Plumbing Code
Fixtures Min and Standard Clearance
Two fixture plan
1. 0.375 m – wall to edge of WC
2. 0.10 m – min clearance from WC to lavatory
3. 0.10 m – min clearance from lavatory to wall
4. 1.2 m – from door opening to floor drain
5. Full bath – toilet room with shower and bath tub
6. Quarter bath – toilet room with shower only
7. 0.6 sqm – min area of shower room
8. 0.75 m – min clearance between two water closets (center to center)
9. 0.6 m – min clearance between two urinals
10. 0.3 m – from wall to urinal
Water Closets
Types according to flushing mechanism
1. Flush tank – tank located at the top of WC for flushing purposes; holds 5-6 gallons of water
2. Flush valve – flushing by direct water pressure (10-20 psi)
3. Pail type – w/o tank; flushing by use of pail
4. Squat type – also known as eastern type
Types according to design
1. Siphon washdown – noisiest but least expensive
2. Siphon vortex – most quiet but most expensive
3. Siphon jet – mechanically efficient
4. Reversed trap – has a large water area/landing
History of plumbing
1. 17th century – birth of plumbing profession in PH
2. 1902 – plumbing trade was recognized by the government
3. John F. Hass – first master plumber in PH; first division chief in plumbing installation and
inspection
4. City of Manila – model city for plumbing
5. Intramuros – walled city
6. City ordinance 2411 – plumbing law in Manila
7. 1935 – NAMPAP (National Master Plumbers Association of the Philippines) registered in SEC
- 17 pioneers
-Catalino Casupanan – first president of NAMPAP
8. 1954 – House Bill 962 was approved in congress
9. June 18, 1955 – plumbing law (RA 1378) was approved by Pres. Ramon Magsaysay
10. January 28,1959 – creation/birth of national plumbing code
11. November 28, 1967 – first amendment of national plumbing code
12. 1996 - first revision of national plumbing code spearheaded by RMP Jaime Cabase
13. Dec 21, 1999 – first revision of plumbing code was approved by Pres. Estrada
14. FEATI University – has approved curriculum for plumbing engineering
Permits
1. Registered master plumber – authorized person to apply for plumbing permit
2. Journeyman plumber – apprenticeship in plumbing works
3. Apprentice plumber – served as helper of journeyman plumber for 3-5 years
4. 6 sets – no. of plans submitted to administrative authority/building official
5. 2 sets of plan – returned to applicant (RMP)
