NATIONAL PLUMBING CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES

( Republic Act 1378 = “Plumbing Law” )

HISTORY OF PLUMBING PRACTICE

WALLED CITY (Intramuros): Birth of plumbing profession in the Philippines

PUEBLO: Towns
ILUSTRADOS: Elite Group
GOV. GEN. HARRISON: Issued a letter of instruction on proper waste disposal
MASTER PLUMBER JOHN F. HASS: First Chief of the Division of Plumbing Construction and
Inspection
NAMPAP: National Master Plumbers Association of the Philippines
First Members:
Francisco Geronimo Mariano de Ocampo
Igmidio Suarez Eusebio Mina
Jose Rivera Raymundo Reyes Sr.
Roberto Feliciano Gregorio Lazaro
Raymundo Gumapac John Jones
Trinitario Ortiz Valentin Casupanan
Crispin Francisco Teodoro Pastor
Cornelio Odvina Jesus Tanghal Dera
CITY ORDINANCE 2411: a.k.a. Plumbing Code for the City of Manila

HOUSE BILL NO. 962 R.A. 1378: a.k.a. Plumbing Law of the Philippines
F.E.A.T.I. UNIVERSITY: First Curriculum for Plumbing Engineering
FIRST AMENDMENT: Inclusion of “Asbestos-Cement Pipe” as an approved
Plumbing material
BOMP: Board of Master Plumbers
AIR, WATER & FOOD: basic necessities of life

BASIC PRINCIPLES

 Plumbing fixtures, devices & appurtenances shall be supplied with water in sufficient volume and at
pressure adequate to enable them to function satisfactorily and without undue noise under all
normal conditions of use.

 Plumbing shall be designed and adjusted to use the minimum quantity of water consistent with
proper performance and cleaning.

 Each family dwelling unit on premises abutting on a sewer or with a private sewer-disposal system
shall have at least one water closet and one kitchen-type sink. Further, a lavatory and bathtub or
shower shall be installed to meet the basic requirements of sanitation and personal hygiene.

 Plumbing fixtures shall be made of smooth non-absorbent material, free from concealed fouling
surfaces & shall be located in ventilated enclosures.

 All piping of plumbing systems shall be of durable NAMPAP-APPROVED materials, free from
defective workmanship, designed and constructed by Registered Master Plumbersto ensure
satisfactory service.

 Each fixture directly connected to the drainage system shall be equipped with a water-sealed trap.

 The drainage piping system shall be designed to provide adequate circulation of air free from
siphonage, aspiration or forcing of trap seals under ordinary use.

 Plumbing systems shall be subjected to such tests to effectively disclose all leaks and defects in the
workmanship.

Prepared by: Arch/Enp Emmanuel C, David, RLA,RMP, PIEP 1

 NATIONAL PLUMBING CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES
 Proper protection shall be provided to prevent contamination of food, water, sterile goods & similar
materials by backflow of sewage. When necessary, the fixture, device or appliance shall be
connected indirectly with the building drainage system.

 No water closet shall be located in a room or compartment, which is not properly lighted &
ventilated.

 If water closets or other plumbing fixtures are installed in the buildings where there is no sewer
within a reasonable distance, suitable provision shall be made for disposing of the building sewage
by some accepted method of sewage treatment and disposal, such as septic tank.

 Sewage or other waste from a plumbing system which may be deleterious to surface or sub-surface
waters shall not be discharged into the ground or into any waterway, unless first rendered
innocuous through subjection to some acceptable form of treatment.
CHAPTER 3: GENERAL REGULATIONS

1. GRADE OF HORIZONTAL PIPING

 Drainage pipes shall be run in practical alignments & at a uniform slope between manholes
of not less than 20mm/m or 2% toward the point of disposal.
If it is impracticable to obtain such slope due to the following conditions:
 Excessive depth of the proposed drainage line
 Structural and/or geological features of the terrain
 Existing adverse in arrangements of building structure
Any such pipe or piping 102mm or larger in diameter may have a slope of 10mm/m or 1%
provided it is approved by Administrative Authority
2. CHANGES IN DIRECTION OF DRAINAGE FLOW
 Changes in direction of piping shall be made by the use of approved pipe fittings & shall be
the angles presented by:
 22 ½ degrees bend
 45 degrees bend
 60 degrees bend or other approved fittings of longer sweeps.
 Horizontal drainage lines connecting to a vertical stack shall enter through:
 45 wye branches
 combination wye & 1/8 bend branches
 or other approved fittings of longer sweeps.
 Horizontal drainage lines connecting to other horizontal drainage lines shall enter through:
 45 wye branches
 combination wye & 1/8 bend branches
 or other approved fittings of longer sweeps.
 Vertical drainage lines connecting to other horizontal drainage line shall enter through:
 45 wye branches
 or other approved fittings of longer sweeps.
 60 degree branches or offsets (only for pipes installed in true vertical position)
3. PROHIBITED FITTINGS & PRACTICES
 No Drainage Fitting shall use:
 Double hub fitting for leak-caulked joint in vertical position
 Single or double tee branch
 Single or double tapped tee branch
 Side inlet quarter bend
 Running thread, band or saddle
Except that: double hub sanitary tapped tee may be used on vertical lines as a fixture
connection. (approved stainless steel bands with neoprene gaskets for jointing hubless cast
iron soil pipes are acceptable for use)
 No Drainage or Vent piping shall be drilled & tapped for making connections thereto, and
no cast iron soil pipe shall be threaded.
 No Waste Connection shall be made to a closet bend or stub of a water closet or similar
fixtures.
 No Vent pipe shall be used as a soil or waste pipe & vice versa

Prepared by: Arch/Enp Emmanuel C, David, RLA,RMP, PIEP 2

 NATIONAL PLUMBING CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES
4. PROTECTION OF PIPING, MATERIALS & STRUCTURES
 All pipings passing under or through walls shall be protected from breakage with embedded
metal pipe sleeves.
 All pipes passing through or under cinders or other corrosive materials shall be protected
from external corrosion by encasing same with polyethylene sheath or in any other
approved manner.
 Void between pipes & sleeves through concrete floors in the ground shall be appropriately
sealed with bitumen.
 The bottom of all pipe trenches deeper than the footing of any adjacent building or
structure & parallel to it must be at least 45degrees therefrom, unless permission is granted
by Administrative Authority.
 No building sewer or other drainage pipings or part thereof, constructed of materials other
than that approved for use under or within the building, shall be installed under or within
0.6m of any building or structure, nor less than 0.3m below the finish ground surface.

