A
ABS Sewer Pipe
ABS (an acronym for Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) sewer pipes are the black plastic sewer pipes most commonly used inside of homes. They are an approved type of pipe in the National Plumbing Code of Canada.
B
Belly
See Dip
C
CIPP
see cured in place pipe
Clay Pipe
Vitrified Clay Tile Pipe is a type of sewer pipe that was extensively used in older homes. Vitrified clay pipe typically fails due to root intrusion and ground movement. If roots find their way into the joints in the clay sewer pipe, they will grow and over time could push apart the pipe joints or cause the pipes to crack and break. As joints come apart, water from the sewer flows into the ground and can erode the bedding around the pipe creating further problems such as joint offsets, cracked pipe and collapsed pipe.
Concrete Slab
A term commonly used to refer to a concrete floor
Cured in Place Pipe
A trenchless pipe rehabilitation system where a fabric tube saturated with a resin is installed and hardened inside of an existing pipe forming a new pipe inside of the old pipe.
D
DCW
An acronym for Domestic Cold Water or Potable Water
DHW
Acronym for Domestic Hot Water
Dip
A localized low spot in a gravity drainage sewer system. The pipe will slope downwards, then level out at the bottom of the dip, then slope upwards again, level out at the top and finally begin to slope downwards again. If the low spot is long and deep enough, solids will start to collect in the low spot and lead to a blockage of the sewer system. Synonymous with Slump, Sag or Belly.
Domestic Water
A term used to describe water that is safe for drinking. Synonymous with Potable Water.
DWV
Acronym for Drain Waste Vent and is a class of piping for those particular applications.
Currently there are no terms beginning with “E”
Currently there are no terms beginning with “F”
G
Gravity Drainage Sewer
The predominant type of sewer system in North America, where sewage flows from a point of use to a progressively lower point at a sewage treatment facility. Gravity drainage systems must be constantly sloped downwards to avoid becoming backed up with debris.
H
HDPE Sewer Pipe (High Density Polyethylene)
HDPE sewer pipe is a type of plastic pipe that is extensively used in trenchless sewer pipe replacement. HDPE is tough, abrasion resistant and resistant to chemical corrosion.
High Density Polyethylene Sewer Pipe
See HDPE Sewer Pipe
Hoarding
A temporary enclosure constructed to contain contaminants and dust due to construction in a facility.
HW
Acronym for Hot Water
Currently there are no terms beginning with “I”
J
Joint Offset
A situation where a pipe does not match up directly with the adjacent pipe. The pipes can be shifted up, down or to either side from each other. Joint offsets can cause obstructions in the flow of sewage and will allow the sewer water to flow outside of the pipe.
Joint Separation
A situation where there is a gap between two adjacent pipes. Typically ground movement or poor supporting will be the cause of sewer pipes pulling apart at a joint.
Currently there are no terms beginning with “K”
Currently there are no terms beginning with “L”
Currently there are no terms beginning with “M”
N
No Corrode Sewer Pipe
A situation where a pipe does not match up directly with the adjacent pipe. The pipes can be shifted up, down or to either side from each other. Joint offsets can cause obstructions in the flow of sewage and will allow the sewer water to flow outside of the pipe.
NuDrain
A Cured in Place Pipe lining product manufactured by NuFlow. Revive Pipes has been installing NuDrain products for the better part of a decade.
NuFlow
A manufacturer of Cured in Place Pipe lining products. Revive Pipes has been installing NuFlow products for the better part of a decade.
O
Orangeburg Sewer Pipe
See No Corrode Sewer Pipe
P
Pipe Bursting
A trenchless process of replacing a sewer or water pipe underground without digging a trench along the entire length of the pipe. Basically, a pit is excavated at both ends of the pipe to be replaced. A large steel cable is then inserted into the pipe. One end of the steel cable is attached to a bullet shaped steel head called a bursting head that is slightly larger than the new pipe. The bursting head is then securely attached to the new pipe. The other end of the steel cable is then grabbed with a large hydraulic pulling machine and pulled through the old pipe. As the bursting head and new pipe are pulled through the old pipe, the bursting head bursts open the old pipe and pulls the new pipe into its place. Often a sewer and water pipe can be pulled through at the same time.
Poly B (Polybutylene or PolyB)
Poly B is a flexible, grey type of plastic water pipe used in residential plumbing. Poly B piping is no longer installed and is prone to catastrophic failure. Poly B pipe is almost certain to fail within 20 years of being installed and often fails much sooner. Most commonly, there are no visibly evident warning signs before Poly B fails. Poly B was manufactured between 1978 and 1998. Poly B is no longer an accepted piping material under the National Building Code of Canada. There are over 700,000 homes in Canada with Poly B installed in them. (Reference www.poly-b.com)
Potable Water
A term used to describe water that is safe for drinking. Synonymous with Domestic Water.
