Drainage:
• Begins with grading all water on top surface away from building & out to right- away
• Gutters, flumes, berm, gentle wrap of paved surfaces direct water to drains, catch basins & penetration soil works

Pipe (trench) perforated outside next to foundation footing
-To reduce hydrostatic pressure on water.
“Not”
-Maintain uniform or increase hydrostatic pressure
-Decrease vapor pressure in basement room

Drainage: Connecting on site drainage to existing city drainage

Wastewater collection: Always flows by gravity, pipes at constant slope, mains are below street level (one to two pipes). Grades to transport solids is ½% to 2%, and diameters are up to 4 ft and 20 ft long

Surface water management: Natural or mechanical site drainage systems

Green codes: Minimum volume of water to ground water

Runoff: Amount water- What does not seep into ground beyond saturation. Seepage is function o f porosity, slope, vegetation

5 year storm: Residential
25- 50 year storm: Shopping center

Drainage systems: Culvert, guiters, “sheet flows”, pipes

“Check dams”: To reduce speed at high slopes

Final/ finished ground surface: + positive drainage; Free of un-drained depressions. No water stagnation

To control or avoid erosion: Use channels, pipes, hard surface, lower grade, finally connect to underground pipes
Below traffic & surge pressures (-3 to -4ft in colder area).
Deep excavation may be cost prohibitive.
Destructive wears must be prevented.

Simpler the better: Minimum pipe length, access, slopes, …, filters

Green Code: Swales, surface drainage, native grasses used as green codes
Sub surface drains are function of permeability, depth of drain, size of drain, slope of drain, spacing of joints, perforated PVC/clay

Vapor extraction: Site contamination leads to ground water contamination: Clean up to remediate unsaturated zone: Vapor extraction “not” in situ incineration, bio degradation, photolysis

Extraction/treatment: Ground water remediation projects: Extraction/ treatment “Not” with in situ aeration, biological barriers/filters, gas chromatography

Water detention areas: Used for control surface water run off,
Not: To create swimming & recreation
To create aesthetically pleasing vistas
To act as reservoir during drought

Permeable water aquifer
Aquifer: Underground permeable material through which water flows

Permeability: A measure of ease with a particular fluid flows through voids. “Not” compressibility, osmosis, or cohesion

Hydrostatic pressure: Fluid force exerting pressure on building.
“Not” dynamic, water, or wedge

If 5 yr storm is not adequate: Go for 10 year storm (100 year too costly), or use growth vegetation area for absorb or swales

To reduce complex drainage system:
Create thick ground cover of plant materials to absorb and slow down
Drainage to collect, conduct, and dispose rain
Paving does not absorb
Best is to greater absorption and percolation- Reduce erosion
Earth berm only diverts flow

Probability of poor drainage:
Flat site, high water table, no storm drain system

Septic tank: Soil must be pervious (permeable). Slope= 1 inch in 24 ft 1 inch/24 ft (not ¼”/ft- too fast). 100 ft from any body of water.

Rain water: Keep natural runoff and runoff after construction the same. Removal of vegetation decreases transpiration, impervious surfaces reduce infiltration.

Boring and tests:

Soil test – No guessing- Liability

Test pits: Simple excavation, visual excavation of soil condition, soil layer in open pit (access to soil). Do not go below water table

Wash borings: >100′, use 2″ or 4″ diameter + water jet to soften soil to find bed rock (mistake => boulder is not bedrock)

Soil load: Use loading platform, incremental load applied, pressure continues till settlement becomes regular loadings, test= (2) contemplated load tests

Core boring: More cost, more reliable, penetrates thru, diamond blade cut thru rocks, 5″sample taken out for tests. # of bores, locations, Geotechnical Engineer to analyze for city

Dry samples: Drive pipes with special sampling and tip, 5” samples/lifted/stored/test every 5” each, # of bore, location, plus depth

Properties >>>>>>>>>> Foundations >>>>>>>>>>>>Soil bearings

Specific gravity: Density/density of water used to determine void ratio

Grain size: For granular soil) to determine permeability, frost action, compaction, shear strength

Grain shape: To estimate shear strength

Liquid/ plastic limit: (In cohesive soil) to determine compressibility & compaction values

Water content: (Cohesive soil)

Void ratio: To determine compressibility

Slump test: To measure the consistency of a mix. Concrete, mortar and grout stiff to loose.