5. HANGERS & SUPPORTS

 VERTICAL PIPING:
 Cast Iron Soil Pipe - Bell & Spigot & Hubless pipe shall be supported at every
storey or closer.
 Screwed Pipe - Iron Pipe Size (IPS) shall be supported at not less than every other
storey height.
 Copper Tubing - shall be supported at each storey or at a maximum intervals of 3m o.c.
 Lead Pipe - shall be supported at intervals not exceeding 1.20m at centers with a
rigid vertical back-up
 Plastic Pipe - shall be supported at every 1m interval.
 HORIZONTAL PIPING:
 Cast Iron Soil Pipe
 Suspended cast iron soil pipe shall be supported at not more than 1.5m intervals,
except that pipe exceeding 1.5m length may be supported at not more than 3m
intervals. Supports shall be adequate to maintain alignment & to prevent sagging &
shall be placed within 0.45m of the hub or joint.
 Hubless or compression gasket joints must be supported at least every other joint
except that when the developed length between supports exceeds 1.2m, they shall
be provided at each joint.
 Screwed Pipe - IPS shall be supported at approximately 3.0m intervals for piping
19mm diameter & smaller & 3.6m intervals for piping 25mm & larger in diameter.
 Copper Tubing - shall be supported at approximately 1.8m intervals for piping 38mm
diameter & smaller & 3.0m intervals for piping 51mm & larger in dia.
 Lead Pipe - shall be supported at by stiff metal or wooden backing for entire
length with hangers properly spaced.
 In Ground - piping buried on the ground shall be laid on the firm bed for its entire
length, except where concrete cradle support is provided which is adequate & approved
by the Administrative Authority.
 Plastic Tube - shall be supported by stiff metal or wood backing with hangers in its
entire length for small-size tubings up to 38mm diameter & without backings but with
spaced metal hangers at approved spacing for larger-size tubings.
6. TRENCHING, EXCAVATION & BACKFILL
 Tunnels shall have:
 a clear height of 0.6m above the pipe & shall be limited in length to 1/2 the depth of
the trench.
 2.4m max. length & shall be limited in length to 1/2 the depth of the trench.
 driven pipes shall have at least one pipe size larger than the pipe to be laid

 Trenches shall be back-filled in thin layers of 0.3m above the top of the pipe with clean
earth which shall not contain stones, boulders, cinders or other materials which can damage
or break the pipes or cause corrosive action.

Prepared by: Arch/Enp Emmanuel C, David, RLA,RMP, PIEP 3

 NATIONAL PLUMBING CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES

CHAPTER 4: PLUMBING FIXTURES

1. MATERIALS – GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

 All porcelain enamel surfaces on plumbing fixtures shall be acid resistant
 Water closet bowls for public use shall be elongated bowl types equipped with open-front
seats.
2. MATERIALS – ALTERNATIVES
 Restaurant kitchen & other special-use sink may be made of approved-type bonderized &
galvanized sheet steel not less than Ga.16 U.S. B&S or 1.6mm thk.
3. STAINERS & CONNECTIONS
 Strainers serving shower drains shall have a waterway equivalent area of the “tailpiece” –
meaning, the sum of all the areas of the perforation of the strainer is equivalent to the
outlet area.
 Fixtures having concealed slip joint connections shall be provided with an access panel or
utility at least 0.3m in its least dimension for inspection & repair.
 Continuous waste fixture tailpiece connections were exposed or accessible may be of
seamless drawn brass not less than Ga. 20 B&S or 0.8mm thk.
 Continuous waste or waste & overflow shall not be less than:
 38mm outside dia. (O.D.) for:
 sinks, dishwashers, laundry tubs, bathtubs, & similar fixtures
 urinals (brass & copper-not allowed!)
 32mm outside dia. (O.D.) for:
 lavatories, drinking fountains & similar small fixtures
4. SPECIAL FIXTURES & SPECIALTIES
 Wastewater drain for “Sacrarium” cupsink at church altar & baptisteries font outlet shall
discharge direct to the ground & not connected to any sanitary or drainage system.
5. INSTALLATION
 No water closet or bidet shall be set closer than 0.375m from its center to any side of the
wall or obstruction or closer than 0.75m center to center to any similar fixture.
 No urinal shall be set closer than 0.6m center to center.
6. SHOWER STALLS
 Each shower receptor shall be a n approved type and be constructed to have a finished dam,
curb, or threshold which is at least 25.4mm lower than the outside floor.
 In no case shall any dam or threshold be less than 51mm or more than 228mm in depth
when measured from the top of the dam or threshold of the drain.
 The finished floor of the receptor shall slope uniformly from sides towards the drain not less
than 2% or 20mm/m or more than 4% or 40mm/m.
 559mm min. width of threshold.
 1.2m min. distance between the door or entry to the drain.
 0.6m2 min. finished interior area of shower stalls (any shape) & shall be capable of
encompassing a 762mm dia. circle.
 The minimum area & dimensions shall be maintained from a point above the shower drain
outlet to a height of 1.78m with no protrusions other than the fixture valve or valves,
shower head & safety grab bars or rails.
 When shower receptors are built above ground the sub-floor & rough side of walls to a
height of no less than 76mm above the top of the finished dam or threshold.
 No metallic shower sub-pans or linings may be built-up on jobsite of not less than (3) three
layers of standard grade 6.8kg asphalt-impregnated roofing felt. All folds, laps &
reinforcing webbing shall extend to at least 101mm in all directions producing a tensile
strength of not less than 0.9kg/mm in either directions.
 For public showers: drains in gutters shall not be spaced more than 4.9m apart.
 48.880C max. temperature of hot water in showers & shall have:
 individual shower control valves of the pressure balance or the thermostatic mixing
valve type for individual water heaters
 master thermostatic mixing valve type in lieu of individually controlled pressure balance
or the for multiple gang showers

