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PlumbingWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

Plumbing
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

Plumbingisthesystemofpipes,drains,fittings,valves,and
fixturesinstalledforthedistributionofpotablewaterfordrinking,
heatingandwashing,andwaterbornewasteremoval."Plumbing"
alsoreferstotheskilledtradewhichinstallsandmaintainsit.
Theplumbingindustryisabasicandsubstantialpartofevery
developedeconomy.[1]ThewordderivesfromtheLatinplumbum
forlead,asthefirsteffectivepipesusedinRomanerawerelead
pipes.[2]
"Plumbing"oftendenotesthesupplyandwastesystemofan
individualbuilding,distinguishingitfromwatersupplyandsewage
systemsthatserveagroupofbuildings.[3]

Acomplexarrangementofrigidsteel
pipingandstopvalvesregulateflow
tovariouspartsofthebuilding

Contents
1History
2Materials
2.1Steel
2.2Copper
2.3Plastic
3Components
3.1Sealants
4Equipmentandtools
5Systems
6Regulation
7Seealso
8Notes
9Furtherreading
10Externallinks

History
PlumbingoriginatedduringancientcivilizationssuchastheGreek,Roman,Persian,Indian,andChinese
citiesastheydevelopedpublicbathsandneededtoprovidepotablewaterandwastewaterremoval,for
largernumbersofpeople.[4]Standardizedearthenplumbingpipeswithbroadflangesmakinguseofasphalt
forpreventingleakagesappearedintheurbansettlementsoftheIndusValleyCivilizationby2700B.C.[5]
TheRomansusedleadpipeinscriptionstopreventwatertheft.

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PlumbingreacheditsearlyapexinancientRome,whichsawtheintroductionofexpansivesystemsof
aqueducts,tilewastewaterremoval,andwidespreaduseofleadpipes.WiththeFallofRomebothwater
supplyandsanitationstagnatedorregressedforwellover1,000years.Improvementwasveryslow,with
littleeffectiveprogressmadeuntilthegrowthofmoderndenselypopulatedcitiesinthe1800s.Duringthis
period,publichealthauthoritiesbeganpressingforbetterwastedisposalsystemstobeinstalled,toprevent
orcontrolepidemicsofdisease.Earlier,thewastedisposalsystemhadmerelyconsistedofcollectingwaste
anddumpingitonthegroundorintoariver.Eventuallythedevelopmentofseparate,undergroundwater
andsewagesystemseliminatedopensewageditchesandcesspools.
Mostlargecitiestodaypipesolidwastestosewagetreatmentplantsinorder
toseparateandpartiallypurifythewater,beforeemptyingintostreamsor
otherbodiesofwater.Forpotablewateruse,galvanizedironpipingwas
commonplaceintheUnitedStatesfromthelate1800suntilaround1960.
Afterthatperiod,copperpipingtookover,firstsoftcopperwithflared
fittings,thenwithrigidcoppertubingutilizingsolderedfittings.
TheuseofleadforpotablewaterdeclinedsharplyafterWorldWarII
becauseofincreasedawarenessofthedangersofleadpoisoning.Atthis
time,copperpipingwasintroducedasabetterandsaferalternativetolead
pipes.[6][7]

Materials

Romanleadpipewitha
foldedseam,attheRoman
BathsinBath,England

Watersystemsofancienttimesreliedongravityforthesupplyofwater,
usingpipesorchannelsusuallymadeofclay,lead,bamboo,wood,orstone.
Hollowedwoodenlogswrappedinsteelbandingwereusedforplumbing
pipes,particularlywatermains.LogswereusedforwaterdistributioninEnglandcloseto500yearsago.
UScitiesbeganusinghollowedlogsinthelate1700sthroughthe1800s.[6]Today,mostplumbingsupply
pipeismadeoutofsteel,copper,andplasticmostwaste(alsoknownas"soil")[8]outofsteel,copper,
plastic,andcastiron.[8]
Thestraightsectionsofplumbingsystemsarecalled"pipes"or"tubes".Apipeistypicallyformedvia
castingorwelding,whereasatubeismadethroughextrusion.Pipenormallyhasthickerwallsandmaybe
threadedorwelded,whiletubingisthinnerwalledandrequiresspecialjoiningtechniquessuchasbrazing,
compressionfitting,crimping,orforplastics,solventwelding.Thesejoiningtechniquesarediscussedin
moredetailinthepipingandplumbingfittingsarticle.