Unconfined compression: (Cohesive soil) to estimate shear strength

Percolation test: On site sewage disposal for property “not” evaporation test, soil alkalinity, or soil density

Soil exploration & testing: Intrinsic character of soil. “Not” bearing capacity, depth or water table or bedrock

Proctor test: Optimum moisture content and density of soil.

Test boring: Highly accurate data for specific site.

Compacted fill: If soil is soft. Remove and replace with compacted soil. Fill or imported soil. Compact every 6” layer (sheep foot roller). Compacted fill needed for buildings, walkways and pavements.

Sub surface investigation reports includes
-Field results
-Laboratory results
-Foundation type recommendation
“Not”
-Soil sieve analysis: This is an inner component data only important to lab. analyst

Number of test boring when uniform sub surface. More spaced boring; When building foot print is more complex & square feet is high number of test boring increases

“Not” affected: Encountering firm strata; Regardless of strata, boring extends to 20′ min. unless rock is encountered

Geotechnical Engineer: Provides soil characteristics plus bearing capacity of soil

Soil damage

Water table:
• When soil is saturated, the line above is water table
• Parallels earth surface
• Varies with seasonal fluctuations
• Precipitation, on ground surface
• In practice: water table to be below foundation to avoid damage [hydro static/ capillary action]
• Water to be drained away “from building”
• Drainage tiles: 6″ below lowest floor slab
• Open joists to be covered with wire mesh then coarse gravel or stone back fill
• Slab on grade with no hydrostatic pressure is on gravel fill (6″-8″), water not drawn by capillary
• Sealant are used in all connections

Water table:
Boundary between aeration (zone) & saturation zone

Increased moisture content in bearing soils effects:
Chance in volume and reduction in bearing capacity
“not” increase in cohesion, or decrease in compatibility

Sudden loss of shearing resistance in cohesion less soil
Liquefaction
“Not” plasticity, collapsing soil, or expansive soil

Unstable differential settlement: building failures due to unstable subsoil that causes differential settlement of foundation:
Based on large beds of clay contained in gravel
“not” stratified rocks, small boulders in gravel, or deep layer of dry sand and gravel

Erosion: Removal of vegetarian from site causes erosion
“not” pollution, disorientation, defoliation

To reduce potential vertical movement due to expansive clay:
• Over excavate below footing grade & fill with compacted gravel,
• Extend footings & foundations to a depth of consistent ground moisure
• Drain surface water away from foundation
• Control roof water run off

“Not”: Water proof foundation to reduce filtration plant trees near building to stabilize ground

Settlement: As wp (weight) of buildings increase, soil under footing compresses, reduce void volume then bldg settles. Even bedrock has to be verified slight even settlement is okay.. Differential settlement creates cracks/ failures continuous survey of site as construction occurs is required settlement continuous with time due to void, moisture, movements

Earth movement: Great with easy subsoil, clay swells (wet) & shrinks moisture content @ surface with clay creates each movements @ 5′ earth movement is great. Serious issues if footings are different. Adjacent excavations affect clay moisture content this causes settlement or slippage @ sub surface clay slope surface + raw or moisture moves earth mass evidence: Structure with tilt or rows or sloping power poles

Cubic yard: Units measuring cuts & soils is volume “not” square yard (area), acres (area_, tonnage (weight)

Balancing cut & fill is for site grading
“not” Sediment control, land reclamation, footing excavation

