The Water Supply, Sewerage and Plumbing of Modern City Buildings

The Water Supply,

Sewerage and

Plumbing of

Modern City

Buildings - Primary

Source Edition

William Paul Gerhard

The W ater Supply, Sewerage

and Plum bing o f M odern C ity

Buildings - P rim ary Source Edition

William Paul Gerhard

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CONTENTS.

CH APTER I.

Essential F ea tu ies of the Hydbaulic and SANiTAiiy E noineekino of

B uildings.

PACK

Drainage of town houses.......................................................................................... 3

Essential fequirements of sanitation in dwellings................................................ 4

Drainage of building sites........................................................................................ 6

Foundation drains...................................................................................................... 6

Removal of storm water........................................................................................... 7

Road and street drainage......................................................................................... 7

Country-house drainage............................................................................................ 7

Cesspools...................................................................................................................... 7

Sewage disposal.......................................................................................................... 8

Agricultural drainage................................................................................................. 8

House drainage........................................................................................................... 8

Objects and essentials of a house-drainage system............................................ 8

General arrangement of the system of bouse drainage...................................... 9

Sewer connection....................................................................................................... 9

House sewer • ........................................................... 9

House drain............................................................................................................... 9

Sizes of house sewers................................................................................................... i i

Discharge of house drains................T .................................................................... 13

Main running trap and fresh-air inlet..................................................................... 13

Drainage of yards, areas and courts........................................................................ 18

Cellar drains.................................................................................................................. 18

Leader or rain-water conductor pipes...................................................................... 18

Sizes of leaders.............................................................................................................. 18

Location of main house sewer.................................................................................. 19

Soil and waste pipes.................................................................................................... 19

Sizes of soil and waste pipes...................................................................................... 19

Roof extensions.................................................................... ao

Branches for fixtures.................................................................................................... zi

Plumbing regulations................................................................................................... ai

Tests of plumbing........................................................................................................ aa

Smoke te st.................................................................................................................... aa

Cellar drainers............................................................................................................... 34

Sewage pumps and automatic sewage lifts.............................................................. 34

vii

Sewage pumps..................................................................................................................... ^4

Automatic sewage lifts...................................................................... *7

Trapping the ûxtures........................................................................................................ 37

Objectionable forms of traps................................................................... 3^

Back-venting of traps................................................................... 3®

Non-siphoning traps.......................................................................................................... 39

Plumbing fixtures............................................................................................................... 43

Location of plumbing fixtures........................................................................................ 43

Water-closets........................................................................................................................ 43

Flushing of water-closets, etc.......................................................................... 44

W ashbasins..................................................................................... 44

Bath tubs.............................................................................................................................. 44

Urinals................................................................................................................................... 45

W ashtubs.......................................................................................................... 45

Slop-sinks.............................................................................................................................. 45

Sinks....................................................................................................................................... 45

Grease traps......................................................................................................................... 46

Exposed or open plumbing work.................................................................................. 46

Floor joints.......................................................................................................................... 46

Safe wastes........................................................................................................................... 46

Overflow pipes.................................................................................................................... 46

Water supply....................................................................................................................... 46

Essential parts of a general water-supply system..................................................... 46

Gravity-supply system............................................................................. 47

Pumping system................................................................................................................. 47

Quantity of water required............................................................................................. 48

Standpipes............................................................................................................................ 49

Elevated tanks............................................................................................ 50

Pressure-tank system s.......................................................................... 52

Sizes and capacities of pressure ta n k s ........................................................................ 53

Requirements of pressure ta n k s ................................................................................... 53

Dim ensions......................................................................................................................... 53

Pressure-tank system with separate air t a n k ............................................................ 57

Advantages of the Acme system.................................................................................... 57

Pumping water................................................................................................................... 60

Conduits........................................................................................................................... 60

Valves.................................................................................................................................. 60

Hydrants............................................................................................................................... 61

Water supply of buildings............................................................................................... 63

Supply systems.................................................................................................................... 63

House tanks......................................................................................................................... 64

Water mains and service pipes...................................................................................... 64

Supply pipes........................................................................................................................ 66

Sizes of supply pipes......................................................................................................... 66

Arrangement of supply pipes.......................................................................................... 67

viii CONTENTS.

