AIR GAP, drainage - The unobstructed vertical

distance through the atmosphere between the lowest

opening from any pipe, plumbing fixture, appliance or
appurtenance conveying waste to flood level rim of
the receptor.

AIR GAP, water

distribution - An unobstructed vertical distance
through the free atmosphere between the lowest
opening from any pipe or faucet conveying potable
water to the flood-level rim of any tank, vat or fixture.

BACKFLOW- The flow of water or other

liquids, mixtures, or substances into the
distributing pipes of a potable supply of
water from any source of other than from
its intended source.

BACKFLOW PREVENTER- Device or means

to prevent flow of liquid from returning to the
source of supply. Also called Vacuum
breaker.

BACK-SIPHONAGE- The flowing back

of used, contaminated or polluted water
from a plumbing fixture or vessel into a
water supply pipe due to a negative
pressure in such pipe.

BACKWATER VALVE- A device installed in a drainage to

prevent reverse flow.
 BACKVENT PIPE- The part of a vent line, which connects an
individual trap underneath or behind fixture and extends to the
branch or main vent pipe at any point higher than the fixture
traps it serves. This is sometimes called an individual vent.

BALL COCK- A valve opened and closed

by the fall and rise, respectively, of an
attached ball floating on the surface of
the liquid.

BATTERY OF FIXTURES-
Any of two or more similar
adjacent fixtures which
discharge into a common
horizontal soil or waste
branch.

BELL or HUB- That portion of a pipe which, for a

short distance, is sufficiently enlarge to receive the end
of another pipe of the same diameter for the purpose
of making a caulked or push-on joint.

BIBB- Synonymous
with faucet, cock, tap,
plug, ect. The word “faucet” is preferred.
 BIDET- A plumbing fixture used for washing the middle
private part of the body, especially the genitals. Also
called “sitz” bath.

BUILDING DRAIN- That part of the lowest horizontal piping of a drainage system
which receives the discharge from soil, waste, and other drainage pipes inside the walls
of the building and conveys it to the building sewer beginning 0.6 meter outside the
building.

BUILDING SEWER- That part of the horizontal piping of a drainage system which
starts from the end of the building drain and conveys it to a public sewer, private
sewer, individual sewage disposal system or other point of disposal.

BUILDING SUPPLY- The pipe carrying potable

water from the water meter or other source of
water supply to a building or other point of use or
distribution on the lot. Building supply shall also
mean water service.

CAP- A fitting, screwed or

caulked over the end of the pipe for closing the pipe end.

CATCH BASIN- A receptacle in which liquids are retained for

a sufficient period of time to allow settle able material to
deposit.

CONDUCTOR or DOWNSPOUT- A vertical pipe to convey

rainwater.
CORPORATION COCK- A stop valve
placed at the connection of the water
service pipe to the water main.

CRITICAL LEVEL- marking on a backflow

prevention device or vacuum breaker is a point
conforming to approved standards and
established by the testing laboratory (usually
stamped on the device by the manufacturer)
which determines the minimum elevation above
flood-level rim of the fixture or receptacle served
where the device may be installed. When a
backflow prevention device does not bear a
critical level marking, the bottom of the vacuum
breaker, combination valve or bottom of any such
approved device shall constitute the critical level.

CESSPOOL- A non-water tight lined

excavation in the ground which receives
the discharge of the sanitary drainage
system or part thereof, designed to retain
the organic matter and solids discharging
there from, but permitting the liquid to
seep through the bottom and sides of the
cesspool.

CHASE- A vertical shaft for installation of different pipe

stacks.

CHECK VALVE- A
valve that automatically closes to prevent the
flow of liquid or gas in a reverse direction
 DEAD END- The extended portion of a pipe
that is closed at one end to which no
connections are made on the extended
portion, thus permitting the stagnation of
liquid or air therein.

DEVELOPED LENGTH- The length of a pipe

along its centerline and fittings.

DOMESTIC SEWAGE- The liquid and water-borne wastes derived from the ordinary
living processes, free from industrial wastes and of such character that permit
satisfactory disposal without special treatment. It is discharged into the public sewer or
into a private sewage disposal system.

FAUCET- A valve located at the end of a water pipe through of

which water can be drawn from or held within the pipe.

FERRULE- A metallic
sleeve, caulked or joined to an opening in a
pipe, into which a plug is screwed that can be
removed for cleaning or examining the interior
of the pipe.

FIXTURE- A receptacle other than

a trap attached to a plumbing system in
which water or wastes may be collected or
retained for ultimate discharge into
a plumbing system.