Steel
Galvanizedsteelpotablewatersupplyanddistributionpipesarecommonlyfoundwithnominalpipesizes
from3/8"to2".Itisrarelyusedtodayfornewconstructionresidentialplumbing.SteelpipehasNational
PipeThread(NPT)standardtaperedmalethreads,whichconnectwithfemaletaperedthreadsonelbows,
tees,couplers,valves,andotherfittings.Galvanizedsteel(oftenknownsimplyas"galv"or"iron"inthe
plumbingtrade)isrelativelyexpensive,anddifficulttoworkwithduetoweightandrequirementofapipe
threader.Itremainsincommonuseforrepairofexisting"galv"systemsandtosatisfybuildingcodenon

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combustibilityrequirementstypicallyfoundinhotels,apartmentbuildingsandothercommercial
applications.Itisalsoextremelydurableandresistanttomechanicalabuse.Blacklacqueredsteelpipeisthe
mostwidelyusedpipematerialforfiresprinklersandnaturalgas.
Mosttypicalsinglefamilyhomesystemswon'trequiresupplypipinglargerthan3/4"duetoexpenseas
wellassteelpiping'stendencytobecomeobstructedfrominternalrustingandmineraldepositsformingon
theinsideofthepipeovertimeoncetheinternalgalvanizingzinccoatinghasdegraded.Inpotablewater
distributionservice,galvanizedsteelpipehasaservicelifeofabout30to50years,althoughitisnot
uncommonforittobelessingeographicareaswithcorrosivewatercontaminants.

Copper
Copperpipeandtubingwaswidelyusedfordomesticwatersystemsinthelatterhalfofthetwentieth
century.Intheearlytwentyfirstcentury,therisingpriceofcopperdroveashifttoplasticpipesfornew
construction.

Plastic
Plasticpipeisinwideusefordomesticwatersupplyanddrainwastevent
(DWV)pipe.Principaltypesinclude:Polyvinylchloride(PVC)wasproduced
experimentallyinthe19thcenturybutdidnotbecomepracticaltomanufacture
until1926,whenWaldoSemonofBFGoodrichCo.developedamethodto
plasticizePVC,makingiteasiertoprocess.PVCpipebegantobe
manufacturedinthe1940sandwasinwideuseforDrainWasteVentpiping
duringthereconstructionofGermanyandJapanfollowingWWII.Inthe
1950s,plasticsmanufacturersinWesternEuropeandJapanbeganproducing
acrylonitrilebutadienestyrene(ABS)pipe.Themethodforproducingcross
linkedpolyethylene(PEX)wasalsodevelopedinthe1950s.Plasticsupply
pipeshavebecomeincreasinglycommon,withavarietyofmaterialsand
fittingsemployed.
PVC/CPVCrigidplasticpipessimilartoPVCdrainpipesbutwith
thickerwallstodealwithmunicipalwaterpressure,introducedaround
1970.PVCshouldbeusedonlyforcoldwater,orforventing.CPVCcan
beusedforhotandcoldpotablewatersupply.Connectionsaremade
withprimersandsolventcementsasrequiredbycode.

Plastichotandcold
supplypipingplacedin
anticipationofasink
installation

PPThematerialisusedprimarilyinhousewares,foodpackaging,andclinicalequipment,[9]but
sincetheearly1970shasseenincreasinguseworldwideforbothdomestichotandcoldwater.PP
pipesareheatfused,beingunsuitablefortheuseofglues,solvents,ormechanicalfittings.PPpipeis
oftenusedingreenbuildingprojects.[10][11]
PBTflexible(usuallygrayorblack)plasticpipewhichisattachedtobarbedfittingsandsecuredin
placewithacoppercrimpring.TheprimarymanufacturerofPBTtubingandfittingswasdriveninto
bankruptcybyaclassactionlawsuitoverfailuresofthissystem.However,PBandPBTtubinghas
sincereturnedtothemarketandcodes,typicallyfirstfor"exposedlocations"suchasrisers.
PEXcrosslinkedpolyethylenesystemwithmechanicallyjoinedfittingsemployingbarbs,and
crimpedsteelorcopperrings.
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Polytanksplasticpolyethylenecisterns,undergroundwatertanks,abovegroundwatertanks,are
usuallymadeoflinearpolyethylenesuitableasapotablewaterstoragetank,providedinwhite,black
orgreen.
AquaknownasPEXAlPEX,foritsPEX/aluminumsandwich,consistingofaluminumpipe
sandwichedbetweenlayersofPEX,andconnectedwithmodifiedbrasscompressionfittings.In
2005,alargenumberofthesefittingswererecalled.
Presentdaywatersupplysystemsuseanetworkofhighpressurepumps,andpipesinbuildingsarenow
madeofcopper,[12]brass,plastic(particularlycrosslinkedpolyethylenecalledPEX,whichisestimatedto
beusedin60%ofsinglefamilyhomes[13]),orothernontoxicmaterial.Duetoitstoxicity,leadhasnotbeen
usedinmodernwatersupplypipingsincethe1930sintheUnitedStates,[14]althoughleadwasusedin
plumbingsolderfordrinkingwateruntilitwasbannedin1986.[14]Drainandventlinesaremadeofplastic,
steel,castiron,orlead.[15][16][17]

