, the Egyptians used copper
The word Plumber is a title given to a person skilled pipes in their irrigation and sewerage
in the field of sanitation. It was derived from the systems.
ancient Roman word Plumbarius which was taken  In the ancient Babylon, the science of
from the latin word Plumbum hydraulics had been established as
evidenced by their skillful planning in their
network of canals.
 The inhabitants of Crete to collect water for
drinking, washing, bathing and cooking
purposes, constructed freshwater cisterns.
During the Roman Empire (500BC - 455AD),
enormous concerns on the field of sanitation and
plumbing had been observed those times.
 Aqueducts were built to convey water from
Plumbarius refers to an individual who worked in
sources to houses.
the sanitary field in ancient Rome. Plumbum on the
 Extensive underground sewer systems were
other hand, meant lead. A metal used as plumbing
constructed.
material by the Romans, preferred for its twin
 Notable among these developments is the
properties of malleability and resistant to acid
construction of underground public water
supply system made of cast lead sections.
 Public baths had proliferated; one particular
example is the Bath of Diocletian, a bath that
could accommodate 3,200 bathers at one
time. These baths were lines with ceramic
tiles.

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BUILDING UTILITIES

 The quality of plumbing declined after the fall The drainage system should accomplish the
of the Roman Empire in 476AD. following:
 During the middle ages, people disposed of • Fast removal of the waste with a
waste materials by throwing them into the minimum probability of leakage and
streets. stoppage of drains
 In 1500's, a type of water closet was • To prevent the entry of house vermin and
developed. obnoxious gases into the house from the

 Septic tanks were introduced in the mid- piping system

1800's, and
 a modern sewerage system began operating Conditions for an effective water supply in

in London in the 1860's. buildings:

• To provide sufficient amount of water to
supply each fixture
• To prevent back flow of used water into
the water supply system

Water Supply System

 A system in plumbing which provides and
distributes water to the different parts of
Definitions and Basic Plumbing Principles
the building or structure, for purposes
such as drinking, cleaning, washing,
Plumbing System
culinary use, etc.; it includes the water
 The plumbing system of a building includes
distributing pipes, control devices,
the water supply distributing pipes; the
equipment, etc
fixture and fixture traps; the soil, waste and
vent pipes; the building drain and building
Drainage System
sewer; the storm water drainage, with their
 All the piping within public or private
devices, appurtenances and connections
premises which conveys sewage,
within the building and outside the building
rainwater or other liquid wastes to a point
within the property line.
of disposal. A drainage system does not
include the mains of public sewer
Plumbing has two main objectives:
systems or a private or a public sewage
• To supply water to different parts of the
treatment or disposal plant.
building
• To remove and discharge human waste and
other substances out of the building into the
public sewer or septic tank

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BUILDING UTILITIES

Sanitary Drainage and Vent Piping System

Plumbing System Components
 The sanitary drainage and vent piping
 Water Supply and Distribution System
system are installed by the plumber to
 Cold Water Supply System
remove wastewater and water-borne wastes
 Hot Water Supply System
from the plumbing fixtures and appliances,
 Sanitary Piping System
and to provide circulation of air within the
drainage piping.  Soil Piping System
 Waste Piping System

Sanitary Drainage Pipes  Direct Waste Piping System

 Pipes installed to remove the wastewater  Indirect Waste Piping System

and water-borne wastes from plumbing  Ventilation System

fixtures and convey these to the sanitary  House Drain

sewer and other point of disposal.  House Sewer

 Drainage Cleanout

Ventilation System  Plumbing Traps

 A system of pipes, fittings and other devices  Plumbing Valves

installed for the purpose of providing  Storm Drainage Systems

circulation of air and creating balanced  Sewage Disposal Systems
atmospheric condition within the system  Plumbing Fixtures
thereby preventing siphonage -
and
backpressure. *

Soil Pipe
 A pipe that conveys the discharge of water
closets or similar fixtures containing fecal
matter, with or without the discharge of other
fixtures to the sewer.

Waste Pipe
 A pipe that conveys only liquid waste free of
fecal matter.
 A waste pipe is generally smaller than a soil
pipe because of the nature of matter being
discharged into the system. A waste pipe
may be connected directly or indirectly
depending on the type of fixture.

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BUILDING UTILITIES

Basic Plumbing Principles

 Plumbing fixtures shall be made of
 All premises intended for human habitation,
smooth, non-absorbent material, shall be
occupancy or use shall he provided with a
free from concealed fouling surfaces and
supply of pure and wholesome water, neither
shall be located in ventilated enclosures.
connected with unsafe water supplies nor
 The drainage shall be designed,
subject to the hazards of backflow or back
constructed and maintained so as to
siphonage.
guard against fouling deposits of solids
 Plumbing fixtures, devices and
and clogging, and with adequate:
appurtenances shall be supplied with water
cleanouts so arranged that the pipes may
in sufficient volume and at pressures
be readily cleaned.
adequate to enable them to function
satisfactorily and without undue noise under  The piping of the Plumbing system shall
be of durable material, free from defective
all normal conditions of use.
workmanship, and so designed and
 Plumbing fixtures shall be designed and
constructed as to give satisfactory service
adjusted to use the minimum quantity of
for its reasonable expected life.
water consistent with proper performance
 Each fixture directly connected to the
and cleaning.
drainage system shall be equipped with a
 Devices for heating and storing water shall
water seal trap.
be so designed and stored as to prevent
 The drainage system shall be designed to
dangers from explosion through overheating.
provide an adequate circulation of air in
 Every building having plumbing fixtures
all pipes with no danger of siphonage,
installed and intended for human habitation,
aspiration, or forcing of trap seals under
occupancy or use on premises abutting a
conditions of ordinary use.
street, alley or easement in which there is a
 Each vent terminal shall extend to the
public sewer shall have a connection with
outer air and be so installed as to
the sewer.
minimize the possibilities of clogging and
 Each family dwelling unit on premises on a
the return of foul air to the building.
sewer or with a private sewage disposal
system shall have, at least, one water closet  The plumbing system shall be subjected
to such tests as will effectively disclose all
and one kitchen-type sink. It is further
leaks and defects in the work.
recommended that a lavatory and a bathtub
or shower shall be installed to meet the  No substance which will clog the pipes,

basic requirements of sanitation and produce explosive mixtures, destroy the

personal hygiene. pipes or their joints, or interfere unduly

with the sewage disposal process shall
he allowed to enter the building drainage
system.

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BUILDING UTILITIES

 Proper protection shall be provided to

prevent contamination of food, water, sterile
goods, and similar materials by backflow of
sewage. When necessary, the fixture, device
or appliance shall be connected indirectly
with the building drainage system.
 No water closet shall be located in a room or
compartment that is not properly lighted and
ventilated.
 If water closets or other plumbing fixtures
Water and Water Supply Systems
are installed in buildings where there is no
 Water is the most basic and fundamental
sewer within a reasonable distance, suitable
component of life on earth. Approximately
provision shall be made for disposing of the
three fourths of the earth's surface is
building sewage by some accepted method
covered by water. Water plays a key role
of sewage treatment and disposal.
in the metabolic breakdown of essential
 Where a plumbing drainage system may be
molecule as proteins and carbohydrates.
subjected to backflow of sewage, suitable
This process called hydrolysis goes on
provision shall be made to prevent its
continually in living cells.
overflow in the building.
 In recent years, ground water has
 Plumbing system shall be maintained in a
become the central issue in protecting our
sanitary and serviceable condition.
water resources. Ground water is a great
 All plumbing fixtures shall be so installed
source for supplying our water needs, but
with regards to spacing as to reasonably
it is also one that is susceptible to
accessible for their intended use.
contamination. Once a ground water is
 Plumbing shall be installed with due regard contaminated, it takes decades to
to the preservation of strength of the recover. As human consumption places
structural members greater demands on ground water
 Sewage or other waste from a plumbing resources, it becomes increasingly
system which may be deleterious to surface important for us to keep these systems
or subsurface waters shall not be discharged free from contamination.
into the ground or any waterway unless it
has been rendered innocuous through
subjection to some acceptable form of
treatment.

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 Comprehensive Architecture Review By: Ar. Christopher P. Luna, uap
BUILDING UTILITIES

Uses of Water 6. Ornamental Element

In almost any landscaping application, indoors or
1. Nourishment out, water becomes a center of interest. Our
Much of the human body is water, the most association of water with nourishing, cleansing,
abundant chemical in our body as well as in our diet. and cooling make a very powerful design element
- a fact recognized by landscape designers
2. Cleansing and Hygiene throughout history.
Water is a nearly ideal medium for the dissolution
and transport of organic waste, and its high heat 7. Protective Uses
storage capacity makes the attainment of Water is an essential element in fire protection.
comfortable temperatures for bathing easy. Much The vast quantities of water potentially required
larger quantities of water are used for cleaning than for firefighting must be delivered quickly; the
for nourishment. result is pipes of enormous sizes regulated by
very large valves. Despite its size and guarantee
3. Ceremonial Uses of at least partial exposure in public places, a fire
Largely through its association with cleaning, water protection water supply system is rarely treated
acquired a ceremonial significance that remains as a visually integral design element.
particularly evident in religious services.
Uses of Fresh Water
4. Transportation Uses • Agricultural
Even before land transportation was discovered man • Industrial
had already ventured into the water as a • Household
transportation medium. Waterways had been • Recreation
developed for this purpose to allow the passage of • Others
water vessels and to be able to transport large
quantities of goods as well as people. Water Pollution / Crisis
• Population Growth
5. Cooling Medium • Industrialization
Water has a remarkable cooling potential: it stores • Rapid Urbanization
heat readily, removes large quantities of heat when it • Climate Change
evaporates, and vaporizes readily at temperatures • Depletion of Aquifers
commonly found at the human skin surface. Water is
also used in some devices that need the removal of
heat easily and efficiently.

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BUILDING UTILITIES

Sources of Water 3. Underground Water

1. Rainfall Advantage:
Advantage: • Obtained from below ground surface by
• Obtained from roofs and watersheds. means of mechanical and manual
• It is soft pure and good on places where equipments
there is an abundant rainfall • More water can be obtained depending
Disadvantage: by equipments used and locality
• Hard to store for a long time as it will be a Disadvantage:
breeding place for mosquitoes • Because of various organic matter and
• Bad for places that receives a little amount chemical elements present, it requires
of rainfall treatment in various nature such as
sedimentation, chemical, filtration,
aerations

2. Natural Surface
Advantage:
• Obtained from ponds, lakes, rivers
• Easiness of procurements and good for
locality near such bodies of water
Disadvantage: Main Classification of Water Sources
• Dangerous since it contains large amounts
of bacteria, organic and inorganic Groundwater
substances That portion of the rainwater which was
percolated into the earth to form underground
deposits called “aquifers” (water bearing strata of
the soil).

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BUILDING UTILITIES

Groundwater can be extracted in many different Methods of Purification and Treatment of

ways: Water
 Water wells 1. Sedimentation – particles of matters that
 Dug wells – 15 meters (50 ft.) in depth. are suspended in the water are allowed to
 Driven wells – drive point is usually 11/4” stay in a container so that they will settle
to 2” in diameter in the bottom, then drawing the water out,
 Bored wells – is dugged using earth leaving these sediments in the container

augers, usually at a depth of 30 meters

(100 ft.)
 Drilled wells
 Rotary Drilling method

Surface Water
A mixture of surface run-off and groundwater,
surface sources include rivers, lakes, ponds and
impounding reservoir.

Average Daily Consumption per Fixture.

Water closet 4 to 5 gals.

Lavatory 2 gals.
Bathtub 30 gals.
Shower 10 to 40 gals.
Clothes washer 40 gals.
Garden hose 150 gals.

2. Chemical Treatments - water are given

chemical treatments to kill the harmful
bacteria present and to cure the turbid
taste or mud taste, remove clay, salts,
iron etc. commonly used chemical is
chlorine

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BUILDING UTILITIES

3. Filtration – water is filtered on various 4. Aeration – raw water is made to pass on

processes, so as to remove the particles of pipes of tiny sieves and exposed to air of
vegetable matter present in the water, most fine mist
commonly used materials are sand and
gravel

Other Terms in Water Treatment:

Sedimentation
 removes suspended matters from water
by allowing time and the inactivity of
water to do the work

Coagulation
 a chemical such as Alum (hydrated
aluminum sulfate) is added to turbulent
water

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BUILDING UTILITIES

Aeration (Oxidation)
 removes iron and manganese and decrease
its corrosiveness; much of the water surface
is exposed to air

Disinfection
 Chlorine, Chloramine, Chlorine Dioxide,
Iodine
Distillation
 water is heated to allow condensation, as
Ozonation
water vapor encounters cooler surface, it
 water treatment process that destroys
condenses
bacteria and other microorganisms through
Fluoridation
an infusion of ozone, a gas produced by
 fluoride may help in minimizing tooth
subjecting oxygen molecules to high
decay but excessive amounts are toxic
electrical voltages.
and caused mottled teeth thus it’s levels
 Ozone is a very strong disinfectant, but it
must be carefully monitored
does not remain in water very long. For that
Corrosion Control
reason, chlorine is still added to protect the
 control of concentration of elements in
water while it is in the distribution system.
corroding supply and discharge lines
Filtration
Nuisance Control
 a very common treatment for removing
 Algae growths, the most prevalent
suspended particles, bacteria and color
nuisance, can usually be controlled by
 Pressure Sand filters, Slow Sand filters,
applying copper sulfate (blue stone or
Diatomaceous Earth filters
vitriol) to the water body. To treat water in
 Porous Stone, Ceramic and Unglazed
cooling towers successfully, a method is
Porcelain filters, Activated Carbon filters,
used for microbial control, removing
Reverse Osmosis.
organics and precipitating organics.

