Building Design and Construction Handbook - Merritt - Ventech!

WATER-SUPPLY, SPRINKLER, AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS 14.13
All piping installed should be restrained according to the requirements specific
to the exact earthquake zone where the building is located. The local code authorities
should be consulted about these requirements.
14.6.9 Expansion and Contraction
To provide for expansion and contraction, expansion joints should be incorporated
in pipelines. Such joints should be spaced not more than 50 ft apart in hot-water
pipe. While special fittings are available for the purpose, flexible connections are a
common means of providing for expansion. Frequently, such connections consist
of a simple U bend or a spiral coil, which permits springlike absorption of pipe
movements.
14.6.10 Meters
These are generally installed on the service pipe to a building to record the amount
of water delivered. The meters may be installed inside the building, for protection
against freezing, or outside, in a vault below the frost line. Meters should be easily
accessible to meter readers. Meter size should be determined by the maximum
probable water flow, gal/mm.
14.6.11 Water Hammer
This is caused by pressures developing during sudden changes in water velocity or
sudden stoppage of flow. The result is a banging sound or vibration of the piping
system. It frequently results from rapid closing of valves, but it also may be produced
by other means, such as displacing air from a closed tank or pipe from the
top.
Water hammer can be prevented by filling a closed tank or pipe from the bottom
while allowing the air to escape from the top. Water hammer also can be prevented
by installing on pipelines air chambers or other types of water-hammer arresters.
These generally act as a cushion to dissipate the pressures.
14.7 PLUMBING FIXTURES AND EQUIPMENT
The water-supply system of a building distributes water to plumbing fixtures at
points of use. Fixtures include kitchen sinks, water closets, urinals, bathtubs, showers,
lavatories, drinking fountains, laundry trays, and slop (service) sinks. To ensure
maximum sanitation and health protection, most building codes have rigid requirements
for fixtures. These requirements cover such items as construction materials,
connections, overflows, installation, prevention of backflow, flushing methods, types
of fixtures allowed, and inlet and outlet sizes. Either the building code or the plumbing
code lists the minimum number of each type of fixture that must be installed
in buildings of various occupancies (Table 14.2). Since these numbers are minimums,
each project should be reviewed to determine if additional fixtures should
be provided. This is especially true for assembly occupancies, where large numbers