* PACB

C O N TEN TS. IX

rACE

Freeziog of pipes............................................................................................................... 67

Faucets and shutK>ffs................................................................................................. 67

Delivering capacities of faucets.................................................................................... 67

D eliveiy of water through service pipes.................................................................... 69

Pressure regulators........................................................................................................... 69

W ater meters...................................................................................................................... 69

Filtration............................................................................................................................. 69

W ork of the plum ber...................................................................................................... 73

Pipes and pipe joints....................................................................................................... .7 3

O ther work of the plum ber......................................................................... 75

Installing fire-protection apparatus............................................................................. 75

Setting plumbing futures............................................................................................... 76

Gas-piping w ork............................................................................................................... 76

Plum bing work of country houses.............................................................................. 76

• Plum bing of bath bouses............................................................................................... 76

Special w ork....................................................................................................................... 76

Future progress in plumbing........................................................................................ 77

C H A P T E R n.

Sanitasy F ixtures and Appliances.

M odem conveniences: their danger and how to avoid it .................................... 78

Sanitary arrangements and appliances...................................................................... 79

General advice on sanitary matters............................................................................ 80

Plumbing fixtures in general......................................................................................... 82

A few words on house planning, with reference to comfort and convenience in

housekeeping............................................................................................................ 85

T h e kitchen......................................................................................................................... 86

T h e kitchen sin k.............................................................................................................. 87

Grease traps for sinks.................................................................................................... 90

W alls and floors of kitchens......................................................................................... 93

T he kitchen range and boiler...................................................................................... 93

T h e butler’s pantry.......................................................................................................... 93

T h e pantry sin k ................................................................................................................ 94

T h e refrigerator................................................................................................................ 96

T h e laundry....................................................................................................................... 98

W ashing operations......................................................................................................... 98

T h e laundry tubs................................................................................................................'100

T he laundry sin k .............................................................................................................. 102

T h e servants’ water-closet............................................................................................. 102

T h e servants’ bath............................................................................................................ roe

T he housemaid’s sin k..................................................................................................... 106

The sanitary construction and arrangement of the family bath room s.......... 106

T h e bath tu b...................................................................................................................... iro

TAom

The bidet, sitz and foot bath....................................................................................... 114

Bath-room au xiliaries.................................................................................................... 116

The lavatory............................ , ...................................................................................... 116

The water-closet.............................................................................................................. 135

Fhishometer valves......................................................................................................... 154

Closet bowls with local vent......................................................................................... 157

General arrangement of water-closets....................................................................... 157

Water-closet seats............................................................................................................ 157

Floors and walls of water-closet compartments...................................................... 163

The slop-hopper or slop-sink.......................................................................................... 163

The urinal.......................................................................................................................... 165

General arrangement and connection of plumbing appliances with the plumb￾ing and house-drainage system........................................................................... 17 1

C H A P T E R III.

Advanced and Sisotjeied Plumbing.

Systems of plumbing...................................................................................................... 179

Antiquated plumbing systems...................................................................................... 179

Modem plumbing systems............................................................................................ 180

Advanced plumbing system.......................................................................................... 184

T rap ventilation............................................................................................................... 185

Objections to trap-venting............................................................................................ 185

Comparison of methods................................................................................................. 187

One-pipe system and non-siphoning traps................................................................ 187

Experiences of an expert............................................................................................... 188

X CONTENTS.

C H A P T E R IV.

Plumbing in its Relation to Disease and Municipal Control of

Plumbing.

Dangers of defective plumbing.................................................................................... 195

Recent progress in general sanitation....................................................................... 195

Causes of preventive diseases....................................................................................... 195

Sewer-gas theory not upheld by sanitarians............................................................ 196

Why drainage and plumbing should be correctly arranged............................... 197

Plumbing rules and regulations.................................................................................. 198

Municipal inspection of plumbing.............................................................................. 198

Should the Health or the Building Department control the plumbing and

drainage..................................................................................................................... 198

Plumbing under jurisdiction of the Health Department..................................... 199

Bureaus of plumbing inspection................................................................................. ioo

Plumbing inspectors........................................................................................................ aoo

Plumbing regulations...................................................................................................... aor

rAct

Defects in plumbing regulations................................................................................... aoa

M ain house trap ................................................................................................................ soa

T ypes of water.closets approved.................................................................................. aoa

Use of automatic Audi tanks......................................................................................... 203

T rapping of fixtures......................................................................................................... 203

Use of wrougbt-irdn pipe for soil and waste pipe.................................................. 204

Separate connection of bouses with street s e w e r.................................................. 204

Inclination of house drains and waste pipes............................................................ 205

Back-venting from the crown of the trap................................................................. 205

Extension of pipes above roof...................................................................................... 205

Disconnected plumbing system.................................................................................... 206

Open-plumbing w ork...................................................................................................... 206

Testing of plumbing w ork............................................................................................. 206

Water-pressiue test........................................................................................................... 207

Smoke test........................................................................................................................... 207

Benefits resulting to the public from plumbing inspections................................ 208

CONTENTS. xi

C H A P T E R V.