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BUILDING UTILITIES

Adsorption The Common Impurities of Water

 Adsorption is a mechanism of contaminant 1. Entrained Gases – are carbon dioxide,
removal making use of the adsorption hydrogen sulfide methane, oxygen and
phenomenon, the act of physical adhesion of nitrogenous and organic compounds
molecules or colloids to the surface of the 2. Dissolved Minerals – are calcium,
medium w/o chemical reaction. Some magnesium sodium, iron and manganese and
porous materials have the ability to attract other carbonates and silicates, alkyl benzene
contaminants. sulfate from detergents and synthetic organic
Ultraviolet Irradiation from insecticides and pesticides
 Exposure to UV radiation is used in small- 3. Suspended and Colloidal Materials – such
scale water supplies. Water is exposed to as bacteria, algae, fungi, silt, protozoa, and
the rays after filtration because particles of other colloidal matters making the water
sediment in water might shield the bacteria. colored and acidic
Water Desalination 4. Radioactive Materials – by entrainment of
 done by heating seawater then pumping radioactive substances from mining or
water into a low pressure tank, where the processing ores, by wastes from industrial
water vapor is condensed and removed as use of radioactive materials
pure water. The remaining liquid (brine).
Public Water Supply
Water Storage 1. Wells that are supplying water for public use
• Groundwater should be located at a minimum distance of
• Soil Moisture 100 meter radius from residential areas
• Wetlands 2. All residents within this zone limit shall be
• Ponds and Tanks strictly required to have sanitary sewage
• Dams and Reservoirs facilities
3. There should be no concrete sanitary sewers
existing within the 15 meter radius of the well
4. No outdoor privy, cesspools, septic tank or
drain fields shall be located within 45 meter
radius from the well
5. The area shall be well drained to divert
surface water from the well and to minimize
the possibility of flooding

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BUILDING UTILITIES

3 Ways of Water Distribution: 3. Down feed System – by gravity from

1. Up feed System – water is distributed from overhead tanks and are suspended either
normal water pressure coming from public by structural frames or on the roof decks.
water main for use in low rise buildings

2. Pneumatic Tank – water pressure is SANITARY DRAINAGE SYSTEM

distributed from air pressure coming from
suction tank for use in all tall buildings which 3 Types of Waste Water
cannot be reached by normal water 1. Storm Water – from the rain
pressure. 2. Grey Water – waste from laundries, wash
basins, sinks etc.
3. Black Water – human waste and urine

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BUILDING UTILITIES

Elements of the Sanitary Drainage System Direct Waste

1. Waste Pipe
2. Soil Pipe
3. House Drain
4. House Sewer
5. Storm Drain
6. Plumbing Ventilation
7. Sewage

1. WASTE PIPE
 Smaller in size than the soil pipe
 It receives the discharges of any fixture
Indirect Waste
except the water closet
 It has two types:
 Direct Waste
 Indirect Waste

Direct Waste
 Urinals
 Bathtub
 Lavatories
 Sink
 Showers
 Drinking fountain 2. SOIL PIPE

 Laundry  A pipe that receives and conveys

 Laboratory discharges of water closet, with or without

 Hospital fixtures the discharge from other fixtures

Indirect Waste
 Soda Fountain
 Bar Waste
 Refrigeration
 Drinking Fountain

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BUILDING UTILITIES

3. HOUSE DRAIN
 Is the portion of the plumbing system that
receives the discharges of all soil and waste
stacks within the building
 Referred to as the “Collection Line of a
Plumbing System”
 It can be installed underground or maybe
suspended below the floor or inside the
ceiling

House Drain may be classified into four types:

1. Combined Drain
2. Sanitary Drain
3. Storm Drain
4. Industrial Drain

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BUILDING UTILITIES

House Drain Appliances 4. Yard Catch Basin – a receptacle used to

1. House Trap – is defined as a device catch surface water drained from the
installed in the house drain immediately cemented courts, driveways and yards
inside the foundation wall of the building.
2. Area Drain – consists of a running trap
installed under the basement floor to protect
it from freezing.

5. Garage Catch Basin – a device

designed to convey waste from garage,
wash rack, grease pits and repair floors
into the house drain

3. Floor Drain – a receptacle used to receive

water to be drained from the floor into the
plumbing system.

6. Grease Basin - this is more prevalent in

large kitchens serving hotels, dining
rooms, clubhouses, and restaurants

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BUILDING UTILITIES

Grade or Slope of the House Drain and Soil Branch VENTILATION

Ventilation of a plumbing system, is that portion of

the drainage pipe installation, designed to
maintain a balance atmospheric pressure inside
the system to prevent problems
1. The principle governing the atmosphere
2. The principles of gravity
3. The principles of siphon, pressure and
vacuum

Common Ventilation Problems in Plumbing:

4. HOUSE SEWER 1. Trap Seal Loss
 That portion of the horizontal drainage 2. Retardation of Flow
system which starts from the outer face of 3. Deterioration of the Materials
the building and terminate at the main sewer
in the street or septic tank
 It is sometimes called “Building Sewer”

5. STORM DRAIN
 The unit of the plumbing system that
conveys rain or storm water to a suitable
terminal.
 Storm water is normally discharged into
street gutter conveyed by public drain
system and carried to some natural drainage
terminals like canals, rivers, lakes and the
like.

6. VENTILATION
 Ventilation of a plumbing system is the
portion of the drainage pipe installation
designed to maintain a balance atmospheric
pressure inside the system to prevent
various plumbing problems.

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BUILDING UTILITIES

Types of Vents: 3. Individual Vent

Also known as the back vent, it is the portion of
1. Main Soil and Waste Vent the vent pipe system which serves a single trap. It
It serves as the terminal for the main vent and other should be connected close to the fixture trap as
vents of the plumbing system possible, it should be located underneath and
back of the fixture and it must be connected to the
2. Main Vent main vent above the overflow line of the fixture
It is the portion of the vent pipe system which serves
as a terminal of the smallest forms of units and
grouped fixture trap ventilation. It also serves as a
relief vent for any back pressure.

4. Unit Vent
This is the portion of the vent pipe which
ventilates two fixture traps. Usually used in
apartments arranged back to back

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BUILDING UTILITIES

5. Circuit or Loop Vent 7. Yoke or By-Pass Ventilation

This is employed where two or more fixture traps are On a long vertical soil pipe, a relief vent is
installed on a horizontal soil or waste branch. The installed at 3 to 5 floor intervals. In this case, the
use of circuit vent generally reduces the cost of the relief vent is referred to as the Yoke or by-pass
plumbing installation ventilation

6. Relief Vent
It is installed to ventilate the soil and waste pipe and 8. Wet Ventilation
the connecting branches other than the fixture traps. Refers to the vertical pipe of the plumbing system
Relief vent is provided when waste branches are used as ventilation of the plumbing, installation
circuit vented and fixture traps which at the same time receives
and convey liquid waste discharge from the
fixtures. Widely used for small groups of
bathroom fixtures particularly on a one or two-
storey residential houses.

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9. Looped Vent 1. Siphonage

It is used on fixtures in a room away from any It is the result of the minus pressure in the
partitions. Common to beauty parlors, barber shops drainage system. When a large amount of water
and dental clinics and surgical rooms flows rapidly through the trap, self siphoning is
automatically developed and the water content of
the trap is absolutely discharged.
When the seal is lost, back flow of gases from the
water from the sewer line or septic tank will pass
into the trap and finds its way to the fixture drain
outlet

Common Plumbing Ventilation Problems

1. Trap Seal Loss

Can be attributed to inadequate ventilation of the
trap and the subsequent minus and plus pressures
inside the system.

Four Factors of Trap Seal Loss:

1. Siphonage
2. Back Pressure
3. Evaporation
4. Capillary Action

Two Types:
A. Direct self-siphonage
B. Indirect or momentum
This type is the result of a minus pressure in the
pipe created by heavy discharge of water from a
fixture installed on a line serving another fixture at
the lower floor

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BUILDING UTILITIES

3. Evaporation
This process is a minor problem and less
probable to drain water inside the trap.
Evaporation happens only on floor drains not
regularly used to admit water but is exposed to
extreme temperature

2. Back Pressure
4. Capillary Action
This condition is caused by a plus pressure which
This kind of trap seal loss seldom happens and
blows the water out of the fixture.
rarely experienced by homeowners. The condition
It happens usually when a large flow of water drop
is caused by a suspension of a foreign object
and form as slug and compress the air inside the
such as a string, rags, strands of hair extended
pipe. The compressed air will find its way out through
over the outlet arm of the trap.
a weather point. The trap seal will give way and
blow out of the fixture.

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BUILDING UTILITIES

PLUMBING TRAPS For Deep Seal:

a. extreme heat condition in the area
A trap used on plumbing fixture is a device b. increase and decrease of atmospheric
scientifically designed to prevent the back flow of condition
gases coming from the septic tank or sewer line c. circumstances where total ventilation cannot
passing through the outlet of the fixture be obtained

These gases are identified as hydrogen, hydrogen P-Trap is used on the following fixtures:
sulfide, methane, or carbon dioxide and even a small 1. Lavatories
amount of carbon monoxide considered dangerous 2. Sinks
to human health 3. Shower baths
4. Urinals
The basic function of the trap in a drainage system is 5. Drinking fountain
to prevent those objectionable gases from entering
the plumbing system. Permissible Traps:
1. P-Trap
The principle is to form a mechanical barrier against 2. Drum Trap
the passage of sewer air 3. Stand Trap
4. Brass Trap
Water Sealed P-Trap is classified into two: 5. High Hub Trap
1. The Common Seal 6. Low Hub Trap
It has 5 centimeters deep water seal between the 7. Extra Heavy Trap
overflow and the dip, which will offer resistance 8. Sink or Lavatory Trap
against abnormal conditions
2. The Deep Seal Objectionable Traps:
This trap may be used under normal condition, but 1. S-Traps
it’s purposely designed for abnormal situations 2. Bag Traps
3. Mechanical Sealed Traps
4. Metal Partitions Traps

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Drum Trap
 It is also classified as a water seal device.
The name was derived from its size being
large in diameter.

P-Trap
1. All traps shall be self cleaning
2. P-Trap shall be installed as near the fixture
as possible Grease Trap
3. Short vertical leg eliminates high velocity of  Grease traps of adequate capacity must be
water discharge that creates siphon, the installed wherever greasy wastes from
major cause of trap seal loss kitchen sinks
4. P-trap shall be installed within 60
centimeters of the fixture it serve
5. It shall be accessible for cleaning through
the bottom opening closed by a screw plug

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Garage Trap Storm Drain

 Garages
 Auto Repair Shops This is the portion of the plumbing system which
 Greasing Rack Drains conveys rain or storm water to a suitable terminal.
This is usually discharged into a street gutter
conveyed by a public drain system and carried to
some natural drainage terminal such as lakes or
rivers

Without proper Storm Drainage:

1. Settlement of the structure cause by
erosion or washing away the soil from
the foundation
2. Subjecting the basement floor and walls
to unnecessary ground water pressure
and possible leakage
3. Rundown water may create walls and
window leakage
STORM DRAINAGE SYSTEM 4. Water may spill on people passing by or
approaching the entry door
Reason for drainage 5. Erode the surrounding grounds and
cause disfiguring of the landscape areas
Rainwater collecting on roofs, if not diverted , will run
down walls and cause wall and window leaks, spill Classification of a Storm Drain
on people who are approaching entry doors, cause 1. Inside Storm Drain – is sometimes
settlements by washing the soil away from under located under the basement floor or
foundations, subject basement walls to unnecessary within the walls of the building. This type
ground water pressure and possible leakage, often of storm drain is commonly found in
disfiguring landscaped areas buildings constructed along congested
business districts, or buildings that
occupy the entire frontage of the lot. The
drainpipe is located under the floor or
walls of the structures

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BUILDING UTILITIES

2. Outside Storm Drain – is installed outside 4. The height of the building contributes to
the foundation wall of the building. This type the high velocity of water in the vertical
of drainage is possible on location where the conductor (pipe) and accelerate the flow
lot is not totally occupied by the building of water entering the storm drain
3. Overhead Storm Drain – is adopted when 5. Short offsets and indiscriminate use of
the street drainage is higher in elevation fittings affect the flow of water
than the basement floor of the building. The
purpose is to avail of the gravity flow of Roof Leader - is popularly known as the water
water. The pipe is well fitted and suspended conductor or downspout either concealed or
inside the ceiling by suitable hangers spaced exposed type. It connects the roof terminal to the
at closer intervals storm drain.

The following factors should be considered when

determining the size of a Storm Drain Splash Pan – it is a collector of water coming

1. Gauging the rainfall, constant , short down from the downspout leading the

duration or heavy shower accumulated water away from the house at a

2. The varying roof area and its slope relatively low rate of flow.

including the distance of water travel before

it reaches the conductors or downspouts of
the roof
3. Water drain is faster on higher pitched roof
hence, requires a larger drainage pipe than
that of a flat roof

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BUILDING UTILITIES

SEWERAGE DRAINAGE SYSTEM

The Sewage and its Disposal

The collection and safe disposal of human wastes

are among the most critical problems of
environmental health. Recent statistical reports
revealed that most of the water borne diseases such
as dysentery, typhoid, diarrhea and other intestinal
disorders are prevalent in areas where there is no
proper and scientific Sewage Disposal System.

