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Plumbing · UK

Plumbing & Heating Symbols - UK (BS 1553 / BS EN 806)

These symbols are used on plumbing installation drawings, heating system diagrams, and compliance certificates in the UK. They follow BS 1553-1 for graphical conventions and BS EN 806 for water supply systems. Plumbers, heating engineers, and G3 unvented specialists use these daily.

This chart has 14 plumbing symbols used in the UK, in 4 groups: Pipework, Valves, Components, Sanitary Appliances. Each entry gives the drawing, what it means and the standard it comes from (BS 1553-1:1977 / BS EN 806 / Building Regulations Part G).

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BS 1553-1:1977 / BS EN 806 / Building Regulations Part G14 symbols
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Pipework

Hot Water Pipe

Hot water supply pipe

BS 1553-1

Cold Water Pipe

Cold water supply pipe

BS 1553-1

Waste / Soil Pipe

Waste water or soil drainage pipe

BS 1553-1 / BS EN 12056

Valves

Stopcock / Gate Valve

Manual water isolation valve (gate type)

BS 1553-1

Non-Return Valve

Check valve / non-return valve preventing backflow

BS 1553-1 / BS EN 806

PRV

Pressure Reducing Valve

Pressure reducing valve for mains water supply

BS EN 806

Components

Expansion Vessel

Pressurised expansion vessel for unvented systems

BS EN 806 / G3

HWC

Hot Water Cylinder

Hot water storage cylinder (vented or unvented)

BS 1553-1 / G3

CWST

Cold Water Storage Tank

Cold water storage cistern (header tank)

BS 1553-1

Radiator

Central heating radiator

BS 1553-1

Sanitary Appliances

Bath

Bathtub sanitary appliance

BS 1553-1

Wash Basin

Hand wash basin

BS 1553-1

WC (Toilet)

Water closet / toilet

BS 1553-1

Shower

Shower head / shower tray

BS 1553-1

All 14 at a glance

Plumbing & Heating Symbols - UK (BS 1553 / BS EN 806): each symbol, what it means and the standard it comes from
SymbolWhat it meansGroupStandard
Hot Water PipeHot water supply pipePipeworkBS 1553-1
Cold Water PipeCold water supply pipePipeworkBS 1553-1
Waste / Soil PipeWaste water or soil drainage pipePipeworkBS 1553-1 / BS EN 12056
Stopcock / Gate ValveManual water isolation valve (gate type)ValvesBS 1553-1
Non-Return ValveCheck valve / non-return valve preventing backflowValvesBS 1553-1 / BS EN 806
Pressure Reducing ValvePressure reducing valve for mains water supplyValvesBS EN 806
Expansion VesselPressurised expansion vessel for unvented systemsComponentsBS EN 806 / G3
Hot Water CylinderHot water storage cylinder (vented or unvented)ComponentsBS 1553-1 / G3
Cold Water Storage TankCold water storage cistern (header tank)ComponentsBS 1553-1
RadiatorCentral heating radiatorComponentsBS 1553-1
BathBathtub sanitary applianceSanitary AppliancesBS 1553-1
Wash BasinHand wash basinSanitary AppliancesBS 1553-1
WC (Toilet)Water closet / toiletSanitary AppliancesBS 1553-1
ShowerShower head / shower traySanitary AppliancesBS 1553-1

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Frequently asked questions about plumbing symbols

What standard defines UK plumbing symbols?
BS 1553-1 covers graphical symbols for piping and plant. BS EN 806 covers design and installation of water supply systems. Together they define the symbols used on plumbing drawings in the UK.
Why are hot and cold pipes marked differently?
Hot water pipes are marked with red cross-bars and cold with blue. This helps engineers identify pipe runs on complex drawings without tracing them back to source.
What is a G3 qualification?
G3 refers to Building Regulations Approved Document G3, covering unvented hot water systems. Installing or working on unvented cylinders requires a specific qualification (typically from BPEC or similar).

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Symbols based on BS 1553-1:1977 / BS EN 806 / Building Regulations Part G. This is a reference guide only. Always consult the full standard for official symbol definitions.