Week 10

 Plumbing Systems 

Gina Christopher 

HOW PLUMBING WORKS (AN OVERVIEW)

Plumbing systems consist of two primary parts: supply and waste. Supply water enters a building under pressure. This pressure allows the water to reach the upper levels of a building. At the entry of the building there is amin water shut-off valve with additional locational shut-offs at each fixture for minor repairs and maintenance. The Drain-Waste-Vent (DWV) part of the system relied on gravity and water's ability to seek its own level. Wastewater is either black, which contains sewage or gray, which is from sinks, bathtubs, and washing machines. Portable water is suitable for drinking. The tree primary water supply options include municipal water, provided by means of a water main; private well water; and rainwater harvested water. When a wall extends through a non-permeable layer of earth into aquifer, it is known as an artesian well. Rainwater catchment refers to the active collection of rainwater. Rainwater can be collected in two ways: through the use of a cistern or rain barrels. Rainwater needs additional processing to be used as a potable water source. 

FIXTURES & WATER CONSERVATION

In an effort to reduce the amount of potable water being discharged into the waste stream, several items have been introduced into the market for use in buildings. Toilets are the single largest use of interior water. High efficiency toilets use less than 1.28 gallons of water per flush. Low flow toilets are provided by all manufactures. Recent legislation has required that new water closets use less water than those of the past. Dual-flushing toilets allow for the toilet to be flushed according to usage. When less water is required, one flush is used, versus two flushes when more water is required. Waterless urinals do not require water to operate but have been criticized for releasing odors into the restroom. Low water urinals are designed to reduce water usage by 85 percent. Automatic faucets have sensors to activate water usage. Gray water use is water from sinks and showers that can be reused to flush toilets or water closets. Light powered faucets use light to power the automatic sensors with no electricity required. Low-flow shower heads reduce the amount of water used during a shower. A tankless water heater heats water on demand and does not store water. Composing toilets do not use water to operate. These are used in rural areas where there is not a municipal water and sewer facility. 

IMPACTS ON INTERIOR DESIGN 

The location of plumbing lines within a building impact space planning and interior design of a space. Good design requires that an interior designer understands the limitations of what is practical and economical. Generally speaking, the fewer plumbing walls, the better the solution. A shared chase wall lessens the need for multiple 6" or thicker walls. This also saves on the amount of supply pipe and waste pipe, and multiple fixtures can then share the vent pipe to the roof. Shared plumbing walls contribute to good design. It is also preferable to stack plumbing from floor to floor so that they can be shared through the floors. When a wall is thickened to accommodate plumbing, it is called a chase wall. It is also important to keep in mind the slope of waste pipes, which must fit within the floor thickness. All bathroom fixtures must include a trap. The trap prevents sewer gases from backing up into the space. The air gap in a supply line prevents contamination of the potable water supply by sanitary drainage systems.  In regard to bathroom accessories, energy-efficient hand dryers reduce the need for paper towels for hand drying in the bathroom. An important consideration in bathroom design is ventilation. This can be achieved in one of two ways- through the use of a window to allow for natural ventilation or mechanically using a ceiling or wall-mounted ventilation fan. In public projects, a certain percentage of the bathroom fixtures must be ADA compliant. This law impacts the height of water closets and lavatories, the inclusion of grab bars, the size of some bathroom stalls, and the type of facets and accessories used within a bathroom.  

OTHER PLUMBING CONCERNS 

In addition to plumbing fixtures, designers must also be aware of sprinkler heads within the interior space. While specialists design the sprinkler systems for buildings, designers must integrate the placement of sprinkler heads with lighting and other ceiling-mounted items.  

ACCESSIBLE RESTROOM EXAMPLES

The three examples below are strong examples of accessible bathroom design. It is important to consider the height of water closets, toilets, grab bars, turning radius, door handle height, mirror height, and pipe coverings when doing accessible design. Everything must be able to be able by someone sitting in a wheelchair, and the space should be large enough for them to move around easily. I included a helpful diagram below that includes the proper dimensions for an ADA complaint restroom.