Prepared by: Arch/Enp Emmanuel C, David, RLA,RMP, PIEP 4

 NATIONAL PLUMBING CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES
7. MINIMUM RATIO of PLUMBING FACILITIES
 1 laundry tray & 1 automatic washer standpipe per 1 dwelling unit
 2 laundry trays & 2 automatic washer standpipes per 10 apartments
 1 kitchen sink per 1 dwelling unit or 1apartment
 1 lavatory per 5 persons (where there is exposure to skin contamination with poisonous,
infectious, or irritating materials)
 1 laundry tray per 50 persons
 1 slop sink per 100 persons
 1 water closet & 1 urinal per 30 workmen (for temporary workingmen facilities)
 1 drinking fountain per occupied floor in schools, theaters, auditoriums, dormitories offices
or public building
 total no. of water closets required for females shall be at least equal for the total no. of
water closets & urinals required for males.
 For assembly areas (theaters, auditoriums, dormitories, offices, of public buildings) used by more
than 6 persons:
 1 drinking fountain for the first 75 persons & additional of 1 drinking fountain for the next
150 persons.

CHAPTER 6: WATER SUPPLY & DISTRIBUTION

1. BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICES, ASSEMBLIES, & METHODS

 AIR GAP - the minimum air gap to provide backflow protection.

ITEM Not affected by Affected by side

FIXTURES
NO. side walls (mm) walls (mm)
Lavatories & other fixtures with effective openings
1 25 38
not greater than 13mm in diameter
Sinks, laundry trays, goosenecks bath faucets &
2 other fixtures with effective openings not greater 38 57
than 19mm in diameter.
Over rim bath fillers & other fixtures with effective
3 51 76
openings not greater than 25mm in diameter.
Effective openings not greater than 25mm in 2 times diameter
3 times diameter of
4 diameter. of effective
effective opening
opening

 EFFECTIVE OPENING - the minimum cross sectional area at the seat of the control valve or
the supply pipe or tubing which feeds the device outlet. If two or more lines supply one outlet, the
effective opening shall be the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the individual supply lines or the
area or the single outlet, whichever is smaller.
 ATMOSPHERIC VACUUM BREAKER (AVB) - consist of a body, a checking member & an
atmospheric opening.
 DOUBLE CHECK VALVE BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY (DC) - consists of two independently
acting internally or externally loaded check valves, four properly located test cocks with connectors
& two isolation gate valves.
 PRESSURE VACUUM BREAKER BACFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY (PVB)
- consists of a loaded air inlet valve, an internally loaded check valve, two properly located test cocks
& two isolation gate valves.
 REDUCED PRESSURE PRINCIPLE BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY (RP)
- consists of two independently acting internally loaded check valves, a differential pressure relief
valve, four properly located test cocks & two isolation gate valves.
2. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
 Access & clearance for testing, maintenance & repair shall require 305mm min. space
between the lowest portion of the assembly & the grade, floor or platform. Elevated
installations more than 1.52m above the floor or grade shall be provided with platform
sufficient to support maintenance person.
 Where potable water is discharge to the drainage system, it shall be by means of an
approved air gap of two (2) pipe dia. min. to 25mm max. from the supply outlet & the top
surface of the drainage inlet.

Prepared by: Arch/Enp Emmanuel C, David, RLA,RMP, PIEP 5

 NATIONAL PLUMBING CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES
3. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
 Water Closet & Urinal Flushometer Valves shall be equipped with a listed atmospheric
vacuum breaker & shall be installed at the discharge level of the flushometer valve with a
critical level at least 152mm distance according to its listing above the overflow rim of a
water closet bowl or highest part of a urinal.
 Water Closet & Urinal Tanks shall be equipped with a listed ballcock & shall be installed with
the critical level at least 25mm above the full opening of the overflow pipe.
 152mm minimum installation of a listed atmospheric vacuum breaker:
 in the discharge side of the last valve for inlets to Tanks, Vats, Swimming Pools & other
receptors.
 above the highest point of usage & located on the discharge side of the last valve for
Potable Water Outlets with Hose Attachments. &
 above the aspirator unit for Water Inlets to Water Supplied Aspirators.