Types of Sewage Disposal Systems:

1. Cesspool
 is a hole in the ground with stones 2. Privy
and bricks laid in such manner as to  is a concrete vault constructed for
allow raw contaminated sewage to the collection of raw sewage
leach into the undersurface of the sealed with a wooden shelter
ground.  like the Cesspool, this type of
 this type of sewage system is now sewage system is now obsolete
obsolete

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BUILDING UTILITIES

3. Septic Tank Septic Tank Location

 is a receptacle or vault used to a. The septic tank may be located closer to
collect organic waste discharge from the building it will serve, providing a
the house sewer minimum distance of 2.00 meters from
 Raw sewage consists of water and the outside wall
settles able solid called organic b. As much as possible, the septic tank
materials that can be precipitated in should not be located closer to the doors
a septic tank in a very short time. and windows
Septic tank should be at least 15 meters away
Decomposition of organic matter from human waste from any source of water supply.
is a bacteriological process caused by:
a. Aerobic bacteria called aerobes (oxygen)
b. Anaerobic bacteria called anaerobes
(absence of oxygen)
c. Facultative bacteria (with or without oxygen)

Gasses that are produced inside the septic tank

1. Methane Gas
2. Carbon Dioxide
3. Carbon Monoxide
4. Hydrogen
5. Hydrogen Sulfide
6. Sulfur Dioxide

They are constructed from the either of the following

materials:
1. Reinforced concrete
2. Plastered concrete hollow blocks
3. Prefabricated asbestos
4. Thin metal or plastic

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BUILDING UTILITIES

PIPE MATERIALS

Usual Types of pipes commonly used:

1. Cast Iron Soil Pipe
2. Acid Resistant Cast Iron Pipe
3. Asbestos Pipe
4. Bituminous Fiber Sewer Pipe
5. Vitrified Clay Pipe
6. Lead Pipe
7. Galvanized Steel Pipe
4. Public Sewer Line 8. Galvanized Wrought Iron Pipe
 is a public sewage disposal system 9. Brass Pipe
consisting of a sewage treatment 10. Copper Pipe
unit which conveys the raw sewage 11. Plastic or Synthetic Pipe
to the disposal system. 12. Stainless Steel Pipe

Types of public sewer lines Factors in choosing pipes for a plumbing system
a. Combination Public Sewer – it conveys 1. Quality and durability
storm water and sanitary waste. 2. Resistance to external and internal
b. Sanitary Sewer – only carries sanitary contact with foreign matters
waste to a modern sewage disposal plant 3. Resistance to acid waste and other
(rain water is prohibited) chemical elements that will pass into it
c. Storm Water – this carries storm water and 4. Cost of materials and labor
terminates into a natural drainage such as
lakes and rivers Types:

Manholes 1. CAST IRON PIPE

Serves as a clean-out and access for  Most popular pipe material for decades
inspection and repair. Installed on a public sewer line  Applicable to buildings less than 25
at an interval of 75 to 150 meters and a diameter storey's high
from 0.90 to 1.20 meters and provided with iron  It can cause constant vibrations which
rungs as ladders to the bottom. A well-fitted steel cause water leaks of the pipe joints if
cover is provided in level with the road used in buildings higher than 25 storey’s
high

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BUILDING UTILITIES

Two types of Cast Iron Pipe 4. VITRIFIED CLAY PIPE

1. SV Type – which is generally used in  On e of the oldest materials used for
buildings sewer line
2. XV Type – extra duty pipe used in  Made out of clay
underground installations  Impervious to moisture
 Durable material for underground like the
public sewer, house sewer or storm drain
 It should be not laid on an unstable
ground base

5. LEAD PIPE
 One of the oldest plumbing materials
used by the Egyptians, the Greeks, and
the Roman builders as soil and waste
pipes
 It is highly resistant to acid and is suitable
2. ASBESTOS PIPE
for underground installation
 Made of asbestos fibers and Portland
 It is never used to convey potable water
cement
since Lead is poisonous and injurious to
 The thickness of the this pipe is twice of that
human health
of the standard cast Iron pipe
 Used as the soil pipe, waste pipe, ventilation
6. GALVANIZED STEEL PIPE
and downspout
 Made out of mild steel
 It is easily corroded by alkaline and acid
3. BITUMINOUS FIBER SEWER PIPE
water
 Cheapest among sewer pipes
 It is subject to deposits of salt and lime
 Recommended for house sewer and for
that gradually accumulate and finally
septic tank installation
choke the flow of water
 Light in weight and slightly flexible
 It deteriorates faster when used as a hot
 Excessive use of hot water or chemical may
water supply line
damage the pipe

7. GALVANIZED WROUGHT IRON PIPE

 Better in quality than the steel pipe for
plumbing installation
 More resistant to acid waste than the
steel pipe

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BUILDING UTILITIES

8. BRASS PIPE 10. PLASTIC OR SYNTHETIC PIPES

 One of the most expensive types of pipe  A new concept in the field of plumbing
 Made of an alloy or zinc and copper mixed at  It was introduced in the Philippines in the
15% and 85% proportion respectively 70’s
 Superior material for waste and water supply  It was developed in Germany in 1935
 It proven itself to be superior as sewer
9. COPPER PIPE and cold water pipe line
 Durable and extremely corrosive resistance
material Types of Plastic Synthetic Pipes
 Easy to install compared to other types of a. Rigid Type
pipes 1. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
2. Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC)
Classified into three types 3. Unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride (uPVC)
1. “K” Type – the heaviest and suitable for 4. Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
underground installation 5. Polyproylene (PP)
2. “L” Type – available in rigid and flexible in 6. Styrene Rubber Plastic (SR)
form and commonly used in residential water b. Flexible Type
supply line and radiating heating installations 1. Polyethylene (PE)
3. “M” Type – the thinnest and available only in 2. Polybutylene (PB)
rigid form and designed specially for small
water supply lines and for radiating heating Advantages of Plastic Pipe
installations 1. Is more resistant to rust and corrosion
2. Water conveyed by plastic pipe has no
Special features of the Copper Pipe: pipe taste
1. Could be used as drains and vent pipe 3. Extreme smooth interior surface prevents
2. Could be used as cold water supply line the build up of scale, rust, and other
3. Excellent material for hot water line foreign material that often impedes flow
4. No special tools needed in the installation through metallic pipes
5. Fewer joints and fittings 4. They can be easily installed
6. Comes in longer length 5. Anyone can do installation
6. It can be connected to an existing metal
pipe by using a threaded adapter

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BUILDING UTILITIES

Cutting of Pipes and Calking of Joints PLUMBING VALVES

 Is done by marking with a chalk then
with a cold chisel and hammer, Plumbing installation are subject to breakdown,
strike all around the scored line because of their so many working parts. It is
therefore necessary that all types of water system
Oakum – Hemp or old hemp rope soaked in oil to be provided with sufficient number of valves,
make it water proof. where they are mostly needed.
Valve is necessary to avert serious
damages of the installation in case of service
breakdown.

1. Gate Valve
 Consists of a wedge-shaped plug which
is screwed down to seat between two
brass rings surrounding the inlet pipe so
that a double seal is obtained. The inlet
and outlet are a straight line.
 This valve is used when a normal fully
open or closed position is desired.
Either end may be used as inlet.
 Gate Valve is connected to the main
supply and pump line wherein operation
is infrequent
 it has two types: the Wedged Shape
(installed pointing downward) and the
Double Disc Valve (used in cold liquid or
sewage disposal)

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BUILDING UTILITIES

2. Globe Valve  It is principally used in industrial piping

 They are operated by screwing down a disk connections for gas, water, steam, air
with soft packing until it presses tightly upon and other general vapor services
a metal seat.  Types: Vertical Check Valve, Swing
 When the disk is raised and the valve is Check Valve, Horizontal check Valve,
open, the course of water is deflected up Lift Check Valve
through the opening in the seat and the flow
is restricted.
 Used when it is desired to throttle the water
supply
 It has three (3) types:
 Plug Type Disc Valve – good resistance
to foreign objects
 Conventional Disc Valve – cold water
supply
 Composition Disc Valve – oil, gasoline
and hot or cold water supply

4. Angle Valve
 Changes the direction of the flow of
water as well as to control it.
 Acts like a Globe Valve but are usually
used for a right angle turn.

3. Check Valve
 are used when it is desired that the flow
through a pipe be always in one direction
and there is a possibility of a flow taking
place in the opposite direction

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BUILDING UTILITIES

Other Water Service Fittings and Devices 1. Lift Pump

1. Corporation Stop – is inserted into the  Consist of a piston travelling up and
water main. It serves as a control of the down within a cylinder which is
water service. And also serve as a shut off, connected with a pipe extending down
when the service is disconnected. into the source.
2. Curb Stop – is installed between the curb  The piston and the bottom of the
and the sidewalk line accessible to cast iron cylinder are each provided with a valve
stop box equipped with removable cover. It opening upward.
serves as a control stop of the service  Upon the piston’s upstroke, valve a
between the curb and the building. It shuts closes and valve b opens.
off water supply in case the basement floor  Upon the piston’s down-stroke, valve a
becomes flooded. opens and valve b closes.
3. Meter Stop – is a controlling stop of the
entire water supply in the building.
4. Water Meter – is a device used to measure
the amount of water that passes through the
water service.

PLUMBING PUMPS

Pumps are used whenever the water supply at its

natural pressure cannot be directly piped to a
building, tank or reservoir

3 Classes:
1. Lifting water by suction to the level of a 2. Force Pump
pump situated above the source  used to deliver water at a point higher
2. Raising the water by forcing it to an elevation than the position of the pump itself
above a pump situated in the source  When the plunger descends, the valve a
3. Both lifting water to the pump by suction and is closed and the water in the cylinder is
in addition, forcing the water to an elevation forced out through the valve b and up to
above the pump. the storage.
 when the plunger is raised valve b is
closed and a open to admit water to the
cylinder

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BUILDING UTILITIES

4. Rotary Pump
 It has only two moving parts.
 With every revolution of the pump shaft, a
definite amount of liquid enter the pump
through the suction port

3. Reciprocating Pumps
 includes that class of pumps in which the
piston moves to and fro
 Power Pumps: 5. Deep Well Plunger Pumps
1. Horizontal Reciprocating Pumps  are used when the water level of the
2. Vertical Reciprocating Pumps source is more than 22 feet (6.70 meters)
below the ground,
 they consist of a cylinder installed below
the water level and connected to the
driving mechanism at or near the ground
level by a wood or steel wood

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BUILDING UTILITIES

6. Centrifugal Pumps PLUMBING FIXTURES

 Posses moving parts without valves,
revolving around an axis and centrifugal Plumbing fixtures are receptacles intended to
action is utilized in delivering the water under receive water, liquid, or water carried wastes and
pressure. discharge them into the drainage system
 The curved blades revolve around an axis
and traps the water that enters and hurts it Water Closet
outward by centrifugal force.  A plumbing fixture used to convey organic
body waste to the plumbing system.
a. Washdown
 Least efficient
 Noisiest
 Less expensive
 Bulging front

b. Reverse Trap
 More expensive than washdown
 Flushes through a siphon action
created in the trap way
 Moderately noisy

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BUILDING UTILITIES

c. Siphon Jet e. Direct Flush Valve

 Expensive and more efficient  For commercial use
 Larger amount of standing water  Flushing action can be obtained
 Larger trap way causing less clog and directly from a flush valve directly
flushing action is greater connected into the bowl

d. Siphon Vortex
 Very efficient
 Less noisy
Anatomy of a Water Closet
 Most expensive flushing by whirlpool
action
 It has large amount of standing water
almost covering the whole bowl interior

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BUILDING UTILITIES

2. Fitting Ledge installation self rimming –

the lavatory fittings are installed in a hole
provided within the lavatory itself

Lavatories
 is a bowl or basin for washing the face and
hands.

3. Under the Counter – the lavatory is placed

below the built-in counter top

Lavatory Installation:
1. Built-in installation self-rimming – the lavatory
fittings are installed through a hole drilled at the
counter top.

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BUILDING UTILITIES

Faucets:

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BUILDING UTILITIES

Other Plumbing Fixtures:

Bidet
 Bidets are primarily used to wash and
clean the genitalia, perineum, inner buttocks,
and anus.
 They may also be used to clean any other
part of the body such as feet.
 Despite appearing similar to a toilet, it would
be more accurate to compare it to
the washbasin or bathtub

Urinal
 a specialized toilet for urination only
 It can take the form of a container or simply
a wall, with drainage and automatic or
manual flushing

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BUILDING UTILITIES

Other Plumbing and Sanitary Terms

Alley is any public space, public park moroughiare less than three (3) meters
but not less than two (2) meters in width which has been dedicated or deeded
ALLEY
to the public for public use.

Alter or alteration is any change, addition or modification in construction or

ALTER OR
occupancy. (Change or repair).
ALTERATION

Approved means accepted or acceptable under an applicable specification

stated or cited in this Code, or accepted as suitable for the proposed use
APPROVED
under procedures and powers at the authority.

Authority in this Code is mean to be the individual official, board, department

or agency established an authorized by the office of the President (R.A.
No. 1378) to administer and enforce the provisions of this National
AUTHORITY
Plumbing Code as adapted or amended. (Prof. Sanitary Engineering) – Plans
and specs, (Master Plumber) - Install

The flow of water into a water supply system from source other than its regular
BACKFLOW
source. Back siphonage is one type of backflow.
BACK PRESSURE Air pressure in drainage pipes greater than atmospheric pressure t
The part of a vent line which connects directly with an individual trap
underneath or behind the fixture and extends to the branch or main, soil, or
BACK VENT PIPE
waste pipe at any point higher than the fixture or fixture trap it serves. This is
sometimes called an individual vent.
A faucet opened or closed by the fall or rise of a ball floating on the surface of
BALL COCK water. A float valve with a spherical float.

A connection in which a ball is held in a cuplike shell that allows movement in

BALL JOINT
every direction.
Battery of fixtures is any of two or more similar adjacent fixtures which
BATTERY OF
discharge into a common horizontal soil branch.
FIXTURES

That portion of a pipe which for a short distance, is sufficiently enlarged to

BELL OR HUB receive the end of another pipe of the same diameter for the purpose of
making a joint.
BIBB Synonymous with faucet is preferred. Faucet or Spigot

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A plumbing fixture used for washing the middle part of the body, specially the
BIDET
genitals. Also a sitz bath (Used to wash posterior parts of the body).
BLANK FLANGE A flange that is not drilled.
A flange that closes the end of a pipe. There is no opening for the passage of
BLIND FLANGE water. (Used for black iron pipes).

A controlled outlet on a pipe line used too discharges water or detritus. (In
BLOW OFF Sanitary house trap).

BRANCH Branch is any part of a piping system other than the main, riser or stack.
Installation of national local water works. For installation & excavation
MWSS / OPWH
respectively METROPOLITAN WATERWORKS S SEWERAGE SYSTEM
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS & HIGHWAYS
A length of soil or waste stack corresponding in general to a story height, but
BRANCH INTERVAL in no case less than eight (8) feet, within which the horizontal branches from
one floor or story of a building are connected to the stack.
BRANCH VENT A vent pipe connecting from a branch of the drainage system to a vent stack.
Building is any structure built, erected and framed of component structural
parts designed for the housing, shelter, enclosure or support of
BUILDING
persons, animals, or property of any kind.

BUILDING DRAIN See house Drain.

BUILDING SEWER See House Sewer.
That portion of a drainage system which cannot drain by gravity into the
BUILDING building sewer. ( Any piping system which needed to be elevated
SUBDRAIN from basement to the N.G.L.)

Plugging an opening with oakum, lead or other materials that are pounded into
CALKING place. Also, the material that is pounded into the opening.

