Documentation

Plumbing Booster supports the following plumbing codes: **IPC (International Plumbing Code)** - Full IPC fixture unit tables (Table 604.3 for pressure, Table E103.3(3) for flow conversion) - IPC pipe sizing tables for water supply distribution - IPC drainage sizing tables (Table 710.1) - Pressure analysis using IPC Table 604.3 fixture outlet requirements **UPC (Uniform Plumbing Code)** - UPC fixture unit tables (Table 703.2 for drainage, WSFU tables for water supply) - UPC building drain and sewer sizing (Appendix C Table C304.2) - UPC horizontal fixture branch and stack sizing (Appendix C Table C304.3) - UPC vent pipe sizing **NSPC (National Standard Plumbing Code)** - NSPC fixture selection tables with WSFU values - NSPC flow conversion methods You can select your plumbing code per project in the System Structure Configuration step. All calculations, fixture tables, and pipe sizing automatically use the selected code's tables.

**IPC Table-Based Sizing** The IPC method uses official IPC pipe sizing tables (Table E103.3(3)) to convert Water Supply Fixture Units (WSFU) to flow rates (GPM), then sizes pipes based on the converted flow and available pipe sizes. Steps: 1. Sum WSFU for all fixtures on each pipe segment 2. Convert WSFU to GPM using IPC Table E103.3(3) (separate tables for flush tank and flushometer systems) 3. Select the smallest pipe size that can carry the flow at an acceptable velocity 4. Check velocity against IPC limits and material-specific recommendations **Velocity-Based Sizing** The velocity-based method sizes pipes by maintaining flow velocity within user-defined minimum and maximum limits. This method uses: - Configurable velocity limits (default: 0.5–2.5 m/s for standard systems) - Material-specific inner diameter calculations (PPR, PEX, Copper, CPVC, UPVC) - Hazen-Williams friction loss calculations with material-specific C-factors - Separate cold and hot water pipe sizing **UPC Table-Based Sizing** UPC sizing uses UPC Table 703.2 for drainage pipe sizing and UPC WSFU tables for water supply, following the same table-based approach as IPC but with UPC-specific values. **Material Support** All methods support: PPR (PN10/PN20), PEX (ASTM F876-10), Copper (Type L), CPVC, and UPVC (Schedule 40/80 per ASTM D1785).

**What are WSFU?** Water Supply Fixture Units (WSFU) are a standardized measure of the hydraulic load imposed by a plumbing fixture on a water supply system. WSFU account for both the flow rate and the frequency of use of a fixture. **WSFU Values by Code** Each code defines its own WSFU values for fixtures: - **IPC**: Separate cold and hot WSFU values per fixture type and supply control - **UPC**: WSFU values from UPC tables with separate vertical/horizontal drainage values - **NSPC**: NSPC-specific WSFU tables **WSFU to Flow Conversion** WSFU are converted to flow rates (GPM or L/s) using official code tables: - **IPC**: Table E103.3(3) provides GPM values for given WSFU counts, with separate columns for flush tank and flushometer systems - **UPC**: UPC conversion tables with system-type-specific values - **NSPC**: NSPC conversion tables The conversion is non-linear — as WSFU increases, the flow rate increases at a decreasing rate due to diversity factor (not all fixtures are used simultaneously). **Custom Fixtures** For non-code-listed fixtures (e.g., dental chairs, specialized equipment), Plumbing Booster allows you to enter WSFU values or direct flow rates. Custom entries are used as-is without conversion or reinterpretation. **Hot vs Cold WSFU** Fixtures have separate cold and hot WSFU values. Plumbing Booster calculates cold and hot water pipe sizes independently, with separate material and series selection for each.

**Booster Pumps** Booster pump sizing starts with pressure deficiency analysis: 1. Calculate required pressure at the most remote fixture (IPC Table 604.3) 2. Add static head loss (elevation difference × 0.433 psi/ft) 3. Add friction losses (Hazen-Williams with pipe material C-factors) 4. Apply safety factor (1.2x default, editable) 5. Compare required pressure to available municipal pressure 6. If deficient, size booster pump to provide the deficit at the design flow rate Design flow rate comes from imported Domestic Water demand or manual entry. The governing scenario is selected as the highest flow/head/worst duty. **Sump Pumps** Sump pump sizing uses scenario-based flow calculations: - Inflow rate from drainage fixture units or manual design flow - Basin sizing with cycle-time checks (minimum cycle time to prevent short-cycling) - TDH = static head + friction losses + discharge head - Multiple source types: sanitary drainage, storm drainage, fire protection drainage, fire sprinkler system **System Curves** Plumbing Booster generates preliminary system curves showing: - Total system head vs flow rate - Per-duty-pump curves for multi-pump arrangements - Operating point (duty point) intersection - Flow/head verification tables **Pump Arrangements** Supported arrangements include: single pump, multiple pumps in parallel (duty/standby, N+1), and series configurations where applicable.