Design of WATER SUPPLY FOR plumbing system in building

Engr. Fortunato H. Amosco,fnampap,ce,pme,pee

PSPE-National President

 DESIGN OBJECTIVES: The most important design objective in sizing the water supply system is the satisfactory supply of potable water to al fixtures at all times, and at proper pressure and flow rate for normal fixture operation. This may be achieved only if adequate sizes of pipes and appurtenances are provided. The sizes established must be large enough to prevent occurrence of negative pressures in any part of the system during periods of peak demand in order to avoid hazard of water supply

DESIGN OF WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM An Application of the Requirements of Uniform Plumbing Code and or Revised National Plumbing Codes of the Phils.

contamination due to backflow and backsiphonage from potential sources of pollution. Hence the sizing of building water supply systems is a matter of vital concern in protecting health and must be regulated by codes. Other important objectives in the design of water supply system are:

to achieve economical sizing of piping and eliminate over design. To provide against potential supply failure due to gradual reduction of pipe bore with the passing of time such as may result from deposits of corrosion or hard water scale in the piping. To avoid erosion-corrosion effects and potential pipe failure or leakage conditions owing to corrosive characteristics of the water and/or to excessive design velocities of flow. To eliminate water hammer damage and objectionable whistling noise effect in the piping due to excessive design velocity of flow.

The water supply system should be designed in accordance with the minimum pressure available at the public water main, or other source of water supply pressure, and the minimum pressure required at all time at water outlets of the system, where the pressure at the water main in insufficient to maintain the minimum required at the highest water outlet of the system, a pressure booster pump system, approved as to the capacity and reliability, or an automatically controlled water supply tank or either the hydro pneumatic pressure type or the elevated gravity type should be provided.

As a general rule, the minimum pressure required at the ordinary faucet of plumbing fixture is 8 psi.

1.

PRELIMINARY INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR SIZING A SYSTEM: First, obtain the necessary or all information for establishing a proper basis for sizing the building water supply system, such as: The kinds of piping materials to be installed in the system should be determined. This is a matter of selection by the owner of the building or an authorized representative, who maybe an Engineer, an architect or a contractor, for an experienced person who will select the piping materials, has knowledge and experience about.

 THE SIGNIFICANT CHARACTERISTICS WHICH MAY BE APPLIED TO INDICATE WATER CORROSIVELY AND SCALE TENDENCY FORMING SUCH AS: pH value CO2 content dissolved air content carbonate hardness Langelier index, and ryznar index

THE MOST APPROPRIATE SOURCE OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED IS THE LOCAL WATER AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION OVER THE SYSTEM SUPPLYING WATER. 2. Location and size of the water supply 3. Developed length of the system 4. Pressure data relative to source of supply 5. Elevations 6. Minimum pressure required to the highest outlet

 MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AVOIDING EROSION-CORROSION: Velocity limits recommended by pipe manufacturers to avoid accelerated deterioration of their piping materials due to erosion-corrosion should be observed. Recent studies have shown that extreme turbulence accompanying high flow velocities is an important factor causing erosion-corrosion and that it is especially prone to occur where the water supply has high carbon dioxide content (in excess of 10 ppm) and where it has been softened to zero hardness. Another important factor is very high temperature (in excess of 150F).

 TO CONTROL EROSION-CORROSION EFFECTS IN COPPER WATER TUBES, AND COPPER AND BRASS PIPE, MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDATIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS: Where the water supply has a pH value higher that 6.9 and a positive scale-forming tendency, such as may be shown by a positive Langelier index, velocity should be limited to no more than 8 fps. (2.4 mps) Where water has a pH value lower than 6.9 and may be classified as aggressively corrosive or where water supply has been softened to zero hardness by passage through a softener, velocity should be limited to no more than 4 fps (1.2 mps)

 The 4 fps (1. 2mps) velocity limit should be applied to all not water piping conveying water at a temperature above 150oF because of the accelerated rate of corrosion at such temperature.
q = 60.8 d 21.2 x (P/L)1/2 for across and cover piping d = inside dia. If pH value < 6.9 velocity not more than 4bp pH > 6.9 velocity not more than 6 bps

Problem No. 1 Given: WC Water Closet UR Urinal All WC are 1.6 GPF All UR are 1.0 GPF Static pressure at meter 74 psi Distance from meter to most remote outlet 150ft. Elevation of highest outlet above meter 40ft. All pipe is L Copper Design velocity per standard 8 ft/sec. Note: Lavatory group and drinking fountains were not includes in the design as their demands are minimal.

 From Chart: Revised National Plumbing Code of the Philippines

Tabulation per sample diagram of Sizing Water System

 DRAWING

Solution: The demand for this system is computed from the fixture: 1. Unit values given in the tables Therefore: 15 x 8 fu = 120 fixtures units 13 x 5 fu = 65 fixture units Total demand = 185 fixture units 2. Distance from meter to most remote fixture =150 ft 3. Elevation of highest outlet above meter = 40 ft 4. Minimum pressure at the meter = 74 psi 5. From table, 185 f.u = 88 GPM; show tabulated for all pipe runs etc. 6. Determine the total pressure available for friction loss in pound per sq. inch (psi) per 100 feet or pipe a. Flushometric valve requires a minimum available pressure of 15 psi to operate properly.

Therefore: Minimum pressure to be maintained =15 psi b. Total static pressure loss (head loss) This is determined by multiplying the elevation distance by 0.433 Therefore: 40 ft x 0.433 psi/ft = 17.2 psi c. Pressure loss through meter, filters, reducing valves, backflow preventers, etc. In this illustration, we have chosen a 2 disc meter. This meter has a pressure loss

of 6.5 psi at 85 gpm. Therefore: Meter loss = Total Pressure Loss =

6.5 psi 38.7 psi

 Therefore: (minimum static pressure Total pressure loss) = 74 psi 38.7 psi = 35.3 psi NOTE:The remaining pressure of 35.3 psi is the maximum amount of pressure we have available for pressure loss due to friction in our system while maintaining the minimum pressure of 15 psi at the highest outlet. However, this 35.3 psi of pressure must be distributed throughout the total length of the system, which in this case has a total length of 150ft. Determine now the pressure loss per 100 ft of pipe. The total loss is 35.3 psi for 150 ft. of pipe, we calculate this way: (100 x 35.3) divided by 150 = 23.53 psi loss per 100 ft of pipe.

 7. From the Copper tubing chart project 23.53 psi up until it intersect with GPM horizontal line as demand. Note that it intersect above line of velocity of 15 ft/sec., which is almost 16.5 ft/sec. as their rated flow. a. Since recommended velocity is 8ft/sec., however, good Engineering practice would further reduce this to between 4-6 ft/sec. but since our design call for 8ft/sec, we move further along the 8 GPM line until it intersect with 8 ft./sec.

b. Note that the intersection of our new point is another pipe size line. This will be our new starting point which is pipe size 21/2 dia at 8 ft/sec. the GPM capacity will be 120 GPM. Going down to our 8 ft/sec transverse line as it intersect with the 2 line, the maximum GPM is:
2 pipe 1 1 3/2 = = = = 73 GPM 42 GOM 10 GPM 12 GPM

Note that as we follow the line to below 1 there are three dotted lines.

These represent wall thicknesses of smaller pipes. Please note that the charts and tables are also found in the Uniform Plumbing Code, and also in our Revised Phil. National Plumbing Code, however there is no problem similar or problem with solution like what I have discussed today.

Thank you. Good day! God Bless Us!