A fitting into which the end of a pipe is screwed for the purpose of closing the
CAP
end of the pipe.
A receptacle in which liquids are retained for a sufficient period to deposit
CATCH BASIN
settle able material
A pit for the reception or detention of sewage.
CESSPOOL

A valve that automatically closes to prevent the flow of water in reverse

CHECK VALVE
direction.(Prevents reverse flow)

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BUILDING UTILITIES

A group vents extending from in front of the last fixture connection on a

CIRCUIT VENT horizontal branch to the vent stack. See also loop vent. (Loop vent, Branch
vent)
COMMON VENT See unit vent and dual vent
CONDUCTOR,
LEADER, A vertical pipe to convey rain water
OR DOWNSPOUT
A continuous vent is a vertical vent that is a continuation of the drain, to which
CONTINUOUS VENT
the vent connects. (or VSTR)
CORPORATION COCK A stop valve placed in a service pipe close to its connection with a water main
A court is an open, unoccupied space bounded on two (2) or more sides by
COURT the walls of the buildings. An inner court is a court entirely within the exterior
walls of a building. All other courts are outer courts.
Any physical connection or arrangement of pipes between two otherwise
separate building water-supply pipes or a system through which or by
CROSS CONNECTION means of which water supply may flow from one system to the other, the
direction of flow depending on the pressure differential between the two
systems.
The extended portion of a pipe that is closed at one end to which no
DEAD END connections are made on the extended portion, thus permitting the stagnation
of water or air therein. (Water hammer arrester or air gap or air chamber).
DEVELOPMENT
The length along the center line of the pipe and the fittings
LENGTH
“Diameter” of a pipe or tube shall mean the nominal internal diameter (I.D.) of
DIAMETER such pipe; except brass and copper tubing wherein the term shall mean the
outside diameter (O.D.) of tubing.
DOMESTIC SEWAGE See sanitary sewage.
DOUBLE-BEND A pipe fitting shaped like the letter “S”.
FITTING
DOUBLE OFFSET Two offsets in succession or in series in the same line.
DOWNSPOUT The vertical portion of a rainwater conductor.
A sewer or other pipe or conduit used for conveying ground water, surface
DRAIN
water, storm water, or sewage.
The drainage pipes of a plumbing system take the water from the plumbing
fixtures and deliver it to the sewer or some other outlet. The drainage pipes
DRAINAGE SYSTEM
must be gas-light, and water-light. The passage of air, odors or vitamin from
the sewer into the building must be prevented.

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BUILDING UTILITIES

DRY VENT A vent that does not carry water or water- borne wastes.
DUAL VENT See unit vent.
The term “existing work” shall apply to those portions of plumbing system
EXISTING WORK Which have been installed and approved prior to the contemplated additions,
collections, or corrections.
Family is one person living alone or a group of two (2) or more persons living
FAMILY
together, whether related to each other by birth or not.
A valve on a water pipe by means of which water can be drawn from or held
FAUCET
within the pipe. The valve is placed on the end of the pipe.
A metallic sleeve called or otherwise, joined to an opening in a pipe, into which
FERRULE a plug is screwed that can be removed for the purpose of cleaning or
examining the interior of the pipe.
A receptacle attached to a plumbing system other than a trap in which water or
FIXTURE wastes may be collected or retained for ultimate discharge into the plumbing
system.
FIXTURE BRANCH The supply pipe between the fixture and the water distributing pipe
The drain from the trap of a fixture to the junction of the drain with any other
FIXTURE DRAIN
drain pipe.
One fixture unit is equivalent to a flow rate of one (1) cubic foot of water per
FIXTURE UNIT
minute or seven and a half (71/2) gallons of water per minute.
A piece of sheet metal fitted under another piece of flat metal or wood over
FLASHING
which water is expected to run.
The level in a fixture at which water begins to overflow the top or rim of the
FLOOD LEVEL
fixture.
The area included within surrounding walls of a building (or portion thereof),
FLOOR AREA
exclusive of vent shafts and courts.
A valve used for flushing a fixture by using water directly from the water supply
FLUSH VALVE
pipes or in connection with a special flush tank.
A valve in which the flow of water is cut off by means of a circular disk, fitting
against machine-smoothed faces, at right angles to the direction of flow. The
GATE VALVE disk is raised or lowered by means of a threaded stem connected to the
handle of the valve. The opening in the valve is usually as large as the full
bore of the pipe.
A valve in which the flow of water is cut off by means of a circular disk that fits
against the valve seat. The plane of movement of the disk is parallel to the
GLOBE VALVE
normal direction of flow of water, which is turned through a tortuous passage
to direct the flow normal to the face of the disk.

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A return bend of small-sized pipe one end of which is about one (1) foot long
And the other end is about three (3) inches long. It is commonly used as a
GOOSE NECK
faucet for a pantry sink. Also, the lead connection between a service pipe and
a water main.
The slope or fall of a line of pipe in reference to a horizontal plane usually
GRADE
expressed in percent.
GROUND WATER The water that is standing in or passing through the ground.
GROUP VENT A branch vent that performs its function for two (2) or more traps.
The vertical distance from the “Grade Line” to the highest point of the coping
HEIGHT OF BUILDING of a flat roof or to the deck line of a mansard roof or to the average height of
the highest gab le of a pitch or hip-roof.
A branch drain extending laterally from soil or waste stack, with or without
HORIZONTAL
vertical sections or branches, that receives the discharge from one or more
BRANCH
fixture drains and conducts it to the soil or waste stack or to the building drain.
The house drain is that part of the lowest horizontal piping of a plumbing
HOUSE DRAIN system which receives the discharge from soil, waste, and other drainage
pipes inside of buildings conveys it to the house sewer.
HOUSE STORM A house storm sewer is the pipeline from the building to the public storm
SEWER sewer system.
INDIRECT WASTE A waste pipe that does not connect directly with the building drainage system
PIPE but discharges into is through a properly trapped fixture or receptacle.
INDIVIDUAL VENT See back vent.
Industrial waste is liquid waste resulting from the processes employed in
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
industrial establishments and is free from fecal matter.
INSANITARY Contrary to sanitary principles or injurious to health
A receptacle designed and constructed to intercept or separate, and prevent
INTERCEPTOR the passage of oil, grease, sand, or other materials into the drainage system to
which it is directly or indirectly connected.
INVERT The lowest portion of the inside of any pipe conduit that is not vertical.
In plumbing, a secondary pipe line. In average, a common sewer to which no
LATERAL
other common sewer is tributary receives sewage only from building sewers.
A water closet consisting of a continuous though
µ .
containing water. The trough
LATRINE extends under two (2) or more adjacent seats. Prohibited by most authorities
for permanent installations.
LAVATORY A fixture designed for the washing of the hands or face. (wash basin)
LEACHING
A cesspool that is not watertight.
CESSPOOL

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LENGTH OF PIPE The length as measured along.

A pipe or shaft serving to convey foul air from a plumbing fixture or a room to
LOCAL VENT
the outer air.
A continuation of a horizontal soil or waste pipe beyond the connection at
which liquid wastes from a fixture or fixtures enter the waste or soil pipe. The
LOOP OR CIRCUIT extension is usually vertical immediately beyond its connection to the soil or
VENT waste pipe. The base of the vertical portion of the vent may be connected to
the horizontal portion of the soil or waste stack between fixtures connected
thereto.
The main of any system of continuous piping is the principal artery of the
MAIN
system, to which branches may be connected.
An opening constructed in a sewer or any part of a plumbing system of
MANHOLE
sufficient size for a, to gain access thereto.
A person with knowledge of and experience in plumbing who employs
MASTERPLUMBER
journeymen plumbers or who conducts a plumbing business.
OAKUM Hemp or old hemp rope soaked in oil to make it waterproof
Occupancy is the purpose for which a building is used or intended to be used.
OCCUPANCY The term shall also include the building or room housing such use. Change of
Occupancy is not intended to include change of tenants or proprietors.
The art and technique of installing in buildings the pipes, fixtures, and other
apparatuses for bringing in the water supply, liquids, substances or ingredients
PLUMBING and removing them and such water, liquid, and other carried-wastes affecting
health and sanitation and hazardous to life and property; also the pipes and
fixtures after they have been installed, i.e. the plumbing system.
A receptacle attached to a plumbing system other than a trap in which water or
PLUMBING FIXTURE wastes may be collected or retained for ultimate discharge into the plumbing
system.
The plumbing system of a building, institution,, factory or industrial
establishment, includes the water-supply, liquids, substances and or
ingredients distributing pipes; and those pipes removing them and such water,
liquid, and other carried-wastes; the fixtures and fixture traps; the soil, waste,
PLUMBING SYSTEM
and vent pipes; the house drain, the foundation drain, and the house sewer;
the storm- water drainage; drainage ejectors, all with their devices,
appurtenances, and connections within or on a building, a factory, or an
industry.
The authority or the officer charged with the administration and enforcement of
PLUMBING OFFICIAL
the National Plumbing Code, or his regularly authorized deputy.

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Potable water is water which is satisfactory for drinking, culinary, domestic

POTABLE WATER purposes and meets the requirements of the health authority having
jurisdiction.
A primary branch of the building drain is the single sloping drain from the base
PRIMARY BRANCH of a stack to its junction with the main building drain or with another branch
thereof.
PRIVATE OR Private applies to fixtures in a residence where the fixtures are intended for the
PRIVATE USE use of a family or an individual.
A private sewer is a sewer privately owned and not directly controlled by public
PRIVATE SEWER
authority.
PRIVY An outhouse or structure used for the deposition of excrement.
PRIVY VAULT A pit beneath a privy in which excrement collects.
In the classification of plumbing fixtures, public applies to fixtures in general
toilet rooms of schools, gymnasiums, hotels, railroad stations, public buildings,
PUBLIC OR bars, public comforts stations, or places to which the public is invited or which
PUBLIC USE are frequented by the public without special permission or special invitation,
and other installations (whether pay or free) where a number of fixtures are
installed so that their use is similarly unrestricted.
A public sewer is a common sewer directly controlled by public authority to
PUBLIC SEWER
which all abutters have equal rights of connections.
A relief vent is a vent the primary function of which is to provide circulation of
RELIEF VENT
air between drainage and vent system.
The reconstruction or renewal of any part of an existing building for the
REPAIR purpose of its maintenance. The word “repair” or “repairs” shall not apply to
any change of construction.
An open return bend, usually with inside threads, but applied also to a one
RETURN BEND
hundred eighty (180 degree) bend in a pipe
REVENT PIPE See back vent pipe.
A water supply pipe that extends vertically one full story or more too convey
RISER
water to branches or fixtures
The installation of all pipes in the plumbing system that are in partitions and
ROUGHING-IN under floors. It includes the plumbing work done before the setting of the
fixtures, or finishing.
The sewage containing human excrement and liquid household waste; also
SANITARY SEWAGE
called domestic sewage.
A sewer intended to receive sanitary sewage with or without industrial wastes
SANITARY SEWER
and without the admixture of surface water, storm water, or drainage.

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The vertical distance between the dip and the crown weir of a trap. Also, the
SEAL
water in the trap between the dip and the crown weir.
SECONDARY And branch in a building drain other than the primary branch.
BRANCH
A septic tank is a watertight receptacle, which receives the discharge of a
plumbing system or part thereof, and is designed and constructed so as to
separate solids from the liquid digest the organic matter through a period of
SEPTIC TANK
detention, and allow the effluent to discharge into a storm drain; or directly to
the ground outside the tank through a system of open joint or perforated
piping.
SERVICE PIPE The pipe from the water main or source of water supply to the building served.
SEWAGE The liquid wastes conducted away from residences, business buildings,
SEWER A pipe or conduit for carrying sewage and waste liquids
A comprehensive term, including all construction for collection, transportation,
SEWERAGE, OR
pumping, treatment and final disposition of sewage.
SEWERAGE WORKS

A vertical opening through a building for elevators, dumb-waiter, ventilation or

SHAFT
similar purpose.
SIAMESE A wye connection used on fire lines so that two lines of hose may be
CONNECTION connected to hydrant or to the same nozzle.
SIPHONAGE. Suction by the flow of liquids in pipes. A pressure less than atmospheric.
A soil pipe is any pipe which conveys the discharge of water closets, urinals,
SOIL PIPE or fixtures having similar functions. Also, a cast-iron pipe, with bell and spigot
ends, used in plumbing to convey fecal matter or liquid wastes.
SOIL STACK PIPE A vertical soil pipe conveying fecal matter and liquid waste.
The end of a pipe, which fits into a bell. Also a word used synonymously with
SPIGOT
faucet.
STACK A general term used for any vertical line of soil, waste, or vent piping.
A stack vent is the extension of a soil or waste stack above the highest
STACK VENT
horizontal drain connected to the stack.
A vertical pipe usually used for the storage of water, frequently under
STANDPIPE
pressure.
Storm water is that portion of the rainfall or other precipitation, which runs off
STORM WATER over the surface after the storm and for such a short period following a storm
as the flow exceeds the normal runoff.
Subsoil drains are underground drain pipes that receive only sub-surface or
SUBSOIL DRAIN
seepage water and convey it to place of disposal.

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SUMP A pit or receptacle at a low point to which the liquid wastes are drained.
Supports, hangers, anchors, brackets, cradles are devices for holding and
SUPPORTS
securing pipes and fixtures to walls, ceiling, floors, or structural members.
Surface water is that portion of a rainfall or other precipitation which runs off
SURFACE WATER
over the surface of the ground.
A water receptacle used for swimming designed to accommodate more than
SWIMMING POOL
one bather at time and properly connected to a disposal system.
P A cast-iron bell-end tee with the branch tapped to receive a threaded pipe of
TAPED TEE
fitting.
A fitting or device so constructed as to prevent the passage of air, gas, and
TRAP some vermin through a pipe without materially affecting the flow of sewage or
waste water through it.
TRAP SEAL See seal.
An arrangement of venting so installed that one vent pipe will serve two (2)
UNIT VENT
traps.
VACUUM An air pressure less than that atmospheric. Also, siphonage.
A pipe or opening used to ensuring the circulation of air in plumbing system
VENT
and for reducing the pressure exerted on trap seals.
WET VENT Wet vent is that portion of a vent pipe through which liquid waste flow.
WASTE PIPE A waste pipe is a pipe, which conveys only liquid waste, free of fecal matter.
A yard is an open, unoccupied space, other than a court, unobstructed from
YARD the ground to the sky, except where specifically provide by this Code, on the
lot on which a building is situated.

