John Lansing
@pipedreaming.bsky.social
Plumbing, building codes, engineering design guides, water and nutrient cycle, architecture, embodied carbon, development, cities, and the international variations of them all
The single stack (Fig 105) was always the most obvious solution for drainage, but the dual concern over siphonage and cleaning miasma from drainage pipes (to prevent contamination of the water in the traps) resulted in a much more complex configuration with vent piping installed at traps (Fig 107).
November 12, 2025 at 2:15 AM
The single stack (Fig 105) was always the most obvious solution for drainage, but the dual concern over siphonage and cleaning miasma from drainage pipes (to prevent contamination of the water in the traps) resulted in a much more complex configuration with vent piping installed at traps (Fig 107).
All of the excitement over the ‘British single stack’ in the 1970s resulted in a slightly rivalrous memo drafted by an AHJ at the City of Philadelphia.
November 11, 2025 at 10:36 PM
All of the excitement over the ‘British single stack’ in the 1970s resulted in a slightly rivalrous memo drafted by an AHJ at the City of Philadelphia.
In his 1968 report on the single stack, Robert Wyly at NIST makes no mention of the single stack being used in Philadelphia or Boston. It’s unclear if Wyly was aware of this practice in the US Northeast.
November 11, 2025 at 10:29 PM
In his 1968 report on the single stack, Robert Wyly at NIST makes no mention of the single stack being used in Philadelphia or Boston. It’s unclear if Wyly was aware of this practice in the US Northeast.
Gonna have to be at César E Chávez Boulevard on the Arc de Triomphe we’re building behind Joan of Arc.
November 11, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Gonna have to be at César E Chávez Boulevard on the Arc de Triomphe we’re building behind Joan of Arc.
The Vancouver Brick has made an appearance. 👀
November 9, 2025 at 4:06 AM
The Vancouver Brick has made an appearance. 👀
Sold out seats for the @thewaroncars.bsky.social book launch tour in Vancouver @uytaelee.bsky.social @brooklynspoke.bsky.social @sgoodyear.bsky.social
November 9, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Sold out seats for the @thewaroncars.bsky.social book launch tour in Vancouver @uytaelee.bsky.social @brooklynspoke.bsky.social @sgoodyear.bsky.social
Skytrain passing Science World, both of which were introduced as part of the 1986 World Exposition in Vancouver.
November 9, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Skytrain passing Science World, both of which were introduced as part of the 1986 World Exposition in Vancouver.
It’s also great for urban wildlife!
November 9, 2025 at 1:09 AM
It’s also great for urban wildlife!
Now arriving at Costco Station. Doors to your left.
November 9, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Now arriving at Costco Station. Doors to your left.
That’s exactly how this home was providing heating through the night in the 1940s! Fairly simple technology that’s now a scalable solution for energy storage. Much cheaper than lithium ion and not hazardous (toxic or flammable).
November 6, 2025 at 7:50 PM
That’s exactly how this home was providing heating through the night in the 1940s! Fairly simple technology that’s now a scalable solution for energy storage. Much cheaper than lithium ion and not hazardous (toxic or flammable).
Phase change material (PCM) instead of a hot water tank. Same energy storage with 1/4 of the volume. 🔥 🔋 🔥
November 6, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Phase change material (PCM) instead of a hot water tank. Same energy storage with 1/4 of the volume. 🔥 🔋 🔥
Build-A-PEX Manifold Workshop™️
November 6, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Build-A-PEX Manifold Workshop™️
Nice behind-the-wall PEX display with manifolds and stub-outs for fixtures.
November 6, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Nice behind-the-wall PEX display with manifolds and stub-outs for fixtures.
Lots of talk about tariffs and bringing European manufacturers into Canada, which I expect there to be much more of here next year. I did come across a Chinese steel and copper press-fit manufacturer here that I haven’t come across yet elsewhere.