Domestic Water Supply.

T he uses of w ater............................................................................................................. 209

Q uality of w ater................................................................................................................ 209

Quantity of water required................... ^..................................................................... 210

Pressure under which water is supplied.................................................................... aio

Chief modes of supply: constant, intermittent and metered system s............. 2 11

Street-pressure and tank-pressure systems in houses............................................ 212

Advantages of the lank-pressure system s................................................................. 21a

House tanks for storage of w ater................................................................................ 215

Details of tank-pipe connections................................................................................. 217

T an k valves........................................................................................................................ 218

T an k overfiow................................................................................................................... 219

T an k emptying pipe........................................................................................................ 220

Arrangement of the hot-water supply from the kitchen boiler........................... 221

Kitchen boilers supplied from tank pressure........................................................... 226

Boiler vacuum and safety valves................................................................................. 227

Steam relief or expansion pipe..................................................................................... 227

Return circulation............................................................................................................ 229

Explosion of water backs............................................................................................... 230

Material o f kitchen boilers............................................................................................ 231

Hot-water supply from two boilers............................................................................. 231

Cellar hot-water tanks.................................................................................................... 232

G as water heaters............................................................................................................. 233

Material for service and supply pipes........................................................................ 242

Lead pipe............................................................................................................................ 242

MCS

Coated lead pipes............................................................................................................ *44

Tin-lined lead pipe.......................................................................................................... *45

Block-tin pipes................................................................................................................. 246

W rou^t-iron and steel pipes....................................................................................... *46

Catvani2ed wrou^t-ircMi pipes.................................................................................... *4^

Tin-lined wrought-iron pipe......................................................................................... *49

.\sphalted wrougbt-iron pipe................................... *49

Enameled wrought-iron pipe........................................................................................ *49

Rubber-coated and glass-lined wrought-iron {Npe................................................. *S^

Cement-Lined wrougbt-iron pipe.................................................................................. *5®

Rustless wrought-iron pipe.............................................................. *5*

Kalamcined pipe.............................................................................................................. *5*

Lead-lined wrought-iron p p e ....................................................................................... *5*

Brass and copper pipes.................................................................................................. *5*

Faucets and shut-offs...................................................................................................... *5*

Ground-key b ib s.............................................................................................................. *53

Compression bibs............................................................................................................. *55

Fuller bibs.......................................................................................................................... *56

Self-closing bibs............................................................................................................... *56

Types of faucets.............................................................................................................. 258

Materials for faucets and finish.................................................................................. *63

Valves.................................................................................................................................. 263

Flushing dstem s.............................................................................................................. *65

Flushometer valves.......................................................................................................... *66

Low-down tanks.............................................................................................................. *68

Sizes of supply pipes...................................................................................................... *68

Sires of service and taps................................................................ *69

Pipe joints......................................................................................................................... *69

General arrangement of water pipes.. ................................................................... 370

Prevention of water hammer and noise.................................................................... *74

Water hammer in pipes................................................................................................. 275

Prevention of freezing of the supply pipes.............................................................. *77

Care of tanks.................................................................................................................... *80

Service pipes..................................................................................................................... *8o

xii ^ CONTENTS.

C H A P T E R VI.

T he Water Supply op L arge Modern City B uildings.

