John Lansing
@pipedreaming.bsky.social
Posting thoughts on plumbing/building codes, engineering design guides, water and nutrient cycles, often with regional and historical insights (personal account) Director of Plumbing Standards Research and Development john.lansing@centerforbuilding.org
We're working with @metroabundance.bsky.social to collect cost drivers in California building codes and standards above and beyond national model codes/standards. See here for more – please circulate among architects, engineers, etc. in the state! admin.centerforbuilding.org/wp-content/u...
admin.centerforbuilding.org
This may be designated as a men’s restroom, but providing separate stalls for urinals makes eliminating gender segregation in restrooms very straightforward.
David Ho@davidho.bsky.social · 4d agoOnly in Germany have I seen this setup. Why not a toilet?
Seeing the same thing on new build in the new territories!
John Lansing@pipedreaming.bsky.social · 8mo agoThe practice of exterior mounted drainage piping spread to other British colonized regions as well at the time, including Hong Kong, where you can see this practice carried into the modern era with materials like PVC, much less prone to leakage.
Historic facade with condensing units mounted on the balcony and wall.
Where vent piping is required, the vent must rise at least 6 inches above the flood level rim of the fixtures before joining with other vent piping (right image in OG post below). In many other countries, this piping wouldn’t be required at all.
Steven Lucy@slucy.bsky.social · 5d ago:)))))
The American mind cannot comprehend the efficiencies of the Swiss single stack.
One of the reasons SROs cost less is because the kitchens, bathrooms, and washing machines are consolidated outside of the units rather than spread throughout like in a typical studio apartment. By detaching them from the unit, the quantity can also be reduced significantly in accordance with codes.
mtsw@mtsw.bsky.social · 2w agoi think people look at homelessness as a relatively new phenomenon and reason backwards to think that in the Before Times, poor people must've all been able to afford houses/their own apartments etc. Most of the housing types the poor used were actually just outlawed (boarding houses, SROs etc)
Just to the south of the stadium is Europe’s densest neighborhood with over 50,000 people living within one square kilometer.
Gernot Wagner@gwagner.com · 2w agoNotice the difference?
You can literally see the dust in the air in some of the stations. The Underground smells like a welding shop, which some may argue is part of the legacy and charm as the world’s oldest subway, but it’s another reason I always pull out a KF94 descending on the elevator.
Phil M 🦻🏼💚 🍉 🏳️⚧️ 🇵🇸@phillm.bsky.social · 3w ago"Steeds discovered the dust could contain dangerous levels of asbestos & other substances including chromium, arsenic, silicates & iron oxide, he began raising concerns... tribunal heard that for the first 15 months he was not fitted with a proper protective mask" www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
The National Bureau of Standards, an agency within the US Department of Commerce, made a bigger contribution to plumbing science and standardization than any other entity in the world. It’s referenced either directly or in tables or methodologies in nearly every national standard even today.
Cato Institute@cato.org · 3w ago"The great achievements of civilization have not come from government bureaus." — Milton Friedman. They were driven by individual liberty and free markets. And they always will be.
Maybe it’s just me but this feels more accessible than free parking for all drivers.
6 inch drains are also still oversized for this application too. There’s a multifamily building in Sydney, Australia with over 300 apartment units on a single 4 inch sanitary drain connecting to the sewer. A flow measurement device installed indicates it still hasn’t exceeded capacity.
Rory Stolzenberg@rorystolzenberg.bsky.social · 3w agoTIL Portland created special sewer standards for infill projects, allowing shared laterals instead of every unit requiring a direct connection to a main. In Cville, I keep hearing sewer rules are the biggest impediment to small projects. Are there other examples of this? @pipedreaming.bsky.social?
He says “Avoid bagged lettuce” because some farms in Yuma Valley Arizona can spray raw hog feces on lettuce or spinach, bag it up, and ship to the rest of the country (and Canada) and spend weeks trying to track it down. There’s usually much better tasting lettuce at your farmers market anyway.
Dr. Vin Gupta@vinguptamd.bsky.social · 3w agoCyclospora isn’t just another summer stomach bug. It’s a reminder that foodborne outbreaks require strong public health surveillance, rapid communication, and informed consumers. Here are practical steps you can take to protect yourself and your family
S-traps are illegal in every state yet Home Depot is selling them clearly labeled as such out in the open. I fully support the use of S-traps but it’s easy to see how these conditions result in uneven enforcement of building codes, with greater leniency given to single family homes.
Bring Back The Twin Star Rocket@mrbtx.bsky.social · 3w agoI see S-trap I think @pipedreaming.bsky.social
I’m a simple man but I am going to need to have this bathtub at some point.
Overflow drains are an almost non-existent feature on kitchen sinks in the US and Canada. It’s not illegal and some mfgrs allow it by special request. Kitchen sinks are a common source of water damage, which is why overflow drains are common in places more accustomed to building multifamily housing.
POV: It’s 30°C/63%RH outside, you’re staying hydrated and tossing your water bottle in the correct bin.
This is going to negatively impact the US much more than China, but collaboration benefits all parties.
David Ho@davidho.bsky.social · 4w agoThis is f**king crazy
In Portland’s single-stair design competition, students showcased beautiful, light-filled homes that could fit on a standard residential lot. None of them are legal to build. @maccoinnich.bsky.social www.sightline.org/2026/07/09/i...
Introducing the New Neighborhood Apartment | Sightline Institute
A Portland design competition showcases breezy, light-filled, and family-sized apartments—if only they were legal.
sightline.org
My guess is the roof drains were blocked and water was ponding around them. New Jersey roofs are designed for a massive 6 in/hr so capacity is not a factor. A secondary drainage system for redundancy is required in much of the US but more important than anything is clearing debris from roof drains.
Dramatic roof collapse at New Jersey BJ’s rattles witness: ‘I’ve never seen anything like that’
YouTube video by NBC News
m.youtube.com
Architects should also create efficient layouts that minimize the total length of piping and the number of bends. Less piping = less chance for piping to leak.
John Lansing@pipedreaming.bsky.social · 4w agoIf I was to give a simple answer that ignores skill issues, these 5 things would practically end water damage from plumbing: 1. Automatic leak detection 2. Waterproofing bathroom and adding floor drains 3. Minimal penetrations through the floor 4. Overflows at sinks 5. Easily accessible piping
Routing the water supply and drainage piping from one side of the atrium to the other was a major design challenge. We even explored putting pipes inside the “tree” shown here.
Seattle airport expansion features massive timber-clad "tree"
The Miller Hull Partnership and Woods Bagot have completed an extension to Concourse C at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
dezeen.com
Alexander Cumming, a Scottish watchmaker living in London, patented what’s widely considered to be the first modern WC (shown at 0:08) the year before the Declaration of Independence.
NE Ohio Regional Sewer District@neorsd.org · last mo.what were toilets like 250 years ago?
