Glossary of Common Abbreviations
Abbreviations for Pipework Components
Abbreviations Used for Drainage Systems
Abbreviations Used for Sanitation Systems
Graphical Symbols for Pipework
Appendix 1 – Glossary of Common Abbreviations
BBA – British Board of Agrement. The function of the BBA is to assess, test and establish the quality of new products and innovations not represented by existing British (BSI) or European (CEN) Standards.
BRE – Building Research Establishment. Critically examines products and materials applicable to construction and issues certificates of conformity. Publishes research digests, good practice guides and information papers.
BS – British Standard. Publications issued by the British Standards Institution as support documents and recommendations for minimum practice and product manufacturing standards. Materials and components which comply are kitemarked:
BS EN – A British Standard which is harmonised with the European Standards body, CEN.
– Communauté Européenne (European Community). This is a product mark which indicates presumption of conformity with the minimum legal requirements of the Construction Product Regulations 1991. Compliance is manufacture to a British Standard, a harmonised European Standard or a European Technical Approval (ETA).
CEN – Comité Européen de Normalisation. European standardization body recognised by the European Commission (EC) for harmonising standards of product manufacturers in support of the CPD. Membership of CEN is composed of the standardisation bodies of the participating members of the European Union (EU) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). The standardisation body representing the UK is the BSI.
CIRIA – Construction Industry Research and Information Association . An independent research organisation which addresses all key aspects of construction business practice. Its operating principles are on a ‘not-for-profit’ basis for the benefit of industry and public good.
CPD – Construction Products Directive. Determines that construction products satisfy all or some of (depending on the application) the following essential requirements:
Mechanical resistance and stability
Hygiene, health and the environment
Protection against noise
Safety in case of fire
Safety in use
Energy economy and heat retention
EC – European Commission. The executive organisation of the European Union (EU).
EEA – European Economic Area. Includes the member states of the European Union and three of the four states of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA): Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein (Switzerland excluded).
EOTA – European Organisation for Technical Approvals. Operates over the same area as CEN, complementing the work of this body by producing guidelines for new and innovative products.
ETA – European Technical Approval. A technical assessment of products which indicate suitability and fitness for use for the CPD. Authorised bodies working with ETA include the BBA and WIMLAS Ltd (now part of BRE Certification). These bodies also produce technical specifications against which product compliance can be measured for approval.
EU – European Union. A unification of states. Before 2004 comprising 15 countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Thereafter, a further 12: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.
ISO – International Organisation for Standardisation. This authority issues standards which are appropriate throughout the world. Products are identified with a number following the prefix ISO. Some of these may be adopted by the CPD, e.g. BS EN ISO 5667: Water quality and BS EN ISO 10960: Rubber and plastic hoses.
UKAS – United Kingdom Accreditation Service. An independent certification body that may be used by manufacturers to test and assess the suitability of their material products. UKAS issue certificates to show that materials conform to the criteria required of a recognised document, appropriate for the intended product use and application.
WRC – Water Research Council. A specialist testing agency with its own established brand of approval.
Appendix 2 – Abbreviations for Pipework
Design and installation drawings would be cluttered with writing, if there were not a simple format for representing pipes, fittings and accessories with abbreviations or symbols. The British and European Standards authorities have produced several documents recommending specific notations and symbols for all types of pipework installations, e.g. BS 1553-1 and 2 (see Appendix 5). Nevertheless, many offices prefer to use their own established procedures and variations from the standards. The following indicate some of the established alphabetical representations that may be used on engineering services drawings.
