APPENDIX A

RECOMMENDED RULES FOR SIZING THE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM

A 1 Preliminary Information
A 1.1

A 1.2

CHART A-1
Friction Losses for Disk Type Water Meters
20

16
Pressure Loss – Lbs./ Sq. In.

10
9
8
7
6
5
4

1
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 20 30 40 50 60 80 100 200 300 400 600 800 1000
Flow – Gallons per Minute

CHART A-1 (Metric)

Friction Losses for Disk Type Water Meters
137.8

110.2

68.9
62.0
Pressure Loss – kPa

55.1
48.2
41.3
34.5
27.6

20.7

13.8

6.9
1.3

1.9

2.5
3.2
3.8

5.0
6.3
0.25
0.32
0.38
0.44
0.50
0.57
0.63

12.6

18.9

25.2

37.8

50.4
63.0

Flow – Liters per Second

161
Appendix A UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE

Inch mm TABLE A-2

1/2 15 Water Supply Fixture Units (WSFU) and Minimum Fixture Branch Pipe Sizes3
3/4 20
1 25 Minimum
Fixture Branch Private Public Assembly5
Appliances, Appurtenances or Fixtures2 Pipe Size1,4
Bathtub or Combination Bath/Shower (fill) ................................... 1/2" 4.0 4.0
3/4” Bathtub Fill Valve ........................................................... 3/4” 10.0 10.0
Bidet ............................................................................................. 1/2" 1.0
Clotheswasher.............................................................................. 1/2" 4.0 4.0
Dental Unit, cuspidor .................................................................... 1/2" 1.0
Dishwasher, domestic .................................................................. 1/2" 1.5 1.5
Drinking Fountain or Watercooler................................................. 1/2" 0.5 0.5 0.75
Hose Bibb ..................................................................................... 1/2" 2.5 2.5
Hose Bibb, each additional7 ......................................................... 1/2" 1.0 1.0
Lavatory........................................................................................ 1/2" 1.0 1.0 1.0
Lawn Sprinkler, each head5 ......................................................... 1.0 1.0
Mobile Home, each (minimum)..................................................... 12.0
Sinks
Bar ............................................................................................ 1/2" 1.0 2.0
Clinic Faucet .............................................................................. 1/2” 3.0
Clinic Flushometer Valve...........................................................
with or without faucet............................................................. 1” 8.0
Kitchen, domestic ...................................................................... 1/2" 1.5 1.5
Laundry ..................................................................................... 1/2" 1.5 1.5
Service or Mop Basin ................................................................ 1/2" 1.5 3.0
Washup, each set of faucets ..................................................... 1/2" 2.0
Shower ......................................................................................... 1/2" 2.0 2.0
Urinal, 1.0 GPF............................................................................. 3/4" 3.0 4.0 5.0
Urinal, greater than 1.0 GPF ........................................................ 3/4" 4.0 5.0 6.0
Urinal, flush tank........................................................................... 1/2" 2.0 2.0 3.0
Washfountain, circular spray ........................................................ 3/4" 4.0
Water Closet, 1.6 GPF Gravity Tank ............................................ 1/2" 2.5 2.5 3.5
Water Closet, 1.6 GPF Flushometer Tank ................................... 1/2" 2.5 2.5 3.5
Water Closet, 1.6 GPF Flushometer Valve .................................. 1" 5.0 5.0 6.0
Water Closet, greater than 1.6 GPF Gravity Tank........................ 1/2" 3.0 5.5 7.0
Water Closet, greater than 1.6 GPF Flushometer Valve .............. 1" 7.0 8.0 10.0
Notes:
1. Size of the cold branch outlet pipe, or both the hot and cold branch outlet pipes.
2. Appliances, Appurtenances or Fixtures not included in this Table may be sized by reference to fixtures having a similar flow rate
and frequency of use.
3. The listed fixture unit values represent their total load on the cold water service. The separate cold water and hot water fixture unit
value for fixtures having both cold and hot water connections shall each be taken as three-quarters (3/4) of the listed total value of
the fixture.
4. The listed minimum supply branch pipe sizes for individual fixtures are the nominal (I.D.) pipe size.
5. For fixtures or supply connections likely to impose continuous flow demands, determine the required flow in gallons per minute
(GPM) and add it separately to the demand (in GPM) for the distribution system or portions thereof.
6. Assembly [Public Use (See Table 4-1)].
7. Reduced fixture unit loading for additional hose bibbs as used is to be used only when sizing total building demand and for pipe
sizing when more than one hose bibb is supplied by a segment of water distributing pipe. The fixture branch to each hose bibb
shall be sized on the basis of 2.5 fixture units.

