Measurements and

4 Symbols
used in Plu mbing

Introduction
In the previous Units, we have covered plumbing tools,
material and pipes. Besides knowing the benefits and
suitability of material in various tasks, a plumber must
also be efficient in measurement of plumbing material
with the help of measurement tools and be able to
manage conversion of units easily. Similarly, a plumber
should also be able to understand and read the various
symbols used in plumbing drawings.
Plumbing material is needed as per the requirement
of the plumbing work to be done and its plan. Plumbing
fitting and fixtures are available in the market in different
sizes and types. The size of the plumbing items can vary
from inch to feet and metre in height. Plumbing items
are also available as per volumetric capacity like water
tanks, storage and flush tank, etc. Knowledge of various
dimensions and sizes of plumbing items is crucial in the
proper selection and purchasing of plumbing material
in the market.

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 Fig. 4.1: Measuring scale

Measurement of Length
A plumber uses the metallic tape, cloth tape, scale
and foot rule for measuring. Metallic tape should
be used for accuracy in the measurement. Metre
and its divisions are printed on the measuring tape.
The symbol of feet is (′) and the symbol of inch is (″).
For example, the meaning of 4′-9″ is four feet nine
inches. Both the systems, i.e., metric system and FPS
(Foot-Pound-Second) system are used in plumbing
measurement.
(a) In metric systems
1 metre = 10 decimetre (dm)
1 metre = 100 centimetre (cm)
1 metre = 1000 millimetre (mm)
10 millimetre = 1 centimetre (cm)
10 centimetre = 1 decimetre (dm)
10 decimetre = 1 metre (m)
(b) In the FPS system
1 feet = 12 inches
3 feet = 1 yard
(c) Inter-relation of Metric and FPS system: Both
type of systems can be interrelated, for taking
length, in the following manner :
1 inch = 25.4 mm = 2.54 cm
1 metre = 39.37 inches = 1.09 yard

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 Measurement of Weight
Conversion Tables Weight

1 kilogram = 10 hectograms
1 kilogram = 100 decagram
1 kilogram = 1000 gram
100 kilogram = 1 quintal
1000 kilogram = 1 metric ton
1 kilogram = 2.2046 pounds

Length Conversion
Length conversion is depicted in the following.

1millimetre (mm) = 0.03937079 in, or about

1/25 in
10 millimetre = 1 centimetre (cm) =0.3937079 in
10 centimetres = 1 decimetre (dm) =0.3937079 in
10 decimetres = 1 metre (m) = 39.37079 in, 3.2808992 ft,
or 1.09361 yd
10 metres = 1 decametre = 32.808992 ft
10 decametres = 1 hectometres = 19.927817 rods
10 hectometres = 1 kilometre (km) = 1093.61 yd, or 0.621377
mile
10 kilometres = 1 myriametre = 6.21377 mile
1 inch = 2.54 cm 1 foot = 0.3048 m
1 yard = 0.9144 m
1 rod = 0.5029 decametre 1 mile = 1.6093 km

Measurement of Length
Length conversion is depicted in the following.

1 millimetre (mm) = 0.03937079 in, or about 1/25 in

10 millimetre = 1 centimetre (cm) = 0.3937079 in
10 centimetres = 1 decimetre (dm) = 3.937079 in
10 decimetres = 1 metre (m) = 39.37079 in, 3.2808992 ft, or 1.09361 yd
10 metres = 1 decametre = 32.808992 ft
10 decametres = 1 hectometres = 19.927817 rods
10 hectometres = 1 kilometre = 1093.61 yd, or 0.621377 metre

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 1 inch = 2.54cm, 1 foot = 0.3048 m, 1 yard = 0.9144 metre
1 rod = 0.5029 decametre
1 mile = 1.6093 kilometre

Measurement of Volume
Conversion Table for Volume
Volume conversion is depicted in the following.

10 litres= 1 decilitre (dl) = 2.6417 gal, or 1.135 pk

10 decilitres = 1 hectolitre (Hl) = 2.8375 bu
10 hectolitres = 1 kilolitre (kl) = 61027.0515 cubic
inch or 28.375 bu
1 cubic foot = 28.317
1 gallon (American) = 3.785 l
1 gallon (British) = 4.543 l
1 gallon = 4.546 litre

Measurement of Density
Density conversion is depicted below.

1 lb/ft3 = 16.018 kg/m3

1 kg/m3 = 0.0624 lb. /ft3
1 lb/in3 = 27.68 g/cm3

Measurement of Pressure
Pressure conversion is depicted below.