Service |
Abbreviation |
---|---|
Boiler feed water |
BFW |
Brine |
B |
Chilled water |
CHW |
Cold water main |
MWS |
Cold water down service |
CWS |
Cold water drinking |
DWS |
Cold water flushing |
FWS |
Cold water pressurised |
PWS |
Treated water |
TW |
Waste water |
WW |
Condensate |
C |
Compressed air |
CA |
Cooling water |
CLW |
Fire service extinguisher |
FE |
Fire service hydrant |
FH |
Fuel |
F |
Liquefied petroleum gas |
LPG |
Nitrous oxide gas |
N2O |
Oxygen |
O2 |
Refrigerant gas |
Ro |
Low-pressure hot water heating |
LPHW |
Medium-pressure hot water heating |
MPHW |
High-pressure hot water heating |
HPHW |
Hot water (domestic) |
HWS |
Steam |
S |
Vacuum |
V |
Appendix 3 – Abbreviations for Pipework Components
Component |
Abbreviation |
---|---|
Cold feed |
CF |
Cold water storage cistern |
CWSC |
Drain or draw off |
DO |
Expansion vessel |
ExVl |
Feed and expansion |
F & E |
Hot water storage cylinder |
HWSC |
Open vent |
OV |
Strainer |
S |
Tundish |
T |
Warning pipe/overflow |
WP |
Control valves – |
|
Air release |
ARV |
Air |
AV |
Anti-vacuum |
AVV |
Automatic air |
AAV |
Check |
CV |
Double check |
DCV |
Drain tap |
DT |
Expansion |
EV |
Float |
FV |
Gate |
GV |
Lockshield |
LSV |
Non-return |
NRV |
Plug cock |
PC |
Pressure-reducing valve |
PRV |
Servicing |
SgV |
Stopcock or valve |
SC or SV |
Temperature and pressure relief |
TPRV |
Thermostatic radiator |
TRV |
Wheel valve |
WV |
Pipework positions and direction – |
|
Flow |
F |
Return |
R |
From above |
FA |
To above |
TA |
From below |
FB |
To below |
TB |
High level |
HL |
Low level |
LL |
Appendix 4 – Abbreviations Used for Drainage Systems
Component and service |
Abbreviation |
---|---|
Drains – |
|
Foul water |
FWD |
Surface water |
SWD |
Sewers – |
|
Foul water |
FWS |
Surface water |
SWS |
Effluents – |
|
Foul water |
FW |
Radioactive water |
RAW |
Rainwater |
RW |
Surface water |
SW |
Means of access, etc. – |
|
Access cover |
A/C |
Backdrop |
BD |
Cleaning or rodding eye |
CE or RE |
Fresh air inlet |
FAI |
Half-round channel |
HRC |
Invert |
INV |
Manhole |
M H |
Rainwater head |
RWH |
Rainwater shoe |
RWS |
Shallow access chamber |
SAC |
Gullies – |
|
Access |
AG |
Back inlet |
BIG |
Grease trap |
GT |
Road |
RG |
Sealed |
SG |
Yard |
YG |
Appendix 5 – Abbreviations Used for Sanitation Systems
Component and service |
Abbreviation |
---|---|
Pipes – |
|
Discharge pipe |
DP |
Rainwater pipe |
RWP |
Soil and ventilating pipe or stack |
SVP or SVS |
Vent pipe or stack |
VP or VS |
Waste pipe |
WP |
Sanitary fittings – |
|
Access cap |
ac |
Air admittance valve |
aav |
Bath |
b |
Bidet |
bt |
Drinking fountain |
df |
Flushing cistern |
fc |
Shower |
sh |
Sink |
s |
Urinal |
u |
Wash basin |
wb |
Water closet |
wc |
Materials – |
|
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene |
ABS |
Cast iron |
Cl |
Copper |
Cu |
Heavy duty polypropylene |
HDPP |
High-density polyethylene |
HDPE |
Medium-density polyethylene |
MDPE |
Modified unplasticised polyvinyl chloride |
MUPVC |
Polypropylene |
PP |
Unplasticised polyvinyl chloride |
uPVC or PVCu |
BS 1635: Recommendations for graphic symbols and abbreviations for fire protection drawings.
BS EN ISO 6412-3 and BS 308-4.8: Technical drawings. Simplified representation of pipelines.
BS EN 1861: Refrigerating systems and heat pumps. System flow diagrams and piping and instrument diagrams. Layout and symbols.
Appendix 6 – Graphical Symbols for Pipework
Ref. BS 1553-1: Specification for graphic symbols for general engineering. Piping systems and plant.
Appendix 7 – Identification of Pipework
Where a large quantity of piped services are deployed in boiler rooms, process plant service areas, etc., identification of specific services (e.g. compressed air, chilled water, etc.), can be very difficult and time consuming. The situation is not helped when installation drawings are lost or may not even have existed. In addition, modifications may have occurred since the original installation . This is made more difficult where a common pipe material such as galvanised steel is used for a variety of services.
The recommendations of BS 1710 have improved the situation considerably by providing a uniformly acceptable colour coding. This has also been endorsed by the Health & Safety (Safety Signs & Signals) Regulations which require visible markings on all pipework containing or transporting dangerous substances. Direction of flow arrows should also complement coloured markings. Colours can be applied by paint to BS 4800 schedules or with proprietory self-adhesive tape.
