E.N.G.I.N.E.E.R., Inc.

COMMON ERRORS IN
PLUMBING-SANITARY SYSTEMS,
SAFETY AUDIT & GREEN
PRACTICES
BY

William J. Juan, mepf, rmp, pee

0915 292 8668/0943 0616 215/0919 605 4873
Facebook Pages Administered:
ESEA Advocates /NAMPAP-PSUMP Groups / MEPF ENGINEERS../ ATTEMP/ STOP FLOODING
TALAKAYANG PINOY/ PUGAD LAWIN INTERNATIONAL
February 2016

SS
Short Resume of Speaker/Lecturer
Engr. William Jacinto Juan,
rmp,pee,mepf
Co-founder, E.N.G.I.N.E.E.R.S.,Inc. (a political group)
National President Philippine Integrated Plumbing Engineers Society (PIPES), 2014-
present
Founding President Phil. Society of United Master Plumbers (PSUMP), 2013
National President Pro-Change NAMPAP, 2012-2013
Director for Skills Training, MEPF Engineers Co.
Gen.Manager/Proprietor of FEMP Safety Engineering Construction, 2013-present
Was President/CEO/Founder of Versatech Consultants & Mngt.Corp., 1985-2013
Former IIEE National Officer/ Governor-at-Large
Former Chairman IIEE Balik Liwanag & IIEE Electrical Safety Committees
Was Electrical Consultant/ Designer for PICOP/ SMC/ Parsons/ AEP/ Caltex/ Petron/
Coca Cola/ Selecta/ Avida / DMCI/ Motolite Projects
EE Professor @ National U, 1979-1991
PEE-Top 1 (Oct.1980)/ Asso.EE-Top 3 (Sept.1979) / Asst.EE-Top 8 (Aug.1976) /
RMP-Top 5 (Sept.1989) / Radio Amateur License DU1-ICH (94.6% rating)
BSEE 1976 NU / BSME 1987 NU
National President - Pugad Lawin Philippines, Inc., 2009,2010,2011
President Rotary Club of Pasig North, RID3800, 2005-2006
 PLUMBING
ENGINEERING/ Sanitary
trends in Buildings
Master Plumbers/ Plumbing Engineers
design or oversee installation of lower
pressure fire protection (without fire
pump), hot and cold potable water supply
and pump system, gray water re-use,
sanitary sewer lines and sanitary
ventilation systems, septic tanks, sump
water pumping, AC condensate drainage,
rainwater collection and filtering systems,
PLUMBING DESIGN
AUDIT/ SAFETY
INSPECTIONS
So what would be the samples of
plumbing errors or mistakes or
plumbing code violations that you
should be mindful of when you do
your plumbing design checking/
audit/ inspection of plumbing-
sanitary installations?
What are some of the best plumbing
practices?
 1. LPG
SYSTEMS &
SAFETY
 1.1 SERENDRA 2 LPG EXPLOSION (2013)

The
Serendra
2 LPG
Gas
Explosio
n in May
31, 2013
which
killed
some 4
people.
What
was the
1.1a Cause of the Serendra 2 Explosion
During a routinary house
cleaning of the condo unit, the
LPG hose connection to the gas
range was inadvertently left
loose, with gas leak and
unnoticed. And of all chances,
the LPG gas detector of the
condo unit was left unplugged
rendering it of no use. When the
visitor from the U.S. came inside
the unit, the room was already
full of leaked LPG gas so that
when he switch on the light at
the door, this created a spark to
cause the gas explosion.
 1.2 General Description of
LPG is a mixture of LPGLPG vapour is heavier
propane (30 - 40%) and than air. Therefore,
butane (60 - 70%), it is the vapour may flow
stored as a liquid under along the ground and
pressure, is colorless and into drains and be
odorless in its natural ignited at a
state.
LPG forms a considerable distance
flammable mixture from the source of
when mixed with air leakage.
within the LPG is odorized before
flammability limit to distribution, such that any
large volumes of escape of gas may be
noticeable by its smell by
vapour/air mixture
adding ethyl mercaptan.
and thus cause
1.3 LPG TANKS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
SHOULD BE LOCATED OUTDOORS!
 1.4 LPG Piping Systems
VESSELS

