Plumbing & Process Piping
Pragmatic Professional Engineers provides plumbing and process piping engineering for new construction, tenant improvements, renovations, and facility upgrades. We design building plumbing systems and specialized utility systems for commercial, healthcare, laboratory, manufacturing, multi-unit residential, and other complex facilities.
Our team works closely with architects, owners, contractors, and the other engineering disciplines to develop coordinated, code-conscious designs that support the facility’s operational needs. From domestic water, sanitary waste, hot water, storm drainage, and gas piping to clean dry air, process gases, RO/DI water, and laboratory utilities, we help clients address both everyday building services and specialized process requirements.
Our Capabilities
Water Supply Systems
Design of domestic water systems for residential and commercial applications
Design of industrial water systems for laboratory, manufacturing, and equipment applications
Water for injection equipment selections and piping systems for pharmaceutical applications
Reverse osmosis and deionized water equipment selections and piping systems for laboratory and manufacturing applications
Sizing and selection of booster pumps, break tanks, and hydropneumatics tanks for high rise applications
Pipe sizing analysis based on flow velocity and pressure drop criteria
Pipe material analysis based on site conditions and cost metrics
Water pressure and flow rate analysis
Coordination with municipal water supply company
Backsiphonage and backpressure hazard analysis
Design and specification of backflow prevention devices based on hazard
Fixture unit calculations
Water usage calculations
Point of connection coordination with Civil
Sub metering for multi-tenant applications
Sanitary and Wastewater Systems
Design and sizing of sanitary waste and vent systems
Pipe material analysis based on site conditions and cost metrics
Drainage fixture unit calculations
System slope and drainage analysis
Point of connection coordination with Civil
Grease waste and grease interceptor design for commercial kitchens and food service establishments
Grease waste heat tracing
Laboratory and industrial waste system design
Acid waste storage and neutralization
Sample port selection and design
Sump pump sizing and design
Sewage ejector pit sizing and design
Sewage ejector bit buoyancy calculations
Pumped waste system sizing and design
Sand-oil interceptors for parking garage applications
Hot Water Systems
Design of centralized and decentralized hot water systems
Selection of water heaters, boilers, and storage tanks
Industrial hot water system design for laboratory and manufacturing applications
Expansion tank equipment selection and sizing
Integration of energy-efficient technologies such as heat pump water heaters and solar thermal systems
Legionella risk reduction
Recirculation pump equipment selection and system design
Hot water wait time calculations and mitigation
Pipe material analysis based on site conditions and cost metrics
Rainwater Systems
Local rainwater calculations
Gutter and downspout sizing and design
Rainwater leader and overflow system sizing and design
Combined system sizing and design
Point of connection coordination with Civil
Pipe material analysis based on site conditions and cost metrics
Gas Piping Systems
Design of natural gas and propane distribution systems
Low pressure natural gas systems design
Medium pressure natural gas system design
High pressure natural gas system design
Natural gas pressure boosting and storage
Integration of pneumatic or electronic emergency shut-off systems
Earthquake valve selection
Coordination with utility providers and compliance with safety standards
Point of connection coordination with Civil
Pipe material analysis based on site conditions and cost metrics
Sustainable Plumbing Solutions
Design of water-efficient systems and fixtures per CAL Green standards
Rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling systems
LEED certification support and documentation for water conservation
Implementation of sustainable practices and technologies
Energy modeling and life cost cycle analysis
Plumbing System Upgrades and Retrofits
Assessment and upgrade of existing plumbing systems
Energy and water efficiency audits
Retrofit design for compliance with current codes and standards
Recommendations for system improvements and optimization
Medical Gas Systems
Design of medical gas systems for healthcare facilities
Compliance with healthcare standards and regulations
Selection and installation of medical gas piping, switchover panels, outlets, and alarms
System testing and certification
Process Systems
Compressed air system equipment selections, including compressors, storage tanks, refrigerant or desiccant dryers, and filtration
Process gas pipe sizing calculations
Gas generator systems including Nitrogen and Hydrogen
Gas storage systems and associated change over manifolds or vaporizers
Pneumatic systems
Inert and hazardous gas systems
Process cooling water and chilled water systems
Pool boiler equipment and filtration
-Steam equipment and distribution systems for laboratory or food service applications
Project Highlights
Explore project highlights that demonstrate plumbing and process piping engineering for laboratory, healthcare, and other complex facilities, including specialized utilities and coordinated multi-disciplinary design.
Frequently Asked Questions
What plumbing and process piping services does PPE provide?
We provide engineering for building plumbing systems, including domestic water, sanitary waste and vent, hot water, storm drainage, natural gas, medical gas, and water-efficiency measures. We also design specialized process utility systems such as compressed air, clean dry air, vacuum, process gases, RO/DI water, process cooling water, and laboratory waste systems.
What types of facilities does PPE support?
We support commercial, healthcare, laboratory, manufacturing, multi-unit residential, education, and other facilities. Our approach is tailored to the building’s use, applicable codes, available utilities, equipment requirements, and coordination needs.
Can PPE design plumbing and process piping for laboratory or clean-room projects?
Yes. We can support laboratory and clean-room projects that require specialized utilities, such as clean dry air, vacuum, RO/DI water, process gases, industrial waste, and process cooling systems. We coordinate these utilities with the building’s plumbing, mechanical, electrical, architectural, and civil design.
Does PPE provide multi-disciplinary engineering services with plumbing and process piping?
Yes. We can provide plumbing and process piping design as part of a coordinated multi-disciplinary engineering effort that also includes mechanical/HVAC, electrical, fire protection, BIM, and commissioning services. This helps the project team coordinate interconnected systems and design decisions across disciplines.
Can PPE help with existing-building plumbing or process-utility upgrades?
Yes. We assess existing conditions and develop designs for renovations, tenant improvements, capacity upgrades, equipment changes, and code-related improvements. The appropriate scope depends on the facility’s condition, records availability, operational constraints, and project goals.
How does PPE coordinate plumbing work with civil and utility providers?
We coordinate points of connection, utility requirements, site constraints, and related design responsibilities with the civil engineer and utility providers as applicable. Early coordination can help identify service limitations and avoid conflicts between site and building systems.