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How To Build a Reliable Plumbing System for New Commercial Construction

Overview

When installing a plumbing system for a commercial building, priorities should focus on efficiency, durability, and long-term performance. From selecting materials to ensuring proper drainage, every detail matters in creating a reliable system—this blog post by Lubbock A-1 Plumbing, LLC explores them.

Highlights

• Planning the layout
• Choosing plumbing materials
• Installing the water supply and distribution lines
• Setting up drainage and wastewater systems
• Ensuring proper plumbing ventilation
• Installing a water heater
• Testing the system
• Meeting plumbing codes and regulations

Introduction

Plumbing is installed early in construction, right after the framing and rough-in. Getting it right ensures your water supply, drainage, and fixtures work efficiently from day one.

Knowing what goes into this phase, including the required materials and components, allows you to plan for future needs, meet code requirements, and avoid costly changes later.

Lubbock A-1 Plumbing, LLC will go over how to build a reliable plumbing system for new construction.

Planning Your Plumbing Layout for New Construction

Your plumbing layout should be guided by a map of the water supply lines, drainage systems, and venting, carefully designed and executed by professionals. This will start with analyzing the architectural blueprints to determine pipe routes, fixture placements, and utility connections.

The general layout needs to account for flow dynamics and fixture placement to ensure consistent water pressure. A looped hot water recirculation system for instant hot water, for instance, might be necessary if you have a larger property. Similarly, planning for high-demand areas might involve upsizing pipes.

Your plan should also factor in accessibility for maintenance and repairs. With cleanouts placed at key junctions for drain systems, blockages can be addressed without extensive disruption. Utility spaces, like your basement, are typically centralized in the layout for this purpose.

Choosing the Right Plumbing Materials for a New Build

Some plumbing materials are near-universally used for specific purposes, while others are chosen based on your space’s unique requirements.

PEX, for instance, is widely used for water supply lines because it’s flexible, easy to install, and resistant to cracking in cold temperatures. PVC is also commonly used for drain, waste, and vent systems since it’s affordable and can sufficiently shoulder the demands of wastewater flow.

Here are a few other materials to consider:

• Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC): Suitable for hot water supply lines due to its ability to withstand high temperatures
• Brass: Valued for fittings and smaller components due to its corrosion resistance and longevity
• Polyethylene (PE): Commonly used for outdoor and underground water service lines because of its flexibility and resistance to environmental stress
• Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS): A lightweight plastic alternative to PVC that’s commonly used for drain, waste, and vent systems
• Lead-free alloys: Used in fittings and valves to comply with modern safety standards while providing durability

Installing the Main Water Supply and Distribution Lines

The main water supply line connects your property to the municipal water source or a private well. From there, distribution lines branch off to deliver water to your fixtures like faucets, showers—if your business has them, and appliances.

The optimal path for the main line, planned prior to installation, is typically underground to your property’s foundation. You’ll need trenches for these, where the pipes will be laid and connections secured to prevent leaks. Distribution lines are then routed through walls, floors, and ceilings.

The installation technique used needs to ensure that water is balanced across all fixtures to avoid issues like low flow in certain areas. For instance, professionals may install pressure-regulating valves or booster pumps if the main water supply needs to cover a significant distance.

Setting up the Drainage and Wastewater Systems

Drainage and wastewater systems move waste efficiently from fixtures to the main sewer line or septic system using gravity and carefully calculated pipe slopes. The setup starts with mapping out the shortest, most direct paths for waste lines to reduce the risk of clogs or slow drainage. Proper pipe sizing is also important, as it ensures your system can handle the expected volume of waste.

The installation will focus on securing pipes to prevent shifting and sagging, which is typically more of an issue in longer horizontal runs where gravity can cause the pipes to bow over time. Properly placed supports and hangers are used to maintain alignment and ensure consistent flow, which further reduces the risk of blockages or leaks in the system.

Ensuring Proper Plumbing Ventilation

Proper plumbing ventilation relies on more than just vent pipes; it involves designing a system that ensures air can circulate freely through all parts of the drainage network. Requisite planning includes extending vent stacks vertically through your roof and placing auxiliary vents along key points.

