1. PLUMBING APPLIANCES & COMPONENTS

2. Below: Domestic cold water storage tank.
PLUMBING APPLIANCES &
COMPONENTS
Below: Domestic cold water storage tank.
Above: hot water boiler

3. PLUMBING APPLIANCES & COMPONENTS
Once water is heated, it is stored in a hot water storage tank for distribution to radiators and taps.

4. Cold and hot water tanks shown together.
PLUMBING APPLIANCES &
COMPONENTS
Cold and hot water tanks shown together.

5. PLUMBING APPLIANCES &
COMPONENTS
Combination (combi) boiler: these boilers supply hot water on demand, and do not require a hot water storage tank. They are ideal for small buildings, such as apartments.

6. Note that the cover has been removed to show the inside of the boiler.
PLUMBING APPLIANCES &
COMPONENTS
Hot water can also be provided by localised boilers, such as the one shown right.
Note that the cover has been removed to show the inside of the boiler.

7. Above: water boilers in a large office building.
PLUMBING APPLIANCES &
COMPONENTS
Above: water boilers in a large office building.

8. PLUMBING APPLIANCES &
COMPONENTS
Waste gases from boilers are discharged to atmosphere via flues, such as those shown above.

9. Wash hand basin, taps, waste pipe and bottle trap.
PLUMBING APPLIANCES &
COMPONENTS
Wash hand basin, taps, waste pipe and bottle trap.
W.C. cistern and macerator. The macerator can be fitted to W.C.s installed in basements, and will reduce solids to a liquid before waste enters a foul drain.

10. Left: plastic pipe work running through floor joists.
PLUMBING APPLIANCES &
COMPONENTS
Left: plastic pipe work running through floor joists.
Right: Shower head, mixer valve and shower tray.

11. Copper pipe is widely used in plumbing applications
PLUMBING APPLIANCES &
COMPONENTS
Copper pipe is widely used in plumbing applications

12. PLUMBING APPLIANCES &
COMPONENTS
LOWER
HIGHER
Plastic foul drain pipes waiting connection to W.C. s. Note the slope of the pipe, known as the “fall.” This varies, depending upon the diameter of the pipe.

13. PLUMBING APPLIANCES &
COMPONENTS
Plastic waste pipes, awaiting connection to wash hand basins during construction of a University.

14. PLUMBING APPLIANCES &
COMPONENTS
To reduce environmental impact in buildings, sustainable energy can be used. The above picture shows a solar panel, one of a bank of several on the roof of a new building.

15. A disadvantage is higher costs of equipment during construction.
PLUMBING APPLIANCES &
COMPONENTS
Rainwater harvesting can be used to collect rain water for use in W.C.s.
Advantages are lower costs of water during the lifetime of a building, less reliance on mains water and reduced environmental impact.
A disadvantage is higher costs of equipment during construction.

16. PLUMBING APPLIANCES &
COMPONENTS
Rainfall is collected via the building’s gutters, and is directed to a storage tank.

17. PLUMBING APPLIANCES &
COMPONENTS
The water is then pumped through a filter (left) into a header tank (shown right), ready for use.

18. PLUMBING APPLIANCES &
COMPONENTS
Should a dry spell of weather affect collection of water, then pumps can draw water supplies from the mains.