LPG is stored at consumers premises in pressurised

vessels or bullets (for bulk storage systems) or in
cylinders, which can be manifolded or piped together.
The design pressure of the vessel or cylinder is usually
1725 kiloPascal (kPa) or 250 pounds per square inch
(psig).

Bulk storage vessels or bullets may be installed in any

of the following configurations:
aboveground - tank is fully exposed aboveground
underground - tank is fully buried underground
mounded - tank is fully earth-covered above the ground
 1.5 LPG MANIFOLD & SUPPLY
LINE

SOLENOID VALVE

PRESSURE
REGULATO GAS METER
R

GAS MANIFOLD
1.6 Delivery or Service Pipeline
Service pipeline is used for delivering the LPG vapour
from the storage tank to the gas appliances.

Pressure regulators are installed along the line to

reduce the vapour pressure progressively from the
tank operating pressure about 414 690 kPa (60-100
psig) to appliance operating pressure 300 mm w.c.
(water column) or 0.5 psig. This pressure reduction is
normally carried out in two stages (for better
reliability and safety) such that the gas line pressure
in the building is reduced to not more than 35 kPa (5
psig). A schematic showing a typical configuration of
LPG storage and piping system installed on consumers
premises are shown in Fig.1 & Fig.2.

Pressure losses in the piping system: 0.2-0.5 inch(5-12.7 mm) WC

Approximately 0.3 inch(7.6 mm) WC as commonly used number.
1.7 LPG Manifolded Cylinders
Storage & Piping System
1.8 LPG Bullet & Piping System
1.9 FLEXIBLE HOSES ARE TOO LONG!
 1.10 LPG MANIFOLD
VIOLATIONS..

1.The tanks are

not secured
properly.

2.A tank cabinet

should be
provided.
 1.11 LPG MANIFOLD
VIOLATIONS..
1. The LPG
tank
cabinet
should
not be
used for
storage
purposes
.

2. The LPG
tank
1.12 PRESSURE
REGULATOR &
GAS METER
INSIDE
BUILDING
1.13 VAPORIZERS
1.14 KNOCK-OUT POTS
1.15 TYP. LPG SYSTEM INSTALLATION OUTSIDE
BUILDING
1.16 EMERGENCY SHUT-OFF VALVES..
1.17 GAS PIPE SLEEVE REQUIRED..
1.18 LPG GAS STORAGE ROOMS - IMPROPER
INSTALLATION in HAZARDOUS AREAS

This LPG gas storage room shows

an large size ventilation louver on
one side of the room. But for full
safety provision, a cross ventilation
is required, meaning another louver
should be provided on another side.

Another violation is there is an

ordinary type tumbler switch (seen
on the right side of the lower photo)
controlling the explosion-
proof/vapor tight lighting fixture
shown on the above photo. A
solution to this is to relocate the
tumbler switch outside of the room.
 1.19 KITCHENS USING LPG GAS -
IMPROPER CONSTRUCTION
This door for
this large
kitchen using
LPG gas for
cooking shown
below, the doors
should be
provided with
ventilation
louvers near the
bottom edges to
allow adequate
 1.20 KITCHENS USING LPG GAS -
IMPROPER CONSTRUCTION

