F Rating

A rating of effectiveness of firestop material, measuring its resistance to flames and water.

FHT

Female Hose Thread. (e.g. end of garden garden hose)

FIP

Female Iron Pipe connection. Standard internal threads on pipe fittings.

FMA

Free Mineral Acidity.

FMPX

Female pipe swivel connection

FNPT

This refers to the female pipe thread, in which the threads are on the inner side of the connection fitting

FVI

Flammable Vapor Ignition

Facultative Bacteria

Bacteria that can live under aerobic or anaerobic conditions

Fall / Flow

The proper slope or pitch of a pipe for adequate drainage.

Fascia

A decorative apron or front face. A wooden enclosure holding the main pump assembly for whirlpool and master baths.

Faucet Threads

Special thread size for fittings that connect to faucets. A cone seal or gasket is usually included because straight threads will not have a complete seal without a gasket.

Fecal Coliform

The portion of the coliform bacteria group which is present in the intestinal tracts and feces of warm-blooded animals. A common pollutant in water

Feed Pump

A pump that supplies water to a boiler.

Feed Water

Water introduced into a boiler during operation. It includes make-up and return condensate.

Female Fitting

A fitting that receives a pipe or fitting. A fitting into which another fitting is inserted.

Female Threads

Faucet threads that are in place on the inside of a fitting.

Ferrous

Material containing or derived from iron.

Ferrule

Metal cover piece for the lavatory overflow opening.

Filter Element

A device within a filter tank designed to trap suspended solids as water flows through it.

Filtrate

Liquid that has been passed through a filter

Filtration Rate

The rate at which the water is traveling through the filter, measured as GPM (gallons per minute) per sq. ft.

Finish Plumbing

Installation of plumbing fixtures to make the system usable.

Finished Water

Water that has completed a purification or treatment process.

Fire Hose Closet

Usually a compartment built into an interior wall, covered by a glass door, holding a coiled fire hose connected to a water line, ready for immediate use in case of fire.

Fire Stand Pipe

A main water line that feels water sprinkling system or fire hose connections. This is separate from the lines feeding restrooms or other fixtures.

Firestop

Materials that fill the opening around penetrating items such as cables, cable trays, conduits, ducts, and pipes and their means of support through the wall or floor to prevent spread of fire.

First Draw

Water that has been sitting in pipes or plumbing fixtures overnight and is first drawn when taps are opened in the morning. For instance, where lead is present in plumbing, this water would have the highest levels of lead contamination.

First Hour Delivery

Rating based on the combination of the usable stored volume of hot water in a tank plus the recovery capacity for the first hour of operations.

Fitting

Any pipe part used to join together two sections of pipe, such as elbows, couplings, bushings, bends, wyes, etc.

Fixed Cone Valve

A cylinder gate mounted with the axis horizontal. Also known as Howell Bunger valve.

Fixture

A device that provides a supply of water or its disposal, e.g. sinks, tubs, toilets.

Fixture Unit

An arbitrary unit assigned to different types of plumbing fixtures, and used to estimate flow rate requirements and drain capacity requirements.
 

Flame Stability

Flames on a burner tend to stabilize at a point where flow velocity out and burning back are equal. It changes when primary air or gas rate is adjusted.

Flange

Extending rim or edge at one end of a pipe shaft that gives support or a finished appearance.

Flapper Flush Ball

The moving part of the flush valve that seals the water into the tank or allows water to exit the tank for the flush cycle. The most common replacement part used on conventional toilets.

Flapper Valve

The part on the bottom of the toilet tank that opens to allow water to flow from the tank into the bowl.

Flare Fitting

A fitting used to connect flex copper pipe, usually gas pipe

Flaring Tool

Tool used to create a cone-shaped enlargement at the end of a piece of tubing to accept a flare fitting.

Flex Coupling

Rubber coupling used to join DWV Pipe. Can be used to connect PVC to Clay or Cast Iron above or below ground. Also used for repairs, and attach by used of steel band clamps.

