a) plumbing 

- utility consisting of the pipes and fixtures for the distribution of water or gas in 
a building and for the disposal of sewage

1. Plumbing
b) plumbing - the occupation of a plumber (installing and repairing pipes and fixtures for water
or gas or sewage in a building)

2. Plumber -A plumber is a person whose job is to connect and repair things such as water

and drainage pipes, baths, and toilets.
3. DWV (drain-waste-vent)- - The section of a plumbing system that carries water and sewer gases
out of a home.
4. plumbing fixtures - A plumbing fixture is device or vessel that is permanently or temporarily
installed in a commercial facility, residence, hospital, school etc. and maybe connected to the
potable water system. That device discharges used water and suspended solids into the facility
sewer line.
In general plumbing terms, a plumbing fixture is a device that is connected to a plumbing system
and interacts with liquid (or gas).

plumbing fixtures examples

List of Important Plumbing Fixtures

1. Wash Basins:

Wash basins are the plumbing fixtures provided for washing hands and face and brushing teeth in a
standing position. These are usually made of glazed earthenware or vitreous china. Sometimes these are
also made of enamelled iron, stainless steel or plastic, especially where the number of users is more.
The wash basins may be of either flat back pattern for fixing on walls, or angle back pattern for fixing at
the junction of two walls.
2. Sinks:

Sinks are the plumbing fixtures provided in kitchens for cleaning utensils. These are also provided in
laboratories for cleaning laboratory ware. Sinks are usually of rectangular shape and are made of glazed
earthen ware or vitreous china, cement concrete with or without terrazzo finish, marble, stainless steel
and enamelled iron.

The usual sizes of the sinks are as indicated below:

(a) Kitchen Sinks:

600 x 450 x 150 mm

600 x 450 x 250 mm

750 x 450 x 250 mm

(b) Laboratory Sinks:

400 x 250 x 150 mm

450 x 300 x 150 mm

500 x 350 x 150 mm

600 x 400 x 200 mm

3. Bath Tubs:

Bath tubs are the plumbing fixtures provided in the bath rooms for taking bath. These are usually made
of glazed earthenware or vitreous china, cement concrete finished with terrazzo or glazed porcelain tiles
or marble titles and enamelled iron. The bath tubs are provided with a circular waste hole at the bottom
for draining.

The waste hole is provided with a metallic waste fitting also called waste coupling having a strainer and a
clear opening of about 40 to 50 mm diameter. A waste pipe with a trap is fixed to the waste fitting. The
bath tub is provided with tap/shower and an overflow pipe of diameter 40 mm located at 40 to 50 mm
below the top edge of the tub (see Fig. 20.9).

For holding water in the tub a rubber plug attached to a chain secured by a stay is provided. The chain
stay hole is of 10 mm diameter and it is located slightly above the overflow pipe. The usual dimensions
of a bath tub are: length 1.8 m, width 0.75 m and depth 0.45 m. The overall height of the tub including
feet is about 0.6 m.

4. Water Closets (W.C.):

A water closet is a pan like water flushed plumbing fixture designed to receive human excreta directly
from the user. It is made of vitreous china or porcelain and is connected to the soil pipe by means of a
trap. The inside surface of the water closet and the trap is made smooth by glazing in order to ensure an
efficient flush.

The water closet has an integral flushing rim with adequate number of holes to spread the flushing
water. The water closet also has an inlet or supply horn for connecting a flushing cistern or a flushing
pipe fitted with regulating valve, to flush the water closet and discharge the human excreta to the soil
pipe.

Water closets are of the following three types:

(i) Indian type or Squatting type;

(ii) European type of Pedestal type; and

(iii) Anglo-Indian type

Requirements of a Good Water Closet:

The following are the requirements of a good water closet:

(1) It should be convenient for use by persons of all age from a child to an old person.
(2) The size of the closet pan should be such that the urine as well as the faecal matter does not fall
outside the pan.

(3) The trap should be such that water in the trap does not splash when the excreta fall in the trap.

(4) Urine should not splash outside the closet pan.

(5) The surface of the closet pan should be smooth so that the faecal matter may flow easily into the
trap without sticking to the closet pan.

(6) The closet pan should be such that flushing may be achieved effectively with the use of small
quantity of water.

(7) The trap should have an effective and air tight seal.

(8) The closet pan should be so designed that the faecal matter is not too plainly visible before flushing.

(9) The closet pan should be of durable material so that it does not crack with the passage of time.

5. Urinals:

Urinals are the plumbing fixtures provided for the purpose of urinating.

These are usually made of glazed earthenware or vitreous china and are of the following four types:

(i) Bowl type (see Figs. 20.16 and 20.17)

(ii) Slab type (see Fig. 20.18)

(iii) Stall type (see Fig. 20.19)

(iv) Squatting plate type (see Fig. 20.20)

6. Flushing Cisterns:

Flushing cisterns are the plumbing fixtures provided for flushing out water closets and urinals. These are
made of cast iron, glazed earthenware or vitrecous china, or plastic. For Indian type water closets
normally cast iron flushing cisterns are used which are fixed with their bottom at a height of 1.25 m
above the top of the closet pans and these are known as high level flushing cisterns.

For European type and Anglo- Indian type water closets usually flushing cisterns of vitreous china or
plastic are used which are fixed with their bottom at a height of 0.3 m above the top of the closet pans
and these are known as low level flushing cisterns.

Flushing cisterns are of two types:

(i) Valveless siphonic type, and

(ii) Valve fitted siphonic type.

The valve less siphonic type flushing cisterns are preferred and are largely used in practice. Bell type
flushing cistern is a typical example of the valveless siphonic type flushing cisterns. As shown in Fig.
20.23 a bell type flushing cistern is provided with a central outlet stand-pipe with its upper end
projecting a little above the maximum water level in the cistern and its lower end connected to a flush
pipe which is connected to the closet pan or urinal.

The stand-pipe is provided with a bell shaped cover called bell which is closed at the top and open at the
bottom. The bell is connected to a chain through a lever arm so that on pulling the chain the bell is lifted
up and on releasing it the bell is lowered to its original position.

The cistern is filled with water through an inlet controlled by a float valve or ball valve which closes the
inlet when the cistern is filled upto the maximum water level and opens the inlet when the cistern is
empty thus permitting the entry of water. An overflow pipe is provided to drain out excess incoming
water if the float valve ceases to function and thus avoid spilling of water from the cistern in the toilet.
When the chain is pulled the bell is lifted up which splashes the water and a portion of it flows down the
stand-pipe. The water flowing down the stand-pipe takes away some air with it which causes a partial
vacuum in the upper portion of the bell, thus siphonic action starts and the entire quantity of water in
the cistern is sucked rapidly through the large opening at the base of the bell, and the cistern is emptied.

The emptying action takes only a few seconds, causing powerful flush in the water closet or urinal
below. When the cistern is emptied the float is lowered which results in opening of the inlet and
allowing water to enter the cistern. It may be noted that the chain should be released immediately after
being pulled; otherwise the partial vacuum developed may be destroyed by the entry of air from the
flush pipe.

The bell type flushing cisterns are usually of 5, 10 and 15 litres capacity.