Refs. BS 1710: Specification for identification of pipelines and services. BS 4800: Schedule of paint colours for building purposes.
Health & Safety (Safety Signs & Signals) Regulations 1996.
Appendix 8 – Graphical Symbols for Electrical Installation Work
Switches (rows 1 and 2)
Other fittings and accessories
Note: In addition to established office practice, the following standard provides recommendations for drawing representations:
Ref. BS EN 61082-1: Preparation of documents used in electrotechnology.
Rules.
Metric measurements have been officially established in the UK since the Council of Ministers of the European Community met in 1971 to commit member countries to an International System of Units (SI). This has been endorsed by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO).
Basic or primary units:
Quantity |
Unit |
Symbol |
---|---|---|
Length |
metre |
m |
Mass |
kilogram |
kg |
Time |
second |
s |
Electric current |
ampere |
A |
Temperature |
Kelvin |
K |
Luminous intensity |
candela |
cd |
Some commonly used supplementary and derived units:
Quantity |
Unit |
Symbol |
---|---|---|
Area |
square metre |
m2 |
Volume |
cubic metre |
m3 |
Velocity |
metres per second |
m/s |
Acceleration |
metres per second squared |
m/s2 |
Frequency |
hertz (cycles per second) |
Hz |
Density |
kilogram per cubic metre |
kg/m3 |
Force |
newton |
N |
Moment of force |
newton metre |
N/m |
Pressure |
newton per square metre |
N/m2 (pascal – Pa) |
Work, energy and heat |
joule |
J |
Power, heat flow rate |
watt |
W (J/s) |
Temperature – customary unit |
degree Celsius |
°C |
Temperature – interval |
degree Kelvin |
K |
Note: degree Celsius and Kelvin have the same temperature interval. Kelvin is absolute temperature with a zero factor equivalent to –273·15°C, i.e. 0°C = 273·15K.
Quantity |
Unit |
Symbol |
---|---|---|
Density of heat flow |
watt per square metre |
W/m2 |
Thermal conductivity |
watt per metre degree |
W/m K |
Heat transfer (‘U’ value) |
watt per square metre degree |
W/m2 K |
Heat capacity |
‘joule per degree |
J/K |
Specific heat capacity |
‘joule per kilogram degree |
J/kg K |
Entropy |
joule per degree |
J/K |
Specific entropy |
‘joule per kilogram degree |
J/kg K |
Specific energy |
‘joule per kilogram |
J/kg |
Derived units for electrical applications:
Quantity |
Unit |
Symbol |
---|---|---|
Electric charge |
coulomb |
C (As) |
Potential difference |
volt |
V (W/A) |
Electromotive force |
volt |
V (W/A) |
Electric field strength |
volt per metre |
V/m |
Electric resistance |
ohm |
Ω (V/A) |
Electric capacitance |
farad |
F (As/V) |
Magnetic flux |
weber |
Wb (Vs) |
Magnetic field strength |
ampere per metre |
A/m |
Inductance |
henry |
H (Vs/A) |
Luminous flux |
‘lumen |
‘lm |
Luminance |
candela per square metre |
cd/m2 |
Illuminance |
‘lux (lumens per square metre) |
‘lx (lm/m2) |
Common units for general use:
Quantity |
Unit |
Symbol |
---|---|---|
Time |
minute |
min |
hour |
h | |
day |
d | |
Capacity |
litre |
l (1l = 1 dm3) |
(1000l = 1 m3) | ||
Mass |
tonne or kilogram |
t (1t = 1000kg) |
Area |
hectare |
ha (100m × 100m) |
(10 000m2) | ||
Pressure |
atmospheric |
atm (1atm = 101·3 kN/m2) |
Pressure |
bar |
b (1 bar = 100 kN/m2) |
Note: Historically in British English, one billion equates to one million million (1012). In American English one billion has always equated to one thousand million (109). For consistency, one thousand million is now preferred in British English.