Components
Inadditiontolengthsofpipeortubing,pipefittingsareusedinplumbingsystems,suchasvalves,elbows,
tees,andunions.[18]Pipeandfittingsareheldinplacewithpipehangersandstrapping.
Plumbingfixturesareexchangeabledevicesusingwaterthatcanbeconnectedtoabuilding'splumbing
system.Theyareconsideredtobe"fixtures",inthattheyaresemipermanentpartsofbuildings,notusually
ownedormaintainedseparately.Plumbingfixturesareseenbyanddesignedfortheendusers.Some
examplesoffixturesincludewaterclosets[19](alsoknownastoilets),urinals,bidets,showers,bathtubs,
utilityandkitchensinks,drinkingfountains,icemakers,humidifiers,airwashers,fountains,andeyewash
stations.

Sealants
Threadedpipejointsaresealedwiththreadsealtapeorpipedope.Manyplumbingfixturesaresealedto
theirmountingsurfaceswithplumber'sputty.[20]

Equipmentandtools
Plumbingequipmentincludesdevicesoftenhiddenbehindwallsorinutilityspaceswhicharenotseenby
thegeneralpublic.Itincludeswatermeters,pumps,expansiontanks,backflowarrestors,waterfilters,UV
sterilizationlights,watersofteners,waterheaters,heatexchangers,gauges,andcontrolsystems.
Specializedplumbingtoolsincludepipewrenches,flaringpliers,pipevice,pipebendingmachine,pipe
cutter,diesandjoiningtoolssuchassolderingtorchesandcrimptools.Newtoolshavebeendevelopedto
helpplumbersfixproblemsmoreefficiently.Forexample,plumbersusevideocamerasforinspectionsof
hiddenleaksorproblems,theyusehydrojets,andhighpressurehydraulicpumpsconnectedtosteelcables
fortrenchlesssewerlinereplacement.

Systems
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Themajorcategoriesofplumbingsystemsorsubsystemsare:
Potablecoldandhottapwatersupply
Plumbingdrainageventing
Septicsystems
Rainwater,surface,andsubsurfacewaterdrainage
Fuelgaspiping
Fortheirenvironmentalbenefitandsizableenergysavings,hot
waterheatrecyclingunitsarebeinginstalledinresidential
buildings.Ecologicalconcernsandwatershortageshaveincreased
interestingraywaterrecoveryandtreatmentsystems.
Plumbingmayalsoincludehydronics,whichinvolvesheatingand
coolingsystemsutilizingwatertotransportthermalenergy.The
NewYorkCitysteamsystemisanexampleofalargedistrict
heatingsystem.

Aplumberusestwowrenchesto
tightenthefittingonagassupply
line.

Regulation
Muchoftheplumbingworkinpopulatedareasisregulatedby
governmentorquasigovernmentagenciesduetothedirectimpact
onthepublic'shealth,safety,andwelfare.Plumbinginstallationand
repairworkonresidencesandotherbuildingsgenerallymustbe
Copperpipingsysteminabuilding
doneaccordingtoplumbingandbuildingcodestoprotectthe
inhabitantsofthebuildingsandtoensuresafe,qualityconstruction
tofuturebuyers.Ifpermitsarerequiredforwork,plumbingcontractorstypically
securethemfromtheauthoritiesonbehalfofhomeorbuildingowners.
IntheUnitedKingdomtheprofessionalbodyistheCharteredInstituteofPlumbing
andHeatingEngineering(educationalcharitystatus)anditistruethatthetradestill
remainsvirtuallyungoverned[21]therearenosystemsinplacetomonitororcontrol
theactivitiesofunqualifiedplumbersorthosehomeownerswhochoosetoundertake
installationandmaintenanceworksthemselves,despitethehealthandsafetyissues
whicharisefromsuchworkswhentheyareundertakenincorrectlyseeHealthAspects
ofPlumbing(HAP)publishedjointlybytheWorldHealthOrganization(WHO)and
theWorldPlumbingCouncil(WPC).[17][22]WPChassubsequentlyappointeda
representativetotheWorldHealthOrganizationtotakeforwardvariousprojects
relatedtoHealthAspectsofPlumbing.[17]
IntheUnitedStates,plumbingcodesandlicensingaregenerallycontrolledbystate
andlocalgovernments.Atthenationallevel,theEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyhas
setguidelinesaboutwhatconstitutesleadfreeplumbingfittingsandpipes,inorderto
complywiththeSafeDrinkingWaterAct.
SomewidelyusedStandardsintheUnitedStatesare:

Apipewrench
forholdingand
turningpipe.