This same large

kitchen have
been provided
with open
trenches which
may trap LPG
gas that may be
leaked. This
trenches should
be avoided. A
sloping finish of
 2. SEPTIC
TANKS/SEPTI
C GASES
2.1 Glorietta 2 Methane Explosion (2007)
In Oct 19, 2007, a section of Glorietta 2
shopping center in Makati City exploded,
killing 11 people and injuring more than a
hundred. Initial investigators found out that
methane gas was produced at the
basement due to the accumulation of
sewage due to a non-functioning sewer
transfer or sump pump. There were a series
of differing claims by the owners and the
government investigators.
In 2011, the final report of the DOJ special
fact-finding panel sustained the PNP's
earlier findings that the blast was caused by
methane (CH4) and not an explosive device.
It is therefore imperative to
be mindful of the possible
effect of the accumulation of
septic gases in enclosed areas
including Methane (CH4) and
Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) which
are all flammable gases.
 2.2 DESIGN ERROR-1
The inadvertent lack of cross ventilation of the
septic tank due to the use of elbows instead of
tees stops the biological process in the digestive
chamber.
 2.3 DESIGN
ERROR-2
The inadvertent lack of cross ventilation of
the septic tank due to the upper pipe
extension of the tees stops the biological
process in the digestive chamber.
2.4 NEED FOR CROSS
VENTILATION
 2.6 DESIGN ERROR-3
As per the
Philippine Clean
Water Act of 2004
(RA 9275), the
sewage water in
the leaching well
in this design may
contaminate the
underground
water table,
henceforth it is no
longer allowed.
Due to this, the
settling chamber
must now be
2.7 SUGGESTED DESIGN
(2-CHAMBER)
 2.8 ARTICULATED 3-
CHAMBER
SEPTIC TANK
The added settling chambers provide additional removal and
digestion of organic matter: BOD can be reduced which is far
better than a conventional septic tank.
VENT VENT

OUTLET BOX
OR
CARBON FILTER
BOX

DIGESTIVE SETTLING SETTLING

CHAMBER TANK-1 TANK-2
 2.9 ANAEROBIC BAFFLED
SEPTIC TANK (4-CHAMBER)

The added settling chambers further provide additional

removal and digestion of organic matter: BOD can be
reduced further which is far better than a conventional
septic tank.
2.10 ANAEROBIC BAFFLED
SEPTIC TANK (7-CHAMBER)
The additional series chambers provide additional
removal and digestion of organic matter: BOD can
be reduced by up to 90%, which is far superior to
that of a conventional septic tank.
 3.
VENTILATION
SYSTEMS
 3.1 LIMIT OF USE OF AIR
ADMITTANCE
Although AAVs are now VALVES (AAVs)
generally acceptable
plumbing vents, the
main vent stack or the
vent-thru-roof ( VTR)
should be better be
normally vented to the
atmosphere in order
that any pressure
build-up of septic
gases including the
release of toxic H2S
from the sewer system
would be released.
AAVs are mechanical
one-way vents allowing
only the entry of air
from the outside to
enter the sewer system
3.2
VENTING
ERRORS
(BY REDWOOD KARDON) 3.2A

3.2B

3.2C
4. MINIMUM
SLOPE
4.1 INADEQUATE DRAIN SLOPES
(BY REDWOOD KARDON)
5. CLEAN-
OUTS
5.1 INADEQUATE CLEAN-OUTS
(BY REDWOOD KARDON)
5.2
INACCESSIBL
E CLEAN-
OUTS
(BY REDWOOD KARDON)
6. AIR GAPS
6.1
INADEQUAT
E AIR GAPS
(BY REDWOOD KARDON)
7. ELBOW
ROOMS
7.1
INADEQUA
TE
SPACE
AROUND
TOILETS
& BASINS
(BY REDWOOD KARDON)
8. P-TRAPS/
GREASE
TRAPS
8.1 RESTO KITCHEN SINK WITH NO
P-TRAP/ NO GREASE TRAP
8.2 RESTO
KITCHEN
SINK WITH
P-TRAP BUT
NO GREASE
TRAP
 8.3 GREASE TRAPS
(MANDATORY IN COMMERCIAL
OR LARGE KITCHENS)
9. PLUMBING
DEVICES
9.1
PRESSURE
& TEMP-
ERATURE
RELIEF OF
WATER
HEATERS
IMPROPERL
Y
INSTALLED
(BY REDWOOD KARDON)
9.1 IMPROPER PLUG..
10. WATER
PUMPING
 10.1 DIRECT CONNECTION OF
BOOSTER PUMP TO MAIN SUPPLY LINE
Direct
connection to
main supply
line is not
acceptable
as impurities
may enter
the system
during low
pressure time
especially
when
flooding
occurs.
 10.2 USE WATER CISTERN SO AS
NOT TO CONTAMINATE CLEAN WATER