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SAMPLE PLUMBING PLAN

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PRIVY

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Cesspool

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Vent Stack Detail

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Drainage Detail

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Check Valve

Globe Valve

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Siphonic Roof Drain

Roof Drainage Detail

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Lavatory Section

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Water Closet

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Circuit Vent

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Proper Drain Slope

Sewer Manhole

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WATER RECYCLING FLOW

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ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
Electricity is a form of energy generated by 6. Zinc
friction, induction or chemical change, having 7. Platinum
magnetic, chemical and radiant effect. Electricity 8. Iron
means Electrons in motion. 9. Lead
10. Tin
Electricity is a property of basic particles:
1. Electron Various kinds of Insulators:
2. Proton 1. Rubber
3. Neutron 2. Porcelain
3. Varnish
Electric Current: 4. Slate
1. Source of voltage 5. Glass
2. Closed loop of wiring 6. Mica
3. Electrical load 7. Latex
4. Opening and closing the circuit 8. Asbestos
9. Paper
Electric Current is classified as: 10. Oil
1. Direct Current (DC) 11. Wax
2. Alternating Current (AC) 12. Thermoplastic

Comparison of AC and DC electricity: Different types of an outlet

1. Watts = Volts x Amperes 1. Convenience outlet
2. Volt Amperes = Volts x Amperes 2. Lighting outlet
3. Watts = Volts x Amperes x power factor 3. Receptacle outlet

Two fundamental types of connections: Switches are classified into:

1. Series circuit 1. General use switch
2. Parallel circuit 2. General use snap switch
3. AC general use snap switch
Good Electric Conductors: 4. AC-DC general use switch
1. Silver 5. Isolating switch
2. Copper 6. Motor circuit switch
3. Aluminum
4. Nickel
5. Brass

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Good Circuitry Design: Fuse Types:

1. Flexibility of the circuit 1. Cartridge type
2. Reliability and efficiency of service 2. Plug Fuse type
3. Safety of the circuitry
4. Economy as to cost Circuit Breaker is an over current device designed
5. Energy consideration to function as a switch
6. Space allocation
Service Entrance:
Energy Consideration: 1. Overhead service
1. Energy laws and codes 2. Underground service
2. Budget
3. Energy conservation technique
4. Energy control

Electrical layout and space allocation:

1. Easy maintenance
2. Ventilation
3. Expandability
4. Centrality
5. Limitation of access

Causes of Over Current:

1. Overload in the equipment or conductors
2. Short circuit or ground fault

The over current protective devices are installed in

circuits to protect the following:
1. Wiring
2. Transformer
3. Lights
4. Appliances and other equipments

Over Current is any current in excess of rated

capacity of the equipment or the rated ampacity of
the conductor

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Electrical Devices and Equipments Panel boards consist of a metal cabinet containing
over-current protective devices and other devices.
It is a distribution center for receiving electrical
power and feeding the branch circuits.

Two Classifications:
 Flush mounted
 Surface mounted

Over-current protective devices:

 Circuit breaker

Types of Electric Power  fused

 Single Phase Power: Residential Projects

Overcurrent Protective Devices
 Two Phase Power: Medium Scale Projects
 Three Phase Power: Large Scale Commercial
Definitions:
and Industrial Projects
Overcurrent – due to mechanical overload or
internal or external electrical faults
Panelboard

Overvoltage – due to short circuiting between

primary and secondary wiring or due to lightning
strike

Tripping – cutting off or disconnection of the

supply current

Causes of overcurrent:
 Overload of the equipment or conductors
 Short circuit or ground fault

Types of Overcurrent Devices:

 Fuse
 Circuit Breaker (CB)

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Fuse Circuit Breaker

An overcurrent protective device with a circuit A device designed to open and close a circuit by
opening fusible element non-automatic means and

Which is heated and severed by the passage of To open automatically on a predetermined

overcurrent through it overcurrent without damage to itself when properly
applied its rating
Types:
 Expulsion Fuse Unit Classification of Circuit Breakers:
 Power Fuse Unit  Air blast Circuit Breaker
 Vented Power Fuse  Air Circuit Breaker or Power Circuit Breaker
 Controlled Vented Power Fuse  Oil type Circuit Breaker
 Gas type Circuit Breaker
Fuse Construction and Ratings:  Vacuum type Circuit Breaker
 Voltage class
 Current rating
 Construction
 Principle of operation
 Fusible material

Fuse vs. Circuit Breaker?

Advantage of a Fuse:
 It is reliable
 Initial cost is lesser
 It does require periodic maintenance

Plug Fuse – it is enclosed in porcelain or rubber

Advantage of a Circuit Breaker:
commonly used in various electrical appliances
 It can be used again after the fault has been
corrected
Cartridge Fuse – it is enclosed in insulating tube
 Its position (open or close) can easily be
detected or viewed
Fuse Wire – open wire of low melting point
 It can act as a switch
commonly used in the safety power switch

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Outlet Wiring Accessories

A point in the wiring system at which current is

Junction Box
taken to supply utilization equipment

A box with a blank cover which serves the purpose

of joining runs of raceways or cables and provides
sufficient space for connection and branching of the
enclosed circuit.

Note: A junction box is not an outlet

Parts of a typical junction box:

 Box
 Cover
 Ear
 Knockout
 Bushing
 Locknut

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Pull Box Switches

A box with blank cover which is inserted in one or

An electric switch is a device intended for on-off
more runs or raceways to facilitate the pulling of
control of circuits and electrical isolation of
wires
equipment

A piece of apparatus or device for making, breaking

or changing the connection in an electrical current
in the circuit

Switches are rated according to current, poles and

throws, voltage, duty, fusibility and enclosure

Definition:

*Raceway – metal molding or conduit that has a Pole – that part of a switch which is used for

thinner wall than a standard rigid conduit used in making or breaking a connection and which
exposed wiring. electrically insulated from the other contact.

Ground Fault Circuit Interceptor (GFCI) Throw – the direction from a given position in
which the contact is made, it also indicates the
They are installed on damp or wet areas to avoid number of times a contact is made
electric shock.
 Single Pole Single Throw
 Single Pole Double Throw
 Double Pole Single Throw
 Double Pole Double Throw

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Pole – switches are rated in the following manner: Types of Switches:

120V, 220V, 600V – normal bldg
Single Pole Switch – a switch that opens and
5KV, 15KV – special switches and switch gear
closes only one side of a circuit, it turns a light on
and off from one location
Duty – general use or safety switches intended for
general light and power circuits may be of heavy
duty, normal duty and light duty

Fusibility – a switch may be constructed with or

without provision for using
Enclosure – a switchboard as a protection from
external damage

Classification of Switches:

General Use Switch – general distribution and

branch circuits

General Snap Switch – used in conjunction with

wiring systems

Isolating Switch – intended for isolating an

electrical circuit from the source of power
Double Pole Switch – a term designating two
contacts or connections on a device, for instance, a
double knife switch

Motor Circuit Switch – capable of interrupting the

maximum operating current of the motor

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National Electrical Code of the Philippines

Three Way Switch – to control lights from two (NECP)
different locations
 The NEC requires for residence sufficient
circuitry to supply a load of 3 watts / square feet
 One 20 ampere circuit shall supply the laundry
outlet
 Do not combine receptacles and switches
 Special purpose outlets should be provided
with separate branch circuit
 Provide lighting and power outlet so that each
room has parts of at least two circuits.

Four Way Switch – used in conjunction with two  Supply at least one receptacle in the bathroom

three way switches, and to control lights from three and one outside the house (Both outlets should

or more locations be provided with GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit

Interceptor))
 In bedrooms, provide two convenience outlets
on each side of the bed
 Kitchen areas should have a duplex appliance
outlet at every 36 inches or 0.90 meters
 Convenience outlets located outside the house
should have a protective covering
 100 watts shall be the maximum load for each
Multi Circuit Switch – the control of lights in a
lighting outlet
multi-lamp switch
 Each receptacle shall be considered at no less
than 180 watts
 Ampacity of the connected load shall not
exceed 80% of the amperage capacity of the
conductor and the fuse or circuit breaker
 The mounting height of all receptacles and
switches should be indicated on the plan

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Electrical Terms

ABSORPTION-RESISTING: Incapable of taking up water (or any other liquid deleterious to the material
under consideration, to which such material is liable to be exposed) sufficiently to affect electrical or
mechanical properties to an appreciable extent under conditions of use.

ACCESSIBLE: (As applied to wiring methods) Not permanently closed in by the structure or finish of the
bldg; capable of being removed without disturbing the building of finish. (As applied to equipment)
Admitting close approach because not guarded by locked doors, elevators or other effective means.

ACCESSORIA TYPE BLDG: A building that has partitions from the first floor up to the last floor with each
bay or section intended for different and independent occupants.

APPLIANCE: Appliances are current consuming equipment, fixed or portable;

AIR CIRCUIT BREAKER: An air circuit breaker is one in which the interruption occurs in air.

AIR TERMINAL: (For lightning protection) An air terminal is the combination of elevation rod and brace,
or footing placed on upper portions of structures, together with tip or point if used.

AIR SWITCH: An air switch is one with contacts the separate in air.

ALIVE: means electrically connected to a source of potential difference, or electrical charged so as to

have a potential different from that of the earth.

APPROVED: Acceptable to the authority enforcing this Code. When used with reference to any particular
electrical equipment means that such equipment has been submitted for examination and test to the
Gov’t agency concerned and that formal approval has been given to the effect that it conforms to the
Standards established under the provisions of this Code.

APPROVED FIREDOOR: a fire door and hardware of a type approved for the class of service to which it
is applied and labeled or certified by competent and recognized authority.

ARC WELDING: arc welding is a group of welding processes wherein coalescence is produced by
heating with an electric arc or arcs, with or without the application of pressure and with or without the use
of filler metal.

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ARC VOLTAGE: arc voltage is the voltage across the welding arc.

ARMOUR: a wrapping of galvanized interlocking steel strip forming an integral part of the assembly of
certain insulated cables, wires or cords, which are capable of withstanding certain mechanical tests.

ARMORED CABLE: (In interior wiring) An armored cable is a fabricated assembly of insulated
conductors and a flexible metallic covering.

ARMORED CABLE: (in interior wiring) Is a provided cable with a wrapping of metal, usually steel wires or
tapes, primarily for the purpose of mechanical protection.

ASKAREL: A synthetic non-flammable insulating liquid which, when decomposed parts included in an
electric arc, evolves only non-explosive gases.

ASSEMBLY: is a combination of all or of a portion of component parts included in an electric apparatus,

mounted on a supporting frame or panel, and properly interwired.

ATTACHMENT PLAG: (Plug Cap) An attachment plug is a device which by insertion in a receptacle,
established connection between the conductors or attached flexible cord and the conductors connected
permanently to the receptacle.

AUTHORIZED PERSON: A qualified person who by the nature of his duties or occupation is obliged to
approach or handle electrical equipment; or a person who having been warned on the hazards involved,
has been instructed or authorized to do so by someone in authority.

AUTOMATIC CONTROLLER: an electric controller in which the influence directing the performance of its
basic functions is automatic.

AUTOMATIC WELDING: is welding with equipment, which performs the entire welding operation without
constant observation and adjustment or is controls by a person. The equipment may or may not perform
the loading and unloading of the work.

Auxiliary gutter: A sheet-metal enclosure for conductors, cables and bus bars at switchboards, meter
centers, distribution centers and similar points.

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B & S GAUGE: the Brown and Shaped (or American) wire Gauge as applied to non-ferrous conductors
and non-ferrous sheet metal.

BASE LOAD: Is the minimum load over a given period of time.

BRACH CIRCUIT: A branch circuit is that portion of a wiring system extending beyond the final over
current device protecting the circuit. A device not approved from branch circuit protection such as thermal
cutout or motor overload protective device, is not considered as the overcurrent device protecting the
circuit.

BRANCH CIRCUIT-APPLIANCE: is a circuit supplying energy to one or more outlets to which appliances
are to be connected; such circuits to have no permanently connected lighting fixtures not a part of an
appliance.

BRANCH-CIRCUIT DISTRIBUTION CENTER: is a distribution center at which branch circuits are

supplied.

BRANCH-CIRCUIT – GENERAL PURPOSE: a branch circuit that supplies a number of outlets for
lighting and appliances.

BRANCH-CIRCUIT – INDIVIDUAL: A branch circuit that supplies only one utilization equipment.

BREAKDOWN: (Puncture) A Breakdown is a disruptive discharge through insulation.

BUILDING: a structure which stands alone or which is cut off from adjoining structures by fire walls with
all opening therein protected by approved fire doors.

BUS: Is a conductor, or group of conductors, in switchgear assemblies, which serves as a common

connection for two or more circuits.

BUSWAY: An approved, completely assembled metal roughing and fittings therefore containing bare
conductors intended for use as feeders, the conductors being suitably supported on insulators.

CABINET: an enclosure designed either for surface or flush mounting and provided with a frame, mat or
trim in which swinging doors are hung.

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CABLE: is either a stranded conductor with or without insulation and other coverings, or a combination of
conductors insulated from one another.

CAGE: Is a system of conductors forming an essentially continuous conducting network over the object
protected and including any conductors necessary for interconnection of the object protected and an
adequate ground.

CAPACITY FACTOR: The capacity factor is the ratio of the full load rating to the average load on a
machine or equipment for the period or time considered.

CIRCUIT BREAKER: A device designed to open under abnormal conditions a current carrying without
injury to itself. The term applies only to the automatic type designed to trip on a determined overload of
current.

CLEARANCE (Transmission & Distribution): clearance is the minimum separation between two
conductors, between conductors, and supports, or other objects between conductors and ground.

CLEAT: is an assembly of two pieces of insulating material provided with groovers for holding one or
more conductors at a definite spacing from the surface wired over and from each other, and with holes
for fastening in position.

CLIMBING SPACE: is the vertical space reserved along the side of a pole or tower to give linemen ready
access to equipment and conductors installed thereon.

COMBINED MECH & ELEC STRENGTH OF AN INSULATOR: the combined mechanical and electrical
strength of an insulator is the loading in pounds at which the insulator fails to perform its function either
electrically or mechanically, voltage and mechanical stress being applied simultaneously.

COMMUNICATON CIRCUIT: A circuit which is a part of a so called central station system. Includes
telephone, telegraph, fire and burglar alarms, watchmen, and sprinkler supervisory circuits.