4. MATERIALS
 Water pressure pipes shall be of:
 For cold-water distribution systems - Brass, Copper, Centrifugal Cast Iron Pipe (CCI),
B&S & F&F ends, Ductile Cast Iron Pipe (DCI), Galvanized Wrought Iron, Galvanized
Steel, or other approved PE & PVC water pressure pipe.
 For hot & cold-water distribution systems- CPVC water pipe & tubing
 Cast iron fittings up to & including 51mm in size, when used in connection with potable
water piping shall be galvanized.
 All small-sized malleable iron water fittings shall be galvanized.
 Water pipes & fittings with a lead content that exceed 8% shall be prohibited & shall not be
used in potable piping systems.
5. VALVES
 Valves up to & including 51mm size shall be brass or other approved materials. Sizes over
51mm may have cast iron or brass bodies. Each gate valves shall be a fullway type with
working parts of non-corrosive materials.
 A valve used to control two (2) or more openings shall be a fullway gate valve.
6. GRAVITY SUPPLY TANKS
 Covers of gravity tanks shall be vented with a return-bent vent pipe having an area not less
than the area of the down-feed riser pipe.
 For overflow control, inlets shall be controlled by a float valve, float switch or electrode-
type water level control.
 Shall have a valved drain pipe & an screened overflow pipe
7. WATER PRESSURE, PRESSURE REGULATORS & PRESSURE RELIEF VALVES
 Inadequate water pressure – water pressure less than 103 Kpa
 Excessive water pressure – water pressure greater than 551 Kpa
 All pipe determinations shall be based on eighty percent (80%) the reduced pressure.
 For listed non-storage instantaneous heaters having an inside diameter of not more than
76mm is not required to have pressure relief valve with approved drain.
 Each pressure relief valve shall be an approved automatic type with drain, & each such relief
valve shall be set at a pressure not more than 1033 Kpa.
 approved Combination Temperature & Pressure Relief Valve (CT & PRV)
8. INSTALLATION, INSPECTION, & TESTING
 All water service yard piping shall be at least 0.3m below the finish ground level.
 Water pipes if run or laid with the same trench or building sewer shall be:
 Min. of 0.3m above the top sewer or drain line (may be constructed of clay or materials
no approved for use within a building)
 Placed on a solid shelf excavated on one side with min. of 0.3m clearance from the side
of sewer, drain line & the water line
 Unions shall be installed in the water supply piping within 0.3m away from regulating
equipment, water heater, conditioning tanks & similar equipment which require removal for
servicing or replacement.
9. SIZE OF POTABLE WATER PIPING
 “Size of water piping shall be based on the total water demand”

Prepared by: Arch/Enp Emmanuel C, David, RLA,RMP, PIEP 6

 NATIONAL PLUMBING CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES
 The quantity of water required to be supplied to every plumbing fixture shall be represented
by “Fixture Units” (FU)
 61m max. length of supply piping.
 No building water service pipe shall be less than 19mm in diameter.
10. EQUIVALENT WATER SUPPLY FIXTURE UNITS (some)

Number of Water Supply

ITEM
FIXTURES Fixture Units (WSFU)
NO.
Private Use Public Use
1 Lawn Sprinklers (standard type, each head) 1 1
2 Bar Sink, Drinking Fountain, Lavatory 1 2
Bidet, Bathtub(With or Without Shower Over),
3 Laundry Tub or Clothes Washer (each pair of faucets), 2 4
Shower (each head), Sink or Dishwasher
4 Water Closet (economical flush) 2.5 4
Water Closet (flush tank & flushometer-tank),
5 3 5
Hose Bibb or Sill Cock (standard type)
6 Mobile Home (each)-temporary facilities 6 6
7 Urinal (flush tank) - 3
8 Urinal (pedestal or similar type) - 10
9 Urinal (stall & wall) - 5
11. SUPPORT
 Support all piping at intervals of not more than (4ft.) four feet or (1219mm), at end of
branches & change of direction or elevation.
 Support trap arms in excess of (3ft.) three feet or (914mm) in length as close as possible to
the trap.
 Closet rings shall be fastened (1/4inch) or (6.4mm) above finished floor.
12. THRUST BLOCKING
 In lines with rubber gasketed joints, thrust blocks shall be installed at all:
 Changes in direction, as tees & bends
 Changes in size, as at reducers
 Stops, as at dead ends; &
 Valves, where thrusts may be expected.

CHAPTER 7: EXCRETA DRAINAGE SYSTEM

1. MATERIALS
 Excreta Drainage Pipings shall be of Cast Iron, Ductile Iron, Galvanized Steel, Galvanized
Wrought Iron, Lead, Copper, Brass, Series 1000 PVC DWV, Extra-strength Vitrified Clay Pipe
or other approved materials having smooth & uniform bore except that:
 No Galvanized Wrought Iron or Galvanized Steel Pipe shall be used underground & shall be
kept at least 152mm above ground.
 No Vitrified Clay Pipes or Fittings for building drain or sewer shall be used above ground or
whenever piping is pressurized by a pump or ejector. They shall be kept 0.3m below finish
ground level.
 Drainage Fittings shall be Cast Iron, Malleable Iron, Lead, Copper, Brass, ABS, PVC, Vitrified
Clay Pipe or other approved materials having smooth interior waterway of the same
diameter as the piping served.
 ABS & PVC DWV piping installations shall be used in high rise buildings
2. SIZE OF DRAINAGE PIPING
 Minimum Trap Diameters & Drainage Fixture Unit Values (some)

Trap & Trap Drainage

ITEM
FIXTURES Arm Size Fixture Units
NO.
(mm) (DFU)
Sinks, bar, commercial 51mm min. waste,
1 Receptors (floor sinks), indirect waste receptors for 38 1
refrigerators, coffee urns, water station, ect..
2 Bidet, Bathtub, Laundry tubs, Wash basins (in sets), 38 2
Sinks or Dishwashers (res’l/com’l) 51mm min. waste,

Prepared by: Arch/Enp Emmanuel C, David, RLA,RMP, PIEP 7

 NATIONAL PLUMBING CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES
Urinal, wall mounted, washout, separate trap 50.8mm min.
waste
Sinks, commercial or industrial, schools, etc…, including
3 dishwashers, wash up sinks, & wash fountains 50.8mm 38 3
waste
Clotheswashers, Floor drains, Shower (single stall),
Urinal, stall, separate trap,
4 51 2
Urinal, wall mounted, washdown or siphon jet, integral
trap, trap arm only
5 Drinking Fountains 31 1
Mobile home park traps (one for each trailer),
6 76 6
Water closet, public installation
7 Water Closet (private installation) 76 4
8 Water Closet (public installation) 76 6