A receiving
tank or an
underground
cistern with a
float valve
should be
used before a
pump is used
to boost water
pressure or to
transfer water
to other
storage tanks.
 10.3 USE CONSTANT PRESSURE PUMPS
(WILO PUMPS) TO SAVE ENERGY

Green Practices - The Wilo

pumps which originated
from Germany are powered
by variable frequency drive
(VFD) motor controllers
(from 0 Hz to 60Hz) which
the output pressure is
calibrated to deliver the
designed water pressure at
the farthest valve.
 10.4
SOLAR
POWERED
PUMPS
Green Practices-
The use of solar
powered pumps
for domestic use
as well as for farm
irrigation is now
becoming more
popular.
 11.
RAINWATER
HARVESTING
SYSTEMS
11.1 RAINWATER
HARVESTING
As of the present, more and more
urban centers and cities in our
country like Quezon City,
Mandaluyong, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo,
among others have taken the
initiative to adapt and implement
Green programs that requires the
installation and utilization of a
Rainwater Harvesting Systems. The
Green Building Code prepared by the
government through the DPWH is
another program that shows a
growing commitment and realization
by our government on the benefits of
this Green Technology. Rainwater
Harvesting not only saves money but
also helps mitigate urban floodings.
 11.2 RAINWATER INJECTION

One good option is

the re-injection of
rainwater to an
underground well
through sand filters.
This scheme which
saves space help
save rainwater from
being wasted to the
sea and to
evaporation. The
water in the well can
11.2 RAINWATER COLLECTION SYSTEMS
This a rainwater harvesting system is similar to the one
adopted by the Changi Airport of Singapore.
 11.3 RAINWATER COLLECTION
SYSTEMS

The best option

is the provision
of an
underground
cistern with
filters and baffles
to further filter
rainwater from
the roof and the
gutters through
sedimentation.
The capacity of
this tank should
be equal or
larger to that of
the calculated
size of the
domestic water
tank.
 11.4 RAINWATER FILTERING
A recommended filter element
is similar to the device shown
at right or below before the
rainwater is piped to the
rainwater storage tank.
 12.
CONDENSATE
COLLECTION
12.1 CONDENSATE WATER COLLECTION

The left photo do not

have a fixed plumbing
pipe to drain or collect
the condensate water
from the ACU while
the right photo has
collecting pipe.
Provision of
condensate pipe
makes the surrounding
area more neat and it
can also pave the way
of recovering
condensate for
possible reuse as gray
water.
13. GRAY
WATER
 13.1 GRAY WATER USE
Effluent from
the septic
tank, sewer
water from
the kitchen,
condensate
from ACUs
and unfiltered
rain water
can be
collected to a
Gray Water
tank which
can be use
supply
 13.2 RECYCLING FOR WATER
CLOSETS, COOLING TOWER, AND
IRRIGATION

SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
14. FIRE PRO
SYSTEMS
 14.1 FIRE SPRINKLER
SYSTEMS
Sprinkler System an active fire protection
system

The most widely used apparatus for fire protection

in buildings is the automatic sprinkler system.

