PH Standards

Rod Green

Rod Green of Polypipe Gulf asks whether the time has come for the governments of the GCC to get together and formulate a uniform set of plumbing and drainage codes?

Water and drainage systems in buildings have been around since the time of the Romans, who understood the need for self cleansing gradients, water flow velocities and the relationship of waste water with air.

Roman engineers designed and built aqueducts to carry water to, and waste water away from communal toilet areas in a practical and efficient manner that greatly assisted the pathway towards urbanisation.

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The principles of drainage have not changed over the millennia; good drainage systems rely on self cleansing pipework and are designed to manage air fluctuations.

During the early development of modern building drainage and water supply systems, the technical and analytical equipment to assist research was not available, and as such, national codes were introduced based on ‘theoretical assumptions’ and ‘what works best’ principles in that particular country or region.

However, in the 1900’s the development of fluid mechanics saw further advances in plumbing systems and drainage principles and design.

We now have a number of national codes around the world that have been developed to produce the same result, to supply domestic water and convey waste water practically, efficiently and safely to and from the built environment, each of the codes use different design and installation criteria.

However, whilst the existing codes rely on the use of pre-determined tables based on steady state (continuous flow) fluid hydraulic calculations; however; waste water discharge is anything but steady and is actually very random.

A good example of this is the difference between the American International Plumbing Code (IPC) and the American Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC). Both codes are based on Discharge Fixture Units (DFU’s) which in some cases differ for a number of appliances, therefore trying to compare relative values is not easy.

Tables and charts are then used to determine pipe sizes, with no real means available to determine hydraulic conditions within the drainage system.

The European Norms (EN) are based on Discharge Units (DU’s) which differ from the American DFU’s. Additionally, the EN standards incorporate National Annexes to enable local requirements to be incorporated into the system design. The BS (British Standard) EN Codes are utilised in the UK as well as worldwide.

Tables and charts are used in conjunction with hydraulic calculations to determine pipe sizes, flow rates, velocities and where necessary hydraulic mean depths, providing a greater understanding of the hydraulic conditions within the drainage system.

In recent times the Middle East has seen many complex buildings designed and built throughout the region, creating new challenges for the design and installation of water and drainage systems.

Buildings have been designed by engineers and companies worldwide using a variety of codes, resulting in inconsistent installations that in some cases are far from adequate and a risk to public health.

Different regions have developed local design guidance and requirements incorporating local historical practices integral to the culture of that region. The introduction of external national codes has created a cocktail of ‘cut and paste’ design and installation practices that are in the main failing to address the basic hydraulic principles associated with good plumbing and drainage systems.

On my extensive travels around the GCC, I have received the same questions and found great confusion regarding the correct use of codes and standards continually raised from both MEP consultants, clients and contractors alike.

Is it not time for the GCC governments to take a positive step forward together to develop a uniformed set of plumbing and drainage codes, incorporating local annexes based on the BS EN codes to compliment locally used products and to ensure the effective and consistent design and installation of these essential building services?

Rod Green can be reached at discuss@itp.com