CONCEALED: Rendered inaccessibility by the structure circuits or finish of the bldg. Wires in concealed
raceways are considered concealed, even though they may become accessible by withdrawing them.

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CONDUCTOR: A conductor is a wire or combination of wires not insulated from one another, suitable for
carrying electric current.
BARE: a bare conductor is one having no covering or insulation.
COVERED: a covered conductor is one having one or more layers of non-conducting materials
that are not recognized as insulation.

CONDUIT FITTING: A conduit fitting is necessary which serves to complete a conduit syStem, such as
bushings and access fittings.

CONE OF PROTECTION: Is the space enclosed by a cone formed with its apex at the highest point of a
lightning rod or protecting tower, the diameter of the base of the cone having a definite relation to the
height of the rod or tower.

CONNECTED LOAD: The connected load is the sum of the continuous ratings of the load consuming
apparatus connected to the system or any part thereof.

CONNECTOR: (Splicing sleeve) is a metal sleeve, usually copper that is slipped over and secured to the
butted ends of the conductors in making up a joint.

CONNECTOR, PRESSURE: (Splicing sleeve) a pressure wire connector is a device which establishes
the connection between two or more conductors and a terminal by means of mechanical pressure and
without the use of soder.

CONTACT SURFACE: Contact surfaces are the surfaces which meet and through which the current is
transferred when the contacts are closed.

CONTINUOUS CURRENT RATING: The continuous current which may be carried for an unlimited period
without causing any of the established limitations to be exceeded.

CONTROL: is broadly the methods and means of governing in some predetermined manner, the electric
apparatus to which it is connected.

COOKING UNITS, COUNTER MOUNTED: an assembly of one or more domestic surface heating
elements for cooking purposes designed for flush mounting in or supported by a counter and which
assembly is complete with inherent or separately mountable controls and internal wiring.

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CORONA: is luminous discharge due to ionization of the air surrounding a conductor caused by a voltage
gradient exceeding a certain critical value.

CURRENT-PERMIT: written permission from the corresponding Gov’t. electrical or inspection department
to the electric power supply company to the effect that electric energy may be supplied to a particular
installation.

CUTOUT BOX: An enclosure designed for surface or flush mounting and having swinging doors or
covers secured directly to the walls of the box proper.

DUMP PLACE: any place in which moisture is present , either permanently or impertinently, to such an
extent that it would be likely to impair the effectiveness of an installation conforming to the minimum
requirements for ordinary conditions.

DEAD: means free from any electric connections to a source of potential difference from that of the earth.
The term is used only with reference to current-carrying parts which are sometimes alive.

DEAD-FRONT MOUNTING: is the method of mounting a circuit breaker or switch with all exposed
operating parts adequately insulated, so that a protective grounded and/or insulated barrier is interposed
between all parts carrying electric current and the operator.

DEMAND FACTOR: demand factor of any system, or part of a system, is the ratio of the maximum
demand of the system, or parts of a system, to the total connected load of the system, or of the part of the
system under consideration.

DEVICE: A unit of an electrical system, which is intended to carry but not utilize electric energy.

DISCONNECTING MEANS: a device, or group of devices, or other means whereby the conductors of a
circuit can be disconnected from their source of supply.

DISCONNECTING SWITCH: a disconnecting switch is the one used for closing, opening or changing the
connections in a circuit or system, or for isolating purposes, and is intended to be operated only after the
circuit has been opened by some other means.

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DISRUPTIVE DISCHARGE: is the sudden and large increase in current through an insulating medium
due to the complete failure of the medium under electrostatic stress.

DISTRIBUTION CENTER: is a point at which energy is divided among feeders or branch circuits or
combinations of both, and where over current devices are usually located.

DISTRIBUTOR DUCT: is a duct installed for occupancy of distribution mains.

DIVERSITY FACTOR: is the ratio of the sum of the individual maximum demands of the various
subdivisions of a system to the maximum demand of the whole system.

DRIP-PROOF: means so constructed or protected that successful operation is not interfered with when
falling drops of liquid or solid particles strike the enclosure at any angle from 0 to 15 degrees from the
downward vertical unless otherwise specified.

DRIPTIGHT: means so constructed or protected that drops of liquid or solid particles striking the
enclosure at any angle from 0 to 15 degrees from the downward vertical unless otherwise specified,
cannot enter the enclosure either directly or by striking and running along a horizontal or inwardly inclined
surface.

DUCT: is a single enclosed runway for conductors and cables.

DUMBWAITER: a hoisting and lowering mechanism equipped with a car, which moves in guides in a
substantially vertical direction, the floor area of which does not exceed 9sq ft, whose compartment height
does not exceed 3ft 6in, the capacity of which does not exceed 500lbs, and which is used exclusively for
carrying freight.

DUST IGNITION PROOF MACHINES: is a totally enclosed machine whose enclosure is designed and
constructed in manner which will exclude ignitable amounts of dusts or amounts of dust which might
affect performance with the Philippine Electrical Code.

DUSTPROOF: so constructed or protected that dust will not interfere with successful operation.

DUST-TIGHT: so constructed or protected that dust will not enter the enclosing case.

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DUTY: Duty is the requirement of service which defines the degree of regularity of the load.
 CONTINUOUS: is a requirement of service that demands operation for alternate intervals of (1)
load and no load, or (2) load and rest; or (3) load, no load and rest.
 INTERMITTENT: is a requirement of service that demands operation at a substantially constant
load for an indefinitely long time.
 PERIODIC: is a type of intermittent duty in which the load conditions are regularly recurrent.
 SHORT TIME: short time duty is a requirement of service that demands operation at a
substantially constant load for a short and definitely specified time.
 VARYING: is a requirement of service that demands operations at loads and for intervals of time
both of which may be subject to wide variations.

ELECTRICAL METALLIC TUBING: metal pipe into which electric wires may be drawn and which has a
wall thinner than that of rigid conduit with an outside diameter sufficiently different from that of rigid
conduit to render it impracticable for anyone to thread it standard pipe thead.

ELECTRIC CONTROLLER: is a device or a group of devices, which serves to govern, in some

predetermined manner, the electric power delivered to the apparatus to which it is connected.

ELECTRIC ELEVATOR: one which the motion of the car is obtained through an electric motor directly
applied to the elevator machinery.

ELECTRIC MOTOR: is a machine which transforms electric power into mechanical power.

ELECRIC SIGN: a fixed or portable, self-contained electrically illuminated appliance with words or
symbols designed to convey information or attract attention.

ELEVATOR: a hoisting and lowering mechanism equipped with a car or platform which moves in guides
in a substantially vertical direction.

ELEVATOR MACHINE: The machinery and its equipment used in raising and lowering the elevator car or
platform.

ELEVATION ROD: (for lightning protection) an elevator is the vertical portion of conductor in an air
terminal by means of which it is elevated above the object to be protected.

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EMERGENCY LIGHTS: All lights, in a theatre, or other building used for public assembly, which are kept,
lighted continuously while the theatre or building is being used to provide safe exit and entry.

EMERGENCY SERVICE: is an additional service intended only for used under emergency conditions that
are when the normal source of power fails.

ENCLOSED: surrounded by a case which prevents a person from accidentally contacting live parts.

EQUIPMENT: a general term including material, fitting, devices, appliances, fixtures, apparatus and the
like, used as a part of, or in connection with, an electrical installation.

EXPLOSION-PROOF: enclosed in a case which is capable of withstanding an explosion of a specified

gas or vapor which occur within it, and of preventing the ignition of a specified gas or vapor surrounding
the enclosure by sparks, flashes or explosion of the gas or vapor within.

EXPOSED: (as applied to wiring method) exposed means that an object or device can be inadvertently
touched or approached nearer than a safe distance by any person. It is applied to objects not suitably
guarded or isolated.

EXPULSION TYPE ARRESTER: is an arrester having a characteristic element in which an arc is

confined and brought in contact with gas evolving or other arc extinguishing material in a manner which
enables it to interrupt power follow current.

EXTENSION CORD: is an assembly of a flexible cord with an attachment plug on one end and a
connector on the other.

EXTERNALLY OPERABLE: capable of being operated without exposing the operator to contact with live
parts.

FEEDERS: Are the circuit conductors between the service equipment, or generator switchboard of an
isolated plant, and the branch circuit over current device.

FIREPROOF: as applied to buildings or portions thereof, means that hey are constructed of approved
masonry, reinforced concrete or other non-flammable materials.

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FIXTURE: an integral, separate or self-contained unit which may contain one or more bulbs or fluorescent
tubes.

FLAME-RETARDANT: means so constructed or treated that it will not readily burn or convey flame.

FLAMMABLE: applied to readily combustible or ignitable materials such as straw, hay, wood shavings,
light draperies, celluloid oils, gasoline, etc.

FLASHOVER: is a disruptive discharge around or over the surface of a solid or liquid insulator.

FLEXIBLE CONDUIT: non-rigid metal conduit into which conductors may be drawn.

FLEXIBLE TUBING: non-metallic and non-rigid tubing commonly known as “loom”, into which a
conductor may be drawn.

FOOTCANDLE, FC: is the unit of illumination when the foot is taken as the unit of length. It is the
illumination on a surface one square foot in area on which there is uniformly distributed flux of one lumen,
or the illumination produced at a surface all point of which are at a distance of one foot from a uniform
point source of one candle.

FOOTINGS: are structures set in the ground to support the bases of towers, poles or other overhead
structures.

FUSE: is an overcurrent protective device with a circuit-opening fusible member which is heated and
severed by the passage of overcurrent through it.

FUSE CURRENT RATING: the current rating of a fuse is designed RMS alternating, or direct current
which will carry continuously under stated conditions.

FUSE CUTOUT: is a form of use and its holder or enclosure characterized by the ready and safe replace
ability of the fuse unit.

FUSE HOLDER: is a device to support a fusible, link and to complete the contact between the fusible link
and the fuse clips.

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FUSE VOLTAGE RATING: the voltage rating of a fuse is that RMS alternating or direct voltage for which
it is designated.

GAS-TIGHT: so constructed that gas cannot enter the enclosing case.

GENERAL-USE SWITCH: a switch intended for use in general distribution and branch-circuits. It is rated
in amperes and is capable of interrupting its rated current at rated voltage.

GROUND: is a conducting connection, whether intentional or accidental, between an electrical circuit or

equipment and earth, or to some conducting body which serves in place of the earth.

GROUNDED: means connected to earth or to some conducting body which serves in place of the earth.

GROUNDED CIRCUIT: is a circuit in which one conductor or point is intentionally grounded, either solidity
or through a grounding device. Usually the neutral conductor or neutral point of transformer or generator
windings.

GROUNDED-ELECTRODE: a buried metallic water-piping system, or metal object or device buried in, or
driven into, the ground to which a grounding-conductor is electrically and mechanically connected.

GROUNDING CONDUCTOR: a conductor used to connect an equipment, device or wiring system with a
grounding electrode or electrodes.

GUARDED: Covered, shielded, fenced, enclosed or otherwise protected, by means of suitable covers or
casings barriers, rails or screens, mats or platforms, to remove the liability of dangerous contact or
approach by persons or objects to a point of danger.

GUY: is a tension member usually galvanized wire, having one and secured fixed object on the ground
and the other end attached to a pole, cross arm or other structural part which it supports.

GUY INSULATOR: is an insulating element, generally of elongated form with traverse holes or slots for
the purpose of insulating two sections of a guy or provide insulation between structure and anchor and
also provide protection in case of broken wires falling on the guy.

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ELECTRICAL SYMBOLS

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Sample Only

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Sample Power Layout Plan

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MECHANICAL SYSTEMS

Types of Air-Conditioning System

1. Unitary/ Room Air-Conditioner

A self-contained unit which houses all the

necessary air conditioning components such as the
compressor, condenser and evaporator in the
same cabinet

3. Package/Cabinet Type Air-Conditioner

Also known as the “window type” air conditioner
A type of split type air conditioning system

2. Split Type Air-Conditioner

A type of air conditioning system composed of two

separate sections, one installed inside the room
(fan coil unit) while the other is mounted outside the
building (air cooled condensing unit)

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4. Centralized Type Air-Conditioner

6. Portable Unit
A type of air conditioning system used for large
A portable air conditioner is one on wheels that can
installation using ducts
be easily transported inside a home or office.
Portable air conditioners are either evaporative or
refrigerative.

5. Evaporative Cooler

An evaporative cooler (also swamp cooler, desert

cooler and wet air cooler) is a device that cools air
through the evaporation
7. Dehumidifier

A dehumidifier is generally a household appliance

which reduces the level of humidity in the air,
usually for health or comfort reasons, or to
eliminate dank smells.

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8. Heat Pumps
 The primary difference is a refrigerator moves
A heat pump is an air conditioner that contains a heat out of its interior and releases it to the
valve that lets it switch between "air conditioner" surroundings, (usually the kitchen), while air
and "heater“. When the valve is switched one way, conditioners take heat from inside the house
the heat pump acts like an air conditioner, and and release it to the outside environment
when it is switched the other way it reverses the
flow of the liquid inside the heat pump and acts like
a heater.

How Air-Conditioning Works?

 An air conditioner removes heat and moisture

from the air by passing it over a cold surface.

 An air conditioner employs the same operating

principles and basic components as your home
refrigerator.
 Refrigerators use energy (usually electricity) to
transfer heat from the cool interior of the
 When warm, moist "inside" air is blown across
refrigerator to the relatively warm surroundings
the surface of the unit's cooling coil, the air
of your home; likewise, an air conditioner uses
temperature drops and the water vapor in it
energy to transfer heat from the interior of your
condenses making the air cooler and drier and
home to the relatively warm outside
therefore more "comfortable."
environment.
 Refrigerating air for comfort inside the home,
(called air conditioning) is far more complicated
than heating.

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 An air conditioner cools your home with a cold

Air-Conditioning System Types
indoor coil called the evaporator. (For central Air-conditioning)
 The condenser, a hot outdoor coil, releases the
All Air System
collected heat outside.
 The evaporator and condenser coils are  With this type of system, the air treating and

serpentine tubing surrounded by aluminum refrigeration plants may be located some

fins. distance from the conditioned space in a

 This tubing is usually made of copper. central mechanical room.

