Plumbing Inspections

There are two safety issues regarding domestic water heaters

The first is the explosive potential of hot water heaters.

Water, when it changes to a gas (steam), expands 1,700 times!

When a thermostat on a water heater fails, the rise in temperature and pressure could continue until the tank bursts. The superheated water would then instantly flash over into steam and explode with the force of 200 sticks of dynamite, enough to destroy the home and kill everyone in it.

To prevent such catastrophes, water heaters are required to be protected for both over temperature and over pressure with at Temperature and Pressure Relief (TPR) valve or a relief valve in conjunction with a Watts 210, gas-shutoff valve.

The second is the scalding potential from the discharge of these TPR valves.

A discharge pipe (see PIC above) is installed to prevent a properly discharging TPR valve or one being tested (intentionally or unintentionally) from injuring anyone or causing property damage.

Discharge pipes are also installed to alert the homeowner of a malfunctioning thermostat.

In both cases, the discharge pipe of the TPR valve and how it is installed is a critical safety component to domestic water heaters. Home inspectors are not required to test TPR valves.

The following recommendations regarding TPR discharge pipes are based largely on the 2006 International Residential Code P2803.61 as well as other building and plumbing codes.

The discharge piping serving a TPR valve should:

1. Be constructed of an approved material such as CPVC, copper, polyethylene, galvanized steel, polybutylene, polypropylene, or stainless steel.
2. Not be smaller than the diameter of the outlet of the valve it serves (usually no smaller than 3/4").
3. Shall not reduce in size from the valve to the air gap (point of discharge).
4. Be as short and as straight as possible so as to avoid undue stress on the valve.
5. Be installed so as to drain by flow of gravity.
6. Not be trapped since standing water may become contaminated and backflow into the potable water.
7. Discharge to the floor, to an indirect waste receptor, or to the outdoors.
8. Not be directly connected to the drainage system to prevent backflow of potentially contaminating the potable water.
9. Discharge through a visible air gap (atmosphere) in the same room as the water heater.
10. Be first piped to an indirect waste receptor through an air gap located in a heated area when discharging to the outdoors in areas subject to freezing, since freezing water could block the pipe.
11. Not terminate more than 6 inches (152 mm) above the floor or waste receptor.
12. Discharge in a manner that could not cause scalding.
13. Discharge in a manner that could not cause structural or property damage.
14. Discharge to a termination point that is readily observable by occupants because discharge indicates that something is wrong.
15. Be piped independent of other equipment drains, water heater pans, or relief valve discharge piping to the point of discharge.
16. Not have valves anywhere.
17. Not have tee fittings.
18. Not have a threaded connection at the end of the pipe so as to avoid capping.

General Dynamics Electric Boat Division 

Nuclear Attack Submarines

Pipefitter-Foreman

Pipefitter 1st/class

(1968-1978)

Alfred supervises and directs twelve (12) employees in the following major task:

Building Details for 688 Class, Details for 626 Boat, Taking and setting Targets from ship to shop 688 Class and 626 Boat. Building Target Assemblies in shop, Manufactures all Cord Assemblies for 688 Class, All Handrails and Foundations for 688 class. He is responsible for giving and maintaining dates, quantity and quality. Communicates with North Yard Foreman, Graving Dock Foreman on Targets and Key Events.

Pipefitter 1^st/class / Pipefitter Foreman-Supervisor

 Alfred Leo Pelletier, 54618 / Dept 243 worked on Twenty Two (22) Nuclear Attack Submarines

SSBN 626, SSN671, SSN 673, SSN 674, SSN 675, SSN 676, SSN 678, SSN 679, SSN 681, SSN 684, SSN 690, SSN 692, SSN 694, SSN 696, SSN 697, SSN 698, SSN 699, SSN 700, SSN 701, SSN 702, SSGN-SSBN 726, SSGN-SSBN 728

What is a Pipefitter Responsibilities?

Pipefitter:

Pipefitters are responsible for the fabrication and installation of piping systems that carry the ship’s life blood in the form of liquids and gases under varying pressures. The pipefitter must acquire a range of skills including measurement, fit-up, bending and installation techniques to comply with close tolerances demanded in such a complex craft. Pipefitters work with piping ranging in size from very small tubing to very large diameter piping. Piping materials and fittings are made from a variety of type of metals and alloys depending on the system pressure and function. Systems include hydraulic, lube oil, high and low pressure air, high and low pressure steam, sea water, chilled water and potable water. Pipefitters are also responsible for grooming systems in preparation for company, Navy and government inspections.

Imagine a vessel that survives the ocean's crushing depths and freezing temperatures.

Imagine a vessel that does not need refueling during its entire service life.

Imagine a vessel that is virtually silent while underway.

Imagine a vessel that does all that and protects the freedoms of the people of the United States.

Now imagine the immense challenge it is to create such a vessel.

Electric Boat designs and builds nuclear submarines. This is the challenge to every engineer at Electric Boat. Great minds do great things when faced with great challenges. The engineers at Electric Boat are second to none.

Designers at Electric Boat are responsible for designing the most complex ships ever to go to sea. The highly trained men and women who make up the design force at Electric Boat utilize state of the art computer systems to support ship design from concept design through detailed design, construction and life cycle support. Designs are developed utilizing disciplined processes within a team environment to ensure that designs meet producibilty, affordability and quality requirements while satisfying stringent operability requirements.

The designers at Electric Boat strive to be the best in the world and the success of the Submarine service is a testament to their capabilities.