Appendix 10 – Water Pressure and Head – Comparison of Units
Pressure |
||
---|---|---|
Head (metres) |
kN/m2 (kPa) |
mbar or bar |
1.00 |
9.81 |
98.7 mbar |
1.02 |
10.00 |
100.00 |
2.00 |
19.61 |
196.13 |
2.04 |
20.00 |
200.00 |
3.00 |
29.42 |
294.19 |
3.06 |
30.00 |
300.00 |
4.00 |
39.23 |
392.26 |
4.08 |
40.00 |
400.00 |
5.00 |
49.03 |
490.33 |
5.10 |
50.00 |
500.00 |
6.00 |
58.84 |
588.39 |
6.12 |
60.00 |
600.00 |
7.00 |
68.65 |
686.46 |
7.14 |
70.00 |
700.00 |
8.00 |
78.45 |
784.53 |
8.16 |
80.00 |
800.00 |
9.00 |
88.26 |
882.59 |
9.18 |
90.00 |
900.00 |
10.00 |
98.07 |
980.66 |
10.20 |
100.00 |
1.00 bar |
11.00 |
107.87 |
1.08 |
11.22 |
110.00 |
1.10 |
12.00 |
117.68 |
1.18 |
12.24 |
120.00 |
1.20 |
13.00 |
127.49 |
1.27 |
13.26 |
130.00 |
1.30 |
14.00 |
137.29 |
1.37 |
14.28 |
140.00 |
1.40 |
15.00 |
147.10 |
1.47 |
15.30 |
150.00 |
1.50 |
16.00 |
156.91 |
1.57 |
16.32 |
160.00 |
1.60 |
18.00 |
176.52 |
1.77 |
18.36 |
180.00 |
1.80 |
20.00 |
196.13 |
1.96 |
20.40 |
200.00 |
2.00 |
30.00 |
294.20 |
2.94 |
30.59 |
300.00 |
3.00 |
50.00 |
490.33 |
4.90 |
50.99 |
500.00 |
5.00 |
100.00 |
980.66 |
9.81 |
101.97 |
1.00MN/m2 |
10.00 |
200.00 |
1.96 |
19.61 |
203.94 |
2.00 |
20.00 |
Appendix 11 – Conversion of Common Imperial Units to Metric
Length |
1 mile = 1·609km 1 yd = 0·914m 1 ft = 0·305m (305mm) |
Area |
1 sq. mile = 2·589km2 or 258–9ha 1 acre = 4046·86m2 or 0·404ha 1 yd2 (square yard) = 0·836m2 1 ft2 (square foot) = 0·093m2 1 in2 (square inch) = 645·16mm2 |
Volume |
1 yd3 (cubic yard) = 0·765m3 1 ft3 (cubic foot) = 0·028m3 1 in3 (cubic inch) = 16387mm3 (16·387cm3) |
Capacity |
1 gal = 4·546 l 1 qt = 1·137 l 1 pt = 0·568 l |
Mass |
1 ton = 1·016 tonne (1016kg) 1 cwt = 50·8kg 1 lb = 0·453kg 1 oz = 28·35 g |
Mass per unit area |
1 lb/ft2 = 4·882kg/m2 1 lb/in2 = 703kg/m2 |
Mass flow rate |
1 lb/s = 0·453kg/s |
Volume flow rate |
1 ft3/s = 0·028 m3/s 1 gal/s = 4·546 l/s |
Pressure |
1 lb/in2 = 6895N/m2 (68·95mb) 1 in (water) = 249N/m2 (2·49mb) 1 in (mercury) = 3386N/m2 (33·86mb) |
1 therm = 105·5MJ 1 kWh = 3·6MJ 1 Btu (British thermal unit) = 1·055kJ | |
Energy flow |
1 Btu/h = 0 293W (J/s) (see note below) |
Thermal conductance |
1 Btu/ft2h °F = 5·678W/m2 (‘U‘ values) |
Thermal conductivity |
1 Btu ft/ft2h °F = 1·730W/m K |
Illumination |
1 lm/ft2 = 10·764lx (lm/m2 1 foot candle = 10·764lx |
Luminance |
1 cd/ft2 = 10·764cd/m2 1 cd/in2 = 1550cd/m2 |
Temperature |
32°F = 0°C 212°F = 100°C |
Temperature conversion |
Fahrenheit to Celsius (°F – 32) × 5/9 e.g. 61°F to °C (61 – 32) × 5/9 = 16.1°C |
Temperature conversion |
Fahrenheit to Kelvin (°F + 459 67) × 5/9 e.g. 61°F to K (61 + 459 67) × 5/9 = 289·26K, i.e. 289·26 – 273·15 = 16·1°C |
Note regarding energy flow:
Useful for converting boiler ratings in Btu/h to kW, e.g. a boiler rated at 65000 Btu/h equates to:
65000 × 0·293= 19 045W, i.e. approx. 19kW.
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