Plumbing Abbreviations & Acronyms List
Whether you’ve been a plumber for twenty years or you’re just getting started in the industry, there are many abbreviations in plumbing to be aware of. Check out our full list of 71 common plumbing abbreviations and acronyms to prepare yourself for working as a plumber.
List of Abbreviations in Plumbing
Abbreviation
AC
AFF
BAS
BF
BG
BH
BPD
BJ
BOP
BTUH
C
CF
COND
CSS
CV
DF
DN
DW
EC
EEW
EEWSH
ES
ET
EWC
EWH
F
FA
FB
FBO
FCO
FD
FFA
FFB
FIP
FPC
FS
GPM
GC
HAP
HB
HS
HWCP
HWS
IM
L
LT
MC
MIP
MPT
MSB
NTS
ORD
P
PC
PRV
RD
RPZ
SE
SF
SH
SK
SP
SS
TFA
TB
TFB
TMV
TOP
VB
VTR
WC
WCO
Abbreviation & Term
AC — Above Ceiling
AFF — Above Finished Floor
BAS — Building Automation System
BF — Below Floor
BG — Below Grade
BH — Booster Heater
BPD — Backflow Prevention Device
BJ — Between Joists
BOP — Bottom Of Pipe
BTUH — British Thermal Units Per Hour
C — Ceiling
CF — Combination Fixture
COND — Condensate Pump
CSS — Clinical Service Sink
CV — Control Valve
DF — Drinking Fountain
DN — Down
DW — Dishwasher
EC — Electrical Contractor
EEW — Emergency Eye Wash
EEWSH — Combination Emergency Eye Wash/Shower
ES — Ejector Sump
ET — Expansion Tank
EWC — Electric Water Cooler
EWH — Electric Water Heater
F — Floor
FA — From Above
FB — From Below
FBO — Furnished By Others
FCO — Floor Cleanout
FD — Floor Drain
FFA — From Floor Above
FFB — From Floor Below
FIP — Female Iron Pipe
FPC — Fire Protection Subcontractor
FS — Floor Sink
GPM — Gallons Per Minute
GC — General Contractor
HAP — High As Possible
HB — Hose Bibb
HS — Hose Station
HWCP — Hot Water Recirculation Pump
HWS — Handwashing Sink
IM — Ice Maker
L — Lavatory
LT — Laundry Tub
MC — Mechanical Contractor
MIP — Male Iron Pipe
MPT — Male Pipe Thread
MSB — Mop Sink Basin
NTS — Not To Scale
ORD — Overflow Roof Drain
P — Pump
PC — Plumbing Contractor
PRV — Pressure Relief Valve
RD — Roof Drain
RPZ — Reduced Pressure BFP
SE — Sewage Ejector
SF — Square Foot
SH — Shower
SK — Sink
SP — Sump Pump
SS — Service Sink
TFA — To Floor Above
TB — To Below
TFB — To Floor Below
TMV — Thermostatic Mixing Valve
TOP — Top Of Pipe
VB — Vacuum Breaker
VTR — Vent Thru Roof
WC — Water Closet
WCO — Wall Cleanout
Term
Above Ceiling
Above Finished Floor
Building Automation System
Below Floor
Below Grade
Booster Heater
Backflow Prevention Device
Between Joists
Bottom Of Pipe
British Thermal Units Per Hour
Ceiling
Combination Fixture
Condensate Pump
Clinical Service Sink
Control Valve
Drinking Fountain
Down
Electrical Contractor
Emergency Eye Wash
Combination Emergency Eye Wash/Shower
Ejector Sump
Expansion Tank
Electric Water Cooler
Electric Water Heater
Floor
From Above
From Below
Furnished By Others
Floor Cleanout
Floor Drain
From Floor Above
From Floor Below
Female Iron Pipe
Fire Protection Subcontractor
Floor Sink
Gallons Per Minute
General Contractor
High As Possible
Hose Bibb
Hose Station
Hot Water Recirculation Pump
Handwashing Sink
Ice Maker
Lavatory
Laundry Tub
Mechanical Contractor
Male Iron Pipe
Male Pipe Thread
Mop Sink Basin
Not To Scale
Overflow Roof Drain
Pump
Plumbing Contractor
Pressure Relief Valve
Roof Drain
Reduced Pressure BFP
Sewage Ejector
Square Foot
Shower
Sink
Service Sink
To Floor Above
To Below
To Floor Below
Thermostatic Mixing Valve
Top Of Pipe
Vacuum Breaker
Vent Thru Roof
Water Closet
Wall Cleanout
When Are Abbreviations Used in Plumbing?
Plumbing abbreviations are used to effectively communicate certain terminology without unnecessary wording. Common places you’ll see these abbreviations are:
● Blueprints
● Work orders
● Supply procurement
Examples of Plumbing Abbreviations in Use
For example, let’s say a blueprint needs to show two kinds of pipes to connect. To do so, a male pipe and female pipe would be used.
The male iron pipe, or MIP, would be noted alongside a female iron pipe, or FIP.
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