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Glossary |
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A |
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ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene):
A family of resins created by
polymerizing two liquids (acrylonitrile, styrene) and a gas
(butadiene). The result is a thermoplastic that is strong,
long-wearing, and resistant to stains and chemicals.
Access Panel:
An opening in the wall or ceiling near the fixture that allows access for servicing the plumbing/electrical system.
Acrylic:
Material composed of various clear, thermoplastic resins obtained from
acrylic acid and its derivatives, and from raw natural sources such as
petroleum and natural gas. The effect is achieved by the polymerization
of the esters of amides in acrylic acid or methacrylic acid.
Adaptor:
A fitting that unites different types of pipe together, e.g. ABS to cast iron pipe.
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B |
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C |
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Cell-cast:
Manufacturing method involving the formation of molten plastic by
pouring liquid-acrylic resins into a mold, then sealing the material
between plate-glass sheets for curing.
Cleanout:
A plug in a trap or drain pipe that provides access for the purpose of clearing an obstruction.
Closet Auger:
A flexible rod with a curved end used to access the toilet's built-in trap and remove clogs.
Closet Bend:
A curved fitting that connects the closet flange to the toilet drain.
Closet Flange:
An anchoring ring secured to the floor. The base of the toilet is secured to this ring with bolts.
Co-extrusion:
Method of manufacturing that combines various plastic polymers to
produce a range of colors, clarities and modifications, such as flame
retardance, impact strength and weatherability.
Continuous-cast:
An improvement to cell-casting which made it possible to produce
acrylic in long lengths, on reels, with only moderate inconsistencies
in thickness.
Copolymer:
A product, manufactured through co-extrusion, which features combined properties of various polymers.
Coupling:
A fitting that joins two pieces of pipe.
CPVC (Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride):
Rigid plastic pipe used in water supply systems, where code permits.
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D |
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DWV:
Abbreviation for drain, waste and vent.
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E |
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E-Flex:
a brand of Kabelwerk Eupen AG
Elbow:
A pipe fitting with two
openings that changes the direction of the line. Also called an ell. It
comes in a variety of angles, from 22 1/2° to 90°.
Eucadrain:
a brand of Kabelwerk Eupen AG
Eucalene:
a brand of Kabelwerk Eupen AG
Eucaprotect:
a brand of Kabelwerk Eupen AG
Eucarigid:
a brand of Kabelwerk Eupen AG
Eucavolt:
a brand of Kabelwerk Eupen AG
Extrusion:
One of the basic methods of
shaping molten plastic resins. Likened to squeezing toothpaste,
extrusion involves solid resins melting as a screw pushes them through
a heating chamber. The opening through which the resins are forced
gives the product its form, resulting in consistent thickness and gauge
control.
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F |
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Fall/Flow:
The proper slope or pitch of a pipe for adequate drainage.
Fixture:
In plumbing, the devices that provide a supply of water and/or its disposal, e.g. sinks, tubs, toilets.
Flux:
The paste that is used in soldering metal joints. Flux aids the process by preventing oxidation of the joint.
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G |
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H |
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I |
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I.D.:
Abbreviation for inside diameter. All pipes are sized according to their inside diameter.
Impact-modified acrylics:
Constructed by a continuous-casting process, these acrylics are
enhanced to withstand up to 10 times the impact strength of standard
acrylic.
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J |
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K |
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L |
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M |
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N |
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O |
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O.D.:
Abbreviation for outside diameter.
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P |
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PB (Polybutylene):
Flexible plastic tubing used in water supply systems where allowed by code.
PETG:
A polyester that has been chemically modified and developed into a
UV-resistant copolyester. PETG meshes the strength of polycarbonate
with the weatherability characteristic of acrylics.
Plastic:
Material, usually polymers developed from the by-products of oil
refining and coal distillation, which, though stable in normal use,
changes its shape when pressure or heat (or both) is applied. If the
materials soften again when reheated, they are said to be
thermoplastic. If, after fashioning, they resist further applications
of heat, they are said to be thermoset.
Plexiglas®:
A clear, transparent thermoplastic synthetic resin used for casting and
molding. Introduced in 1936, Plexiglas is a hybrid word, combining
"plexus," a term meaning the combination of various parts in a
structure, and "glas," which implies the clarity of glass. In 1972,
Plexiglas was the first acrylic to become impact-modified. It
reportedly offered a compromise between standard acrylic and
polycarbonate.
Plumber's Putty:
A pliable, popular putty used to seal joints between drain pieces and fixture surfaces.
Polycarbonate:
A hybrid word meaning "many in composition with carbon
atoms." Polycarbonate resins feature many chains of molecules linked to
one another, forming a hard thermoplastic with a great resistance to
impact and softening. Polycarbonate has been reported to be 50 times
stronger than acrylic.
Polymer:
A high-molecular-weight organic compound, natural or synthetic, whose
structure can be represented by a repeated small unit, the monomer
(e.g., polyethylene, rubber, cellulose). Synthetic polymers are formed
by addition of condensation polymerization of monomers. If two or more
different monomers are involved, a copolymer is obtained. Some polymers
are elastomers, some plastics.
Polypropylene:
A type of plastic often used for banner materials and noted for its
flexibility at low temperatures and its resistance to chemicals.
Protec:
a brand of Kabelwerk Eupen AG
PVC:
An acronym for polyvinyl chloride, PVC is a thermoplastic that is strong and especially resistant to water, acids and abrasion.
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Q |
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R |
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Reducer:
A fitting that connects pipes of different sizes.
Riser:
A vertical assembly of fittings and pipes that distributes water upward.
Rough-In:
The portion of a plumbing installation that includes running the water
supply lines and drain, waste & vent lines to the proposed location
of each fixture.
Run:
A complete or secondary section(s) of pipe that extend from supply to fixture or drain to stack.
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S |
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Sanitary Fitting:
Fitting that joins the assorted pipes in a drain, waste and vent
system; designed to allow solid material to pass through without
clogging.
Soil Stack:
Largest vertical drain line to which all branch waste lines connect; carries waste to the sewer line.
Solder:
A metal alloy that is melted to join or mend metal surfaces; also, the act of melting solder into the joint.
Stop Valve:
A valve that controls the flow of water to an individual fixture,
allowing water supply to be stopped to one fixture without affecting
the water supply to other fixtures.
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T |
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Tee:
A T-shaped fitting with three openings used to create branch lines.
Thermoforming:
Any process of forming
thermoplastic sheet which consists of heating the sheet and forcing it
into a surface mold. Also known as pan forming.
Thermoplastic:
Widely used materials, such as
ABS, acrylic, polycarbonate and PVC, which can be melted again and
again. They melt when heated to a certain temperature, but harden again
as they cool.
Thermosetting:
A method of thermoforming in
which plastics can be melted only once. After melting, they harden as
heat is added. Widely used thermoset plastics include epoxy, polyester,
silicone and urethane.
Trap:
Curved section of a fixture drain line, designed to hold water thus preventing sewer gases from entering the house.
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U |
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Union:
Three-piece fitting that joins
two sections of pipe, but allows them to be disconnected without
cutting the pipe. Used primarily with steel pipes, but never in a DWV
system.
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V |
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Vent Stack:
The upper portion of the soil stack above the topmost fixture through which gases and odors escape.
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W |
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WYE:
A Y-shaped fitting with three openings used to create branch lines
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X |
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Y |
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Z |
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0-9 |
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