The Fire Code of the Philippines requires an

approved and supervised sprinkler system
conforming to NFPA 13 for buildings 15 meters high
from ground floor to topmost floor level or more.
(Section 10.2.14.6)

Sprinkler system consists of a network of piping

installed at the ceiling or roof and supplied with
water by means of an approved fire pump from a
suitable source.
 14.2 MAJOR
COMPONENTS
Fire Pump is a fire fighting equipment or apparatus
usually connected to the fire protection piping system and
provided with a dedicated source of steady water.

Jockey Pump is a small pump that maintain the required

pressure in the wet sprinkler system.

Fire Pump Controller is an electrical panel that controls

the operation of the fire pump automatically.

Jockey Pump Controller is an electrical panel that

controls the operation of the jockey pump automatically to
maintain system pressure.
 14.3 FIRE PUMPS

B. VERTICAL-IN-LINE

A. HORIZONTAL SPLIT CASE

D. VERTICAL TURBINE

C. PACKAGED TYPE ENGINE DRIVEN

 14.4 FIRE PUMP SELECTION

Fire pump which is FM approved/ UL listed is required by establishments

such as industrial, institutional, commercial, offices, and residential
which fire insurers are members or affiliated with FM global or as an
Owner option.

What is the requirement of RA 9514 regarding fire pump application?

The 2008 Fire Code of the Philippines (RA 9514) in Section 10.2.6.6-4f it
says
Fire pumps shall be approved and shall deliver not less then the
required fire flow and pressure, Such pumps shall be supplied with
adequate power source and shall be automatic in operation. Where the
wet standpipe system is supplied with water from the domestic supply of
the building, approved fire pumps shall not be required provided the
domestic pump used delivers the required fire flow.

The code is not specific regarding FM approval or UL listing.

What is the difference in price between an non- UL/FM and UL/FM fire
pump?

A UL/FM fire pump is twenty to fifty percent higher in cost.

 14.5 TYP. FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM
BRANCHES

FIREWATER TANK
RISER MAIN

FIREPUMP CONTROLLER SPRINKLERS

FIREPUMP-1

JOCKEY PUMP
CROSS MAIN
FIREPUMP-2
MAIN LINE
 14.6 HOW A SPRINKLER
SYSTEM OPERATES
This
schematic
riser
diagram
shows an
Elevated
Firewater
Tank
which
maintains
the
minimum
pressure
 14.7 SPRINKLER HEADS / NOOZLES

NFPA 13
requires a
minimum
starting
pressure
of
7 psi for
sprinklers
.
 14.8 Typical Minimum Fire Water
Sprinkler Facility
An elevated
firewater tank with 3M high Water
Tank at 15M
adequate volume elevation,
(minimum 30 15 psi at the
minutes supply) tank bottom.

which can deliver

firewater to the
7 psig
sprinkler heads at Min.
the minimum Pressure
operating pressure drop on
the fire
of 7psig is a water
minimum supply
requirement for fire lines, say
5 psi
protection of a
14.9 POSSIBLE CLOGGING
OF SPRINKLER NOOZLE
14.10 CORRECT WAY OF
MOUNTING
 14.11 BASIC RULE OF THUMB IN FIRE
SPRINKLER DISTRIBUTION (NFPA 13)

Size of Pipe Max.No. of Sprinklers Allowed

1 2 sprinklers
1 3 sprinklers
1 5 sprinklers
2 10 sprinklers
2 20 sprinklers
3 40 sprinklers
3 65 sprinklers
4 100 sprinklers
5 160 sprinklers
6 275 sprinklers

From NFPA #13, Table 8-5.3.2(a)

 14.12 Typical Minimum Fire
Protection Facility (NFPA 13)

When sprinklers are

not required, a fire
hose cabinet must
be provided on
each end of the
building lobby near
the stairs, with the
length of the fire
hose that could
reach the farthest
point on the floor or
level (20M or 15M).
14.13 FIRE DEPT CONNECTION-
SIAMESE TWIN (NFPA 13)
THANK YOU & GOD BLESS!
Mabuhay!