3. CHANGES IN DIRECTION OF EXCRETA DRAINAGE FLOW

 Changes in direction of drainage piping shall be made by appropriate use of approved
fittings & shall be of the angles presented by a 22 ½ degrees or 1/16 bend, 45degrees or
1/8 bend, and 60degrees or 1/6 bend or other approved fittings of equivalent sweeps.
 Vertical drainage lines connecting with horizontal drainage lines shall enter through forty-
five (45) degree branches or other approve fittings of equivalent sweep. Sixty (60) degree
branches or offsets may be used only installed in a true vertical position.
4. CLEANOUTS
 Each horizontal drainage pipe shall be provided with a cleanout at its upper terminal & each
rung of piping which is more than 15 meters in total developed length shall be provided
with a cleanout & every 15 meter length or a fraction thereof.

SIZE OF PIPE SIZE OF CLEANOUT

(mm) (mm)
38 38
51 38
64 64
76 64
102 or larger 89

 Cleanouts may be omitted:

 On horizontal drain less than 1.5 meter in length unless such line is serving sink or
urinals.
 On short horizontal drainage pipe installed at a slope of seventy-two (72) degrees or
less from the vertical line (or an angle 1/5 bend).
 Additional cleanout shall be provided on a horizontal line with an aggregate offset angle of
direction exceeding 135 degrees.
 Each 90degrees cleanout extension shall be extended from a wye type fitting or other
approved fitting of equivalent sweep
 Clearances in front of the cleanout:
 in piping 51mm or less shall have clearance of not less than 305mm in front of the
cleanoout.
 in piping 51mm or larger shall have clearance of not less than 450mm in front of the
cleanoout.
 in underfloor piping shall be extended to or above finish floor or shall be extended
outside the building when there is less than 450mm vertical & 750mm horizontal
clearance from means & access to such cleanout.
 6.1m max. distance from an access door, trap door, or crawl hole (in residential)
5. DRAINAGE OF FIXTURES LOCATED BELOW THE UPSTREAM MANHOLE OR BELOW THE MAIN
SEWER LEVEL
 The minimum size of any pump discharge or any discharge pipe from a sump having a water
closet connected thereto shall not be less than 50.8mm diameter.
 All such pumps & receiving tanks shall be automatically discharged & when rated “public
use” shall be provided with dual pumps or ejectors. The invert of the lowest inlet to the

Prepared by: Arch/Enp Emmanuel C, David, RLA,RMP, PIEP 8

 NATIONAL PLUMBING CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES
tank shall have a 51mm min. distance above the high water or “starting” level of the
pumping operation.
 Vent of sump & receiving tanks shall extend separately to the roof having a 51mm min.
 Air tanks for ejector shall have an air pressure of 3kg min. for each meter of height the
sewage is raised.
 Fixture outlets shall not be connected to the horizontal excreta drainage piping system
within 2.4m of any vertical to horizontal change of direction of a stack containing suds-
producing fixtures. (Fixtures using soaps/detergents)
 The diameter of an individual vent shall not be less than 32mm nor less than 1/2 the
diameter of the drain to which it is connected.

CHAPTER 8: INDIRECT WASTE PIPING, WET VENTED SYSYTEMS & SPECIAL WASTES

1. INDIRECT WASTE CONDITIONS

 The airgap for drainage shall be not less than 25mm between the plumbing fixture,
appliance or appurtenance outlet & the rim of the floor sink or receptor.
2. INDIRECT WASTE PIPING
 Indirect waste pipes less than 4.6m in length need not to be larger in diameter than the
drain outlet or tailpiece of the fixture or 13mm in diameter min.
3. INDIRECT WASTE RECEPTORS
 No standpipe receptor for any clotheswasher shall extend more than 8m or less than 0.45m
above its trap.
 Stills, sterilizers & simillar equipment shall be drain through an airgap.
4. STEAM & HOT WATER DRAINAGE CONDENSERS & SUMPS
 No steam pipe shall be directly connected to any part of a plumbing or drainage system, nor
shall any water having a temperature above 60degrees C be discharged under pressure
directly into any part of a drainage system.
 All condensers & sumps shall be properly trap with a deep sealed trap extending within
152mm at the bottom of the tank.
 Traps shall have 19mm dia. opening to serve as siphon breaker.
 Sumps, condensers or intercepting tanks constructed of concrete shall have:
 Walls & bottom 102mm thickness
 Cement plaster not less than 13mm thickness
 Sumps, condensers or intercepting tanks constructed of metal shall be not less than No.12
U.S. Standard Gauge (2.77mm thickness)
5. CHEMICAL WASTES
 Where acid or corrosive chemical is placed & each vent pipe connected thereto, shall be
constructed of chemical-resistant glass-lined pipe, high silicon iron pipe, lead pipe not less
than 3.2mm wall thickness, an approved type of ceramic glazed or unglazed vitrified clay or
other approved corrosion resistant material.
6. VERTICAL WET PIPING
 Wet venting is limited to vertical drainage piping receiving the discharge from the trap arm
of one (1) & two (2) fixture unit. Fixtures that also serves as a vent for not to exceed four (4)
fixtures.
 Size of wet vent shall be:
 Max. of 1 pipe size larger than the required min. waste pipe size of:
 the upper fixture
 the sum of the fixture units served by such wet-vented section
 Min. 51mm diameter
7. COMBINATION WASTE & VENT SYSTEMS (CW & VS)
 Shall be permitted only where structural conditions preclude the installation of
conventional systems
 Any branch more than 4.6m in length shall be separately vented
 Min. area of vent shall be 1/2 the inside cross-sectional area of the drain pipe served.
 Min. dia. of traps shall be 2 pipe sizes larger than any fixture, tailpiece or connection.
 In no case any tailpiece or connections shall exceed 0.6m long.
8. AIR CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT
 19.1mm min. size of condensate wastes pipe

Prepared by: Arch/Enp Emmanuel C, David, RLA,RMP, PIEP 9

 NATIONAL PLUMBING CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES
 Air-conditioning condensate waste pipes shall connect indirectly to the drainage system
through an airgap or airbreak.