Recently, I was engaged in designing of a device that protected the washing machine from ever flooding the living quarters.
A question arised: Would the plumbing Engineer specify this? Would the Plumbing Contractor purchase and install it? Would the Home Owner request it?
At the end of the day, what are the benefits of a product versus the cost of the product? Value of safety device can only be measured when the accident occurs and the level of damage and time loss generated. Unfortunately, we do not seek damage, and incidences occur based on probability. Now the value of safety device is promotional to the probability of accident as well as the cost of the damage.
What happens if the product is green and the gallons of water wasted and the material loss of the accident is now part of the equation. This perspective alters, depending on who is reviewing the question. An insurance company with 100,000 homes in the portfolio addresses differently than home owner. The apartment managers see this is an event that will occur versus if the event occurs.
The question is still out there: Do you specify or install a safety device preventing the Cloth washer from flooding? Let me know- snour@absoluteco.com
The following is my write-up on the device.
1. Prevents serious flooding caused by the washing machine drain hose dropping out of the 2” open drain connection.
2. Prevents drainage water escaping from the loose connection (vacuum break) when a blockage occurs downstream.
Note: the purpose of the loose drainage connection is to prevent the occurrence of self-siphonage caused by the washing machine during its washing cycle.
3. The incorporation of a backflow device (#8 on the patent diagram) which prevents the ingress of contaminated drainage water into the washing machine when a blockage occurs downstream.
4. The invention system requires connection to a vent system to enable direct connection of the washing machine to main drainage.
5. The invention incorporates a low voltage float switch that interrupts electrical supply via a GFI receptacle to the washing machine when a blockage occurs downstream. Also, this system ensures that electrical power cannot be restored to the washing machine until the blocked drain is cleared. Then the float switch returns to its normal “closed” position thus allowing the GFI reset button to be engaged and power resumed to the washing machine.
6. The incorporation of an LED light and audible alarm to alert the homeowner of a drain blockage.
7. Another important element of the invention is the one piece universal adaptor with a hand tight connection to the female adaptor drain connection. Part of the adaptor is a flexible rubber connector which accommodates all diameter washing machine drain hoses. Also supplied with the adaptor are several hard plastic liners to fit the various drain hose diameters. The correct one is selected and inserted into the open end of the washing machine drain hose. This operation supports the drain hose wall and prevents the hose end being distorted when compressed. The hose end is now pushed into the universal adaptors and stops when it reaches the correct connector. Pressure is now applied to the attached hose clip by means of a plumbers torque wrench. The soft rubber compresses onto the drain hose, thus ensuring a watertight yet flexible connection.
8. The invention requires connection to the drainage and vent system with no-hub connectors to facilitate ease of installation or removal of the “No Flood Washing Machine Outlet Box”.
9. Also supplied with the invention will be a pair of Flood Safe Connectors. These are flexible stainless steel hoses that will be connected from the dual hot and cold shut-off valve (within the invention) to supply water to the washing machine. These hoses are designed to automatically shut off in the event of a sudden rupture within the supply hose.
10. The invention will have UL and IAPMO listing.
11. It has been estimated that the invention will save the insurance companies at least one billion dollars every year.
12. IAC insurance has expressed great interest in the product and wish to see it as soon as it is available.

Once the task of identifying the percentage use of plastic DWV (Drain Waste piping) within residential construction market. I began a major search using several key words on the subject and sending emails to nearly all the who’s who of the plumbing industry.

The result was extremely interesting. And after many hours on investigation, the question was altered to following issue. Is there such data exist or if data is available, why so much secrecy on identifying the extend of usage plastic in the Construction residential.

The research ended with number of articles from variety of sources. The only source that responded to the answer was from survey performed by the National Home Builders Association. A sample of this survey is attached. The result of this survey must be purchased for a fee from NHBA web site.

The research also included many conversations with vendors and affiliates or manufacturer’s representatives. It is evident that the plumbing installer is taking the path of least resistance for their decision making process. The use of plastic is extremely less labor intensive and much faster to install.

In all areas with little code enforcement, the plastic is exclusively used in the residential market. And now the code bodies have adopted the plastic nearly throughout the country and almost all one to two story residential units are made with plastic piping. The only exceptions are the use of cast iron in sound sensitive areas (risers), between demising walls, etc..

In apartment complexes of more than two story, the plastic is not permitted based on its fire safety concerns.

The plastic industry in the Drain Waste Vent (DWV) piping has been divided into PVC and the ABS piping. The ABS is the most common application. However, the PVC substitution is rapidly on the horizon. The problem with the PVC is the flame spread distribution and exceeds the code bodies stating for an acceptable material. For all underground applications, both are acceptable. There are number of articles attached in promoting PVC vs. ABS.

What is interesting is that PEX, a plastic substitute for copper, for water distribution is rapidly travelling the same path as the DWV plastic piping in the home market. This is ver evident in the past plumbing conventions.

Based on the above argument, the respond to the original question of the amount of plastic used in residential market, can be indirectly determined by the statistics of the housing industry.

Finally, I was able to determine why so much secrecy about plastic piping. The reason was the daily lawsuits. For one reason or the other, the plastic piping manufacturer’s are being named in law suites on daily bases. Any information published by them can be and will be used against them. Plastic piping is in a good position. They sell their products and they do not need any advertising to sell it. Therefore, no information is published.