Flexible Connector

A braided hose that connects a faucet or toilet to the water supply stop valve. Serves as a riser but is much more flexible and easier to install. Usually stainless steel or PVC/Polyester reinforced hose.

Float Ball

The floating ball connected to the ballcock inside the tank that rises or falls with changing water levels in the tank, and actuates or shuts off the ballcock as needed.

Floating Flames
(Lifting Flames)

An undesirable burner operating condition, usually indicating incomplete combustion in which flames leave the burner port to "reach" for combustion air.

Flocculant

A chemical substance that promotes the aggregation or coagulation of suspended particles in the water.

Flood Level Rim

The top edge of a receptacle from which water overflows.

Floor Drain

Drainage fitting that sits flush with the floor, used in basements and showers.

Floor Flange

A fitting that connects a toilet to a floor drain.

Floor Sink

Receptacle usually made of enameled cast iron located at floor level and connected to a trap to receive the discharge from indirect waste and floor drainage. Cleaner and more sanitary than regular floor drains. Usually used in hospitals & restaurants.

Flow Control Valve

Device designed to reduce water flow to a plumbing fixture. Often used to improve efficiency and reduce operating costs. Also a check valve that prevents flow reversal when heater is turned off.

Flow Rate

Rated in gallons per minute (GPM) or in gallons per hour (GPH)

Flue

A passageway for combustion by-products.

Flue Baffle

A device to deflect, check, or regulate flow through a pipe.

Flue Damper

A device to minimize heat loss through a venting system.

Flue Exhauster

A fan installed in the vent pipe which will provide a positive induced draft. Sometimes called a draft inducer.

Flume Spout

An open spout design that is also referred to as a waterfall spout.

Flush Joint

A Connection with both male and female threads cut into the pipe.

Flush-Mount Lavatory

Sink that sits flush and even with the countertop and is supported by a metal ring.

Flushing Surface

The interior surface of the bowl and all other surfaces which may come into contact with water during flushing.

Flushometer

Toilet valve that automatically shuts off after it meters a certain amount of water flow.

Flushometer Tank System

Toilet flushing system that uses supply water pressure to compress water to provide a pressurized flush as opposed to a gravity flush.

Flushometer Valve

The valve located at the bottom of a gravity-operated toilet flush tank, which opens when the trip lever is actuated, and closes when the tank has drained to the desired level. Usually also contains an overflow tube.

Flux

Paste applied to copper pipes and fittings before soldering to help the fusion process and prevent oxidation.

Foam Insulation

Insulation surrounding the surface of a water heater tank.

Foot Valve

A special type of check valve located at the bottom end of the suction pipe on a pump; it opens when the pump operates to allow water to enter the suction pipe but closes when the pump shuts off to prevent water from flowing out.

Footprint

The area of floor space taken up by a water heater or other appliance. Framed A bath enclosure system that mounts all glass or plastic panels in a metal frame.

Frameless

A bath enclosure system that minimizes the amount of metal used to hold the system panels and door in place.

Free-Standing

Term used to describe a bathtub that is free of walls on all sides.

Free Available Chlorine

The concentration of residual chlorine present as dissolved gas, hypochlorous acid or hypochlorite, not combined with ammonia or in other less readily available form.

Freeboard

The vertical distance between a bed of filter media or ion exchange material and the overflow or collector for backwash water; the height above the bed of granular media available for bed expansion during backwashing; may be expressed either as a linear distance or a percentage of bed depth.

French Drain

A covered ditch containing a layer of fitted or loose stone or other pervious material.

Friction Head Difference

The difference in head required to move a mass of fluid from one position to another at a certain flow rate within a piping system. It is also the specific energy required to overcome friction in the system.

Friction Loss

The loss of pressure caused by the turbulence created in water while traveling through the pipe.

Frost Line

The depth to which frost penetrates the earth.

Full-Finished

Refers to tubular products in which the weld has been processed to produce uniform strength and dimensions, and subsequently annealed to obtain proper corrosion resistance.

Full Hydraulic Capacity

The designed capacity of a pipe or conduit.