Recently, we were asked, should the Plumbing Engineer responsible show the floor depression for the floor drains?. Who selected the under counter dishwasher?, who is responsible for the investigation of sewer backflow preventer requirements?. Who is responsible for number of plumbing fixtures for the space? These areas and many more must be resolved once and for all.
In conversation with six architects, the consensus was that information for different trades are designed and noted on their own specific sheets. The concrete flooring depression and the floor tiles are designed by the architect. Architect is responsible to show the design of the flooring, the cove, the must setting, etc. These are on the architectural finish floor plans. The flooring contractor or the concrete person never sees the plumbing drawings. For pure concrete floor, generally contractors shave the concrete after poured, and for floor tiles are shaped via the mud setting, and of course the tiles surrounding the floor drain are small tiles or proper cuts.
The water heater serving the hand sink and the dishwasher has a temperature conflict. The single water heater is selected at 110 degrees F, this satisfies the ADA guidelines. However, there are two types of dishwashers. Dish washers that raise the water heating internally by 40 degrees (and require incoming water to be 120 degrees F), and the other type of dishwashers provide up to 60 degrees F rise. Although most ask the incoming water to be 120 degrees F. The 110 degrees F will be raised to 170 degree F, and satisfies the proper temperature for washing dishes (>160 degree F). Plumbing Engineers do not specify the dishwasher, and the architect should select the dishwashers with 60 degrees F rise.
The other gray area for this report is the plan check request for sewer backflow device. There is no doubt that the plumbing engineer will be specifying and addressing the issues. However, who is responsible for research required for this issue. The engineer is responsible to review the city achieves. Engineer is to identify the plumbing layout, and to dissect the first floor with upper floors. Ambiguities begin with the fact that contract with the plumbing engineer was a remodel of small space within a building. The Engineer must predetermine that his contract extends when that correction arises: Plumbing Engineer or Civil Engineer will provide the research on elevation of the upstream manhole in the street, and then to what extend does the correction apply. Work is only the ground floor fixtures under the TI or all of the first floor to be isolated. This can become a monumental act.
Almost in all cases the architects have laid out the plumbing fixtures. However, there are many times that the fixture count is not correct, a massive task of redoing plans at no charge under the category of plan check correction is due. Many cities, the plumbing plan checker do not question the fixture count or when they do see the plans, the entire floor plans requires major overhaul. In this case the plumbing engineer must be proactive and verify the fixture count. Plumbing Engineer should warn architect that the fixture count must be on the conservative and have the maximum possible number of fixtures. Please do not forget the parity rule.
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