 The central treating station not only cleans the
air, but also heats or cools, humidifies or
dehumidifies.
 Only the final cooling-heating medium (air) is
brought into the conditioned space through
ducts and distributed through outlets or mixing
terminals

 A pump, called the compressor, moves a heat

transfer fluid (or refrigerant) between the
evaporator and the condenser.
 The pump forces the refrigerant through the
circuit of tubing and fins in the coils.

The AC machine has three main parts:

 They are a compressor, a condenser and an

evaporator.
 The compressor and condenser are usually
located on the outside air portion of the air
conditioner.
 The evaporator is located on the inside the
house, sometimes as part of a furnace.
 That's the part that heats your house

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All Water System Air Water System

 The All-Water Systems are those with fan coil  Like the All-Air System, the air apparatus and
unit types of room terminals to which may be refrigeration plants are separate from the
connected one or more water circuits. conditioned space
 The cooling medium (such as chilled water or  However, the cooling-heating of the
brine) may be supplied from a remote source conditioned space is affected in only a small
and circulated through the coils in the fans coil part by air brought from the central apparatus.
terminals which is located in the conditioned  The major part of room thermal load is
space. balanced by warm or cooled water circulated
 Ventilation is obtained through an opening in either through coil in an induction unit or
the wall or from bleed-off from the interior zone through radiant panel
system or by infiltration

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Some Utility Facilities in Large Buildings:

Electrical Room
 It is a room or space in a building dedicated to
Generator Room electrical equipment.
 Generator rooms are generally located in areas  The size of the electrical room is usually
where sound, exhaust and vibration of proportional to the size of the building.
equipment are of general planning concern.  Electrical equipment may be for power
 This area is usually located in the basement distribution equipment, or for communications
service area equipment.
 A good scheme is to have one side of the room  It is a space for the switchgear, transfer switch,
directly accessible from the outside (for panel board etc.
maintenance and service  0.5 to 0.9% of the basement floor area
 1 to 1.5% of the basement floor area  Typical sizes: 2 x 3.5, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 x 4.0 (in
 Typical sizes: 3.5 x 4.5, 4.0 x 4.5 and 4.0 x 5.0 meters)
(in meters)
Mechanical Equipment Room
 A mechanical room or a boiler room is a room
or space in a building dedicated to the
mechanical equipment and its associated
electrical equipment
 A small building or home may have at most a
utility room but in large buildings mechanical
rooms can be of considerable size
Transformer Vault
 0.5 to 0.9% of the basement floor area
 Buildings requiring an expected load of 200
 Typical sizes: 2 x 3.5, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 x 4.0 (in
KVA or above shall be provided with a
meters)
transformer vault
 Transformers may be mounted on poles or
Equipment Room
structures within the property if enough space
 It is a room or space within a building for the
is available
storage or installation of mechanical or
 Located in a service area (askarel, dry,oil
electrical/electronic devices.
immersed transformer, cabling and other
 It can house telecommunication installations
electrical devices
that serves the occupants of the building
 0.8 to 1.2% of the basement floor area
 0.5 to 0.9% of the basement floor area
 Typical sizes: 3.5 x 4.5, 4.0 x 4.5, 4.0 x 5.0 (in
 Typical sizes: 2 x 3.5, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 x 4.0 (in
meters)
meters)

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Some Mechanical Terms

NBC Rule X – Mechanical Regulation p189

ACCIDENTAL CONTACT
Any inadvertent physical contact with power transmission

AIR CONDITIONING
The process of treating air to control simultaneously its temp, hum, etc

BALUSTRADE
The frame on both side of escalator

BOILER
A close vessel for heating

BUFFER
A device designed to stop a descending car from beyond its normal limit of travel

CAGE/ CAB
Enclosure for housing the operator etc of a crane

CAPACITY OF WORK, PROJECT OR PLANT

Total horse power

CAR
The load carrying unit of an elevator

COMPRESSOR
Mech device to increase pressure upon the refrigerant

CONDENSER
Arrangement of pipes/ tubing in which vaporized refrigerant is liquefied by the removal of heat

CONDEMED BOILER OR UNFIRED PRESSURE VESSEL

Boiler unsafe or disqualified

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CRANE
Machine for lifting or lowering and moving horizontal

DUCT
Passageway made of sheet of metal for conveying air

DUMBWAITER
Hoisting and lowering mechanism
Area - 3861sq cm
Height - 1.20m
Capacity - 277k

ELEVATOR
A hoisting and lowering mechanism with a car or platform which move in guides in a vertical direction

ELEVATOR LANDING
Portion of a floor, balcony, or platform for loading or unloading

ELEVATOR WIRE
Steel wire rope attached to the car

ENCLOSED
The moving parts of a machine are so guarded that physical contact by any part of the human body is
precluded or prevented

ESCALATOR
Power driven, inclined, continuous stairway

EVAPORATION
Liquid refrigerant is vaporized to produce refrigeration

EXTERNAL INSPECTION
Inspection made on boiler

GUARDED
Shielded, fenced or otherwise protected

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HOIST
Apparatus for raising or lowering a load by the application of a building force

HOIST WAY
A shaft for the travel of elevator or dumbwaiters

INTERAL INSPECTION
Inspection when boiler is shutdown

LIQUID RECEIVER
A vessel permanently connected to system by inlet and outlet pipes for storage of a liquid refrigerant

LOCOMOTIVE BOILER
Boiler mounted on a self- propelled track

LOW PRESSURE HEATING BOILER

Pressure 1.05kgs/sqm
Temp 250° F

MACHINE
The driven unit of equipment

MACHINE HOUSE
Enclosure for housing the hoisting mechanism and power plant

MACHINE PARTS
Any or all the moving parts of a machine

MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT
MECHANICAL MACHINERY
MECHANICAL PROCESS
MECHANICAL WORKS
MECHANICAL PLANT
All that has a mechanical functions

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MOVING WALK
Horizontal passenger carrying device

POINT OF OPERATION
The part of a machine which performs an operation on the stock
Location where stock material is fed to the machine

PORTABLE BOILER
Fired boiler which is self- contained
Intended for temporary location

POWER TRANSMISSION MACHINERY

Any device by which the motion of an engine is transmitted to or received by another machine

PRIME MOVER
Main function is to drive or operate either directly or indirectly, other mechanical equipment

PROCESS MACHINE
Equipment designed and operated for a specific purpose

REFRIGERANT
Absorption of heat while expanding or evaporating

TON OF REFRIGERATION
12,000 BTU/hr
200 BTU/min

TRAVELLING CABLE
A cable made up of electric conductor s which provides electrical connection between the elevator
car and a fixed outlet in the hoistway

UNFIRED PRESSURE VESSEL

Pressure is obtained from external source or from an indirect application of heat

VENTILATION
Supplying or removing air by natural or mechanical means

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Elevator Parts

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Hydraulic Elevator Parts

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Escalator Detail

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Air Conditioning System Diagram

Basic Ducting System

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Air Conditioner Parts

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Automatic Door Diagram

House Security System

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House Security Gadgets

Smoke Detector Parts

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Intelligent Building Scheme

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Automated Room

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LIGHTING

Light is a visually evaluated radiant energy that Lighting Design

permits us to see.
Design Guidelines:
Kinds of Lighting Fixtures 1. Design lighting for expected activity
2. Design with more effective luminaries and
Incandescent Lamps fenestrations
1. Reflector Lamp 3. Use efficient light source
2. Interference (Dichroic) Filters 4. Use more efficient luminaries
3. Low-Voltage Lamp 5. Use Thermal-controlled luminaries
4. Krypton Gas 6. Use lighter finishes on ceilings, walls, floors
5. Energy Saving Lamp and furnishings
6. Tungsten-Halogen (Quartz) Lamp 7. Use efficient incandescent lamps
8. Turn off lights when not needed
Fluorescent Lamp 9. Control window brightness
1. Preheat Lamp 10. Utilize day lighting as practicable
2. Rapid-Start Lamp 11. Keep lighting equipment clean and in good
3. Instant-Start Fluorescent Lamp working order
4. Cold Cathode Tube 12. Post instructions covering operation and
maintenance
Special Fluorescent Lamp
1. “U” Shaped Lamp Three Methods of Illumination:
2. Reflector and Aperture Lamp 1. General Lighting
3. Energy Conserving Lamps 2. Local and Supplementary
3. Combined General and Local
Neon Lamps
Types of Lighting System:
High-Intensity Discharge (HID) Lamps 1. Indirect Lighting
2. Semi-Indirect Lighting
Mercury Lamps 3. General-Diffuse and Direct-indirect Lighting
4. Semi-Direct Lighting
Special Mercury Lamps 5. Direct Lighting

Metal Halide Lamps

Low Pressure Sodium Lamps

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Lighting Terms
ABSORPTANCE Ratio of the flux absorbed by a medium to the incident flux.
ABSORPTION General term for the process by which incident flux is dissipated.
Directional lighting to emphasize a particular object or draw attention to a
ACCENT LIGHT
part of the field of view.
Angular distance between the vertical plane containing the sun and the plane
ALTITUDE
of the meridian.
A single opaque or translucent element to shield a source from direct view
BAFFLE
at certain angles or to absorb unwanted Light.
Device used with electric discharge lamp to obtain the necessary circuit
BALLAST
conditions for starting and operating.
BLACK LIGHT Popular term for ultraviolet energy near the visible spectrum
The terms Brightness and Luminance are almost entirely interchangeable, with
BRIGHTNESS
the latter being the newer term (See Luminance)
CANDELA The unit of luminous intensity
CANDLE POWER Luminous intensity expressed in candelas.
CEILING AREA General lighting system in which the entire ceiling is, in effect, one large
LIGHTING luminary, as in louvered ceilings and luminous ceilings.
Cavity can form by the ceiling, the plane of the luminaries, and the wall
CEILING CAVITY
surfaces between these two planes.
Enclosure containing the ballast, starter, lamp holders, and wiring for a
CHANNEL
fluorescent lamp.
CLEAR SKY Sky having less than 30% cloud cover.
Part of a building rising clear of the roofs and whose walls contain windows for
CLERESTORY
lighting the interior.
COEFFECIENT OF Ratio of the luminous flux (lumens) from a luminaire received on the work
UTILIZATION plane to the lumens emitted by the luminaire’s alone.
Ratio of the daylight illuminance on a plane to the exterior illuminance on a
DAYLIGHTING
horizontal plane from the whole of an obstructed sky assumed or known
FACTOR
luminance.
COLD-CATHODE Electric discharge lamp of the glow discharge type.
LAMP
Lighting by means of light sources shielded by a plane parallel to the wall and
CORNICE LIGHTING
attached to the ceiling that distribute light over the wall.
Lighting by means of sources shielded by a ledge or horizontal recess that
COVE LIGHTING
distribute light over the ceiling and upper wall.

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CUT OFF ANGLE The angle, measured up from the nadir, between the vertical axis and the first
(OF A LUMUNAIRE) line of sight at which the bare source not visible.
DIFFUSE Ratio of the flux leaving a surface or medium by diffuse reflection to the
REFLECTANCE incident flux.
DIFFUSE Process by which the incident flux is redirected over a range of angles.
REFLECTION
DIFFUSE Process by which the incident flux passing through a surface or medium is
TRANSMISSION scattered.
DIFFUSE Ratio of the diffusely transmitted flux leaving a surface or medium to the
TRNSMITTANCE incident flux.
DIFFUSE LIGHTING Light that is not predominantly incident from any particular direction.
Device to redirect or scatter the light from a source, primarily by the process of
DIFFUSER
diffuse transmission.
DIRECT-INDIRECT Variant of general diffuse lighting in which the luminaries emit little or no light
LIGHTING at angles near the horizontal.
Lighting by luminaries distributing 90 to 100% of the emitted light in the
DIRECT LIGHTING
direction (usually downward) of the surface to be illuminated.
DISSABILITY GLARE Glare resulting in reduced visual performance and visibility.
Glare producing discomfort but not necessarily impairing visual performance
DISCOMFORT GLARE
or visibility.
ELECTRIC Lamp in which light is produced by the passage of an electric current through
DISCHARGE a vapor or gas, as in fluorescent, cold-cathode, and mercury lamps.
LAMP
Any opening or arrangement of openings (normally filled with media for
FENESTRATION
control) for the admission of daylight.
Device for changing, by transmission, the magnitude and /or the spectral
FILTER
composition of the flux incident upon it.
Projector designed for lighting a scene or object to a luminance considerably
FLOODLIGHT
greater than its surroundings.
Cavity formed by the work plane, the floor, and the wall surfaces between
FLOOR CAVITY
these two planes.
Low- pressure mercury electric discharge lamp in which a fluorescing coating
FLOURESCENT LAMP (phosphor) transforms some of the ultraviolet energy generated by the
discharge into light.
FLUSH-MOUNTED OR Luminaire mounted above the ceiling with the opening of the luminaire flush
RECESSED with the surface of the ceiling.