CHAPTER 9: VENTS & VENTING

1. MATERIALS
 Vent Pipes shall be of Cast Iron, Ductile Iron, Galvanized Steel, Galvanized Wrought Iron,
Lead, Copper, Brass, Schedule 40, ABS, DWV, Series 1000 PVC or other approved materials
having smooth & uniform bore except that:
 No Galvanized Wrought Iron or Galvanized Steel Pipe & Fittings shall be used underground &
shall be kept at least 152mm above ground.
 Horizontal & vertical vent lines & vent stacks shall be Copper, Cast Iron, Galvanized Wrought
Iron or Polyvinyl Chloride Pipes.
 Vent Fittings shall be Cast Iron, Galvanized Malleable Iron or Galvanized Steel, Lead, Copper,
Brass, ABS, PVC, Vitrified Clay Pipe or other approved materials having smooth interior
waterway of the same diameter as the piping served.
2. SIZE OF VENTS
 Shall not be less than 1 1/4 (32mm) nor less than 1/2 the dia. of the drain to which it is
connected.
 The aggregate cross-sectional area shall not be less than the largest required building
sewer.
3. VENT TERMINATION
 Each vent stack through roof (VSTR) shall:
 extend its flashing all around the stack
 terminate vertically not less than 15cm above the roof
 have a clearance of 0.3m away from any vertical surface nearby
 Each vent opening shall:
 not terminate not less than 3m from or at least 0.9m above any operable window, door
opening, air intake or vent shaft
 at least 0.9m min. away from any lot line, alley & street boundary lines.
4. VENT STACKS & RELIEF VENTS
 Yoke vent in connection with the vent stack shall be placed not less than 1.0m above the
floor level.

CHAPTER 10: TRAPS & INTERCEPTORS

1. TRAPS REQUIRED
 Not more than 1 traps shall be permitted on a trap arm.
 1 trap may serve:
 3 single compartment sink of the same depth
 3 lavatories immediately adjacent to each other not more than 0.75m apart.
 In no case any tailpiece or connections shall exceed 0.6m long.
2. TRAP SEALS
 Each fixture trap shall have a water seal of not less than 51mm & not more than 102mm
deep.
3. INDUSTRIAL INTERCEPTORS (CLARIFIERS) & SEPARATORS
 Shall be so designed & located as to be readily accessible for cleaning & shall have a water
seal of not less than 152mm deep.
4. GREASE TRAPS
 Shall not be installed for a facility that has an approved rate of flow of greater than 3.4L/sec
& lower than 1.3L/s.
 The total capacity of fixtures discharging to any grease trap shall not exceed 2 1/2 times the
certified liters per minute flowrate of grease traps.
 Grease traps may be used as a fixture outlet provided:
 Hor. distance between the fixture & the grease trap does not exceed 1.2m.
 Vertical tailpipe or drain does not exceed 0.75m.
 Grease traps shall have an approved water seal of 51mm min. in depth or the diameter of
its outlet.

Prepared by: Arch/Enp Emmanuel C, David, RLA,RMP, PIEP 10

 NATIONAL PLUMBING CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES
5. SAND INTERCEPTORS
 Shall be have a dimension of 0.2m2 min. for the net free opening of the inlet section & a
610mm min. depth under the invert of the outlet pipe.

CHAPTER 11: STORM DRAINAGE SYSTEM

1. RAINWATER SYSTEMS
 Rainwater Downspout or Conductor Pipings placed within the interior side of the building
inside a vertical pipe chase or run within a vent shaft shall be of Cast Iron, Ductile Iron,
Galvanized Steel, Iron, Lead, Copper, Brass, Schedule 40, ABS, Series 1000 PVC DWV, or
other approved materials.
 Rainwater Downspout or Conductor located on the exterior side of a low height building
shall be not less than Ga. 26 galvanized sheet metal.
2. ROOF DRAIN
 Strainers
 Should not exceed 102mm above the surface of the roof immediately adjacent to the
drain
 Dome-type strainers shall have at least 1 1/2 times the area of the outlet pipe to which
it is connected.
 Roof Deck strainers shall have at least 2 times the area of the outlet pipe to which it is
connected.
 Vertical Wall Areas
 For 1 wall – add 50% of area of the wall to the roof area
 For 2 adjacent walls – add 35% of the total wall areas to the roof area
 For 2 walls opposite each other & of the same heights – add NO additional area
 Vertical piping may be round, square or rectangular provided that the area of a rectangular
piping shall have at least the equivalent cross sectional area of a circular piping & its
dimensions shall not exceed 3 to 1.

CHAPTER 12: HOUSE DRAINS & HOUSE SEWERS

1. SEWER REQUIRED
 It is considered that public sewer is not available if it is located more than 61m from the
proposed building or exterior drainage facility or any lot or premises thereat.
 Building sewer  beginning 0.6m from outside face of the wall.
2. SIZE OF BUILDING SEWERS
 Size of any building sewer shall be determined on the basis of the total number of fixture
units drained by such sewer, but in no case size of building sewer shall be less than 150mm.
3. GRADE, SUPPORT, & PROTECTION OF BUILDING SEWER
 Grade of building sewers shall not be less than 2%. In special cases where 2% grade cannot
be achieved, it may be reduced but shall not be less than 1%.
 Building sewer shall be installed not less than 0.6m from the outer face of the building,
foundation or wall nor less than 0.3m below the finish surface of the ground.
4. CLEANOUTS
 Additional building sewer cleanouts shall be installed not to exceed 15m o.c. in straight runs
& each aggregate change in direction exceeding 135degrees.
 No cleanouts will be required when a building sewer or a branch thereof does not exceed
3m in length.
 Manholes can be installed in lieu of cleanouts & shall be located not exceeding 91m in
between & outlet pipe connections shall be made by the use of flexible compression joints
no closer than 0.3m from outside of the manhole.
5. SEWER & WATER PIPES
 The bottom of the water pipe, at all points, shall be at least 0.3m above the top of the
sewer or drain line.
 Water pipes constructed of clay or other materials not approved for the use within a
building shall be laid a 0.3m min. clear above the sewer or drain pipe.

