GUYANA STANDARD

Section 5
-Plumbing
Scope

This Code specifies the requirements for good

plumbing practice for water supply and

distribution, and sewerage.

Water Supply and

Distribution

Standards for Materials

Materials for plumbing systems shall conform to
the relevant specifications as required by either:
(a)
the British Standards Institution (BS)
(b)
the American Society for Testing Materials
(ASTM)
(c)
the Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
(d)
The International Organisation for
Standardisation (ISO)
(e)
the American Water Works Association
(A.W.W.A)

Water Supply and

Distribution
Materials
Classes of Pipes within this standard is subject to
approval by the Authority and can be classified as:
(i)
Non Metallic - plastic
(ii) Ferrous pipe
(iii) Non Ferrous Pipe - Brass and copper pipe
or tubing
Lead pipe should not be used in any potable
water system without the permission of the
Authority

Water Supply and

Distribution
Identification of Materials
Every length of pipe and fitting used in a

plumbing system shall have cast, stamped or

marked on it, the makers name or mark, and
the weight and class or quality of the product.

.
Water Supply and
Distribution
Pipes and Trenches
The underground water service pipe and the
building drain or building sewer shall not be less
than 3 m apart horizontally and shall be separated
by undisturbed or compacted earth.
When permitted by the Authority, the water
service pipe and the building drain or sewer pipe
may be placed less than 3 m horizontally provided
the following conditions are met:
(i) the bottom of the water service pipe, at
all points, shall be at least 300 mm above the top
of the sewer line at its highest point

Water Supply and

Distribution
Pipes and Trenches (contd)
(b) the water service pipe shall be placed on solid
ground at least 300 mm to one side of the sewer
pipe
(c ) the number of joints in the service pipe shall be
kept to a minimum. Joints shall have the strength
and durability to prevent the escape of solids, liquids
and gases when under adverse conditions such as
corrosion, settlement, strains due to temperature
change, vibrations and superimposed loads

Water Supply and

Distribution
Water Piping - Service Pipes
(a) The water service pipe from the street
main to the water distribution system at the
property boundary shall be not less than 20
mm nominal diameter.
(b) The depth of embedment below ground
level shall be at least 300 mm
(c ) It shall be provided with a shut off valve
outside the boundary of the property

Sewerage
Standards for Materials
Materials for plumbing systems shall conform to the
relevant specifications as required by either:
(a)
the British Standards Institution (BS)
(b)
the American Society for Testing Materials
(ASTM)
(c)
the Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
(d)
The International Organisation for
Standardisation (ISO)
(e)
the A.W.W.A
(f )
the standards approved by the Water and
Sewerage
Authority

Sewerage
Materials
Classes of Pipes for sewerage is subject to approval
by the Authority and can be classified as:
(i)
Non Metallic - Asbestos cement, bituminous
fibre glass pipe, concrete sewer pipe, plastic pipe
(ii) Ferrous pipe - shall be galvanised inside
and outside when used for waste or vent pipe
(iii) Non Ferrous Pipe - Brass, lead and copper
pipe

Sewerage
Plumbing Fixtures

Every plumbing fixture shall be made of

materials with smooth, hard, impervious,
corrosion resistant surfaces, free from flaws or
blemishes which would tend to interfere with
cleaning

Sewerage
The Code also give the Standards required for the

following plumbing fixtures:

Water closet bowls
Water closet tanks
Flush valves
Urinals
Urinal tanks
Wash basin
Sinks
Laundry trays
Shower baths
Floor drains

Sewerage
Soil and Waste Pipes
Soil and waste pipe within a building shall be

of cast iron, galvanised wrought iron,

galvanised steel, brass, lead or plastic.
All drains within buildings when underground,
shall be of cast iron soil pipe or of other
material to be approved by the Authority.
All underground pipe from a point 1 m beyond
the external wall of a building shall be of cast
iron, asbestos cement, bituminised fibre glass,
concrete or plastic.

Sewerage
Underground pipe -

No black or galvanised
wrought iron or steel pile shall be used
underground for vent, soil or waste pipe
The minimum size for a building sewer pipe
shall be 100 mm in diameter
No sanitary sewer shall pass under any building
other than the building it serves.
The plumbing system of every building or
premises shall be separate from and independent
of that of another building or premises.

Sewerage
The Code also give the Standards required

for the
different types of joints, joints on pipes of
different materials, and joints connecting
pipes made of two different materials, e.g
plastic pipe to metal pipe

Minimum Facilities for Different

Types of Buildings
Table 11 in this Standard gives the

minimum facilities for the different types of

buildings such as apartment buildings,
schools, hotel, hospitals, factories and other
industrial buildings, based on occupancy.
The facilities include water closets, lavatories,
showers, kitchen sinks and others.