Mechanical equipment of large buildings................................................................ 284

The water-supply plant................................................................................................. *84

Requirements for a water supply............................................................................... 385

Water-supply equipment, f ........................................................................................... *86

General considerations................................................................................................... *87

.\mount of water required............................................................................................ *87

PAoe

Consumption of w ater..................................................................................................... s88

Waste of w ater................................................................................................................... 289

Estimates of amount of water to be provided......................................................... 392

W ater taps and services.................................................................................................. 292

Exam ples.............................................................................................................................. 294

Capacity of filters...................................................................................................:. . . . 295

Suction tan ks...................................................................................................................... 295

Delivery of water tlirough taps and services............................................................. 395

D iagram s.............................................................................................................................. 398

T ab les.................................................................................................................................... 298

Quality of w ater................................................................................................................ 305

Water filtration.................................................................................................................. 3 «

Consideration of details.................................................................................................. 308

Water pressure................................................................................................................... 308

Pumping apparatus.......................................................................................................... 308

Roof storage tanks for w ater........................................................................................ 308

Roof and intermediate tank pressure system s......................................................... 309

Direct-pumping systems. . ............................................................................................. 3 t i

Pressure-tank systems..................................................................................................... 3 1 1

Pressure water tanks in combination with air tanks................................................ 314

Electric pumping machinery............................................................................................318

Steam pumping machinery............................................................................................ 318

Single and duplex pum ps............................................................................................... 320

Fire pum ps.......................................................................................................................... 321

Compound pum ps............................................................................................................ 321

Choice of pumps............................................................................................................... 323

Pump room ......................................................................................................................... 323

Provision of hot-water supply....................................................................................... 334

Large tanks with coils..................................................................................................... 324

Hot-water circulation...................................................................................................... 330

W ater supply for fire protection.................................................................................. 3 3 1

Water-supply pipes and fittings................................................................................... 333

Arrangement of the water-distribution ^stern s........................................................ 333

Plumbing work and plumbing fixtures for large buildings................................... 333

Use of non-siphoning traps............................................................................................ 334

Arrangement of toilet room s......................................................................................... 334

CONTENTS. Xlii

C H A P T E R VH.

T h e Maintenance or Pn>E Systems for Sewage, Gas and Water.

Cleaning and flushing of bouse sewers...................................................................... 335

Flushing and disinfection of soil and waste pipes.................................................. 33^

Cleaning of gas service and distribution pipes........................................................ 3 3 j

Cleaning of water-distribution pipes...........................................................................

Cleaning of water m ains.................................................................................................

»ACS

Disinfection of water mains and services................................................................. 340

Care of plumbing fixtures and fittings...................................................................... 34^

Care of valves and shut-off cocks............................................................................... 34^

Care of faucets and hydrants....................................................................................... 347

Protecting water fittings against freezing................................................................. 349

Care of the plumbing of houses not occupied in winter...................................... 35^

Care of the plumbing'of houses left vacant during summer.............................. 35^

Measures tending to protect pipes in buildings against conosioo by electrolytic

action.......................................................................................................................... 353

Measures to guard against water hammer in pipes.............................................. 355

xiv CONTENTS.

C H A P T E R V m .

R ules on Plumbing, Water-Supply and Sewerage, Chebely tor

Hospital B uildings and Other Pubuc Institutions.

I. Plum bing w ork....................................................................................................... 358

Drawings, plans and specifications.............................................................. 358

Definition of term s........................................................................................... 358

M aterials.............................................................................................................. 359

Workmanship..................................................................................................... 365

Arrangement of drainage system.................................................................. 368

Fixtures................................................................................................................ 373

Arrangement of fixtures..................... 386

Arrangement of rooms containing plumbing w ork................................. 387

* Water supply of fixtures................................................................................. 389

Tests of plumbing work.................................................................................. 390

Plan of plumbing work and of the drain pipes....................................... 391

Acceptance of work and guarantee............................................................. 391

n . D rainage................................................................................................................... 392

Definitions........................................................................................................... 392

Roof water.......................................................................................................... 392

Rain-water drains............................................................................................. 392

Final disposal of the rain water................................................................... 393

Drainage of paved areas, yards, and courts............................................. 393

Road drains........................................................................................................ 393

Cellar drains....................................................................................................... 393

Foundation wall drains.................................................................................... 394

Sub-soil and land drains................................................................................. 394

Floor drains........................................................................................................ 394

Overflows from dstem s and house .................................................. 394

Plans and descriptions........................................... 394

FACK

n i . Sew erage..................................................................................................................... 395

General considerations...................................................................................... 39J

M aps and plans of sewerage system............................................................ 396

Chief requirements of plans for sewer systems......................................... 396

Details of sewerage............................................................................................. 397

M aterials for sewer construction.................................................................... 400

Sewer construction......................................................................... 403