1 lb/ft2 = 4.8824 kg/m3 = 1lb/metre2 = 6.895 KgN/m2

1 lb/inch2 = 0.0703 kg/cm3

Comprehensive Conversion Table

Millimetres = 25.400 × inches

Metres × 3.2809 = feet

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 Notes Metres = 0.3048 × feet

Kilometres × 0.621377 = miles

Kilometres = 1.6093 × miles

Square centimetres × 0.15500 = square inches

Square centimetres = 6.4515 × square inches

Square metres × 10.76410 = square feet

Square metres = 0.09290 × square feet

Square kilometres × 247.1098 = acres

Square kilometres = 0.00405 × acres

Hectares × 2.471 = acres

Hectares 0.4047 × acres

Cubic centimetre × 0.061025 = cubic inches

Cubic centimetre = 16.3266 × cubic inches

Cubic metre × 35.3156 = cubic feet

Cubic metre = 0.02832 × cubic feet

Cubic metre × 1.308 = cubic yard

Cubic metre = 0.765 × cubic yard

Litres × 61.023 = cubic inches

Litres = 0.01639 × cubic inches

Litres × 0.26418 = U.S. gallons

Litres = 3.7854 × U.S. gallons

Grams × 15.4324 = grains
Grams = 0.0648 × grains
= Ounces,
Grams × 0.03527
avoirdupois
× Ounces,
Grams = 28.3495
avoirdupois
Kilograms × 2.2046 = pounds

Kilograms = 0.4536 × pounds

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 Kilogram per square Notes
× 14.2231 = lb.per sqin
centimetre
Kilogram per square
= 0.0703 × lbper sqin
centimetre
Kilograms per
× 0.06243 = lbper cuft
cubic metre
Kilograms per
= 16.01890 × lbper cuft
cubic metre
Metric tons
× 1.1023 × tons (2000 lb)
(1000 kilograms)
Metric tons
= 0.9072 × tons (2000 lb)
(1000 kilograms)
Kilowatts × 1.3405 = horse power

Kilowatts = 0.746 × horse power

Calories × 3.9683 = B.t.u

Calories = 0.2520 × B.t.u

Francs × 0.193 = dollars

Francs = 5.18 × dollars

Tips
(a) To know the circumference of a circle, multiply
its diameter by 3.1416.
(b) To calculate the diameter of a circle, multiply the
circumference by 0.31831.
(c) To calculate the area of circle, multiply the square
of the diameter by 0.7854.
(d) To calculate the circumference, multiply the
radius of a circle by 6.283185.
(e) To calculate the area, multiply the square of the
circumference of a circle by 0.07958.
(f) To calculate the area, multiply the half the
circumference of a circle with half its diameter.
(g) To calculate the radius, multiply the
circumference of circle with 0.159155.
(h) To calculate the radius, multiply the square root
of the area of circle with 0.56419.

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 Notes (i) To calculate the diameter, multiply the square
root of the area of circle with 1.12838.
(j) To calculate the diameter of a circle equal in area
to a given square, multiply a side of the square
by 1.12838.
(k) To calculate the side of a square equal in area to
a given circle, multiply the diameter by 0.8862.
(l) To calculate the side of a square inside a circle,
multiply the diameter by 0.7071.
(m) To calculate the side of a hexagon inside in a
circle, multiply the diameter of the circle by
0.500.
(n) To calculate the diameter of a circle inside in
a hexagon, multiply the side of the hexagon by
1.7321.
(o) To calculate the side of an equilateral triangle
inside in a circle, multiply the diameter of a circle
by 0.866.
(p) To calculate the diameter of a circle inside in an
equilateral triangle, multiply a side of the triangle
by 0.57735.
(q) To calculate the area of the surface of a ball
(sphere), multiply the square of the diameter by
3.1416.
(r) To calculate the volume of a ball (sphere), multiply
the cube of the diameter by 0.5236.
(s) Doubling the diameter of a pipe increases its
capacity four times.
(t) To calculate the pressure in pounds per square
inch at the base of a column of water, multiply
the height of the column in feet by 0.433.
(u) A gallon of water (U.S. standard) weighs 8.336
pounds and contains 231 cube inches. A
cubic foot of water contains 7½ gallons, 1,728
cubic inches and weighs 62.425 pounds at
a temperature of about 39°F. These weights
change slightly and below this temperature.

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 Measuring Instruments
Measuring tools
These are important tools in a workshop, which help
the plumber to measure size and dimensions of various
components of plumbing. Measuring tools are commonly
used. A plumber should know the use and handling of
these tools. The important measuring tools are steel
rule, calliper, screw gauge, pressure gauge, etc.