162
SIZING WATER SYSTEMS Appendix A

A 3.2

A 1.3

A 3.3

A 2 Demand Load
A 2.1

A 2.2 A 3.4

A 3 Permissible Friction Loss

A 3.1

A 4 Size of Building Supply

A 4.1

TABLE A-3

Allowance in equivalent length of pipe for friction loss

in valves and threaded fittings.*
Equivalent Length of Pipe for Various Fittings
90° 45° Coupling or
Diameter Standard Standard Standard Straight Gate Globe Angle
of fitting Elbow Elbow Tee 90° Run of Tee Valve Valve Valve
Inches Feet Feet Feet Feet Feet Feet Feet
3/8 1.0 0.6 1.5 0.3 0.2 8 4
1/2 2.0 1.2 3.0 0.6 0.4 15 8
3/4 2.5 1.5 4.0 0.8 0.5 20 12
1 3.0 1.8 5.0 0.9 0.6 25 15
1-1/4 4.0 2.4 6.0 1.2 0.8 35 18
1-1/2 5.0 3.0 7.0 1.5 1.0 45 22
2 7.0 4.0 10.0 2.0 1.3 55 28
2-1/2 8.0 5.0 12.0 2.5 1.6 65 34
3 10.0 6.0 15.0 3.0 2.0 80 40
4 14.0 8.0 21.0 4.0 2.7 125 55
5 17.0 10.0 25.0 5.0 3.3 140 70
6 20.0 12.0 30.0 6.0 4.0 165 80

163
Appendix A UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE

TABLE A-3 (Metric)

Equivalent Length of Pipe for Various Fittings

90° 45° Coupling or
Diameter Standard Standard Standard Straight Gate Globe Angle
of fitting Elbow Elbow Tee 90° Run of Tee Valve Valve Valve
mm mm mm mm mm mm mm mm
10 305 183 457 91 61 2438 1219
15 610 366 914 183 122 4572 2438
20 762 457 1219 244 152 6096 3658
25 914 549 1524 274 183 7620 4572
32 1219 732 1829 366 244 10668 5486
40 1524 914 2134 457 305 13716 6706
50 2134 1219 3048 610 396 16764 8534
65 2438 1524 3658 762 488 19812 10363
80 3048 1829 4572 914 610 24384 12192
100 4267 2438 6401 1219 823 38100 16764
125 5182 3048 7620 1524 1006 42672 21336
150 6096 3658 9144 1829 1219 50292 24384

*Allowances are based on non-recessed threaded fittings. Use one-half (1/2) the allowances for recessed threaded
fittings or streamline solder fittings.

A 5.2

A 4.2

A 4.3

A 5.3

A 6 General
A 6.1
A 5 Size of Principal Branches and Risers
A 5.1

A 6.2

164
SIZING WATER SYSTEMS Appendix A

Example
Fixture Units and Estimated Demands
Building Supply Demand Branch to Hot Water System
Building Supply Demand
Demand Fixture Unit in gallons
Kind of No. of Fixture Unit Total in gpm No. of Demand per minute
Fixtures Fixtures Demand Units (L per sec) Fixtures Calculation (L per sec)
Water Closets 130 8.0 1040 – – – –
Urinals 30 4.0 120 – – – –
Shower Heads 12 2.0 24 – 12 12 x 2 x 3/4 = 18 –
Lavatories 100 1.0 100 – 100 100 x 1 x 3/4 = 75 –
Service Sinks 27 3.0 81 – 27 27 x 3 x 3/4 = 61 –
Total 1365 252 gpm (15.8 L/s) 154 55 gpm (3.4 L/s)

Allowing for 15 psi (103.4 kPa) at the highest fixture under the maximum demand of 252 gallons per minute (15.8
L/sec.), the pressure available for friction loss is found by the following:
55 – [15 + (45 x 0.43)] = 20.65 psi
Metric: 379 – [103.4 + (13.7 x 9.8)] = 142.3 kPa
The allowable friction loss per 100 feet (30.4 m) of pipe is therefore:
100 x 20.65 ÷ 200 = 10.32 psi
Metric: 30.4 x 142.3 ÷ 60.8 = 71.1 kPa

A 6.3

A 7 Example
A 7.1

165
Appendix A UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE

CHART A-2
Estimate Curves for Demand Load
500

400

300
Demand – G.P.M.

200

1
No. 1 for system predominantly for flushometer valves
100 2
No. 2 for system predominantly for flush tanks

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000

Fixture Units

CHART A-2 (Metric)

Estimate Curves for Demand Load
31.5

25.4
Demand – Liters/Second

18.9

12.6

1
No. 1 for system predominantly for flushometer valves
6.3 2 No. 2 for system predominantly for flush tanks

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000

Fixture Units

166
SIZING WATER SYSTEMS Appendix A

CHART A-3
Enlarged Scale Demand Load

100

80
Demand – G.P.M.

60
1
40

20
2

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240

Fixture Units

CHART A-3 (Metric)

Enlarged Scale Demand Load

6.3
Demand – Liters/Second

5.0

3.8
1
2.5

1.3
2

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240

Fixture Units

167
Appendix A UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE

CHART A-4

10,000
Copper Tubing 8000
Smooth Pipe
Type M 6000
Type L 5000
Type K 4000
3000

2000
e s
n ch
6i
ter
me 1000
Dia 5 800
600
4 500
400
3 300

Flow in Gallons per Minute

200

2
100
/2
1-1 80
60
50
1 40
30

3/ 4 20

1/ 2 10
8
3/8 6
5
4
3

1
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 10 20 30 40 50 60 80 100

Friction Loss – Lbs. per Square Inch Head per 100 Foot Length

168
SIZING WATER SYSTEMS Appendix A

CHART A-4 (Metric)

630.0
Copper Tubing 504.0
Smooth Pipe
Type M 378.0
Type L 315.0
Type K 252.0
189.0

126.0

mm
50
r1
m ete 63.0
Dia

12
5 50.4
12

.2
37.8

9.2
0
10 31.5
25.2

6.1
80
Ve

18.9
4.8
lo
cit

Flow in Liters per Second

12.6
y 3.1
2.4

m/

50
se
1.8

c.