Prepared by: Arch/Enp Emmanuel C, David, RLA,RMP, PIEP 11

 NATIONAL PLUMBING CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES
 Water pipe joints shall be installed not less than 3m away from sewer line in both
directions.
6. ABANDONED SEWERS & SEWAGE DISPOSAL FACILITIES
 Every abandoned building (house) sewer, or part thereof, shall be plugged or capped in an
approved manner within 1.5m of the property line.
 All drainage piping shall clear domestic water supply wells by at least 15.2m. The distance
may be reduced to not less than 7.6m when the drainage piping is constructed of materials
approved for the use within a building.

CHAPTER 13: JOINTS & CONNECTIONS

1. TYPES OF JOINT
 Caulked joints - for bell-&-spigot Cast Iron Soil (CISP) & other similar joints shall
be firmly packed with oakum or hemp & filled with pig lead to a depth of not less than
25.4mm.
 Threaded joints - for Iron Pipe Size (IPS) pipe & fittings shall be standard taper
pipe threads. Threaded Plastic Pipe shall be Sch.80 min. wall thickness.
 Wiped joints - joints in lead pipe fittings or between lead pipe or fittings &
brass or copper pipe, ferrules, solder nipples or traps shall be full-wiped lead joints. Wiped
lead joints shall have an exposed surface on each side of a joint not less than 19mm & at
least as thick as the material being joined.
 Solder & Sweat joints - joints in copper tubing shall be made by the appropriate use of
approved brass or copper fittings. Solders & fluxes with a lead content which exceeds 0.002
are prohibited in piping systems used to convey potable water.
 Flared joints - for soft copper water tubing
 Cement Mortar joints - except for repairs & connections to existing lines constructed
with such joints such joints prohibited on new building sewers.
 Burned Lead joints - shall be fused together to form a uniform weld at lest thick as the lead
sheets being joined.
 Asbestos Cement Sewer Pipe joints - shall be a sleeve coupling of the same composition as
the pipe or of other approved materials, and sealed with neoprene rubber rings or joined by
approved type compression coupling
 Mechanical joints - shall be for Centrifugal Cast Iron water pipe.
 Molded Rubber Coupling Joints - joined by means of molded neoprene rubber coupling
joints. Neoprene rubber shall be used in soils subject to oil intrussion.
 Elastomeric Gasketed & Rubber-ring Joints - shall conform to IAMPO (International
Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials) Installation Standard. Neoprene gaskets are
recommended for oil handling piping works.
 Pressure-Lock Type Connection - a mechanical connection which depends on an internal
retention device to prevent pipe or tubing separation. Connection is made by inserting the
pipe or tubing inside the filling to a prescribed depth.
 Shielded Coupling & Hubless Cast Iron Pipe joints - shall not be considered as slip joints.
2. USE OF JOINTS
 Clay Sewer pipes - shall be joined with neoprene gasket for hub & spigot joints.
 Screwed Pipe to Cast iron Pipe - shall be either caulked or threaded
 Lead to Cast Iron, Wrought Iron or Steel - shall be by means of wiped joints to caulking
ferrule, soldering nipple or bushing.
 Copper Water Tube- shall be joined by brass fittings properly soldered or brazed together.
3. SPECIAL JOINTS
 Copper Tubing to Screw Pipe Joints - shall be made by the use of brass adaptor fittings.
Joints between copper tubing & the fittings shall be properly sweated or soldered or made
with flared & screw ends adaptor fittings the connection between the treaded pipe & the
fitting made with a standard pipe size screw joint.
 Slip joints - may be used in fixture drains & traps.
 Expansion joints - used in soil & waste stacks to provide necessary expansion &
contraction joints of the pipes for high-rise buildings.
4. FLANGED FIXTURE CONNECTIONS
 Gasket Material shall be graphite-impregnated asbestos, felt, or similar approved types.

Prepared by: Arch/Enp Emmanuel C, David, RLA,RMP, PIEP 12

 NATIONAL PLUMBING CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES
CHAPTER 14: QUALITY & WEIGHTS OF MATERIALS, PLUMBING MATERIALS & REFLECTED
STANDARDS

1. USE OF COPPER TUBING

 Copper tube shall not be used for piping carrying chemical or industrial wastes
2. LEAD
 Lead bends & lead traps shall not be less than 3.2mm in wall thickness.
3. CLOSET RINGS (CLOSET FLANGES)
 Each such closet ring or closet flange shall be approximately 178mm in diameter, when
installed together with the soil pipe, present a 38mm wide flange & a groove face to receive
the fixture gasket or ball wax.
 Caulked-on closet rings or closet flanges shall not be less than 6.4mm thick & not less than
51 in overall depth.
 Four (4) bolts per water closet.
4. VALVES & FITTINGS
 Drainage Gate Valves shall be:
 Cast Iron bodies for 102mm or larger
 Cast Brass or Bronze bodies for sizes less than 102mm
5. REFERENCE SPECIFICATIONS FOR PLUMBING MATERIALS
 AHAM - Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers
 ANSI - American National Standard Institute
 ASME - American Society of Mechanical Engineers
 ASSE - American Society of Sanitary Engineers
 AWWA - American Water Works Association
 CISPI - Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute
 CS & PS - Commercial Standards & Product Standards
 FS - Federal Specifications
 IAPMO - International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials
 PDI - Plumbing & Drainage Institute
 PNS- Philippine National Standard Certification Mark
 UL - Underwriter’s Laboratories, Inc.
 WQA - Water Quality Association
 ISO - International Standard Organization
 EN - European Committee for Standardization Central Secratariat

