Product Glossary

General Plumbing Features

Fixture: Any device that is connected to a plumbing system and either supplies or drains water or wastewater.

Flow Rate: The volume of water that passes through a plumbing system within a specific period, typically measured in gallons per minute (GPM) or gallons per hour (GPH).

Hard Water: Natural water that contains a high concentration of dissolved minerals, such as calcium and magnesium.

Scale: A deposit, often composed of calcium carbonate, that forms as a thin layer on the interior surfaces of water-heating appliances and pipes, potentially reducing heat transfer and flow.

Soft Water: Water that has been treated to remove most of the dissolved minerals that cause hardness.

Faucets

Pillar Tap: A short, upright faucet that is mounted on a sink or countertop. These taps usually have a single inlet for either hot or cold water and are operated by a handle or knob located on top.

Bib Tap (Bib Cock): A faucet that is attached to a wall and has a downward-pointing nozzle. Bib taps are commonly used outdoors for garden hoses or in utility areas and typically supply a single flow of water (usually cold) with a threaded spout for hose connection.

Angle Cock (Angle Valve): A 90-degree shut-off valve installed where a water supply line connects to a faucet or toilet. It allows for localized control of the water flow to a specific fixture and typically features an angled body with an on/off handle.

Sink Cock: A faucet mounted on the wall above a sink, commonly found in kitchens or laundry rooms. It often has a swiveling spout to direct water into the sink.

Swan Neck Faucet: A faucet characterized by a tall, gracefully curved spout that resembles the neck of a swan. This design provides increased clearance above the sink.

Sink Mixer: A faucet designed for kitchen sinks that combines hot and cold water supplies to deliver mixed water through a single spout. Sink mixers can be wall-mounted or deck-mounted and often feature a swiveling spout and either two handles or a single lever for temperature and flow control.

Basin Mixer: A faucet for bathroom basins that mixes hot and cold water before it exits a single spout. Basin mixers are typically installed on the basin deck (center hole) and use either a single lever or two handles to adjust water temperature and flow.

Wall Mixer: A faucet that is mounted on the wall and has two inlets for hot and cold water, which are mixed within the faucet before exiting through an integrated spout. Often found in bath areas, wall mixers may also include a diverter to redirect water to a showerhead.

Diverter: A valve that changes the direction of water flow from one outlet to another within a plumbing fixture. In showers and baths, a diverter is used to switch water between a tub spout, an overhead shower, or a hand shower. They can be part of a faucet system and are often operated by a lever or knob.

Bathtub Spout: A fixture specifically designed to deliver a high flow of water into a bathtub for filling. It is usually wall-mounted and may be connected to a diverter system to switch water flow to a showerhead.

Control Valve: A general term for a valve used to regulate the flow of water in a plumbing system. In bathrooms, this often refers to a stop valve or shut-off valve (similar to an angle cock) that allows for the control of water supply to individual fixtures for maintenance or pressure adjustment.

Ceramic Cartridge: The internal component of modern mixer faucets that controls water flow and temperature mixing. It consists of smooth ceramic discs that slide against each other to open, close, and mix hot and cold water, providing drip-free operation and durability.

Aerator: A fitting attached to the tip of a faucet spout that mixes air with the water stream. Aerators create a smoother, splash-free flow and can reduce water consumption while maintaining water pressure.

Single Lever Faucet: A faucet that uses a single handle to control both the flow rate and the temperature of the water. Moving the lever up and down adjusts the flow, while moving it side to side adjusts the temperature.

Central Hole Basin Mixer: A single faucet unit with two handles that mixes hot and cold water and delivers it through a single spout, designed for basins with a single tap hole.

Deck / Table Mounted Tap: A faucet that is installed directly onto the surface of a sink or bathtub rim, as opposed to being mounted on a wall.

Pop-Up Waste: A type of drain stopper for sinks that is connected to a control lever or button on the faucet, allowing the drain to be opened and closed without reaching into the sink.

Quarter Turn Taps: Faucets that can be fully opened or closed with just a 90-degree rotation of the handle.

Reducer: A plumbing fitting that connects pipes of different diameters.

Relief Valve: A safety valve that automatically opens to release excess pressure or temperature within a plumbing system.

Stop Cock: A simple, manually operated valve used to turn the water supply on or off.

Tall Boy: A single-lever basin mixer with an extended spout height, often used with countertop basins.

Three Hole Mixer Tap: A faucet set that consists of three separate pieces: a central spout and individual hot and cold water handles, requiring three installation holes.

Three-Handle Faucet: A faucet with three distinct handles: one each for hot and cold water, and a third handle to operate a diverter.

Two-Handle Faucet: A faucet with separate handles to control the flow and temperature of hot and cold water independently.

PVC (Polyvinyl-Chloride): A type of rigid white plastic commonly used for drain, waste, and vent pipes in plumbing systems.

Flange: A typically round or shaped collar that fits over a pipe extending from a wall, often used for decorative purposes or to secure the pipe.

Wall Mixture Non-Telephonic: An exposed wall-mounted mixer faucet that delivers water only through a spout, without any additional attachments like a shower hose.

Wall Mixture 3-in-1: An exposed wall-mounted mixer faucet that includes a diverter to direct water to three different outlets: a spout, an overhead shower, and a hand shower.

Thermostatic: Describes mixer faucets that automatically maintain a consistent water temperature, regardless of fluctuations in the incoming water pressure or temperature.

