§ 5-76. Definitions.

For the purpose of this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated in this section. No attempt is made to define ordinary words which are used in accordance with their established dictionary meaning, except where the word has been loosely used and it is necessary to define its meaning as used in this article to avoid misunderstanding. Because the primary purpose is to define terms rather than words, the definitions are arranged alphabetically according to the first word of the term rather than the noun. For convenience the nouns are also listed but cross reference is made to the term.

Administrative authority. The individual, inspector, official, board, or agency authorized to administer and enforce the provisions of the city's plumbing code as adopted and amended.

Air conditioning contracting. Designing, installing, constructing, maintaining, servicing, repairing, altering, or modifying any heating, ventilating, or air conditioning product, system, or equipment. The term does not include the design, installation, construction, maintenance, service, repair, alteration, or modification of a portable or self-contained ductless air conditioning or heating product that has a cooling capacity of three (3) tons or less or a heating capacity of thirty-six thousand (36,000) British thermal units or less.

Air conditioning contractor. A person licensed under this article who designs, installs, constructs, maintains, services, repairs, alters, or modifies any heating, ventilating, or air conditioning product, system, or equipment.

Air conditioning maintenance work. Repair work and all other work required for the continued normal performance of a heating, ventilating, or air conditioning system. The term does not include the installation of a total replacement of the system or the installation of boilers or pressure vessels that must be installed by licensed persons pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the state department of labor and standards under the Texas Boiler Inspection Law, article 5221c, of the Revised Civil Statutes.

Air gap. In a water supply system, the unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere between the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet supplying water to a tank or plumbing fixture and the flood-level rim of the receptacle.

Anchors. See "supports."

Appliance. Each water softening unit, water heater, refrigeration machine, air conditioner, washing machine, dishwasher, garbage machine, or every other thing connected to either a water or sanitary sewer system and also connected to another utility.

Approved. Accepted or acceptable under an applicable specification stated or cited in this article or accepted as suitable for the proposed use under procedures and powers of administration delegated in this article.

Area drain. The area drain is a drain installed to collect surface or rainwater from an open area.

Authorized persons. An authorized person is a person who is an appliance or other dealer or is employed by an appliance or other dealer for the purpose of installing appliances.

Back vent. See "individual vent."

Backflow. Backflow means the flow of water or other liquids into the distributing pipes of a portable supply of water from any source or sources other than its intended source. Backsiphonage is one type of backflow.

Backflow connection. A backflow connection or condition is any arrangement whereby backflow can occur.

Backflow preventor. A device or means to prevent backflow.

Board. The state board of plumbing examiners.

Branch. Any part of a piping system other than a main.

Branch, fixture. See "fixture branch."

Branch, horizontal. See "horizontal branch."

Branch interval. A length of soil or waste stack, corresponding in general to one story height but in no case less than eight (8) feet, within which horizontal branches are connected to the stack.

Branch vent. A vent connecting one (1) or more individual vents with a vent stack or stack vent.

Building. An enclosed structure having exterior or party walls and a roof designed for the shelter of persons, animals, or property.

Building drain. That part of the lowest horizontal piping of a building drainage system exclusive of storm sewer extending to a point not less than five (5) feet outside of the building wall.

Building sewer (house). That part of the lowest horizontal piping of a drainage system which extends from the end of the building drain and which receives the discharge of the building drain and conveys it to a public sewer, private sewer, individual sewage disposal system, or other point of disposal.

Building storm sewer. The extension from the building storm drain to the public storm sewer, combined sewer, or other point of disposal.

Building subdrain. That portion of a drainage system which cannot drain by gravity into the building sewer.

Circuit vent. A branch vent that serves two (2) or more traps and extends from in front of the last fixture connection of a horizontal branch to the vent stack.

Combination fixture. A fixture combining one (1) sink and tray or a two-or three-compartment sink, or tray in one (1) unit.

Combined building sewer. A building sewer which also receives stormwater.

Common vent. See "dual vent."

Conductor. See "leader."

Connection, backflow. See "backflow connection."

Continuous vent. A vent that is a continuation of and in a straight line with the drain to which it connects. A continuous vent is further designated by the angle the drain and vent make with the horizontal at the point of connection; for example, vertical continuous-waste-and-vent, forty-five-degree continuous-waste-and-vent, and flat (small-angle) continuous-waste-and-vent.

Continuous waste. A continuous waste is a waste from two (2) or more fixtures connected to a single trap.

Cross-connection. A cross-connection is any physical connection or arrangement of pipes between two (2) otherwise separate water-supply systems, one of which contains potable water and the other water of unknown or questionable safety, whereby water may flow from one system to the other, the direction of flow depending on the pressure differential between the two (2) systems.

Dead end. A branch leading from a solid, waste, vent building drain, or building sewer, which is terminated at a developed distance of two (2) feet, or more, by means of a cap, plug, or other closed fitting.

Developed length. The developed length of drainage or vent piping is its length measured along the centerline of the pipe and fittings.

