The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
How To Design And Install Plumbing
Steam Cross-Connection. Another form of cross-connection commonly found in industry is the direct heating of the water in the distribution system by high pressure steam for toilet purposes. Serious scalding has resulted from careless regulation of this system of hot water supply by jack-of-all-trades maintenance men. The solution to the problem is to employ only licensed plumbers for maintenance work in office and factory buildings.
Fig. 274 illustrates how a cross-connection of this type is formed. The water supply is installed in the usual manner and serves a wash sink in an industrial toiletroom. It also serves water closets, bubblers, and lavatories.
The steam is taken from a high pressure main and passed through a valve which reduces its pressure to just a few pounds. When the employees wish a supply of heated water, the controlling valve of the steam pipe is cracked to admit a sufficient amount of steam to produce the desired temperature of water. Should the steam valve be left open and the reducing valve fail, the high temperature of the steam would heat the content of the cold water line to a temperature above 212°F.
Thus, a person using a water closet or drinking fountain during the interval would be subjected to a blast of exceedingly hot vapor rather than the normal flow of water. Painful scalding would result.
The value of human life is too great to pass over this or any other evil of cross-connection without indicating the need for correction and planning safe installations for the future.
Fire Line Installation
The installation of fire lines or fire standpipes in tall buildings is one of vital importance, and construction of this fire control mechanism usually is under the jurisdiction of the plumber. The problem of extinguishing a fire in a tall building is a complex one. The fire, especially in tall buildings, may begin in some isolated room which cannot be reached with water delivered by the department's equipment. Under these conditions, the installation of a fire stand- pipe within the building usually offers a solution. Any person of intelligence and initiative can manipulate the standpipe equipment and quickly bring the fire under control. The standpipe offers a convenient supply of water for the firemen, should it become necessary to call them, and usually avoids summon of expensive fire department apparatus. This device also avoids the costly repair that is necessitated by delay in obtaining water supply.
