Air Gap Water Distribution System

Air gaps may be fabricated from commercially available plumbing components.

Air gap water distribution system.

Water distribution air gap. Water cannot flow from the sink to the tap in normal circumstances even if the water supply loses pressure. Once potable water leaves the outlet of a fixture it s either used or sent down the drain. An acceptable air gap must be twice the supply pipe diameter but never less than one inch measured vertically above the receiving vessel.

An air break provides a physical separation between the fixture indirect waste pipe and the receptor. Even with this design there is always a risk of backflow after which wastewater cannot properly find the right pipe and enters the fresh water supply line. Chapter 5 introduction to water distribution systems 149 the most traditional water distribution system is the piped system. An air break simply requires that there be no direct physical connection between the fixture indirect waste pipe and the receptor see figure 801 2a.

Air gap break tank systems provide several safeguards to ensure that the two water types can never cross contaminate. If allowed by the code the fixture indirect waste pipe may terminate below the flood level rim of the receptor creating a low inlet into the receptor. The simplest most reliable way to provide backflow prevention is to provide an air gap. In a plumbing system potable water and wastewater are intended to flow through different pipes to avoid contamination.

In simple terms an air gap is the simplest backflow prevention method. Air gap water distribution system the unobstructed vertical distance through the free atmosphere between the lowest opening from any pipe or faucet supplying water to a tank plumbing fixture or other device and the flood level rim of the receptacle. There are two types of piped systems. Air gaps are very effective whether backsiphonage or backpressure is the backflow condition being isolated.

Air gaps of appropriate design are required for water safety by legislation in many countries. List the three primary functions of a water. Utilizing the concept of a physical air gap these systems prevent the direct contact between potable water and non potable water within a building or facility. An air gap in your plumbing system prevents health hazards.

An air gap is simply an open vertical space between any device that connects to a plumbing system like a valve or faucet and any place where contaminated water can collect or pool. The conventional system and the completely looped circulat ing system. The circulating system is common in the arctic. In the event of a drain back up or flood the contents of the drain line should never be able to make contact with the water supply the two plumbing systems for potable water and for waste should always remain separate.