Pipe Sizing for Hot and Cold Water

Part 1 - Basic Principles

W
hen deciding the tube
diameters required
plumbing systems a number of
factors have to be taken into
account if an adequate flow rate is to be
achieved without using oversized tube.
The volume flow rate required and the
totalled for a group of appliances and
for then converted into a flow rate in litres 200 2
per second using Figure 1.
If necessary, any other water fittings
requiring high or continuous flow rates 1.5
can then be added to give a total flow
rate. 100

Design flow rate, litres per second

pressure available are very important, An example: consider a mains water
other factors to consider include the service with a minimum pressure of
length of the tube and the number of 3 bar serving a dwelling with a kitchen, 1.0
fittings used. bathroom, en-suite shower and cloaks
In this first half of a two part article WC.
50 0.8
we shall look at the basic principles and This might comprise the following
procedures to determine copper tube discharge points:
diameters which will satisfy the demand Loading units
required and give an economical 0.6
installation. Bathroom Loading units
3/4" bath taps 2 @ 10 = 20 0.5
Assessment of likely demand 1/2" basin taps 2 @ 1.5 = 3
As the number of discharge points WC cistern 1@2 = 2 20
fitted to an installation increases the En-suite 0.4
proportion that will be in use at any one Shower 2@3 = 6
time reduces. Research has provided a Kitchen
system to estimate probable demand 1/2" sink taps 2@3 = 6
based on Loading Units. These take into 15mm w/machine taps 2@3 = 6 10 0.3
account the flow rate, frequency and Cloaks
length of use of common sanitary Basin spray tap 1@0 = 0 Figure 1
appliances. See Table 1 for values, it also WC cistern 1@2 = 2
gives BS 6700 recommended design flow
rates. To use it the number of each type Total loading units 45 Head loss through tube, fittings
of appliance fed by a pipe is multiplied by and valves
the loading unit. These can then be Figure 1 gives us a probable flow rate of Copper tube has a smooth bore and
0.72 l/s. this means that relatively little head is
Table 1 Loading units and flow lost as the water flows. The relationship
rates, hot or cold water supplies Available head between tube diameter, length, flow
On mains pressure systems the rate and head loss are illustrated
Sanitary Loading Flow minimum pressure at peak demand in Figure 2. The head loss and water
fitting unit value rate (l/s) periods can be obtained from the water velocity can be found by aligning a ruler
supplier or measured on site. On cistern with the particular tube diameter and
WC Cistern 2 0.1
fed systems the head available should be flow rate required. Using the previously
1/2” Washbasin tap 1.5 0.15 determined flow rate, a 22mm service
measured vertically from the cistern
Spray mixer tap - 0.04 outlet to the discharge point. Where the passing 0.72 l/s would use about
supply is sufficient half the cistern height 0.33 metres head for each metre run of
3/4” Bath tap 10 0.3 or 0.5m can be added. tube.The water velocity would be about
Shower mixer 3 0.1 One bar pressure is approximately 2.5m/s, this is below the BS 6700
equal to ten metres head. So, multiply by recommended maximum of 3m/s for
1/2”
Sink or Washing 3 0.2
machine tap 10 to convert bars to metres head, in cold water and so not likely to create
this case 3 bar is 30m. flow noises.
 about 1.75 metres head.
10 80
8 50
40 76.1 75 Figure 4 gives the head required
6 30 70
for a given float valve orifice and
Formula applicable between these limits only
5 20 67 65
4 6 60 Lamont’s smooth pipe formula S3
3 5
10 55 v = 0.5545 d0.6935 ¡0.5645 flow rate.