1 set – duplicate owner’s copy
1 set – kept at jobsite during construction
1 set – for bureau of fire
1 set – for city assessor’s office
1 set – retained plan to administrative authority/building official
6. When the permit is posted on site- actual construction takes effect
7. If 4 months from receipt of permit, project does not commence, permit is suspended
8. If 1 year from receipt of permit, project does not commence, permit is revoked
9. ½ of original fee- for renewal of permit
10. RMP & owner – jointly signs the request letter for inspection
11. 3 working days – request letter submitted to administrative authority
12. In writing – request letter should be done
13. Alteration/additional – allowed under the code provided it shall conform to the new plumbing
system
14. Water heater – another permit is required
15. Owner – responsible for the expenses during inspection
16. Water test for dwv (drainage, waste, vent) – close all fittings except on the highest opening
- Pipes filled with water 3m head; no leak within 15 mins
17. Air test for dwv – close all openings
- Done by used air compressor
- Shall have constant pressure of 34.5 kpa in 15 mins
18. Water test for water supply pipes – close all openings
150% of working pressure; no leak w/in 15 mins
19. Air test for water supply pipes – close all openings
- Maintain pressure of 344.5 kPa w/in 15 mins
20. Water test for building sewer – plugging all openings
- Filled with water from lowest to highest point; no leak within 15 mins
21. Certificate of approved – inspected , tested and approved plumbing system
Trenches & Backfills
22. All piping laid outside the foundation wall must be an open trench.
23. Sewer pipes and water supply pipes should not be laid in the same trench.
24. Min clearance between the sides of sewer and water supply pipes is 0.3m
25. The bottom of water supply pipe and top of sewer pipe – min clearance of 0.3m
26. Ready for backfill - if pipe inspected, tested and approved
27. Backfill – every 0.3m in layers
28. Backfill materials should be of clean earth – w/o stones, boulders or other materials that can
damage the pipe
Clean-out
29. Max interval of clean-out – 15m
30. Every change in pipe direction - clean-out is required
31. All cleanout covers should be grade line
32. Clean-out is omitted if pipe is laid 72 degrees or less from the vertical
33. The end portion of building drain is a clean-out
34. Clean-out is omitted if drain pipe is less than 1.5 m unless the said drain pipe serves a series of
urinals and sink
Diameter of pipe in mm Cleanout diameter in mm No. of threads per inch
38 38 11.5
51 38 11.5
54 64 8
76 64 8
102 or longer 89 8
Traps
35. One trap arm for every trap
36. One trap is allowed to serve 3-single lavatory, 3-single kitchen sink or 3-single laundry tub
Location of trap is at the center of three fixtures
37. No fixture shall be double trapped
38. 1 floor drain = 1 trap
Trap loading
Size of trap in inches Trap loading in FU (fixture unit)
1.25 1
1.5 3
2 4
3 6
4 8
Materials
A. Cast iron
1. Suitable for gas piping installation
2. Standard length – 1.5 m
3. For below 25 storey buildings; and used as soil/waste stack pipe
Cutting procedure
1. Measure face to face then mark with chalk
2. With the use of 14 teeth hacksaw blade, strike gently around the pipe in forward direction
3. With the use of hammer and cold chisel, strike the pipe harder until the pipe is finally cut
Types of cast iron pipe
Joints for bell & spigot
1. Caulking – plugging with oakum and molten lead
2. Oakum – a rope soak
3. With the use of yarning iron, pour oakum in the bell
4. 25 mm – standard depth of molten lead
5. Use ladle to scoop the molten lead
If a crack is seen, cut the joint and repeat the procedure.
Joint for hubless
1. With the use of neoprene rubber sleeve
2. Lock the joint using stainless steel shield
3. Tighten the joint by stainless crew clamp
Min size of CIP – 2 inches diameter
Max size of CIP – 6 inches diameter
Vertical support of CIP – every storey
Horizontal support
a. 1.5 m interval for pipe max of 1.5 m length
b. 3 m interval for pipe 3m or longer
B. Screwed pipe
1. Wrought iron – standard length of 6 m
2. Wrought iron pipe schedule 40 – withstand steam pressure of up to 300 psi
3. Wrought iron pipe schedule 80 - withstand steam pressure of up to 600 psi
4. Galvanized steel pipe – standard length of 6 m
5. To cut screwed pipes, use hacksaw blade or wheel pipe cutter
6. Joint is through threading
Pipe size in mm No. of threads/inch
12.5-38 14
51-64 11.5
75 mm and longer 8
7. Galvanized steel pipe is not suitable for underground installation kept 150 mm from natural
ground line due to corrosion
8. Vertical support - in every other storey height
9. Horizontal support
- 3m interval for pipe 19 mm diameter or smaller
- 3.6m interval for pipe 38 mm diameter or larger
C. Copper pipe
1. Highly recommended for hot water lines installation
2. Type K – heaviest type; for underground installation and in rigid form
Color: green
3. Type L – lighter than type K; in rigid and flexible form
Color: blue
4. Type M – thinnest type in flexible form
Color: red
5. DWV copper – color yellow
6. Min size of 10 mm diameter
7. Cutting through the use of rotary pipe cutter; use hacksaw blade with 24 teeth for heavy
pipes; use hacksaw blade with 32 teeth for thin pipes
Joint
1. Clean pipe with the use of emery cloth or fine sandpaper
2. Apply non-corrosive flux into the pipe; never allow the flux to stay in pipe for more than 3
hours
3. Solder in one direction only (not more than 30 seconds) with the use of propane torch
Horizontal support
- For 38 mm diameter or smaller, use 1.8 m interval
- For 51 mm diameter or larger, use 3m interval
Vertical support – every 3m interval
D. Brass
1. Most expensive type
2. Used for floor drains and water meter
3. 15% alloy, 85% copper
4. 15% zinc, 85% copper
E. Lead pipe
1. Never been used in water supply pipes because it is poisonous
2. Standard length – 0.6m and 0.9m
3. For underground installation – for sewer lines
F. Vetrified clay pipe
1. For underground installation – for sewer lines
2. Standard length of 0.75m
3. Scientific name of vetrified clay – terakota
G. Asbestos pipe
1. Made from asbestos fiber and Portland cement
2. Used for downspout embedded in columns because of similarity of materials
3. Not used now because it affects the structural strength of columns
4. Standard length – 3m
H. Plastic pipe
Rigid Form
1. PVC – polyvinyl chloride; use for DWV; standard length 3m
2. CPVC – chlorinated polyvinyl chloride; for water supply piping; standard length 3m
3. UPVC – unplasticized polyvinyl chloride; for water supply piping; standard length 3m
4. PP – polypropylene; for hot water lines; standard length 4m; joint is through heat fusion
5. SR – styrene rubber plastic; standard length 3m
6. ABS – acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
Flexible form
1. PB – polybutylene; standard length of 30m and 150m
2. PE – polyethylene ; standard length of 30 m
Cutting – can use knife, hacksaw blade or handsaw; cannot use rotary pipe cutter (can cause
cracks/breaks)
Joints
1. Use solvent cement
2. Quarter turn after application of solvent
3. Min of 2 hrs before pressure testing
4. Min of 20 hours for the solvent cement to dry before permanent use of pipe
Vertical support – every 1 m interval
Horizontal support – stiff metal or wooden bucking
