INDIAN PLUMBING PRACTICE

Manual on water supply and treatment

Ministry of works and housing, Government of
India, New Delhi
NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF INDIA
IS:1172 Code of basic requirements for water supply, drainage
and sanitation
IS:2065 Code of practice for water supply in buildings
IS:6295 Code of practice for water supply and drainage in high
altitudes and/or subzero temperature regions
IS:7558 Code of practice for domestic hot water installations

Practicing plumbers must have license from an

GRID IRON PATTERN

HOUSE WATER
CONNECTION
Direct supply system
Low-rise dwellings, up to two storeys only
Sufficient pressure in mains
Downtake system
High-rise buildings
Booster pumps with underground or terrace
storage
Ferrule on the main for disconnections
Stop-cock at service pipe for connections

HOUSE WATER
CONNECTION

DIRECT SYPPLY SYSTEM

INDIRECT SUPPLY
SYSTEM

DIRECT OHT SUPPLY TO WC

UNDERGROUND
STORAGE TANK

UNDERGROUND TANK SUPPLY

HYDRO-PNEUMATIC SYSTEM

HOT WATER SUPPLY

Average Temperature in India 20 0C to 500C
Typical Hot Water Requirements, Liter Per Capita per
Day, lpcd
Residences with shower/tap 45, with bath tub 135
Factories with showers 90, with ablution only 45
Hospitals 180 per bed, 90 per staff, 10 per visitor
Hostels, etc. 135
Hotels with showers 90, with tubs 135, 45 per staff,
15 per visitor, Swimming pool 45
Restaurants thrice the number of bed plus twice the
number of seat covers, or 5 per meal
Laundry 20 per kg

HOT WATER SYSTEMS

Direct System
Hot water circulates between boiler and
storage tank and freshwater fed directly
into the same circuit makes up as hot
water is drawn-off.
Indirect System
Hot water in the primary circuit is used only
to raise temperature of stored water (hot
water radiator). It is withdrawn for
domestic use from secondary circuit.

DIRECT SYSTEM

HOT WATER SUPPLY

SYSTEMS

SPECIAL DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

Special maintenance and installation control of services

installations are required in hot water plumbing systems.
Bacterial growth develops in warm moist environment which
causes a disease known as Legionnaires disease (name
attributed to a group of retired legionnaires who were infected
whilst attending a reunion in Philadelphia, USA, in 1976).
Stagnant hot water in plumbing systems favors bacterial
growth.
A large number of outbreaks of the disease have occurred
with some people suffering a prolonged illness similar to
pneumonia.

GEYSERS
Pressure Type Electric Heater

GEYSERS

GEYSERS
INSTANTANEOUS TYPE SYSTEM

EXPLOSION IN GEYSERS
Geysers
burst due
to failure
of
electronic
circuitry
called
thermosta
t.

INSULATION
Prevents heat loss from water and consequent heating
of spaces.
Insulation material should be non-corrosive, non-toxic,
moisture-resistant, rot and vermin proof, fire
resistant, light, easy to apply, anti-weathering, durabe,
good insulation and low thermal conductivity.
Characteristics. Density kg/m3, thermal conductivity
(kCal per m per hr per 0C)
Mineral Wool. Fibers spun, melted and blended from
selected rocks. Available in loose wool or resin bonded
mats and pipe section of various thicknesses.
Glass Wool or Fiber Glass. Manufactures from pure flint.
Polyurethane. Foams manufactured from resins of
polyesters or polyether based polyol. Rigid slabs and
performed pipe sections.

FIRE FIGHTING
REQUIREMENTS
Upto 15m height.
No requirements if occupancy <25.
Underground Storage Tank (ST) 50kL, Terrace
Tank (TT) Nil
15-35m height: ST 100 kL, TT 20 kL
35-60m height: ST 150 kL, TT Nil
60-92m height: ST 200 kL, TT Nil
More than 92m: ST 250 kL, TT Nil

NBC GENERAL
REQUIREMENTS

Avoid formation of air locks

Avoid noise transmission
Avoid unsightly arrangement
Smooth joints
Gradual size and direction changes
No direct connection of boilers or hot machinery,
use feed cistern

NBC CONSUMER PIPES

REQUIREMENTS

Underground connection to communication pipe

Use stop-cocks suitably to minimize interruption during
repairs of sections
Do not use booster pumps directly on the service pipe,
use it on a storage tank
Consideration of expansion and contraction or other
movements
No service pipe connection with distribution pipe; tanks
may backflow into service pipes causing contamination
and overpressure
No direct service pipe connection with any water closet
or urinals; use separate storage tanks instead
No direct service pipe connection to hot water apparatus

NBC WATER STORAGE

REQUIREMENTS
Purpose
To provide against interruptions of the supply caused by
repairs to mains, etc.
To reduce the maximum rate of demand on the mains
To tide over periods of intermittent water supply
To maintain a storage for firefighting requirements
Provisions
Generally welded, riveted or pressed galvanized steel
tanks are used. Steel tanks bitumen coated internally and
exterior painted with anti-corrosive weather-resistant
paint are also used.
Tanks are covered with dust-tight, mosquito-proof lids and
are provided with mosquito-proof warning pipes.
Stop valve or stop tap at each outlet except overflow pipe

NBC WATER STORAGE

REQUIREMENTS
Storage capacity requirements criteria
Hours of supply at sufficiently high pressure to fill up the
overhead tank
Frequency of replenishment of overhead tanks during 24 hours
Rate and regularity of water supply
Consequences of exhausting storage particularly in case of
public buildings like hospitals.
Generally minimum half a days supply is stored when the
water supply is intermittent and the hours of supply are
irregular.
It is not necessary to have separate storage for flushing and
sanitary requirements when there is only one communication
pipe provided for water supply to a building. Tap water for
flushing purpose from lower level and other domestic purposes
from upper level outlets.