Understanding Plumbing Systems in Commercial Buildings

Plumbing is essential to the basic infrastructure of most buildings, but it’s not often taught in traditional degree programs. Also, specialized kitchen and laboratory requirements are increasingly costly and complex to install and maintain. By improving your understanding of the design, installation and operation of plumbing systems, including water piping, waste and vent, storm water, specialty gases, and equipment—you’ll be able to tackle these systems with ease.

• Mechanical system design engineers
• Plumbing estimators and installers
• Building code officials and inspectors
• University and government facility operators
• Commercial office building superintendents
• Equipment sales and technical representatives
• Construction managers and contractors
• Architects and project team consultants

Day 1

Welcome and Introductions

Plumbing Design Criteria

• Historical perspective
• Fixture count and capacity
• Piping material specification
• Valve and fitting selections
• Primary equipment design
• Sinks, toilets and bath layout
• Computer aided estimating

Storm Water and Site Features

• Site gradients and runoff
• Catch basins and dry wells
• Foundation drain tile
• Landscaping and plantings
• Irrigation and flow control 

Codes and Standards

• Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS)
• International Plumbing Code (IPC)
• International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
• Accessibility provisions (ADA, ICC, ANSI)

Drainage and Venting

• Pipe sizing, layout and traps
• Soil and waste vent stacks
• Floor drains and trap primers
• Sump pumps and sewage ejectors
• Odor mitigation measures

Day 2

Municipal Water Supply

• Backflow prevention and metering
  • Non-potable uses
• Requirement of supply 
  • Pressure
  • Quantity 
  • Quality
• Treatment
• Specifications

Domestic Water Piping

• Water treatment and softeners
• Pressure reducing valves
• Hot water heating equipment
• Dual wall heat exchangers
• Flooded vessel exchangers
• Re-circulation pumps and piping
• Legionella preventive measures

Water Conservation 

• LEED green building performance criteria (USGBC)
• Rain water harvesting
• Gray water reuse
• Condensate capture
• Waterless fixtures
• On-site waste treatment

Natural Gas Requirements

• Required pressure and capacity
• Gas meters and compressors
• Water heaters, boilers and furnaces
• Gas-fired appliances

Day 3

Plumbing Design Workshop

• Water piping
  • incoming service
  • distribution piping
  • fixture runouts
• Drainage system 
  • vent stacks
  • waste piping
  • roof drainage
  • sumps and area drains 

Science Lab Design

• Lab planning 
• NIH references
• Waste treatment
• Vacuum systems
• Special gasses 
• Ultrapure water 

UW–Madison Site Visits

• Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery
• Testing of backflow prevention device

Specific Facility Considerations

• Health Care
• Medical gas piping
• Certification requirements
• Vacuum and controls
• Decontamination issues
• High-Rise Construction
• Water pressure and booster pumps
• Gravity flow and piping distribution
• Commercial Kitchens
• Layout of appliances
• Fats, oil and grease

Don Beres

Don Beres, P.E., CPD is a Partner, and Plumbing Department Manager, at Ring & DuChateau, LLP. Ring & DuChateau, LLP, is an MEP consulting engineering firm in Brookfield, Wisconsin, providing engineering services for healthcare, commercial, institutional and educational facilities. Don is a 1975 graduate of Marquette University College of Engineering. He earned his master plumber’s license in 1979 and his professional engineer license in 1990. Don began his career as a plumber apprentice in 1970 and has experience working for plumbing contractors and engineering firms. Prior to joining Ring and DuChateau in 1991, he spent ten years as an estimator, engineer, and project manager for a major mechanical contractor in Milwaukee.

Mark Malkin

Mark P. Malkin, PE is a Program Director in the UW-Madison Department of Engineering Professional Development (EPD). He is a registered Professional Engineer with over 25 years of combined experience in university construction project management and HVAC systems design. His course offerings in the Facilities segment of EPD include HVAC and plumbing fundamentals, building and property maintenance code review, and design and operation of science labs, data centers, museums and libraries. Mark received his bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University, and his master’s in Mechanical Engineering from UW-Madison.

Douglas Nelson

Douglas Nelson, P.E. has passion for developing engineers to be successful in the marketplace.  He wants all students to be job-ready when the arrive at their chosen career.  He does this as an Assistant Professor in the Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management Department at the Milwaukee School of Engineering.  He has been involved in various aspects of the plumbing industry for approximately 40 years.  In addition to teaching plumbing and fire protection he manages learning in both the Civil Engineering and Construction Management areas.