Building Design and Construction Handbook - Merritt - Ventech!

WATER-SUPPLY, SPRINKLER, AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS 14.3
If a wastewater system is subject to the backflow of sewage from a sewer,
suitable provision should be made to prevent sewage from entering the building.
The structural safety of a building should not be impaired in any way as a result
of the installation, alteration, renovation, or replacement of a plumbing system.
Pipes should be installed and supported to prevent stresses and strains that would
cause malfunction of or damage to the system. Provision should be made for expansion
and contraction of the pipes due to temperature changes and for structural
settlements that might affect the pipes.
Where pipes pass through a construction that is required to have a fire-resistance
rating, the space between the pipe and the opening or a pipe sleeve should not
exceed 1 ⁄2 in. The gap should be completely filled with code-approved, fire-stopping
material and closed off with close-fitting metal escutcheons on both sides of the
construction.
Pipes, especially those in exterior walls or underground outside the building,
should be protected, with insulation or heat, to prevent freezing. Underground pipes
should be placed below established frost lines to prevent damage from heaving and
in high traffic areas should be encased in concrete or installed deep enough so as
to not be damaged by heavy traffic. Pipes subject to external corrosion should be
protected with coatings, wrappings, cathodic protection, or other means that will
prevent corrosion. Dissimilar metals should not be connected to each other unless
separated by a dielectric fitting. Otherwise, corrosion will result.
Each plumbing system component, such as domestic water, natural gas, and
wastewater pipes and fixtures, should be tested in accordance with the plumbing
code. All defects found during the test should be properly corrected and the system
retested until the system passes the requirements of the test.
WATER SUPPLY
Enough water to meet the needs of occupants must be available for all buildings.
Further water needs for fire protection, heating, air conditioning, and possibly process
use must also be met. This section provides specific data on all these water
needs, except those for process use. Water needs for process use must be computed
separately because the demand depends on the process served.
14.3 WATER QUALITY
Sources of water for buildings include public water supplies, groundwater, and
surface water. Each source requires careful study to determine if a sufficient quantity
of safe water is available for the building being designed.
Water for human consumption, commonly called potable water, must be of suitable
quality to meet local, state, and national requirements. Public water supplies
generally furnish suitably treated water to a building, eliminating the need for treatment
in the building. However, ground and surface waters may require treatment
prior to distribution for human consumption. Useful data on water treatment are
available from the American Water Works Association, Denver, Col.
Useful data on water supplies for buildings are available in the following
publications: American Society of Civil Engineers, ‘‘Glossary-Water and Sewer
Control Engineering;’’ E. W. Steel, ‘‘Water Supply and Sewerage,’’ McGraw-Hill