P-Trap
A “U” shaped pipe fitting used in sanitary drainage systems immediately after a drain. The “U” shape traps water and in a properly designed system, will always have water in the “U”. The water that stays in the “U” prevents sewer gases from escaping your sanitary sewer system through the drain. Storm water drainage systems will not typically have P-Traps installed in them because there is not a concern with storm water drains generating offensive sewer gases.
PVC Sewer Pipe (Polyvinyl Chloride)
PVC sewer pipes are commonly used under ground and are typically green or grey in color. They are an approved type of pipe in the National Plumbing Code of Canada.
Currently there are no terms beginning with “Q”
R
Rainwater Leader
Replace with definition
Riser
Definition Pending
Root Intrusion
The process where roots from trees or shrubs penetrate a sewer pipe, typically through a joint or a crack in the pipe. Once roots penetrate or intrude into a pipe, they can grow very rapidly and completely block off the flow of sewage in the pipe causing a sewer backup.
RW
Acronym for Rain Water Drain Piping. A synonym for Storm Water piping.
S
Sag
See Dip
SAN
Acronym for Sanitary Waste piping
Shoring
Shoring is a barrier that is installed in a trench to prevent trench walls from collapsing. Collapsing of trench walls can be a fatal occurrence if someone is working in the trench. Contractors must ensure they are using the best practices for safety when working in trenches at your facility.
Skimmer
A skimmer is a component in pool systems that is at the water line in a pool. The water and anything floating on top of the water flow into skimmers and travels through skimmer pipes where it is filtered in a pool mechanical room prior to being recirculated to the pool.
Slab
See Concrete Slab
Slab on Grade
A term commonly used to refer to a concrete floor directly over dirt.
Slump
See Dip
T
Tar Paper Pipe
See No Corrode Sewer Pipe
Trenchless Sewer Rehabilitation
A term used for the repair of a sewer pipe without having to excavate a trench along the entire length of the pipe. The term can be synonymous with a Cured in Place Pipe (CIPP) liner installation along the entire length of a deteriorated sewer pipe. With Revive Pipes systems, we most often do not have to create any excavations, however most installers using a CIPP inversion system will have to excavate at least 1 access pit in the system.
Trenchless Sewer Repair
A term used for the repair of a sewer pipe without having to excavate a trench at the point of repair. The term can be synonymous with a Cured in Place Pipe (CIPP) point repair of a sewer pipe or a CIPP liner installation along the entire length of a deteriorated sewer pipe. With Revive Pipes systems, we most often do not have to create any excavations, however most installers using a CIPP inversion system will have to excavate at least 1 access pit in the system.
Trenchless Sewer Repair Replacement
A term used for installation of a new sewer pipe in the place of an old sewer pipe without having to excavate a trench along the entire length of the pipe. The term is synonymous with Pipe Bursting. It can often be somewhat misleading as although a trench is not required, access pits are still required at both ends of the pipe to be replaced.
Tuberculation
Corrosion deposits that build up on the interior walls of steel and iron pipes. The deposits build up in the pipe and can block flow. The system can experience low pressure and increased horsepower requirements for the pumps.
Currently there are no terms beginning with “U”
V
Vertical Stack
A vertical stack is a type of drain pipe that runs vertically inside of a building. It can be used to refer to a vertical sanitary drain or a vertical rainwater drain, but vertical rainwater drains are most typically referred to as rainwater leaders. In a sanitary waste system, the pipe will connect to horizontal drain lines from each floor. Waste will fall to the bottom of the stack where the piping will transition to a horizontal drain taking the waste to the municipality’s sewers system.
W
Water Line Slitting
Water line slitting is a process for replacing a water pipe without digging a trench along the entire length of the pipe. Water line slitting is basically the same as pipe bursting but the term water line slitting is used for pipes ranging in size from ½ inch up to 1 1/4 inch. Basically, a pit is excavated at both ends of the pipe to be replaced.
A steel cable is then inserted into the pipe. One end of the steel cable is attached to a bullet shaped steel head called a slitting head that is slightly larger than the new pipe. The slitting head is then securely attached to the new pipe. The other end of the steel cable is then grabbed with a winch or excavator bucket and pulled through the old pipe. As the slitting head and new pipe are pulled through the old pipe, the slitting head will either slit open the old pipe and pull the new pipe into its place or push the old pipe out into the pulling pit.
Wet Vent
A vertical drain pipe that is sized to both act as a drain and a vent. Some vertical drains are connected to a parallel and separate vertical pipe that introduces air into the vertical drain which allows the wastewater to move freely through the drainage system.
Wye
A fitting in a piping system that connects a branch line into a main line. The branch line connects to the main line at a 45 degree angle. Typically the branch line will be perpendicular or at a 90 degree angle to the main line and there will be a 45 degree elbow immediately prior to the wye for a total direction change of 90 degrees.
X
XFR PVC
Acronym for X-tra Fire Rated PVC sewer pipe. XFR PVC is often used within commercial buildings that are 4 stories or higher. Materials that do not sustain flame are required for pipes that run between floors to stop the spread of flames in the event of a fire.
Currently there are no terms beginning with “Y”
Currently there are no terms beginning with “Z”