November 6, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Lots of talk about tariffs and bringing European manufacturers into Canada, which I expect there to be much more of here next year. I did come across a Chinese steel and copper press-fit manufacturer here that I haven’t come across yet elsewhere.
Pressure loss can be addressed with booster pumps, which are sold a few displays down, which are also generally located in the same mechanical room with the backflow preventers, but you’ll need a sump pump if this is in the basement to handle the drainage discharged from the backflow preventer.
November 6, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Pressure loss can be addressed with booster pumps, which are sold a few displays down, which are also generally located in the same mechanical room with the backflow preventers, but you’ll need a sump pump if this is in the basement to handle the drainage discharged from the backflow preventer.
Backflow preventers. These are typically required at the water supply service from the street for multifamily and commercial buildings but not single family buildings. The pressure loss through preventers is generally over 10 psi, which is equal to the pressure loss of rising 4 floors.
November 6, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Backflow preventers. These are typically required at the water supply service from the street for multifamily and commercial buildings but not single family buildings. The pressure loss through preventers is generally over 10 psi, which is equal to the pressure loss of rising 4 floors.
This cast-iron piping is manufactured in Quebec and is the only cast-iron piping foundry in the country (the US has 4 whereas Europe has somewhere over 15). Like the US, cast-iron is common for sanitary drainage and storm drainage systems. Costs at least 2x PVC but good for acoustical+firestopping.
November 6, 2025 at 6:36 PM
This cast-iron piping is manufactured in Quebec and is the only cast-iron piping foundry in the country (the US has 4 whereas Europe has somewhere over 15). Like the US, cast-iron is common for sanitary drainage and storm drainage systems. Costs at least 2x PVC but good for acoustical+firestopping.
This is Western Canada’s largest MEP tradeshow and has over 200 exhibitors. Overall, the products were mostly identical to what’s available in the US, with the exception of a few locally manufactured items.
November 6, 2025 at 6:36 PM
This is Western Canada’s largest MEP tradeshow and has over 200 exhibitors. Overall, the products were mostly identical to what’s available in the US, with the exception of a few locally manufactured items.
Checking out the latest plumbing products in the Canadian construction market at CIPHEX West in Vancouver.
November 6, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Checking out the latest plumbing products in the Canadian construction market at CIPHEX West in Vancouver.
I’ve been coming here regularly for over a decade and still can’t believe this is a real place.
November 5, 2025 at 4:16 AM
I’ve been coming here regularly for over a decade and still can’t believe this is a real place.
Banyen Books and Sound is well stocked @holz-bau.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 4:06 AM
Banyen Books and Sound is well stocked @holz-bau.bsky.social
Vancouver is like a fictional city that somehow actually exists. It’s no wonder all the movies are shot here.
November 5, 2025 at 3:57 AM
Vancouver is like a fictional city that somehow actually exists. It’s no wonder all the movies are shot here.
High flows in small diameter drains are the ultimate scenario for siphoning the water seal from a trap, so why is this phenomenon almost impossible to observe at bathtub drains? The main reason is due to the flow characteristics over time (more info in the image and alt text).
November 4, 2025 at 11:03 PM
High flows in small diameter drains are the ultimate scenario for siphoning the water seal from a trap, so why is this phenomenon almost impossible to observe at bathtub drains? The main reason is due to the flow characteristics over time (more info in the image and alt text).
So much effort and materials for vent piping at each bathtub trap when Wyly & Eaton’s investigations from NIST showed self-siphonage essentially impossible here. The unvented direct stack connection (right image OG post) is allowed in the IPC and NPC (National Plumbing Code of Canada) but not UPC.
November 4, 2025 at 11:03 PM
So much effort and materials for vent piping at each bathtub trap when Wyly & Eaton’s investigations from NIST showed self-siphonage essentially impossible here. The unvented direct stack connection (right image OG post) is allowed in the IPC and NPC (National Plumbing Code of Canada) but not UPC.