Steel ruler
It is used to measure lengths and to draw
straight lines (Fig. 4.2).

Calliper Fig. 4.2: Steel ruler

It is a tool used to determine the shorter lengths

between two sides of an item. The tips of the calliper are

Fig. 4.3: Outside callipers Fig. 4.4: Inside callipers

kept to the distance to be measured; the calliper is then

removed and the distance is measured between the tips
with the ruler (Fig. 4.3 and Fig. 4.4).

Screw gauge (Micro metre) Anvil Spindle Sleeve Thimble Ratchet

It is a device incorporating a
0.462 cm
calibrated screw used widely for
precise measurement of small
lengths. Proper handling of this
Frame
tool is important in measuring any
dimension (Fig. 4.5). Fig. 4.5: Screw gauge

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 Measuring tape
It is used for measuring
the dimension of plumbing
items. Tapes are available
in various lengths like 10
metres, 20 metres, etc.
Fig. 4.6: Measuring tape (Fig. 4.6)

Pressure gauge
It is the instrument used
for measuring the pressure
in the unit (Fig. 4.7). Fig. 4.7: Pressure gauge
2 7 5

1 6 8 4
1 : used to take external measures of objects outside jaws
2 : used to take internal measures of objects inside jaws
3 : used to measure the depth of objects depth probe
4 : (cm) Main scale
5 : (inch) Main scale
6 : (cm) Vernier
7 : (inch) Vernier
8 : used to block movable part retainer
Fig. 4.8: Vernier calliper and its parts
Vernier calliper
The metre scale is used to
measure the length to the
nearest millimetre only. For
measuring smaller lengths
precisely, Vernier calliper is
used. Vernier calliper is a
precision instrument used
to measure the internal and
external lengths. It is usually
a manual calliper, as shown
Fig. 4.9: Vernier callipers in Fig. 4.8 and Fig. 4.9.
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 Plumbing Symbols
Importance of plumbing symbols
A well-trained plumber does the installation of the fittings
and fixtures as per the drawing given in the assembly
sheet of the plumbing fixtures in the manufacturer’s
catalogue. These drawings consist of symbols, assembly
of fixture and installation method. Identification of
the symbols given in the drawings of fixtures makes
the installation work easy for the plumber. Plumbing
symbols are given in this Unit. The students should
identify and learn the symbols so that it will be helpful
in future.

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 36 Plumber (General) – Class IX

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 Measurements and Symbols used in Plumbing 37

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 Activity 1

Measure the length, width and height of a room.

Material Required
1. Measuring tape
2. Copy
3. Pencil
Procedure
1. Collect the measuring tapes and scale.
2. Identify a room in which measurement can be made.
3. With the use of a measuring tape and scale,
measure the length, breadth and height of
the room.
4. Draw a rough drawing of the room and note down the
dimensions.
5. Measure the dimensions in metres and convert into feet.

Activity 2

Measure the weight of a brick and cement bag

Material Required
1. Weighing unit
2. Brick
3. Cement bag
4. Notebook
5. Pencil
Procedure
1. Collect the brick and cement bag.
2. Check and calibrate the weighing unit.
3. Measure the weight of the brick and the cement bag
separately.
4. Note down the weight of items in the copy.

Activity 3

Draw the plumbing symbols

Material Required
1. Plumbing symbols
2. Copy
3. Pen

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 Procedure
1. Draw the plumbing symbols given in this book.
2. Level the figure symbols.

Check Your Progress

A. Answer the following questions
1. Calculate the circumference of a circle of radius of 12cm.
2. A 4,800 litre water tank is ¾ full.
(a) How much water is there in the tank?
(b) How much is the empty space?
3. List the different types of material in which plumbing
fittings are available.
4. Draw the figures of bends and reducing tee.

B. Fill in the blanks

1. 1 feet = ……………inches
2. 1 metre = ……………yards
3. 1 kilogram = ……………..pounds
4. 1 gallon = ………………litre
5. 1 lb/in 3
= ………….g/cm3
6. 10 decametres = ………….hectometres

C. Mark the correct option

1. The function of a vernier calliper is to_________________.
(a) measure depth of a large container
(b) measure diameter of a pipe
(c) measure weight
(d) measure pressure

2. Which of the following is a unit of length?

(a) kg
(b) m
(c) minute
(d) mL

3. Which of the following is a unit of area?

(a) m2
(b) cm2
(c) Hectare
(d) All of the above

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