6.3
1.5

40 5.0
1.2
0.9

3.8
3.2
25
0.6

2.5
1.9
20
0.3

1.3

15 0.6
0.5
10 0.4
0.4
0.3
0.3

0.2

0.1
131.6
164.5
197.4
263.2
329.0

657.9

986.8
3.0

6.6

9.9
13.2
16.4
19.7
26.3
32.9

65.8

98.7

1315.8
1644.7
1973.7
2631.6
3289.5

Friction Loss – 32.9 Pa/m

169
Appendix A UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE

CHART A-5

10,000
8000

Fairly Smooth 6000

5000
4000
10 3000

8 2000

6
1000
5 800
600
4 500
400

Flow in Gallons per Minute

3 300

200

100
/ 2
1-1 80
60
50
40
1
30

3/4 20

1/2
10
3/8 8
6
5
4
3

1
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 10 20 30 40 50 60 80 100

Friction Loss – Lbs. per Square Inch Head per 100 Foot Length

170
SIZING WATER SYSTEMS Appendix A

CHART A-5 (Metric)

630.0
504.0
Fairly Smooth 378.0
315.0
252.0
0
25 189.0
0
20 126.0

0
15
63.0
5
12 50.4

12
.2
0 37.8

9.2
10 31.5
25.2

6.1
80
Ve

4.8 18.9
lo

Flow in Liters per Second

cit

12.6
y3
.1
2.4

50
/se
1.8

c.

6.3
1.5

40 5.0
1.2

3.8
0.9

3.2
0.6

2.5
25
1.9
20
0.3

1.3

15
0.6
10 0.5
0.4
0.4
0.3
0.3

0.2

0.1
3.0

6.6

9.9

131.6
164.5
197.4
263.2
329.0

657.9

986.8
1315.8
1644.7
1973.7
2631.6
3289.5
13.2
16.4
19.7
26.3
32.9

65.8

98.7

Friction Loss – 32.9 Pa/m

171
Appendix A UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE

CHART A-6

10,000
8000
Fairly Rough 6000
5000
4000
3000

2000
10

8
1000
800
6 600
500
5
400
4 300

Flow in Gallons per Minute

200
3

100
80
2
60
50
/2 40
1-1
30

20
1

3/4 10
8
6
5
1/2
4
3
3/8
2

1
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 10 20 30 40 50 60 80 100

Friction Loss – Lbs. per Square Inch Head per 100 Foot Length

172
SIZING WATER SYSTEMS Appendix A

CHART A-6 (Metric)

630.0
504.0
Fairly Rough 378.0
315.0
252.0
189.0

0 126.0
25

0
20
63.0
50.4
0
15 37.8
5 31.5
12 25.2
0 18.9
10

Flow in Liters per Second

12.6
80

6.3
5.0
50
3.8
3.2
40 2.5
1.9

1.3
25

20 0.6
0.5
0.4
15 0.4
0.3
0.3
10
0.2

0.1
13.2
16.4
19.7
26.3
32.9

65.8

98.7

1315.8
1644.7
1973.7
2631.6
3289.5
3.0

6.6

9.9

131.6
164.5
197.4
263.2
329.0

657.9

986.8

Friction Loss – 32.9 Pa/m

173
Appendix A UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE

CHART A-7

10,000
8000
Rough 6000
5000
4000
3000

2000
10

8
1000
800
6 600
500
5 400

4 300

Flow in Gallons per Minute

200
3

100
80
2
60
50
/2 40
1-1
30

1 20

3/4 10
8
6
5
1/2
4
3
3/8
2

1
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 2 3 4 56 8 10 20 30 40 50 60 80 100

Friction Loss – Lbs. per Square Inch Head per 100 Foot Length

174
SIZING WATER SYSTEMS Appendix A

CHART A-7 (Metric)

630.0
504.0
Rough 378.0
315.0
252.0
189.0

126.0
0
25
0
20
63.0
50.4
0
15 37.8
31.5
5
12 25.2
0 18.9
10

Flow in Liters per Second

12.6
80

6.3
5.0
50
3.8
3.2
40 2.5
1.9

1.3
25

20 0.6
0.5
0.4
0.4
15 0.3
0.3
10
0.2

0.1
13.2
16.4
19.7
26.3
32.9

65.8

98.7
3.0

6.6

9.9

131.6
164.5
197.4
263.2
329.0

657.9

986.8
1315.8
1644.7
1973.7
2631.6
3289.5

Friction Loss – 32.9 Pa/m

175
 UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE

176