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The unit of illumination. The illumination on a surface 1 sq. ft. in area on which
FOOTCANDLE (fc)
there is a uniformly distributed flux of 1 lumen.
Unit of luminance; the luminance of a perfectly diffusing surface emitting or
reflecting light at the rate of 1 lumen per sq. ft. The luminance in foot lamberts
FOOTLAMBERT (fl)
of any reflecting surface is the product of the illumination in foot candles and
the luminous reflectance of the surface.
GASEOUS
Emission of light from gas atoms excited by an electric current.
DISCHARGE
GENERAL DIFFUSE Lighting by luminaries distributing 40 to 60% of the emitted light downward and
LIGHTING the balance upward and horizontally.
Sensation produced by luminance within the visual field sufficiently greater
GLARE than the luminance to which the eyes are adapted to cause annoyance,
discomfort, or loss in visual performance and visibility.
ILLUMINANCE The density of the luminous flux incident on a surface.
INDIRECT LIGHTING Lighting by luminaries distributing 90 to 100% of the omitted light upward.
INFRARED Radiant energy within the wavelength range 770 to 10 to the 6 power
RADIATION nanometers.
INSTANT START One designed to start by high voltage without preheating of the electrodes.
FLOURESCENT LAMP
LAMP Related term for a man-made source of light.
Acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation highly
LASER
monochromatic and coherent beam with a steady oscillation.
Factor used in calculating level of illumination after a period of time it takes
LIGHT LOSS FACTOR
into consideration temperature and voltage variations, dirt accumulation, lamp
(LLF)
depreciation, etc.
LOUVER Series of baffles used to shield a source from view at certain angles.
LOUVER SHIELDING Angle between the horizontal plane of baffles or louver grid and the plane at
ANGLE which the louver conceals all objects above.
LUMEN (LM) The unit of luminous flux.
Complete lighting unit consisting of a lamp or lamps together with The parts
LUMINAIRE designed to distribute the light, to position and protect the lamps, and to
connect the lamps to the power supply.
LUMINAIRE Ratio of luminous flux emitted by a luminaire to that emitted by the lamp or
EFFECIENCY lamps used therein.
LUMINANCE The luminous intensity of a surface in a given direction per unit of projected
(Photometric area of the surface as viewed from that direction.
Brightness)

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Ceiling area lighting system comprising a continuous surface at diffuse

LUMINOUS CEILING
transmitting material with light sources mounted above it.
LUMINUOUS DENSITY Quantity of light per unit volume.
LUMINOUS EFFICACY Quotient of the total luminous flux emitted by the total lamp power input
OF A expressed in lumens per watt.
SOURCE OF LIGHT
LUMINOUS FLUX The time rate of flow of light.
LUX (lx) The SI (metric) unit of illuminance . One lux is one lumen per sq. meter.
MAINTENANCE Same as Light Loss Factor
FACTOR
Electric discharge lamp in which the major portion of the radiation is produced
MERCURY LAMP
by excitation of mercury atoms.
MOUNTING HEIGHT Distance from the work plane to the light center of the luminaire or to the plane
ABOVE of the ceiling for recessed equipment.
THE WORK PLANE
PARTLY CLOUDY SKY One that has 30 to 70% cloud cover.
ORIENTATION Position of a building with respect to compass direction.
OVERCAST SKY One that has 100% cloud cover; the sun is not visible.
Process by which the transverse vibration of light waves are oriented in a
POLARIZATION
specific plane.
PREHEAT (Switch One designed for operation with a ballast that provides for preheating the
Start) electrodes in order to start the arc
FLOURESCENT LAMP
RAPID-START One designed for operation with ballast that provides for heating the
FLOURESCENT electrodes and initiating the arc without a starting switch or the application of
LAMP high voltage.
REFLECTANCE OF A Ratio of the reflected flux to the incident flux
SURFACE
OR MEDIUM
Glare resulting from specular reflections of high luminances in polished or
REFLECTED GLARE glossy surfaces in the field of view, especially within or in close proximity to the
visual task.
Process by which the incident flux leaves a surface or medium from the
REFLECTION
incident side.
Device used to redirect the luminous flux from a source by the process of
REFLECTOR
reflection.

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Process by which the direction of a ray of light changes as it passes obliquely

REFRACTION
from one medium to another in which its speed is different.
REGRESSED One mounted above the ceiling with the opening of the luminaire above ceiling
LUMINAIRE line.
Cavity formed by the plane of the luminaries, the work plane and the Wall
ROOM CAVITY
surfaces between these two planes.
SEMI-DIRECT Lighting by luminaries 60 to 90% of their emitted light downward and The
LIGHTING balance upward.
SEMI-INDIRECT Lighting by luminaries 60 to 90% of their emitted light upward and the
LIGHTING balance downward.
Screen made of opaque or diffusing material designed to prevent at light
SHADE
source from being directly visible at normal angles of view.
Angle between horizontal line through the light center and the line of sight at
SHEILDING ANGLE
which the bare source first becomes visible.
Ratio of the illuminance on a horizontal plane inside a building due to an
SKY FACTOR
unobstructed hemisphere of sky.
SKY LIGHT Visible radiation from the sun redirected by the atmosphere.

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Incandescent Lamp

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Pre Heated Lamps

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Cove Lighting Design

Hallow Cathode Lamp Detail

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Electric Discharge Lamp

Radiation

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Sample Lighting Plan

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ACOUSTICS

Sound is a physical wave, or a mechanical Sound Reinforcements:

vibration or simply a series of pressure variations in
an elastic medium. For airborne sound, the medium Components and Specifications:
is air. For structure-borne sound, the medium is 1. Input Devices
concrete, steel, wood, glass and combinations of all 2. Amplifier and Controls
the three. 3. Loudspeakers

Sound Sources: Noise Control

1. Speech and Music 1. Siting and planning against noise
2. Noise, Music and Speech 2. Grading and landscaping
3. Building layout
Factors of Hearing
1. Masking Principles of Noise Reduction:
2. Time 1. Reduction of air borne noise
3. Directivity 2. Transmission through openings
4. Concept of Reverberation 3. Rigid partitions
4. Compound wall constructions (Cavity Wall)
Absorptive Materials: 5. Windows and Doors
1. Fibrous materials 6. Planking
2. Panel resonators
3. Volume resonators Building Locations:
1. Use natural terrain noise barriers
Type of Acoustical Materials 2. Respect trees as noise barriers
1. Pre-fabricated Units 3. Avoid naturally poor sites
2. Acoustical Plaster and Sprayed 4. Avoid sound reflection from other buildings
3. Acoustical Blankets

Design of Room Shape: (auditorium)

1. Floor plan
2. Elevation of seats
3. Ceilings
4. Side walls
5. Rear wall
6. Balcony recess

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Acoustic Terms

Acoustics

The science that studies the waves that are conducted through matter due to the motion of the matter.
Usually air is the material that most people think of when it comes to acoustic waves. But acoustic waves
exist in all matter. Architectural acoustics, is the study of acoustics when the air is contained in a room.
Church acoustics is a sub-division of architectural acoustics.

Sound (waves)

Pressure fluctuations in the air that are heard when an acoustic wave passes by. They are usually caused
by objects in the air that quickly change position or a stream of air that quickly changes position. Sound
escapes away from the sound source as an expanding spherical wave that travels at the speed of 1130
feet per second, traveling about 1 1/8th of a foot each one thousandths of a second (millisecond).

Sound Level

The measure of the strength of sound. Units are decibels (dB) and usually measured with a dB meter.
The threshold of quiet sound is zero dB and the onset of painful sound is 100 dB. Conversations are at 50
dB, whispers at 30 dB and shouting is 70 dB. When the sound strength of something doubles, it increases
by 3 dB, or halved, it drops by 3 dB.

Loudness

The apparent strength of the sound to the listener. A change in 1 dB is just barely noticed as a change in
loudness. Something twice as loud is actually 10 dB stronger, (10 times stronger). Something half as loud
is 10 dB weaker, (1/10th as strong).

Direct Sound (direct signal)

The part of a sound wave that travels directly along the line of sight path between the speaker or sound
source and the listener. The dry or actual sound.

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Reflections

Sound waves that strike a surface and bounce off are reflected sounds. They bounce off the wall,
changing directions but keeping the same angle off the wall as they had when they approached the wall.

Early Reflections

Reflections that are heard within 1/20 of a second of the direct sound are called early reflections. Early
reflections cannot be distinguished from direct signals, they merge with the direct sound to form one
composite sound. This combining effect can cause the sound of the direct signal to change in tonal
characteristics and apparent direction.

Late reflections (Echoes)

A distinct reflection that arrives at the listener later than 1/20th of a second after the direct sound is heard.
The listener can identify from where an echo comes. An echo does not change the tonal characteristics of
the direct sound.

Flutter Echo

This type of echo is most easily heard as one claps their hands out in front of them, while standing in a
hallway. The sound "zings" and it's tone depends on how many times a second the reflection passes by
the listener's head. In a hall 8' wide, the clap will expand out, hit the wall and return 143 times a second
and the zing will sound like a 143 Hz buzzy tone. Not a real sound, just a pseudo-tone.

Reverberation

For sound in a large room, reverberation begins at about 1/5 second following the direct sound. It is due
to the accumulation of many reflections, compounding one upon the other, so much that the sound no
longer seems composed of echoes but rather just a sound of noise, a din of chaos that has no discrete
direction and no discrete timing.

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Diffusion

Reflections off of a non-flat surface that causes the sound wave to become more quickly disorganized
than if off a flat surface is a diffusive surface. Diffusion decreases the time it takes for echoes to become
converted to reverberation. The beautiful gothic churches of the old world have very diffusive or sound
scattering surfaces. That is part of the sonic beauty of those spaces.

Decay

The dying out of sound. Usually referring to the steady decline in the loudness of the reverberation.

Decay Rate (RT-60)

The time (in seconds) it takes for reverberation to change from very loud to imperceptibly quiet, a total
sound level difference of 60 dB. For a living room the RT-60 might be 1 second but in a gym, it might be 4
seconds.

Absorption

The loss of sound energy that occurs when the sound wave strikes a fibrous surface. The fibers provide
acoustic friction for the sound wave. The wave does not slow down due to the friction, it keeps it's same
speed but it does lose energy and get quieter.

NRC Rating

(Noise Reduction Coefficient) A rating for absorption. It gives the % efficiency for a surface to absorb
sound. If a surface is 30% absorptive, then only 70% of the incident sound is reflected back into the room.

Noise (Background Noise)

The unwanted, undesirable and usually interfering sounds present in a listening space, typically due to an
air conditioner or other conversations.

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Noise Floor

The strength of the background noise, measured in dB. It is difficult to understand what is being said in a
room with a high noise floor.

Signal-to-Noise Ratio (S/N ratio)

The difference in sound level (dB) between the desired sound and the noise floor.

Articulation

The clarity of a sound, particularly a message conveyed by sound, such that it can be easily and
completely understood. A slurred sound may be well heard but the message it carries may still not be well
understood, it is inarticulate. Also, a clear and distinct sound may be drowned out by a nearby louder
noise, rendering the message not understandable, inarticulate. Echoes also cause articulation problems.
Articulation is most often measured in some form of a desired signal to unwanted noise ratio.

Intelligibility

A measure of the clarity of sound based on the comprehension of the message being conveyed by
sound. A "cat, bat, tat, rat... type of recognition test. The conversational version of Articulation.

Bright/Lively

The condition of sound in which there is an abundance of treble range reflections giving the feeling of
"brightness" or "liveliness" to the sound. Sound in a tile bathroom or kitchen is bright. Too much can seem
harsh and irritating.

Dark/Dead

The condition of sound in a room when there is a lack of reflections and a lack of reverberance. Too much
can seem lack-luster and uneasy feeling.

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Boomy

The condition of sound in a room when the lower frequencies, particularly the male voice range are
excessively reverberant.

Psychoacoustics

The study and science of how the human comprehends and makes sense out of the sounds they hear.
The difference between an early reflection and a late (echo) reflection, is an example of psychoacoustics.
The blending of the early reflections with the direct sound is another.

Audiology

The science and practice of amplifying or otherwise improving how well a person hears sound.

Frequency (Hertz, Hz, cps)

A single sound pulse as from a fire cracker has sound energy but no tone. Tones are sounds that come
from voices or instruments which have a repetitive pressure pulse characteristic. The number of repeat
times per second that a sound has is called it's frequency. It's unit of measurement is cycles per second
(cps) also called Hz (Hertz). Similar to pitch in musical terms.

Sound Spectrum

The sound level measured at different frequencies. Most tones are composed of more than one
frequency, a combination of frequencies, as in a musical chord. The sound spectrum would measure the
strength of each frequency and display that graph as a plot of Sound Level vs. Frequency, also known as
a sound spectrum. The "color" of sound is used as emphasis in the spectrum.

Sonic Color

The shift in emphasis of a complex sound within its spectral range. A neutral color is the preferred natural
sound but sometimes sound can have a warm color, an emphasis on lower frequencies or a cold color,
an emphasis on higher frequencies or a nasal color, an emphasis on midrange frequencies.

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Ultrasonics

Sound whose frequency range is above that of human hearing, above 20,000 Hz.

Infrasonics

Sound whose frequency range is below that of human hearing, below 20 Hz.

Octave

Sound that exists within a limited frequency range, between a lower set frequency and a set upper
frequency. The difference between the lower and upper frequency is specified to be equal to the lower
frequency. The octave sequence for the note "C" starts at 31 Hz and continues thru 63 Hz, 125 Hz, 250
Hz, 500 Hz, 1k Hz, 2k Hz, 4k Hz, 8k Hz and ends at 16k Hz. (k = thousand)

Voicing

The process of defining the desirable condition of sound in an acoustic space. It integrates the direct,
early and late reflections with the reverberation, including a sense of timing and direction for each into an
appropriate and desirable acoustic condition for the listener. It combines both the art and science of
sound. It requires an understanding of the purpose to be served by each acoustic space. As an art form, it
recognizes the aesthetic side of sound, the impression that most people prefer to have of each particular
type of sound that exists in some particular place. As a science, it is based on psychoacoustics.

Acoustician

An acoustical engineer who is trained and experienced in voicing rooms.

Acoustical Engineer

One formally educated, experienced in the science and practice of acoustics.

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Sound Engineer

Someone trained in setting up microphones and speakers.

Acoustic Contractor

Someone trained and experienced in installing acoustic tiles and wall panels.

Acoustic Consultant

Someone, not formally trained, experienced in providing acoustical services.

Acoustic Designer

Someone, not formally trained, who prepares blueprints for acoustic projects.

Sound Designer

One who envisions and directs the way sound plays out of a stage.

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The Ear Structure

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Sound Pressure

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Reverberation Time

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UTILITIES TOPIC GUIDE SCOPE

1. Sanitary and Plumbing Systems and 5. Disaster Prevention and Protection
Equipment systems; Security Systems
a) Water source, storage, supply and a) Building fire-fighting, prevention, and
distribution protection apparatus
b) Plumbing roughing-in and fixtures b) Installation and of construction
c) Drainage and sewerage system c) Materials and Fixtures
d) Waste disposal, treatment and d) Disaster prevention and mitigation
recycling systems
2. Mechanical Systems 6. Communication Systems
a) Heating, ventilating and air- a) Electronic Systems
conditioning systems b) Telephone, intercom, cable TV,
b) Conveyors and other building audio/video facilities, PA System
mechanical equipments 7. High-Tech Systems
3. Electrical and Other Power Systems a) Application in buildings and structures
a) Electrical power and lighting supply, b) Robotics
distribution and fixtures c) Intelligent buildings
b) Electrical power source and alternative
power sources
4. Acoustics and Illumination
a) The psycho-physics of acoustics and
lighting
b) Acoustical treatment and corrections

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