Diameter. Unless otherwise specifically stated in this article, the nominal diameter as designated commercially.

Downspout (leader). The water conductor from the roof to the building storm drain or other means of disposal.

Drain. A drain or drain pipe is any pipe which carries wastewater or water-borne wastes in a building drainage system.

Drain area. See "area drain."

Drainage, piping. See "drainage system."

Drainage system. All piping within public or private premises, which conveys sewage, rainwater, or other liquid wastes, and shall include the building sewer.

Dry vent. Any vent that does not carry water or water-borne wastes.

Dual vent. A vent connecting at the junction of two (2) fixture drains and serving as a vent for both fixtures.

Effective opening. The minimum cross-sectional area at the point of water-supply discharge, measured or expressed in terms of the diameter of a circle, or, if the opening is not circular, the diameter of a circle of equivalent cross-sectional area.

Environmental air conditioning. The process of treating indoor air to continuously control its temperature, humidity, cleanliness, and circulation to meet human comfort requirements.

Fire line. A system of pipes and equipment used exclusively to supply water in an emergency for extinguishing fires.

Fixture branch. A fixture branch is the water-supply pipe from the water-distributing pipe to wall or floor line.

Fixture, combination. See "combination fixture."

Fixture drain. The drain from the trap of a fixture to the junction of that drain with any other drain pipe.

Fixture, plumbing. See "plumbing fixtures."

Fixture supply. A fixture supply is a water-supply pipe connecting the fixture with the fixture branch.

Fixture unit. A design factor so chosen that the load-producing values of the different plumbing fixtures can be expressed approximately as multiples of that factor.

Flood-level rim. The flood-level rim is the top edge of the receptacle from which water overflows.

Flush valve. A valve for flushing water closets and similar fixtures.

Frost proof closet. A closet without an integral trap where the trap and water supply control valve are installed below the frost line.

Grade. See "slope."

Grease interceptor. See "interceptor."

Grease trap. See "interceptor."

Hangers. See "supports."

Horizontal branch. A branch drain extending laterally from a soil or waste stack or building drain, with or without vertical sections or branches, which receives the discharge from one (1) or more fixture drains and conducts it to the soil or waste stack or to the building (house) drain.

Horizontal pipe. Any pipe or fitting, which is installed in a horizontal position, or which makes an angle of less than thirty (30) degrees from the horizontal.

House drain. See "building drain."

House sewer. See "building sewer."

Indirect waste pipe. A waste pipe which does not connect directly with the drainage system, but which discharges into it through a properly trapped fixture or receptacle.

Individual vent. A pipe installed to vent a fixture trap and connects with the general vent system above the fixture it serves.

Interceptor. A receptacle designed and constructed to intercept or separate and prevent the passage of oil, grease, and sand or other materials into the drainage system to which it is directly or indirectly connected.

Journeyman plumber. Any person other than a master plumber who supervises, engages in, or works at the actual installation, alteration, repair, service, and renovating of plumbing, and who has successfully fulfilled the examinations and requirements of the board.

Leader (downspout). The water conductor from the roof to the building storm drain or other means of disposal.

Loop vent. The same as a circuit vent except that it loops back and connects with a stack vent instead of the vent stack.

Main. In any system of continuous piping, the principal artery of the system to which branches may be connected.

Main vent. See "vent stack."

Master plumber. A person skilled in the planning, superintending, and the practical installation, repair, and service of plumbing and who is familiar with the codes, ordinances, or rules and regulations governing those matters, who alone, or through a person or persons under his supervision, performs plumbing work, and who has successfully fulfilled the examinations and requirements of the board.

Offset. An offset in a line of piping is a combination of elbows or bends which brings one section of the pipe out of line with but into a line parallel with another section.

Opening, effective. See "effective opening."

Outlet. As used in connection with water-distributing system, the discharge opening for the water to:

(1)

A fixture;

(2)

Atmospheric pressure (except into an open tank which is part of the water-supply system);

(3)

Boiler or heating system;

(4)

Any water-operated device or equipment requiring water to operate, but not a part of the plumbing system.

Person. A natural person, his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns; and such term shall also include a firm, partnership or corporation, its or their successors or assigns. Singular includes plural; male includes female and neuter.

Plumber. A person licensed by the state to install plumbing. Contract plumbing shall be done by "master plumbers" only.

Plumbing means and shall include:

(1)

All piping, fixtures, appurtenances and appliances for supply or recirculation of water, gas, liquids, and drainage or elimination of sewage including disposal systems or any combination thereof, for all personal or domestic purposes in and about buildings where a person or persons live, work or assemble; all piping, fixtures, appurtenances and appliances outside a building connecting the building with the source of water, gas, or other liquid supply, or combinations thereof, on the premises, or the main in the street, alley or at the curb; all piping, fixtures, appurtenances, appliances, drain or waste pipes carrying wastewater or sewage from or within a building to the sewer service lateral at the curb or in the street or alley or other disposal or septic terminal holding private or domestic sewage;

(2)

The installation, repair, service, and maintenance of all piping, fixtures, appurtenances and appliances in and about buildings where a person or persons live, work or assemble, for a supply of gas, water, liquids, or any combination thereof, or disposal of wastewater or sewage.

