GUYANA STANDARD
Section 5 -Plumbing
 Scope
 This Code specifies the requirements for good
plumbing practice for water supply and distribution,
and sewerage.
Water Supply and Distribution
Standards for Materials
Materials for plumbing systems shall conform to the
relevant specifications as required by either:
(a) the British Standards Institution (BS)
(b) the American Society for Testing Materials
(ASTM)
(c) the Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
(d) The International Organisation for
Standardisation (ISO)
(e) the American Water Works Association
(A.W.W.A)
Water Supply and Distribution
Materials
Classes of Pipes within this standard is subject to
approval by the Authority and can be classified as:
(i) Non Metallic - plastic
(ii) Ferrous pipe
(iii) Non Ferrous Pipe - Brass and copper pipe or
tubing
Lead pipe should not be used in any potable water
system without the permission of the Authority
Water Supply and Distribution
 Identification of Materials
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Every length of pipe and fitting used in a plumbing
system shall have cast, stamped or marked on it, the
maker’s name or mark, and the weight and class or
quality of the product.
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Water Supply and Distribution
Pipes and Trenches
The underground water service pipe and the building
drain or building sewer shall not be less than 3 m apart
horizontally and shall be separated by undisturbed or
compacted earth.
When permitted by the Authority, the water service pipe
and the building drain or sewer pipe may be placed less
than 3 m horizontally provided the following conditions
are met:
(i) the bottom of the water service pipe, at all points,
shall be at least 300 mm above the top of the sewer line at
its highest point
Water Supply and Distribution
Pipes and Trenches (cont’d)
(b) the water service pipe shall be placed on solid
ground at least 300 mm to one side of the sewer pipe
(c ) the number of joints in the service pipe shall be
kept to a minimum. Joints shall have the strength
and durability to prevent the escape of solids, liquids
and gases when under adverse conditions such as
corrosion, settlement, strains due to temperature
change, vibrations and superimposed loads
Water Supply and Distribution
Water Piping - Service Pipes
(a) The water service pipe from the street main to the
water distribution system at the property boundary
shall be not less than 20 mm nominal diameter.
(b) The depth of embedment below ground level shall
be at least 300 mm
(c ) It shall be provided with a shut off valve outside
the boundary of the property
Sewerage
Standards for Materials
Materials for plumbing systems shall conform to the
relevant specifications as required by either:
(a) the British Standards Institution (BS)
(b) the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM)
(c) the Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
(d) The International Organisation for Standardisation
(ISO)
(e) the A.W.W.A
(f ) the standards approved by the Water and Sewerage
Authority
Sewerage
Materials
Classes of Pipes for sewerage is subject to approval by
the Authority and can be classified as:
(i) Non Metallic - Asbestos cement, bituminous
fibre glass pipe, concrete sewer pipe, plastic pipe
(ii) Ferrous pipe - shall be galvanised inside and
outside when used for waste or vent pipe
(iii) Non Ferrous Pipe - Brass, lead and copper pipe
Sewerage
 Plumbing Fixtures
Every plumbing fixture shall be made of materials
with smooth, hard, impervious, corrosion resistant
surfaces, free from flaws or blemishes which would
tend to interfere with cleaning
Sewerage
 The Code also give the Standards required for the
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following plumbing fixtures:
Water closet bowls
Water closet tanks
Flush valves
Urinals
Urinal tanks
Wash basin
Sinks
Laundry trays
Shower baths
Floor drains
Sewerage
 Soil and Waste Pipes
 Soil and waste pipe within a building shall be of cast
iron, galvanised wrought iron, galvanised steel, brass,
lead or plastic.
 All drains within buildings when underground, shall
be of cast iron soil pipe or of other material to be
approved by the Authority.
 All underground pipe from a point 1 m beyond the
external wall of a building shall be of cast iron,
asbestos cement, bituminised fibre glass, concrete or
plastic.
Sewerage
 Underground pipe - No black or galvanised wrought
iron or steel pile shall be used underground for vent,
soil or waste pipe
 The minimum size for a building sewer pipe shall be
100 mm in diameter
 No sanitary sewer shall pass under any building other
than the building it serves.
 The plumbing system of every building or premises
shall be separate from and independent of that of
another building or premises.
Sewerage
 The Code also give the Standards required for the
different types of joints, joints on pipes of different
materials, and joints connecting pipes made of two
different materials, e.g plastic pipe to metal pipe
Minimum Facilities for Different Types of
Buildings
 Table 11 in this Standard gives the minimum facilities
for the different types of buildings such as apartment
buildings, schools, hotel, hospitals, factories and other
industrial buildings, based on occupancy.
 The facilities include water closets, lavatories, showers,
kitchen sinks and others.