5 – 4 Location of Cleanout

The waste pipe installation must be provided with an ample number of cleanouts, strategically located, to
be opened in ease of pipeline trouble. Cleanout is a receptacle of the plumbing system accessible on floor,
walls or ceiling. It is equipped with a plug or flush plate so designed as not to impair the aesthetical view
of the room. The location of cleanout must be indicated in the plan. It should be sized equal to the
diameter of the waste pipe, where it is to be connected. This is to avoid interference in the rodding or
cleaning process. Cleanout must be readily accessible to the plumber in case of waste line stoppage.

5 – 5 Right Slope or Grade of Waste Pipe

The ideal position of horizontal waste pipe, were those installed at 2% slope. Meaning, the pipe was
installed with an inclined ratio of 2 centimeters tier meter length. For instance, a 3.00 meters pipe installed
as a waste line will have an inclination of 3 x 2 - 6 centimeters.

Waste pipe must be of sufficient diameter to afford adequate velocity of flow in order to make them as
nearly self-scouring as is practical. The latest scientific tests and experiments conducted by the National
Bureau of Standards sponsored by the Housing and Home Finance Agency, showed that, wet venting and
stack venting are safe in certain type of installations. The experiments revealed that the Trap Seal Loss
occurs when the grade or slope of the pipe is increased from 2% to 4%.

Trap Seal Loss means the loss or escape of standing water inside the P-Trap. This is usually caused by
siphonage induced by rapid flow of waste inside the pipe. It is also referred to as Wafer Seal Escape.
Plumbing installations usually suffer grave abuse of function brought about by human dements. Record
shows that; waste lines identically designed with the same size and grade, installed in different residences,
but used by different persons, functions differently. The materials and methods used in food preparation,
plus the habits of the housewife, accounts for this. Some people use plumbing fixtures as a means of get-
ting rid of almost any kind of unwanted waste. Waste such as garbage, grease, hair lint matches. Cigar,
paper and the like are found in most clogged waste lines. Take note that, Plumbing installations are not
intended to convey materials of this kind of unwanted waste.

5 – 6 Manner of Joining Pipes

Injudicious connection of fittings should not be per-mitted in any plumbing installation. Each kind of pipe
has its own manner of joining recommended and specified by the manufacturers. For instance, cast iron
pipes are joined by the use of oakum and lead at the hub and spigot connections. Likewise, plastic pipes
clearly specify the use of solvent plastic cement, or by special fitting connector. Remember that any
alteration or deviation from the manufacturer's specifications will only endanger the effective-ness of the
pipe joints.

5 – 7 Determining the Size of Waste Pipe

The National Plumbing Code on the size of waste pipe provides that:

"The waste pipe diameter shall be adequate enough to serve the installation of fixtures in a general way,
but the best way is to fit the diameters of commercial pipe into the fixture pattern in the most efficient
manner."

The size of waste pipe intended to receive waste from the future must be of sufficient diameter. This is to
accommodate the velocity of flow, making them as nearly scouring as necessary to prevent the silting of
the pipe.

Scouring means to flush or wash out, to remove dirt or grease by flowing through. There are those who
believed that by making the drainage pipe larger than what is necessary, will increase its service efficiency.
This without scientific basis, has triggered disagreement among people in the plumbing industry.
Disagreement on this matter however, was resolved when the Uniform Plumbing Code Committee
formulated data as guide and references in determining the size of the waste and other drain-pipes. The
data formulated by the Committee for incorporation in the Plumbing Code were product of countless
tests and experiments conducted for years. In addition, installation experiences that were proven
satisfactory in service compiled over a long period of time were also incorporated

The Uniform Plumbing Code Committee's Findings are Enumerated Briefly as Follows:

1. By increasing the size of the drainage pipe, does not guarantee effective scouring action, or self-cleaning
ability of the pipe. Self-cleaning ability is present, when the liquid and waste inside the pipe flow smoothly
and simultaneously together.

2. Water flow inside a larger pipe is relatively shallow. The solid waste does not flow on shallow water but
tend to remain at the bottom of the pipe. This is practically the most common cause of the many clogging
problems of drainage installation.

3. Drainage pipe must be of the right size to have a liquid flow -of about 50% of the pipe diameter.
Meaning, that the flowing water inside the pipe must have a depth equal to l4 the pipe diameter.

4. For instance, if the pipe is 100 mm diameter, the water flow inside the pipe must have a depth of about
50 mm to attain the scouring action. This is where the 3% slope becomes effective.

5. On the other hand, too small pipeline is subject to overloading of flow. The tendency is to create back-
pressure, siphonage, and floor flooding.