Thermostatic Bath & Shower Mixer: A valve that provides precise and regulated control over both the temperature and flow of water for a bath and shower.

3-Inlet Diverter: A diverter valve designed for plumbing systems with three separate supply lines: hot, cold, and often a third for filtered or fresh water.

Hi-flow Diverter: A diverter valve engineered to allow a high volume of water to pass through, enabling rapid filling of a bathtub.

Sanitaryware

One Piece Closet: A toilet where the bowl and the cistern are manufactured as a single, integrated unit, providing a seamless appearance and often easier cleaning.

Coupled Closet (Two-Piece Toilet): A toilet that consists of two separate components: the bowl and a separate cistern that is bolted to or behind the bowl during installation.

Wall Hung Closet: A toilet bowl that is mounted to the wall and suspended above the floor, with the cistern typically concealed within the wall or a mounting frame.

Water Closet (WC): A general term for a toilet, especially a Western-style toilet designed for seated use and equipped with a flushing mechanism.

Orissa Pan (Squatting Pan): A type of toilet that is installed at floor level and designed for a squatting posture, featuring raised footrests on either side.

Urinal: A sanitary fixture designed for urination, typically wall-mounted and used by males in standing position.

Wash Basin: A general term for a sink in a bathroom, used for washing hands and face.

Table Top Basin: A wash basin that is designed to be placed on top of a countertop or vanity unit, with the entire basin sitting above the surface.

Counter Basin (Under-Counter Basin): A wash basin that is installed beneath a countertop, with the rim of the basin either flush with or slightly below the counter surface.

Wall Hung Basin: A wash basin that is mounted directly to the wall without any support underneath, leaving the floor space open.

Pedestal Basin (Wash Basin with Pedestal): A two-part wash basin consisting of a bowl and a separate supporting column (pedestal) that conceals the plumbing.

One Piece Basin: A wash basin where the bowl and its supporting structure (leg or stand) are molded together as a single, continuous unit.

Soft Close Seat Cover: A toilet seat and lid that are designed to close gently and quietly due to a special hinge mechanism.

Dual Flush: A toilet flushing system that offers two different flush volumes – a full flush for solid waste and a partial flush for liquid waste – to conserve water.

S-Trap: A type of drain outlet for toilets or basins where the pipe exits vertically downwards and then curves in an "S" shape, typically used when the drain is in the floor.

P-Trap: A type of drain outlet where the pipe exits horizontally from the back of the fixture and curves in a "P" shape, commonly used when the drain is in the wall.

Washdown Toilet: A toilet flushing mechanism that uses the force of gravity and a large volume of water to push waste out through a simple trap way.

Siphonic Toilet: A toilet flushing mechanism that uses a siphon action to pull waste out of the bowl, resulting in a more thorough and quieter flush, though with a narrower trap way.

Showers

Overhead Shower: A showerhead that is mounted above the user, either on the wall or ceiling, and directs water downwards.

Shower Arm: The pipe that extends from the wall or ceiling to support and supply water to an overhead showerhead.

Hand Shower (Handheld Shower): A showerhead attached to a flexible hose, allowing it to be held and directed by hand.

Body Jet (Body Shower): Small nozzles installed in the walls of a shower enclosure that spray water horizontally onto the body.

Exposed Shower Pipe: A visible vertical pipe system mounted on the bathroom wall that supplies water to an overhead shower and often includes a slide bar for adjusting the height of a hand shower.

Rainfall Shower Head: A large, typically flat overhead showerhead designed to distribute water evenly over a wide area, mimicking the sensation of rain.

Waterfall Shower: A shower outlet that delivers water in a broad, flat sheet, resembling a waterfall.

Multi-Function Shower: A showerhead (either overhead or hand shower) that offers several different spray patterns or modes.

ABS (Thermoplastic): Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, a durable and lightweight plastic commonly used in the manufacturing of showerheads and hand showers.

Stainless Steel 304 (SUS 304): A high-grade stainless steel alloy known for its excellent corrosion resistance, often used in the construction of durable shower components.

Kitchen Sinks

Single Bowl Sink: A kitchen sink with one continuous basin, without any dividers.

Double Bowl Sink: A kitchen sink that has two separate basins, typically positioned side by side.

Drainboard Sink: A sink that includes an attached, grooved surface (drainboard) to allow washed dishes to drain and air dry.

Modular / “Smart” Kitchen Sink: A modern kitchen sink that incorporates additional integrated features and accessories for enhanced functionality.

Handmade Sink: A stainless steel sink that is constructed by hand through welding and folding of steel sheets, rather than being machine-stamped.

Quartz Sink (Granite Composite Sink): A durable sink made from a mixture of natural quartz stone and acrylic resin, offering resistance to scratches, stains, and heat.

RO Faucet (Water Filter Faucet): A separate, small faucet installed at the sink to dispense purified water from a reverse osmosis or other filtration system.

Piano Button Controls: A type of control on some kitchen sinks that uses flat, button-like switches to activate different water functions or outlets.

Waterfall Spout (for Sink): A type of faucet spout that releases water in a wide, flat stream.

FlexFlow: A feature indicated in some product names, likely referring to a flexible or multi-mode water flow control on the sink faucet.

Stainless Steel 304 Sink: A kitchen sink made from high-quality SUS 304 stainless steel, known for its resistance to rust and corrosion.