BAHIR DAR UNIVERSITY
BIT
EXERCISE IN PLUMBING SERVICES
1) The Ethiopian building code for plumbing services of buildings ( ES3960 ) has a provision for
determining flow rates from appliance or fixture loading units. Given the following fixtures in a mixed
use building, determine the design flow rate to size a gravity distribution pipe.
Fixture Number of fixtures
Wash basin (for private use) 100
Wash basin (for public use) 20
WC (cistern operated wash down water closet 100
for private use)
WC(cistern operated wash down water closet for 15
public use)
Shower( for private use) 50
Bath tub ( for private use) 50
Kitchen sink (domestic) 100
Kitchen sink (commercial) 5
Washing machine (commercial) 100
Urinal (flush valve) 8
Dishwasher (commercial) 3
Note: Fixture unit value is the same for private and public uses per ES3960.
Consider loading unit for;
a) Urinal flush valve – 3
b) Dish washer (commercial) – 3
c) Washing machine (commercial) – 5
2) An international plumbing code as attached here with has also provision for determining flow rates
from loading units (load values). Given the fixtures shown below which are identical to question 1
above, determine the design flow rate based on the provisions of the international plumbing code to
size a gravity distribution pipe (note that 1Gpm= 3.785 L/m)
Fixture Number of fixtures
Wash basin (for private use) 100
Wash basin (for public use) 20
WC (cistern operated wash down water closet for private 100
use)
WC(cistern operated wash down water closet for public use) 15
Shower( for private use) 50
Bath tub ( for private use) 50
Kitchen sink (domestic) 100
Kitchen sink (commercial) 5
Washing machine (commercial) 100
Urinal (flush valve) 8
Dishwasher (commercial) 3
3) Compare the two flow rates obtained from question 1&2 above. Explain the reason behind if the
results obtained from the two codes are not the same?
4) The mixed use building described in question 1 above renders the following services.
a) 50 low consumption apartments, each apartment (family) with 6 persons.
b) 20 offices each having three occupants,
c) 40 shops each having two occupants,
d) 2 restaurants each with forty seats,
The mixed use building will have a ground level storage tank together with a transfer pump to feed a
roof tank for gravity distribution to plumbing fixtures. Accordingly determine the following.
a) Ground reservoir capacity
b) Roof tank capacity
c) Transfer pump capacity (flow rate) assuming roof tank filling time is 2hours.
5) Considering the above stated mixed use building consists of a ground and 15rising floors, sketch the
water supply system comprising of the ground reservoir, transfer pump and the roof tank.
6) Explain why the transfer pump mentioned in question 4 above is not sized based on loading units.
Explain also the advantages (if there maybe) or disadvantages if the pump was sized based on loading
units.
7) ES-3960 mentions that there are two ways of hot water generation, instantaneous system and
storage system. Imagine an appliance requiring hot water at a flow rate of 0.5L/s which can be served
from either of the two systems. Mention what your option will be and describe why it is so?
8) ES-3960 provides various ways of venting a waste water drainage system for high rising buildings.
Among others are individual trap venting and circuit venting which in both cases will be connected to a
vent stack. Assuming a typical drainage system layout (Installation) is convenient for both
Systems when there are a number of fixtures in a row;
a) Which option would you adapt in your design?
b) Explain the reason behind your preference?
c) Explain what the effect would be if no venting system is provided for the drainage stack?
9) Imagine a fourteen floor apartment building consisting of four apartments (families) per floor. This
building will have typical bathrooms in every apartment consisting of one WC (wash down water closet),
one SH (shower) and one HWB (hand wash basin). A plumbing design engineer has two options of
designing the drainage system, either in a vented system (through appliance vents, vent stack) or as a
single stack system. The layout of the appliances (fixtures) is convenient for both systems.
a) Which option would you prefer as a design engineer?
b) What is the reason behind your preference?
10) From the below mentioned locations, where is your recommendation in making use of septic tanks?
In all of the cases vacuum truck (septic tank evacuation truck) is available.
a) In suburbs where houses are sacredly located and where there is no house connection for toilet
flushing , washing and food preparation.
b) In densely populated cities where there is house connection from public water system for toilet
flushing, washing and food preparation.
c) In suburb where houses are sacredly located and where there is house connection for toilet flushing,
washing and food preparation.
11) Referring to the above question explain the reason associated with your recommendation.