Ventilation also needs to account for scenarios where vent stacks alone aren’t enough. For example, if you have a complex plumbing layout with multiple fixtures far from the main supply line, you might need branch vents or air admittance valves (AAVs) to maintain airflow.

Here are the primary considerations for ventilation:

• Vent stack placement: Ensure the main vent stack is positioned to serve all fixtures and extends above the roofline to release sewer gases safely.
• The slope of drain pipes: Properly sloped pipes allow wastewater to flow freely and prevent airlocks that can disrupt the system.
• The distance to vent pipes: Ensure fixtures are within the maximum allowable distance from a vent pipe, as per local building codes, to prevent siphoning of water traps.
• A multi-story building design: Incorporate secondary vent stacks or branch vents to maintain airflow for fixtures on upper levels.
• Avoiding overloads: Plan the system to handle peak usage times without creating pressure imbalances or flow disruptions.

What’s the Role of Vent Pipes in Plumbing Design?

Without vent pipes, drainage systems would have pressure imbalances that could cause slow draining or even the release of gases. They work by allowing air to enter the plumbing system, which prevents vacuums from forming as wastewater flows through the pipes.

Besides improving drainage, vent pipes protect the integrity of water traps, which are U-shaped bends in the pipes beneath sinks, toilets, and other fixtures. Without vent pipes, pressure changes in the plumbing system could siphon the water out of these traps, leaving your fixtures vulnerable.

Installing a Water Heater for New Construction

Before the water heater installation process begins, you need to choose the right unit. To do this, consider factors like your hot water demand, energy efficiency preferences, and available space. If the project is for a large restaurant, it may be better to install a high-capacity tank water heater, for instance.

Installation will involve connecting the water heater to the plumbing via inlet and outlet pipes for cold and hot water and, if applicable, gas or electrical systems. For gas models, proper ventilation is a key consideration, while electric models need to be wired to the power supply safely.

The last step is to test the system to confirm consistent water temperatures, proper pressure, and leak-free operation. For tankless systems, flow rate and capacity are calibrated to meet peak demand, and if there’s any irregularity, adjustments are made to the temperature settings or flow controls.

Testing and Inspecting Your Plumbing System

With all the necessary components and connections installed, your plumbing system is ready for final testing to ensure it operates efficiently and meets all required standards. By thoroughly evaluating the system, potential issues like weak joints or improper connections can be identified and resolved.

The purpose of these tests is to confirm that the plumbing meets safety and performance standards.

Here are a few key areas the inspection and tests cover:

• Leak detection: Ensuring all connections, joints, and pipes are sealed and leak-free
• Pressure testing: Verifying that water supply lines maintain consistent pressure without any weak spots
• Drainage flow: Confirming that wastewater flows properly through the drainage system without blockages or slowdowns
• Ventilation checks: Ensuring vent pipes are functioning correctly to maintain airflow and prevent sewer gas buildup
• System compliance: Checking that the entire system adheres to local building codes and regulations

Meeting Local Plumbing Codes and Regulations

Local plumbing codes ensure that plumbing systems are safe, efficient, and reliable. There are unique provisions and rules for aspects like pipe materials, system layout, water pressure limits, and wastewater management to prevent hazards like contamination or drainage failures.

These codes are verified during the planning, installation, and inspection phases of a project. Plumbers follow detailed guidelines when designing and installing systems, which involves submitting plans for approval before work begins. Inspections are then conducted at different stages to confirm compliance.

Enforcement is handled by local building departments or inspectors, who have the authority to approve work, request modifications, or deny work that doesn’t meet the code. Non-compliance can cause project delays and legal penalties, so it’s important to adhere to all regulations from the start.

Build a Reliable System With an Expert Plumbing Company

If you’re building a commercial property, ensuring a reliable plumbing system starts with expert planning and installation. Lubbock A-1 Plumbing, LLC can handle every step, from designing an efficient layout to meeting local codes and regulations.

Work with an expert plumbing company to build a durable system—call (806) 796-0206.