ARCHITECTURAL

SCIENCE
(PLUMBING)
Materials Available for Plumbing Installations:
1.Galvanize Iron (G.I.) or steel piles made out of mild steel drawn through a die and welded
cast into 6.00 meters long. Its usual life span is from 15 to 20 years. However steel pipe is
subjected to deposits of salts and lime which gradually accumulated and eventually choke
the flow of water. This type of pipes is corroded by alkaline and acid water. That is why
when used for hot water line; it deteriorates faster than cold water supply pipe.

2.Plastic or Synthetic Pipe

- Rigid type can be;

a. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
b. Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (cPVC)
c. Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (uPVC)
d. Polypropylene (PP)
e. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)
f. Styrene rubber plastic (SR)

- Flexible types are;

a. Polyethylene (PE)-coil form at 30meters
b. Polybutylene (PB)- up to 150meters long coil
3. Cast Iron Pipe- this is durable and is conveniently installed
in most of the plumbing needs in building which are less
than 25 storey high because water usually leaks at joints
due to vibrations.
Cast iron is also affected to a certain extent by corrosion
caused by the action of carbon dioxide, sulphur oxide and
methane gases forming a solution of carbonic acid and
sulphuric acid which attack the metallic materials, causing a
slow chemical reaction or oxidation to take place forming
ferrous oxide, called rust.

- Two types:
a. SV - for building installations.
b. XV - for underground installations (this are extra
heavy).
4. Acid Resistant Cast Iron Pipe – made of an alloy of cast iron
and silicon. It is commonly installed in chemical laboratories
where acid waste are being discharged.
5. Asbestos Pipe – made of asbestos fibers and portland cement.
The thickness is twice that standard cast iron. Most suited for
embedment on concrete structures.
6. Bituminous Fiber Sewer Pipe – cheapest light in weight,
recommended for house sewer and septic tank installation. It
could take slight soil movement without danger of cracking or
pulling out of its joint.
7. Vitrified Clay Pipe – made from clay and with length of 0.75
meter treated with glazed compound. This is highly resistant to
most acids and is well suited in underground installations
working either as public or house sewer, or storm in drain.
Being made of clay. The physical property of this pipe is brittle.
It easily cracks when laid on unstable ground or base.
8. Lead Pipe – one of the oldest plumbing materials. Lead is
highly resistant and is very suitable to underground
installation. But because it is poisonous to human health, it
is never recommended to convey water for human
consumption.
9. Galvanized Wrought Iron Pipes – this is better than steel
pipes for plumbing installation, because it is more resistant
to acid waste than steel pipe.
10. Brass Pipe – the most expensive of all types of pipe.
Made of an alloy of zinc and copper mixed at a proportion
of 15% and 85% respectively. The brass pipe is a superior
material for waste and water installation because of its
smooth surface aside from its high resistance to acids.
11. Copper Pipes – a durable material which is extremely
corrosive resistant - easiest to install.
Size of Pipe:
The size of the service pipe connecting the main and
the house being served is governed by the:
a. Maximum Demand
b. Probable Demand or Peak Load

Maximum Demand– refers to the maximum water

discharged for plumbing fixture in terms of units.
The maximum demand of water supply is equal to
the total fixture units in the plumbing system
wherein one unit is approximately valued at 8
gallons of water discharged per minute.
Probable Demand or Peak Load – is another
factor to be considered in determining the size
of the water service pipe. The question of how
many fixture will be used simultaneously is
difficult to ascertain, but according to survey:
a. the fewer the number of fixtures installed,
the higher the percentage or probability of
their simultaneous use.
b. the greater the number of fixtures installed,
the lesser the percentage or possibility of
simultaneous use.
 FIXTURE UNIT VALUE
KIND OF FIXTURE FIXTURE UNIT
Lavatory or wash basin 1

