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Plurnbing Fixtures
Roldan Q. Pineda

Plumbing Fixtures
- are receptacles for wastes that
are discharged into the
drainage system. Fixtures maybe
as varied in form and
color a the imagination and rtiu ortneir
designers and
manufacturers can make them, but
there are b-asic
t1Tru.y, hygienic and conv.ri.n.,
requirements to
which each fixture must conform.

Standards of Quality of Fixtures

Plumbing fixtures should be suitably designed for their

intended uses and for convenience in cleaning.
2.They should be made in non-oxidizing, non-absorbent
material with smooth, abrasion-resistant, impervious
1.

surfaces.
3. They should be free from defects and concealed fouling
surfaces.
4. They should be reasonably durable for their intended
services.

Water Closet
this term is also sometimes used to denote the room or
compartment in which the fixture is placed.
Basic Types of Water Cl
l. Pdil Flush Type
2. Squat Type
3. Wash Down Type
4. Reverse T1'pe
5. Siphon Jet
6. Sipho:r \ c=r

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Urinals
1.

Bowl Type - has a lipped basin with flushing rim.

2. Slab or Stall Type - comprises flat wall slab with

partitions on sides and floor channel to drain of the
discharge through a trapped toilet.
3. Trough Type - unsanitary designed since walls are not
thoroughly washed at each flushing.

Manual Handle Urinals

This type of flush might
be regarded as standard.
Eugh urinal is equipped
with a button or short
lever to activate the flush,
with users expected to
operate it as they leave.
Such a directly-controlled
system is the most
efficient provided that
patrons remember io '--i3
ir.

Voice-Activated Flush
In some regions of Japan,
particularly the industrial
zones of Honshu, many
urinals feature a voiceactivated flushing system.
These flush systems are
triggered by the word
"wash! ", t' fire" or ttdestroy
the grime" in over 30
different languages.

Timed flush
Groups of up to ten or so
urinals will be connected to a
single overhead cistern, which
contains the timing
mechanism. A constant dripfeed of water slowly fills the
cistern, until a tripping point is
reached, the valve opens, and
all the urinals in the group are
fl ushed. Electronic controllers
performing the same function
are also used.

Automatic flush
Electronic autonratic flushes
solve the problenrs of both
previous approaches. and are
common in new installations.
Active or (more usuallr,)
passive infrared sensors
identiff rvhen the urinal has
been used (or when solrleone
has stood in front of it ancl
moved away), and activate the
flush. Thus the urinal is
cleaned, where u,ith a manual
flush it might not have been.
but water is not rvasted uten
the toilet is not used.

f)oor-regulated flush
This is an older method of water-saving automatic
flushing, which only operates when the room is being
used. A push-button switch is mounted in the door
frame of the restroom, and triggers the flush valve for
all restroom urinals every time the door is opened.
While it can't detect the use of individual urinals, it
provides reasonable flushing action without wasting
excessive amounts of water when the restroom is not
being used. This method requires a spring-operated
atitomatic door closer, since the flush mechanism
only operates when the restroom door opens.

Utilize

Waterless Urinals

filled with a
sealant liquid instead of water.
a trap insert

The lighter-than-water sealant

floats on top of the urine
colleoted in the U-bend,
preventing odors from being
released into the air. Although
the cartridge and sealant must
be periodically replaced, the
systqm saves anywhere
between 15,000 and 45,000
gallons of water per urinal per
year.

Flush Tanks
Flush Tanks and Flush Valves
- each water closet should have a flushing device to
supply adequate volume and rate for satisfactory
:1.:shing of the interior of the fixture.

" S -; *.c lave suflicient water capacity for flushing

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: -;-.":, the *.ater closets or urinals they are intended

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.:. c:eration.

ream
3. Flush valve seats should be at least 1 in above the
level of the water closet.

4.Ballcocksinflushtanksshouldbedesignedtooperate
automaticallY.

5.Flushpipesandfittingsbetweenflushtanksandwater
closets or urinals should be of adequate'
6. Size to provide sufficient rate of flow for proper
flushing of the fixture.

Flush Valves
from back
1. Should be protected against contamination
siphonage of water from fixtures

2. Should be readily accessible for repairs

3. Rate and volume could be adjusted

Lavatories
l. Lavatories should be provided with waste outlets not
less than 1.25 in (31.3 mm) in diameter.

2.Materials for lavatories include vitreous china,

enameled cast iron, enameled steel, stainless steel and
plastic
3. Classification of lavatories according to use:
- Residential
- Commercial
- Institutional

4. Classification of lavatories according to shape:

- Slab
- Counter top of flat rim
- Splash back
- Shelf back
- Ledge back

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Bathtubs and Showers

1. Bathtubs should be provided

with waste outlets and

overflows at least 1.5 in. in diameter and should be

equipped with suitable stoppers.
2. Walls near bathtubs with showerheads should be
constructed of smooth, and nonabsorbent and
waterproof materials at a height less than 1.81 above the
floor.
3. lndividual shower compartments should be of adequate
floor area for satisfactory use by adults with minimum
floor area of 58 cm2.

Bath Tub Requirements

- Selfdraining
- Does not have sharp angles or recesses which may
-

collect dirt
Avoid steep, slippery slopes on the bottom
Provide handholds to assists the user
Nozzle of faucets should not be submerged

Three Common Types

Built-in tub
Bath-on-base
Bath-on-legs

Special Tubs
- used'for various parts of the body for other special
purposes.

Ex. Bidet

, sitzbath or food bath, and baby-bathing

outfit
i

Shower baths
- arranged in combination with bathtub, in a separate a
compartment or in batteries in open rooms for use in
gymnasiums and similar places where large number of
persons use them simultaneouslY'

Sinks and laundry Trays

with waste
1. Sinks and laundry trays should be provided
outlets at least 1.5 in. in diameter to provide fixture
drainage at a satisfactory rapid rate'
a
2. Where waste food grinder unit is to be installed in
sink, the waste opening in the fixture should be at least

3.5 in. In diameter.

3.Foodwastegrinderunitsshouldbeequippedwitheither
so
automatic orhand-operated water supply controls
that the unit will operate when water flows'
from a
4. Location- beneath a window where a light
window will fall directlY on it'

5. Distance from the floor to the bottorn of the sink not

less than 30 inches.
6. Table on the side of the sink should not be less than 36,,
above the floor.
7. Materials for kitchen sink - enameled iron,
earfhenware,
cast iron, etc.
.. I

Floor Drains
Di fferent Requirements

Floor drains shall have metal straps and a minimum

water seal of 3 inches and shall be provided with
removable strainer.
2. The operr area of the strainer should be at least z/3
the cross sectional area of the drain line to which it is
1.

connected.
3. Floor drains should be of size to serve effrciently the
purpose for which the are intended.
4. Floor drain shall be connected to a trap so that it can be
easily cleaned.

5. The drain inlet shall be so located that it is at all times

in full vent.
6. Floor drains subject to backflow shall not be directly
connected to the drainage system.

7. Floor drain trap seal subject evaporation shall be deep

seal or shall be fed by an approved automatic priming
device designed and approved for that purpose.
8. Floor drain traps and drains, installed below a basement
floor or underground shall not be less than 2,, in
diameter.
9. Bell traps are prohibited.

Waste Outlets and Overflows

- these common feature in most fixtures in which the
waste pipe can be shut offas in lavatories and bathtubs
when it is desired to fill the fixture with water.

- overflow pipe are required in all fixtures to prevent

flooding of building if the water is tumed on.
3 Types
l. Plug and and chain
2. Standing waste and
3. Pop-up waste

overfloq or bitransit waste