Outside diameter of copper tube to Table X of Bs 2871: Part 1: 1971, millimetres

4 8 54
2
3
6
5
50
where: v is the velocity (m/s); For example a float operated
4 45
2.5 d is the diameter (mm);
1 2
3
2 42 40 ¡ is the hydraulic gradient;
valve with a 4mm orifice passing
0.8
0.6
1.5
1.0 Flow, litres per second 35 0.1 l/s requires a head pressure of
0.5 35
0.4 1.0 0.8
0.6 30 and R = 10 [ v
1.7715 ] about 6m.
Velocity, metres per second

0.3 0.75 0.5 0.5545 d0.6935

0.4
0.3 28
0.2 25 where: R is the wall friction gradient (kPa)
0.5 0.2
Water meters
Wall friction gradient (head loss) in kPa per metre

22
0.1
0.08
0.25
0.1
0.08
20
Where a water meter is to be
0.07 0.06
0.06
0.05
0.05
18 fitted the loss of head at the
0.04 15
0.03 15
required flow rate should be
0.02 0.1
subtracted from the head available.
Actual bore of pipe, millimetres

0.01
12
10
The manufacturers data sheet can
0.008
0.006
10 be consulted to find the head loss.
0.005
0.004
0.003 8 Permissible head loss
0.002
Once the head pressure
0.001 6 5 available and the effective length of
tube has been found the
permissible loss of head per metre
Fittings Taps and valves run can be determined. This is
The loss of head due to bends, Head loss through stop valves is done by dividing the head available by
elbows and tees can best be given as an relatively large, see Table 2 for equivalent the total effective length of tube.
equivalent length of tube. A bend has lengths.These equivalent lengths can also In the case of our service pipe
about half the resistance of an elbow, so, be added to the length of tube. Losses example with a head of water of 30m
where pressure is low it is better to use through gate valves and quarter turn ball and an effective length of 18.6m, this
bends where possible. Losses for tees are valves can be ignored. would be: 30 / 18.6 = 1.6m/m.
added on a change of direction only. If the actual length of the 22mm
Where the numbers of fittings to be service mentioned previously was 10 Residual head
used can be estimated they can be metres and 4 bends and a stop valve Referring back to Figure 2 our 22mm
multiplied to give an equivalent length. were fitted the total equivalent length service pipe with a flow of 0.72 l/s only
This can then be added to the actual would be: uses about 0.33m/m of head. So, in total
length of the tube. An alternative, where actual length of tube 10.0m 18.6 x 0.33 = 6.1m, say 6m, head would
the numbers of fittings cannot be equivalent length of bends 4 at 0.4 = 1.6m be used up leaving 30 - 6 = 24m residual
forecast, is to add a percentage to the equivalent length of valve 1 at 7.0 = 7.0m head remaining for the internal
length of tube. This can vary between giving a total equivalent length of 18.6m installation.
about 10% and 40% depending on the Alternatively, the actual head loss for
complexity of the layout. valves can be established using Figure 3 Final tube diameter
and then subtracted from the head If insufficient residual head remains
available. select a larger tube diameter to reduce
6
For example the 22mm stop valve the head used. If only a small percentage
4 flowing at 0.72 l/s has a resistance of of the head available has been used
6
3 consider a smaller tube diameter. In any
4
case, however, check that the flow
42

2 3 1

2
velocity is not greater than the BS 6700
35

recommendation of 3m/s for cold and

1 2
0.8
1 2.5m/s for hot water. Also, to prevent
28

0.8
0.6 0.6
1.0 sluggish flow and the settlement of
0.8
4 detritus in long runs of horizontal tube,
Flow rate litres/second

0.4 10 0.6
0.4
keep the velocity above 0.5m/s by
Head loss in metres

Stopvalve diameter

orifice diameter mm
22

8 0.4
6
0.2 6 avoiding use of oversized tube.
head of water required m

8 0.2
0.2
10
5
The above procedures can be used
4
0.1
to determine tube diameters for
flow rate l/s

0.08 0.1
3
15

0.08
0.06 a complete installation. Keep this
0.1
0.05
0.08 0.04
20
article handy and next month we will
0.06 30
put them into practice with a
Figure 3 Loss of head through stop valves Figure 4 Head loss through float valve orifices
straightforward systematic method
based on a tabulation chart.
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