Residential sink 1½

Bath tub 2

Kitchen sink 2

Laundry tub 2

Shower bath 2

Sink, Hotel or Public 2

Combination fixtures 3

Urinal 5

Water closet 6

One bathroom group consisting of wc, 8

lavatory, bath tub and overhead shower
 PROBABILITY OF SIMULTANEOUS USE OF FIXTURE
NUMBER OF FIXTURE UNITS PERCENTAGE OF SIMULTANEOUS USE
1 to 5 50 to 100%
6 to 50 25 to 50%
51 or more 10 to 25%

GALLONS OF WATER PER MINUTE (GALVANIZED IRON OR PLASTIC PIPE)

ON PRESSURE OF WATER AT LENGTH OF PIPE IN METERS
10mm. MAIN OR TANK
Dia.
3/8” POUNDS 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60

10 9 5 4 3 3 3 2 2 2 2

20 10 6 5 4 4 3 3 3 3 2

30 10 8 6 5 4 4 4 3 3 3

40 10 9 7 6 5 4 4 4 3 3

50 10 9 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 4
 ON PRESSURE OF WATER AT LENGTH OF PIPE IN METERS
13mm. MAIN OR TANK
Dia.
1/2” POUNDS 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60
10 10 8 5 5 4 3 3 3 3 3
20 14 10 8 6 6 5 5 4 4 4
30 18 12 10 8 7 7 6 6 5 5
40 20 14 11 10 8 8 7 7 6 6
50 20 16 13 11 10 9 8 7 7 7

ON PRESSURE OF WATER AT LENGTH OF PIPE IN METERS

20mm. MAIN OR TANK
Dia.
3/4” POUNDS 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60
10 22 14 12 10 8 8 7 6 6 6
20 30 22 18 14 12 12 10 10 10 8
30 38 26 22 18 16 14 14 12 12 10
40 38 30 24 22 19 17 16 16 15 13
50 38 34 28 23 22 19 18 17 16 15
 ON PRESSURE OF WATER AT LENGTH OF PIPE IN METERS
25mm. MAIN OR TANK
Dia.
1” POUNDS 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60
10 40 28 22 18 16 15 14 13 12 11
20 55 40 32 27 24 22 20 19 18 16
30 70 50 40 34 30 27 25 23 22 20
40 80 58 45 40 35 32 29 27 25 24
50 80 65 51 45 40 36 33 31 29 27

ON PRESSURE OF LENGTH OF PIPE IN METERS

32mm. WATER AT MAIN OR
Dia. TANK
1 ¼” POUNDS 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60
10 80 55 45 37 35 30 27 26 25 24
20 110 80 65 55 50 45 41 38 36 34
30 110 100 80 70 60 56 50 47 45 43
40 110 110 95 80 72 65 60 56 52 50
50 110 110 107 92 82 73 68 63 60 58
 ON PRESSURE OF LENGTH OF PIPE IN METERS
38mm. WATER AT
Dia. MAIN OR
TANK
1 ½” POUNDS 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60
10 120 90 70 60 55 50 45 40 40 35
20 170 130 100 90 75 70 65 60 55 55
30 170 160 130 110 100 90 80 75 70 65
40 170 170 150 130 110 100 90 90 80 80
50 170 170 170 140 130 120 110 100 90 90

ON PRESSURE OF LENGTH OF PIPE IN METERS

50mm. WATER AT
Dia. MAIN OR
TANK
2” POUNDS 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60
10 240 160 130 110 100 90 80 80 80 70
20 300 240 200 160 150 140 130 120 110 100
30 300 300 240 200 180 160 150 140 140 130
40 300 300 280 240 220 200 180 160 160 150
50 300 300 300 280 240 220 200 200 180 160
• NOTE:
a. Doubling the diameter of a pipe line
increases its capacity up to 4 times.
b. A 20mm service pipe can supply 2 branches
at 13mm dia. It could deliver up to
10gal./min.. Sufficient enough to serve up to
10 fixtures.
c. A 25mm service pipe can supply 2 branches
at 20mm dia. It can deliver up to 18gal./min
and serve 20 fixtures.