FIXTURE BRANCH- The water supply pipe

between the fixture supply pipe and the water-
distribution pipe.
FIXTURE DRAIN- The drainpipe from the trap of a fixture to the junction of that drain
with any other drain pipe.

FIXTURE SUPPLY- A water supply pipe connecting the

fixture with the fixture branch.

FLOOD LEVEL RIM- Is the top

edge of a receptacle from where water overflows.

FLUSH TANK- A tank

located above or integral with water closet, urinal or
similar fixtures for flushing or removing excrements in
the fixture.

FLUSH VALVE- Is a device located at the bottom of the tank

for the purpose of flushing water closet and similar in fixture.

FLUSHOMETER TANK- Is
integrated within an air
accumulator vessel which is designed to discharge a
predetermined quantity of water fixtures for flushing
purposes.

FLUSHOMETER VALVE- Is a device, which discharges a

predetermined quantity of water into fixtures for flushing
purposes and is actuated by direct water pressure.

GATE VALVE- A valve in which

the flow of water is cut off by
means of a circular disc fitted against machine-
smoothed faces, at the right angles to the direction of
flow. The disk is raised or lowered by means of a
threaded stem connected to the handle of the valve.
GLOBE VALVE- A valve in which the flow of fluid is
cut off by means of a circular disc that fits over and
against the horizontal valve seat.

GOOSE NECK- A return bend of

small-sized pipe, one end of which is
about 30cm long and the other end is about 7.5cm. It is commonly
used as a faucet for a pantry sink. Also, the term means the flexible
tubing connection between a service pipe and water main.

GREASE TRAP- A device designed to retain grease from

one to a maximum of four fixtures.

HORIZONTAL
BRANCH- Is a drain pipe extending laterally from a
soil or waste stack or building drain or without
vertical sections or branches, which receives the
discharge from one or more fixture drains and
conducts it to the soil or waste stack or building
drain.

HORIZONTAL PIPE- Is any pipe or fitting installed in

a horizontal position or which forms an angle of not
more than 45 degrees with the horizontal plane.

HOUSE DRAIN- Is the part of the lowest horizontal piping of a plumbing system which
receives the discharges from soil, waste and other drainage pipes inside of a building
and conveys it to the house sewer outside of the building.
HOUSE SEWER- Is that part of plumbing system extending from the house drain at a
point 0.6 meters from the outside face of the foundation wall of a building to the
junction with the street sewer or to any point of discharge, and conveying the drainage
of the building site.

HOUSE STORM SEWER- Is the pipeline from the

building to the public or street storm drainage system.

INVERT- The lowest potion of the interior part of any pipe or conduit that is not
vertical.

LATRINE- A water closet consisting of a continuous

trough containing water. The trough extends under two or
more adjacent seats. Prohibited by health authorities for
permanent installations.

LAVATORY- A fixture designed for the washing of the

hands or face. Sometimes called the wash basin.

LEACHING CESSPOOL- A cesspool that is not watertight.

LEADER- A pipe connected from building gutter to the downspout or conductor.

MANHOLE- A large opening in a sewer line or part of a plumbing system constructed
with sufficient size for a man to gain access therein for maintenance purposes and
facility for changes of line and/or grade of pipeline.

MASTER PLUMBER- A person technically and legally qualified and licensed to practice
the profession of Master Plumbing without limitations in accordance with Republic Act
1378, having passed the examinations conducted by the Professional Regulation
Commission, has received a Certificate of Registration from the Board of Master
Plumbing and possesses the current license to practice.

NAMPAP- National Master Plumbers Association of the Philippines.

PB (polybutylene)- Tube made of plastic material and

colored black. The cross-sectional shape is normally oval and is
denoted by its outside diameter or O.D. Normally used as
water service connection from main to meter.

PE (polyethylene)- Tube made of

plastic material and colored black. The cross-sectional shape is
circular and is denoted it’s outside diameter or O.D.

PLUMBING APPLIANCE- Any one of a special class of device

or equipment intended to perform a special plumbing function. Is operation and/or
control may be dependent upon one or more energized components, such as motors,
controls, heating elements and pressure-temperature-sensing elements.

PLUMBING APPURTENANCE- A manufactured device or a prefabricated assembly or

an on the job assembly of component parts, and serves as adjunct to the basic piping
system and plumbing fixtures. An appurtenance is demands no additional water supply
nor does it add any discharge load to a fixture or the drainage system. It performs
some useful functions in the operation, maintenance, servicing, economy or safety of
the plumbing system.

