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Water Distribution System Design Guidelines Within Building

This article is about Water Distribution System Design Guidelines and Layout Within Building specially Downstream of Isolation Valve and within building in commercial buildings, plants and refinery projects related to Plumbing Engineering System as per international codes and standards.

Water Distribution System Design Guidelines Within Building

  1. The following piping material shall be used for all water-distribution piping and fittings and water supply system. Also see item A2 and A3 in this SAIC
    – Cement lined carbon steel,
    – Type K or L copper,
    – Schedule 80 PVC, for cold water distribution systems outside buildings only such as for building supply lines
    – Schedule 80 CPVC
    – RTR (Fiberglass) ”
    “Schedule 80 PVC pipe and fittings shall be used for cold water distribution systems outside a building
    Note: PVC pipe shall not be used for water above 120°F (49°C).”
  2. cPVC pipe and fittings are permitted for use in hot water service where the maximum hot water temperature does not exceed 160°F (71°C).
  3. Fittings used with plastic pipe shall be of the material and weight to match the pipe, except that CPVC fittings may be used with PVC pipe.
  4. Thermoplastic pipes such as PVC, uPVC, cPVC and HDPE are not permitted for buried building supply lines in Hydrocarbon building areas unless prior approval is obtained from the chairman of Plumbing & Utilities Standard Committee.
  5. Plastic pressure piping systems shall not be installed under any building floor slab, basement or cellar, unless the piping is fully encased in concrete or protected by steel sleeve.
  6. Plastic valves are not approved for general usage in water distribution systems within buildings.
    Note: Plastic valves may be used for specific projects upon approval of the Chairman of Plumbing and Utilities Standards Committee. Such plastic valves shall have union connections at both ends and shall be in an exposed location”
  7. A union shall be installed adjacent to each threaded valve in metallic system.
  8. Section service shut-off valves shall be provided for each grouping of three or more fixtures in any plumbing installation.
  9. The minimum size water meter shall be ¾ in (25 mm OD) inlet and outlet nominal diameter.
  10. The minimum building supply pipe shall be ¾ in (25 mm OD) nominal diameter.
  11. Any connection from a Saudi Aramco-owned water supply system to a building or building area not under the direct control of Saudi Aramco shall be provided with an approved backflow prevention device.
  12. Underground parallel water supply and firewater piping shall have a minimum horizontal clear distance of 12 in (305 mm).
  13. Buried carbon steel piping shall be coated in accordance with SAES-H-002.
  14. No non-Saudi Aramco water supply system shall be connected to any Saudi Aramco owned, operated or maintained water supply system without the approval of the Chairman of Plumbing and Utilities Standards Committee and the Saudi Aramco Medical Services Organization (SAMSO). Such approved connections shall have lockable isolation valves and approved backflow prevention devices between the two water supply systems.
  15. No person shall make a connection, or allow one to exist, of a drinking water line to a line intended to carry chlorinated raw water.
  16. No person shall make a connection, or allow one to exist, of a water line to a dedicated firewater system unless the water line in question is a continuation of the dedicated firewater system.
  17. Connections between dissimilar metals shall be by means of a dielectric or insulating union.
  18. All building water supply systems in which quick-acting valves are installed shall be provided with water hammer arrestors. They shall be installed as close as possible to quick-acting valves
  19. A pressure-type anti-siphon valve shall be used on all water piping directly connected to any mosque or musallah ablution station. The valve shall be located not less than 6 in (150 mm) above the overflow or flood level rim of the highest fixture or tank that it serves.
  20. A pressure-type anti-siphon valve shall be used on each hose connection such as hammam ablution hoses, gardening hoses, etc. (each hose bibbs).
  21. Sleeves shall be provided to protect all piping through concrete and masonry wall (UPC 313.10.1)
  22. In exterior walls, annular space between sleeves and pipes shall be sealed and made watertight. (UPC 313.10.3)
  23. Any Pipe sleeve through a firewall shall have the space around the pipe completely sealed with an approved (Acceptable to the Authority Having Jurisdiction) fire resistive / fire stop material (UPC 313.10.4)
  24. All piping and /or sleeves penetrations of fire resistance rated walls, partitions, floors, floor / ceiling assemblies roof / ceiling assemblies shall be protected by an approved (Acceptable to the Authority Having Jurisdiction) firestop / fire resistive system.
    Note:
    Material of firestop system shall be tested in accordance with ASTM E 119 or ASTM E 184. (UPC 313.7)
    (Container of the material should specify that the firestop material is in accordance with either ASTM E 119 or ASTM E 184)”
  25. Voids around piping passing through concrete floor shall be sealed
    (UPC Para 313.1)”
  26. All piping in connection with a plumbing system shall be so installed that piping or connections will not be subject to undue strains or stresses.
    (UPC Para 313.2)”
  27. Plastic pressure piping systems within buildings shall be provided with expansion loops, bends or offsets to accommodate movements in the amount of 3 inches per 100 feet (0.002 meters per meter) in cold water distribution CPVC systems, or 6 inches per 100 feet (0.005 meters per meter) in hot water distribution CPVC systems.
  28. Color Identification:
    Where Raw/Utility and Drinking Water systems are installed each system shall be clearly identified. Each system shall be color coded as follows:
    a) Drinking Water System (PDW) – Light Blue with Black Markings
    b) Raw/Utility Water System (PRW) – Dark Blue with White Markings
  29. Each System shall be identified with a colored band to designate the liquid being conveyed and the direction of the normal flow shall be clearly marked. The color identification band shall be indicated every 20 feet but at least one in each room and shall be visible at floor level.
  30. The minimum size of the letters and length of the color field shall be in reference to the table below:”
    Minimum Length of Color Field and Size of Letters
  31. Water Distribution System Design Guidelines Within Building

International Codes and Standard References for Water Distribution System

1-SAES-S-010 – Sanitary Sewers.
2-SAES-S-040 – Saudi Aramco Water Systems.
3-Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), 2000.

4. Sanitary Sewer Pipe LayOut and Design Guidelines.

5. Water Distribution System Design Guidelines and Layout

 

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