Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-05
PIPES AND PLUMBERS.

PIPES AND PLUMBERS.
New Regulations Submitted to the Commits
sioners ny the Board Of Experts.
IMPORTANT CHANGES RECOMMENDED As TO TIE
RULES TO DE FOLLOWED IN THIS crrY-THE
REPAIRS TO OLD HOUSES AND TEE PLANS FOR
NEW oSEs-THE Use OF HEAVY DRAIN PIPES
VARIOUS SANITARY PRECAUTIONS.
The board appointed to prepare a revision of
the plumbing regulations submitted TO the
Commissioners today copy Of the new regu-
lations as pro posed BY them.
The board was composed OF the following
gentlemen: Samuel A. Robinson, the inspector
Of plumbing, chairman: H. +. Hayden, Thos.
Humphreys, J. Carl Darnall, James Raglan and
Charles B. Ball.
| For the past two months this board has been
in session semi-weekly, and its report is ex-
haustive and interesting. and il is believed
eliminates all Of the Objectionable and weak
points in the old regulations and proposes as
complete system of drainage, water supply
and plumbing a. is possible. All the regulations
Of other cities have been considered and where
| ever ii was possible to make an improvement
| 1t has been done.
There are five main divisions Of the regula-
tons under the follow heads: General regua-
] lions, excavations in streets, water service
| pipes and connections with water mains. house
sewers and connections. plumbing and drainage
OF bulldir gs and gas mains. subways and under
ground conduits.
In the general regulations there is a clause
| which provides that they shall govern all work
done and ma terials used in introducing main
taining and extending supply Of water
through pipe or pipes in any build
/ ing, lot, premises establishment In
connecting or repairing any system Of
drainage whereby fonl, waste or surplus water
| gas, vapor other Auid is discharged. In
yentilating any house, sewer OF any fixture or
| appurtenance connected herewith In eXca-
waiting in any public street. evenue.
| highway, road, court alley or space for the
purpose OF connecting any building, lot
premises or establishment Mt with any service pipe
| house sewer, public water main. subway con-
duit or other underground structure. In per-
| forming all classes of work usually done by
plumbers and drain layers.
HEAVY DRAIN PIPES.
Extra heavy cast-iron pipe to be used
throughout. and from the connection with
the main sewer to the terminus of the house
or lot insures safety, the board saws. from
any carnations from the sewer, and IN the
end Is more economical.
| This is the most important recommendation
under this head and differs materially from the
| old regulation this subject, which al
| lowed the use of lighter pipe. An
other change is the use of lead
pipe for water service. Heretofore
| galvanized iron allowed to be used in no other
city YVES used here, but was found objection
! able on account of the rust which clogged the
pipe and made consequent obstruction TO
| the free passage OF water, causing great in
| convenience 20 the householders.
Where lead Trimmings were used under the old
regulations there was no proper system of con-
struction, and the proposed regulations
remedy this defect by making it per-
| fectly safe. it is claimed, against damage from
| overflow or annoyance from offensive odors
coming through the drain pipe. This is done
method of valve system.
| FRESH AIR INLET.
Heretofore great trouble has been experienced
by having the fresh air inlet too near the house
The new regulations provide place for
this well water and gas fixtures To-
Gated on the streets. As an instance where
there is parking they should be placed two
| feet from the end of parking. Where there is
| no parking they are to be located two feet from
the curb This arrangement will not interfere
with the free Use of the sidewalk BIZ pedestrians
| Under the new regulations no person is allowed
to locate water closet in any room. apartment
| or vault which is not in direct communication
with the external air by means of a
window or air space having area
|
of light and air. All water closets erected 10
yards or outside Of dwellings shall be placed as
near as possible to the dwelling and shall be
flushed By tank inside of the dwelling.
These new regulations were framed to first
prevent the location of water closets on the in
side of houses without light air and thereby
improve the sanitary arrangement of dwellings
and. second, to prevent the freezing and waste
Of water.
REPAIRS IN OLD HOUSES.
Another important feature of the new regu-
lations is the section relating to repairs in old
houses. This is entirely new and the members
of the board believe will remedy and do more
to improve the sanitary condition of dwelling
houses than anything else. Itinsures an intelli-
gent supervision of all the work done By plum bers
IN these houses. Heretofore the Office of in
spector of plumbing had no means of finding
out or knowing what going on. but under
this new regulation plumbers required TO
have a new permit whenever the plumb
ing in house is to be reconstructed.
No part of this work is allowed
to be covered or hidden from view until an in
spection is made. In this connection il is the
duty of the inspector to answer the complaint
| OF any occupant and to see that the plumbing
Is made to conform to these new regulations.
STREET EXCAVATIONS.
| Excavations in streets have been a serious
matter with the street department and the new
regulations this subject are designed to