LIST OF SOME PLUMBING APPURTENANCE:

• Internal Water Supply Lines — Sizing Of Pipes

• Service Connection

• Valves

• Water Supply Distribution Pipeline and Its Cleaning

• Traps

• Floor Trap

• Water Closet

• Urinals
 • Fire Hydrants

• Water Meters

PLUMBING FIXTURES- Are approved-type installed receptacles, devices or

appliances supplied with water or receive liquid or liquid-borne wastes and discharge
such wastes into drainage system to which they may be directly or indirectly connected.

PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM- A

septic tank with the effluent discharging into a
subsurface disposal field, into one or more seepage
pits or into a combination of subsurface disposal
field and seepage pit of such other facilities as may
be permitted under the procedures set forth
elsewhere in this code.

PRIVATE SEWER- A building sewer, which

receives the discharge from more than one building
drain and conveys it to a public sewer, private
sewage disposal system, or other points of disposal.

PRIVY- An
outhouse or structure used for the deposition of
excrement.

PRIVY VAULT- A pit beneath a privy where

excrement collects.

PUBLIC SEWER- A common sewer directly

controlled by public authority to which all
abutters have equal rights of connections.
PVC- Polyvinyl Chloride. Potable water pipings are color-coded blue. Drainpipes are
manufactured with toxic components and are color-coded gray, orange or brown.

RETURN BEND- An open return bend usually

made up two 90-degree bends with inside and
outside threads, flanged or welded fittings;
and applied also to a 180-degree bend in copper
tubings.

RIM- An unobstructed top open edge of a fixture.

RISER- A water supply pipe, which

extends vertically to one fully story or more to convey water
into pipe branches or plumbing fixture

SANITARY
SEWER- A sewer intended to receive
sanitary sewage with or without pre-treated
industrial wastes and without the admixture
of rain or ground water.

SEEPAGE PIT- A loosely lined excavation in the

ground, which receives the discharge of a septic
tank and designed to permit the effluent from
the septic tank to seep through pit bottom and
sides.

SERVICE PIPE- The pipe from the street

water main or other source of water
supply to the building served.
SEWER- A pipe or conduit for carrying sewage and wastewater.

SEPTIC TANK- A water-tight

receptacle which receives the discharge
of a sanitary plumbing system or part
thereof, designed and constructed to
retain solids, digest organic matter
through a period of detention and
allow the liquids to discharge into the
soil outside of the tank through a system of open-jointed subsurface pipings or a
seepage pit meeting the requirements of this code.

SWIMMING POOL- A water basin

used for swimming designed to
accommodate many bathers at a
time and properly connected to a
disposal system, fills and draws
water supply or provided with
approved water purification and
recirculation system.

SYPHONAGE- A tube that carries a liquid from a higher level up

and over a barrier and then down to a lower level, with the flow
maintained by gravity and atmospheric pressure as long as the tube
remains filled.

TAPPED TEE- A tee with the branch tapped to

receive a threaded pipe or fittings.

TRAP- A fitting or device

designed and constructed to provide, when
properly vented, when properly vented, a liquid
seal which prevents the backflow of foul air or
methane gas without materially affecting the flow
of sewage or wastewater through it.

TRAP SEAL- The maximum vertical depth of

liquid that a trap will retain, measured between
the crown weir and the top of the dip of the trap.
TUBE- A cylindrical conduit or conductor conforming to the particular dimensions
known as “tube size” and denoted by outside diameter O.D.

VACUUM- An air pressure less then

atmospheric. Also, implies siphonage in
piping system.

VERTICAL PIPE- Any pipe or fitting installed in a vertical position

or which forms an angle of not more than 45 degrees with the
vertical line.

WASTE PIPE- A pipe, which conveys only

wastewater or liquid water free of fecal matter.

WATER
DISTRIBUTION PIPE- A pipe which conveys potable water
from the building supply pipe to the plumbing fixtures and
other water outlets.

WATER MAIN- Or
street main is the water supply pipe for public
or community use.

WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM- Of a building or

premises consists of the water service pipe,
water supply line, water distributing pipe and
the necessary branch pipes, fittings, valves and all appurtenances required for the
supply of potable water.

WYE- A hose connection with two-gated outlets permitting two connections of the
same or smaller coupling diameter to be taken from a single supply line. Also, a pipe
fitting of the three branches that form a letter “y”.

Sources:

https://www.safeplumbing.org/resources/glossary

https://blackdiamondtoday.com/blog/prevent-backflow

https://www.zapmeta.ws/ws?q=international%20plumbing
%20codes&asid=ws_gc_v2_4_4&mt=b&nw=g&de=c&ap=1t1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plumbing_code