IV . D isposal o j Sew age................................................................................................. 404

Sewer connection................................................................................................ 404

Cesspools............................................................................................................... 404

Privy vaults.......................................................................................................... 404

Earth closets......................................................................................................... 404

General considerations on sewage disposal................................................ 404

D etails.................................................................................................................... 407

Plans of sewage-disposal system.................................................................... 407

Y V. W ater S u p p ly .................................................................................................. 408

General considerations...................................................................................... 408

Chief points to be observed in planning a water-supply system........ 408

Sources of supply............................................................................................... 408

Quality of w ater................................................................................................. 410

Prevention of contamination of the source of supply............................. 410

Purification of drinking-water........................................................................ 410

Q uantity................................................................................................................ 4 1 1

Pressure.................................................................................................................’'4 11

Storage of water....................... 412

Systems of supply.............................................................................................. 413

Systems of distribution..................................................................................... 4 13

Pumping plant.................................................................................................... 414

Details of water supply......................................................... 414

House tanks......................................................................................................... 421

Inside fire standpipes........................................................................................ 423

Rain-water cisterns.........• ................................................................................ 424

Hot-water supply................................................................................................ 424

Plan of water supply......................................................................................... 424

CONTENTS. XV

A P P E N D IX A.

Definitions.

Sanitation and Sanitary Engineering.......................................................................... 437

D rainage and Sewerage.................................................................................................. 438

> W ater Supply and Hydraulics..................................................................................... 430

B rief Glossary of Plumbing T erm s............................................................................ 434

xvi CONTENTS.

A P P E N D IX B.

Histomcxl Sketch op the Development op the Abt op the Deaoc￾AGE AND PlCMBINC OP HABITATIONS.

PACK

Early plumbing work..................................................................................................... 444

Lead work......................................................................................................................... 445

Early plumbing fixtures................................................................................................. 445

House-<lrainage system.................................................................................................. 446

Anangements for hot water......................................................................................... 446

Introduction of cast-iron soil pipe.............................................................................. 44*5

Use of vitrified pipes for bouse drains...................................................................... 447

First attempts at ventilation of soil pipe.................................................................. 447

T ra p s.................................................................................................................................. 448

Introduction of wrougbt-iion supply pipes.............................................................. 44^

Improvements in house-drainage system s................................................................ 448

Manufacture of porcelain-lined iron bath tubs...................................................... 448

Introduction of plunger and valve closets................................................................ 449

Encased or concealed plumbing work...................................................................... 449

Introduction of open plumbing................................................................................... 449

M unidpal plumbing regulations.......................................................................... .. ■ . 449

Use of extra-h^avy cast-iron and of screw-jointed wrought-iron soil-pipe sys￾tem .............................................................................................................................. 451

The testing of plumbing systems................................................................................ 453

Modem open-plumbing work...................................................................................... 453

Washout closets............................................................................................................... 453

Plumbers’ earthen and porcelain w a re .................................................................... 454

Use of brass pipes in plumbing.................................................................................. 454

Introduction of siphon and siphon-jet closets......................................................... 435

Non-siphoning traps....................................................................................................... 455

Chief features of a modem house-drainage system.............................................. 455

Future progress and improvements............................................................................ 455

■ APPENDIX C.

Specification Reminder.

N otice to bidders, proposals, blank form of proposal, estim ates........................... 460

General conditions and contractor’s obligations.................................................... 460

Tests of work during construction and after completion.................................... 461

General description of work......................................................................................... 461

M aterials............................................................... 461

Workmanship................................................................................................................... 464

Schedule of plumbing fixtures..................................................................................... 464

Description of plumbing fixtures............ ............... 464

C O N TEN TS. x v ii

TAGK

G en en l notes applying to all fiztuies......................................................................... 466

^ Water-supply plant............................................................................................................. 466

Arrangement of file protection...................................................................................... 466

V .Arrangement of water supply..................................................................................... 466

•Arrangement of drainage................................................................................................ 467

.Arrangement of gas piping............................................................................................ 467

In d ex..................................................................................................................................... 468

A P P E N D IX D. Explanation of Gerhard’s Sewer D ia g ra m ........................ 469

' A P P E N D IX E . Conversion Diagram s......................................................................473

Alphabetical In d ex............................................................................................................. 483

Works by William Paul G erh ard .................................................................................. 493