ASMEA112.6.3FloorandTrenchDrains
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ASMEA112.6.4Roof,Deck,andBalconyDrains
ASMEA112.18.1/CSAB125.1PlumbingSupplyFittings
ASMEA112.19.1/CSAB45.2EnameledCastIronandEnameledSteelPlumbingFixtures
ASMEA112.19.2/CSAB45.1CeramicPlumbingFixtures

Seealso
Activefireprotection
Doublewalledpipe
Heatpipe
Passivefireprotection
Pipefitting
Plasticpipework
Plumbing&DrainageInstitute
SanitationinancientRome
Victaulic
Waterpipe

Notes
1. Plumbing:theArteriesofCivilization,ModernMarvelsvideoseries,TheHistoryChannel,AAE42223,A&E
Television,1996
2. "WhatIsTheOriginOfTheWord"plumbing"?"(http://news.google.com/newspapers?
nid=1129&dat=19420512&id=w5RRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DGoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2414,1122522).Pittsburgh
PostGazette.May12,1942.RetrievedDecember27,2013.
3. "PlumbingNeedn'tTapIre"(http://news.google.com/newspapers?
nid=1243&dat=19900513&id=01oPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cIYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3665,4464504).TheBulletin.May
13,1990.RetrievedDecember27,2013.
4. "ArchaeologistsUrgePentagonToKeepSoldiersFromDestroying"(http://news.google.com/newspapers?
nid=1876&dat=20030319&id=0jsfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MNAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6854,2226879).HeraldJournal.
Mar19,2003.RetrievedDecember27,2013.
5. Teresietal.2002
6. Kavanaugh,Sean."HistoryofPlumbingPipeandPlumbingMaterial"(http://mjcplumber.co.uk/historyof
plumbingpipeandplumbingmaterial).
7. "PublicNotice.LeadContaminationInformativeCityOkMoscowWaterSystem"
(http://news.google.com/newspapers?
nid=2026&dat=19880812&id=EZUrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AdEFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3819,1428737).MoscowPullman
DailyNews.August12,1988.RetrievedDecember27,2013.
8. http://www.cispi.org/products/types.aspxCastIronSoilPipeInstitute
9. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/polypropylenepropertiesanduses.html
10. http://www.greenbuildingpro.com/resources/whitepapers/1337oneofutahsleedingresidencesfull
11. http://www.pmengineer.com/Articles/Green/2010/06/01/WalkingTheTalk
12. CopperTubeHandbook,theCopperDevelopmentAssociation,NewYork,USA,2006
13. CaliforniasPEXBattleContinues(http://www.builderonline.com/legislation/californiaspexbattle
continues.aspx).Builderonline.com
14. Macek,MD.Matte,TD.Sinks,T.Malvitz,DM.(Jan2006)."Bloodleadconcentrationsinchildrenand
methodofwaterfluoridationintheUnitedStates,19881994."
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1332668).EnvironHealthPerspect114(1):1304.
doi:10.1289/ehp.8319(https://dx.doi.org/10.1289%2Fehp.8319).PMC1332668
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1332668).PMID16393670
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16393670).
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15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.

PlumbingWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16393670).
UniformPlumbingCode,IAPMO
InternationalPlumbingCode,ICC
"LeadPipeHistory"(http://www.plumbingforums.com/forum/f2/leadpipes144/).RetrievedJanuary12,2010.
"MiscellaneousValves"(http://www.ridgewaymechanical.com/atlanta_plumbing_miscellaneous_valves.htm).
RetrievedDecember27,2013.
"BasicPlumbingPrinciples"(http://news.google.com/newspapers?
nid=950&dat=19261110&id=Y_NPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1VQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1477,3295499).TheEvening
Independent.November10,1926.RetrievedDecember27,2013.
"KeyToPopupDrainIsFreshPlumber'sPutty"(http://news.google.com/newspapers?
nid=1696&dat=20030112&id=lg0bAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KUgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6826,1218984).DailyNews.
January12,2003.RetrievedDecember27,2013.
"TheCharteredInstituteofPlumbingandHeatingEngineering(CIPHE)"(http://www.CIPHE.org.uk).Retrieved
March29,2014.
"WHOHealthaspectsofplumbing"
(http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/publications/plumbinghealthasp/en).RetrievedOctober11,2009.

Furtherreading
Teresi,Dick(2002).LostDiscoveries:TheAncientRootsofModernSciencefromtheBabylonians
totheMaya.NewYork:Simon&Schuster.pp.351352.ISBN0684837188.

Externallinks
MediarelatedtoPlumbingatWikimediaCommons
ThedictionarydefinitionofplumbingatWiktionary
QuotationsrelatedtoPlumbingatWikiquote
PlumbingatWikibooks
ATSDRCaseStudiesinEnvironmentalMedicine:LeadToxicity
(http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/lead/)U.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices
Retrievedfrom"http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Plumbing&oldid=662024530"
Categories: Plumbing Buildingengineering Bathrooms
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