Page 270 - The City and Guilds Textbook: Plumbing Book 1 for the Level 3 Apprenticeship (9189), Level 2 Technical Certificate (8202) and Level 2 Diploma (6035)

The City & Guilds Textbook: Plumbing Book 1

The supply pipe runs from the main external stop valve to the dwelling and is
the responsibility of the house owner. It must be installed at a minimum depth
of 750 mm and a maximum depth of 1350 mm. It must terminate within the
building with a screw down-type stop valve manufactured to BS 1010 with a
drain-off valve installed immediately above the stop valve.
Together, the communication pipe and the supply pipe make up the service pipe
to the building.

Communication Service pipe owned
pipe owned and and maintained by the
maintained by the building owner
water undertaker

750mm minimum
1350 mm maximum
Building water supply
Boundary stop tap 75 mm service duct
Boundary stop tap and water meter sealed at both ends
chamber with No other service or
Water cable in duct
main hinged cover
p Figure 5.18 The entry of the water supply into the building

The water supply to buildings can be arranged in numerous ways. In each case,
separate dwellings supplied must have a controlling stop valve in a position that
will allow the water supply to be turned off in an emergency without affecting
any other property.

Boundary
stop valve 1 The usual and preferred method of
supply, one stop valve to one house

2
This method is used where the
communication pipe is long
Joint
communication
pipe 3
This method is used where the
communication pipe is long
4
This method is used where the
supply pipe is long

5
This method is used where the
Joint supply pipe is long
supply
pipe
Water suppliers will normally insist on individual supplies to properties and DO NOT favour
joint supplies (commonly called communal supplies).

p Figure 5.19 Alternative methods of supplying more than one dwelling

Most water supplies in modern dwellings and industrial premises are piped in
medium-density polyethylene pipe (MDPE), which is coloured blue for easy
identification to show mains cold (potable) water. This is generally known as
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