6. PLUMBING MATERIALS (some)

 ABS- Acrylonitrile-Butadine-Styrene
 DWV - Drain, Waste & Vent
 CPVC - Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride
 UPVC - Unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride
 CPE- Chlorinated Polyethylene

APPENDIX A: RECOMMENDED RULES FOR SIZING THE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM

1. GENERAL
 Velocities shall not exceed 3m/sec of the maximum values given in the appropriate
installation standard.
 Allowances in Equivalent Length of Pipe shall be based on non-recessed threaded fittings.
For recessed threaded fittings or streamline solder fittings, use 1/2 the allowances.
2. DEMAND WEIGHT OF FIXTURES IN WATER SUPPLY FIXTURE UNITS
 The weights for maximum separate demands may be taken as 75% of the demand for
supply.

APPENDIX B: PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS

Prepared by: Arch/Enp Emmanuel C, David, RLA,RMP, PIEP 13

 NATIONAL PLUMBING CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES
1. GENERAL
 Where permitted by the rules & regulations of the Department of Environment & Natural
Resources (DENR). The building sewer may be connected to a private sewage disposal
system & shall be determined:
 Basis of location
 Soil porosity
 Ground water level
The system shall consist of a septic tank with effluent discharging into a subsurface disposal
field, into one (1) or more seepage pits or into a combination of subsurface disposal field
& seepage pits.
2. CAPACITY OF SEPTIC TANKS
 The capacity of any one septic tank & its drainage system shall be limited by the soil
structure classification.
3. AREA OF DISPOSAL FIELDS & SEEPAGE PITS
 When disposal fields are installed, it shall have:
 Minimum of 14m2 of trench bottom shall be provided for each system
 Side wall area of the required 304.8mm & not to be exceed 914.4mm below leach line
 When leaching beds are permitted in lieu of trenches:
 The area of each such bed shall be at least 50% greater than the tubular requirements
for trenches.
 Side wall area of the required 304.8mm & not to be exceed 914.4mm below leach line
 No excavation for a leach line or leach bed shall extend within 1.5m of the water table.
 No excavation for a seepage pit shall extend within 3m of the water table.
4. SEPTIC TANK CONSTRUCTION
 Septic tanks shall have a min. of 2 compartments
 Inlet compartment of any septic tank shall not be less than 2/3 of the total capacity of the
tank.
 Secondary compartment of any septic tank shall have a min. capacity of 1m3 & max.
capacity of 1/3 the total capacity of the tank.
 0.9m x 1.5m Min. dimension
 0.6m min & 1.8m max. depth
 Septic tanks having over 6m3 capacity, secondary compartment of such septic tank shall
have a min. 1.5m length.
 Septic tanks shall have a min. of 2 manholes with 508mm min. dimension
 Whenever a first compartments exceeds 3.7min length, additional manhole shall be
provided.
 Size of the vertical leg of a round inlet & outlet fittings shall not be less than the size of the
connecting sewer nor less than 104.6mm. a baffle type fitting shall not be less than the size
of the connecting sewer nor less than 106.6mm hor. dimension from inlet & outlet pipe
inverts.
 The inlet & outlet pipe or baffle shall extend 101.6mm above & at least 304.8mm below the
water surface. The invert of the inlet pipe shall be at level not less than 50.8mm above the
invert of the outlet pipe.
 Side walls shall extend at least 228.6mm above the liquid depth. The cover of the septic
tank shall be at least 50.8mm above the back vent openings.
 Partitions or baffles between compartments shall be of solid durable material & shall extend
at least 101.6mm above the liquid level.
5. CONCRETE SEPTIC TANKS
 Shall have bituminous coating or by other approve means extending at least 101.6mm
below the water line.
6. STEEL SEPTIC TANKS
 Shall have a of No.12 U.S. Ga. (2.8mm) min. thickness & shall have bituminous coating or by
other approve means extending at least 101.6mm below the water line.
7. DISPOSAL FIELDS
 When seepage pits are used in combination with disposal fields, the filter material in
trenches shall terminate at least 1.5m from the pit excavation.
 The inverts of all outlets shall be level & the invert of the inlet shall be at least 25.4mm
above the outlets.

Prepared by: Arch/Enp Emmanuel C, David, RLA,RMP, PIEP 14

 NATIONAL PLUMBING CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES
8. SEEPAGE PITS
 Shall be circular in shape & shall have an excavated diameter of 2.2m min.
 Shall have a sidewall of 3m min. below inlet.
 Concrete slab covering of 127mm min. thickness.
 228.6mm min. inspection hole.
9. CESSPOOLS
 May be installed for single family dwellings where it is established that a public sewer
system will be available in less than two (2) years.
 Shall have a sidewall of 3m min. below inlet provided a strata of gravel or equally pervious
material of 1.2m in thickness is found therein. But in cases without such conditions, sidewall
may be increased to 6.1m min. below the inlet.
10. COMMMERCIAL or INDUSTRIAL SPECIAL LIQUID WASTE DISPOSAL
 Interceptors shall have not less than two (2) compartments.
11. TYPES OF WATER CLOSET

*Nothing Follows*

Prepared by: Arch/Enp Emmanuel C, David, RLA,RMP, PIEP 15