Sanitary house drainage : its principles and practice a handbook for the use of architects, engineers, and builders / by T.E. Coleman.

  • Coleman, T. E. (Thomas Everitt)
Date:
1896
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sanitary house drainage : its principles and practice a handbook for the use of architects, engineers, and builders / by T.E. Coleman. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    from any chance contamination with sewage or sewer air. The water service to the water-closets, &c., should be completely disconnected from the remainder of the domestic supply. Small tubes containing a quantity of smoke-pro- ducing material, and known as smoke rockets, are sometimes used for testing short lengths of drain or soil pipes. When lighted they emit a dense yellow or black smoke with pungent odour. Smoke rockets are very portable, and oftentimes convenient; but a smoke test of this description is much inferior to that afforded by a good smoke machine which forces the smoke into the drains with a slight degree of pressure. What is known as the scent test or smell test is also occasionally used in the examination of drains and soil pipes. Certain substances having a very penetra- tive, distinctive and easily recognisable odour, are in- troduced within the drains or soil pipe at a convenient point (the outlets and drain openings having been previously plugged or sealed) so that the odour may permeate the whole system. Any defects are then made known by the sense of smell of the person making the examination. This test, though convenient under some circumstances, is not so reliable as the smoke test. Oil of peppermint is most generally used for the scent test. This should be mixed with a quantity of boiling water and immediately discharged into the soil pipe through some conveniently placed water-closet. The mixture must be poured into the soil pipe by an