Plumbing inspector. A person licensed by the state to inspect plumbing work and installations in connection with health and safety laws and ordinances, who has no financial or advisory interests in any plumbing company. He is the field and office representative of the administrative authority.

Plumbing system. The plumbing system includes the drainage and vent system; the water-supply distributing pipes; the fixtures and fixture traps; and the stormwater drainage; with their devices, appurtenances, and connections.

Pool. A water receptacle used for swimming or as a plunge or other bath, designed to accommodate more than one (1) person at a time.

Potable water. Water which is satisfactory for drinking, culinary and domestic purposes, and which meets the requirements of the health authority having jurisdiction.

Private. In the classification of plumbing fixtures (private) shall apply to fixtures in residences and apartments and to fixtures in private bathrooms of hotels and/or motels and similar installations where the fixtures are intended for the use of a family or an individual.

Public. In the classification of plumbing fixtures, public shall apply to fixtures in general toilet rooms or schools, gymnasiums, hotels, railroad stations, public buildings, bars, private clubs, public comfort stations and other installations (whether pay or free) where a number of fixtures are installed so that their use is similarly unrestricted.

Relief vent. A relief vent is a vent the primary function of which is to provide circulation of air between drainage and vent systems.

Riser. A riser is a water-supply pipe which extends vertically one full story or more to convey water to branches or fixtures.

Sand interceptor. See "interceptor."

Sand trap. See "interceptor."

Sanitary sewer. A sewer which carries sewage and excludes storm, surface, and ground water.

Seal trap. See "trap seal."

Separator. See "interceptor."

Sewage. Any liquid waste containing animal or vegetable matter in suspension or solution, and which may include liquids containing minerals in solution from laboratories or industrial institutions.

Slope. The grade of a line of pipe is its slope in reference to a horizontal plane. In drainage it is usually expressed as the fall in fractions of an inch per foot length of pipe.

Soil pipe. Any pipe which conveys the discharge of water closets or fixtures having similar functions, with or without the discharge from other fixtures.

Stack. A general term for the vertical main of a system of soil, waste, or vent piping.

Stack vent. The extension of a soil or waste stack above the highest horizontal drain connected to the stack.

Storm drain. A drain used for conveying rainwater, subsurface water, condensate, cooling water, or similar discharges.

Subdrain, building. See "building subdrain."

Subdrain, house. See "building subdrain."

Subsoil drain. A drain installed for collection of subsurface or seepage water and conveying it to a place of disposal.

Sump. A tank or pit which receives the discharge from drains, or other wastes, located below the normal grade of the gravity system, and which must be emptied by mechanical means.

Supports, hangers, anchors. Devices for securing stacks, pipes, and fixtures, respectively, to walls, ceilings or floors.

System. System means interconnection between one (1) or more public or private end users of water, gas, sewer, or disposal systems that could be a threat to public health if improperly connected.

Trap. A fitting or device so designed and constructed as to provide a liquid seal which will prevent the back passage of air without materially affecting the flow of sewage or wastewater through it.

Trap seal. The vertical distance between the crown weir and the dip of the trap.

Unit fixture. See "fixture unit."

Used. When applied to plumbing material, fixture, or equipment, such term means previous installation and removal.

Vacuum breaker. See "backflow preventer."

Vent stack. A vertical vent pipe installed primarily for the purpose of providing circulation of air to and from any part of the drainage system.

Vent system. A pipe or pipes installed to provide a flow of air to or from a drainage system or to provide a circulation of air within such system to protect trap seals from siphonage and back pressure.

Vertical pipe. Any pipe or fitting, which is installed in a vertical position, or which makes an angle of not more than sixty (60) degrees from the vertical.

Waste pipe. Any pipe which receives the discharge of any fixture, except water closets or similar fixtures, and conveys it to the building drain, soil, or water stack.

Water-distributing pipe. In a building, one which conveys water from the water service pipe to the plumbing fixtures and other plumbing outlets.

Water main (street). A water-supply pipe for public or community use.

Water-service pipe. The pipe from the water main or other source of water supply to the building served.

Water-supply system. As to a building, the water-service pipe, the water-distributing pipes, and the necessary connecting pipes, fittings, control valves, and all appurtenances in or adjacent to the building.

Water treatment. A business which is conducted under contract and requires ability, experience, and skill in the analysis of water to determine how to treat influent and effluent water to alter or purify the water or to add or remove a mineral, chemical, or bacterial content or substance. The term includes the installation and service of fixed or portable water treatment equipment or a treatment apparatus, in public or private water treatment systems. The term also includes the making of connections necessary to the installation of a water treatment system.

Wet vent. Any waste pipe which also serves as a vent is a wet vent.

(Ord. No. 8607, §§ 1.1, 1.2, 4-7-86)

Cross reference

Definitions and rules of construction generally, § 1-3.