Allen Key :
Six-sided key, mostly supplied in sets of several sizes.
ABS :
ABS is a noble thermo-shaped material, the success of which is due to the excellent properties of the resin-elastomer alloy. The term ABS comes from the initials of the three basic monomers used to make them: acrylontril, butadiene and styrene. ABS, with its shiny finish, is highly resistant to scratches and easy to clean, giving the bathroom an elegant look.
Bore :
Internal diameter of a cylinder or pipe – an operation giving a given diameter when boring.
Ball valve: Flush valve triggered off by a floater.
Butterfly nut :
Nut with two wing-shaped holds for easy manipulation, especially for slackening.
Brass :
Alloy of copper (60 to 75%) and zinc, to which lead can be added; tensile and malleable material.
Connection pipe (WC pipe) :
PVC element for connecting a WC pan to the drainage system.
Centre punch :
Burin used to mark or drill a small preliminary hole.
Clamp :
Temporary tightening tool to keep elements together, especially while drying glue.
Collector :
Horizontal pipe that collects rain or wastewater from several drainage points.
Counter-nut :
nut screwed on to another nut to prevent it from slackening.
Drain clearer :
Product for clearing drains.
Dry base :
Layer of cement for levelling the ground (without insulation).
Divisional meter :
water meter connected to part of an installation.
Drainage :
Mechanic (plug or chain) plug or automatic (pull to open or close) mechanism allowing to retain the water in a sanitary appliance, or to empty it. Wash/hand basins, bidets and bathtubs are all equipped with one of these draining systems.
Dilatation washer :
Made of flexible material, fitted between two solid elements that cannot dilate individually.
Drill bit :
Drilling tool used with a drill.
Epoxy putty :
Putty comprised of two different materials, used to fill holes in metal or pipes.
Electric insulation :
Protection against certain electrical phenomena,obtened by using material that does not conduct electricity.
Enamel :
Thick product applied in one or several layers to give a flat surface.
Elastomer :
Natural or synthetic polymer with elastic properties similar to those of rubber.
Flexible shower hose :
Flexible plastic or metal pipe connecting a tap to a showerhead. Supplies water to the showerhead. Available in different lengths.
Flexible connector :
Flexible pipe connecting water pipes to a tap. Generally housed in a plastic or metal sleeve to avoid its being inadvertently pierced. This type of connection is easy to fit, since it does not have to be welded. Available in different lengths.
Floating base :
layer of cement for levelling the ground, includes an insulating under-layer.
Flexible drainage connector :
Flexible polypropylene tube for connecting sinks, shower trays, wash-hand basins or baths to the drainage network. Equipped with a female threaded connector to be adapted to the sanitary appliance waste and a male end to be connected to the drainage system. Can be stretched, keeps the required shape and is resistant to hot water and abrasive products.
Fungicide :
Product for destroying mould and parasitic fungoid growth; treats diseases caused by microscopic fungus.
HandShower :
pierced end of a shower system whereby the water is expelled like rain. Exists in plastic or metal. Certain models have different types of jets.
HWS :
Hot water sanitation
Handbasin :
Small wash basin with cold water supply only.
Hydro-massage :
Massage by water. Hydro-massage includes horizontal bath massage or balneotherapy, and vertical hydro-massage in a shower.
Hydro-pneumatics :
Operations made using compressed liquid or gas.
Handbasin :
Shallow basin in the shape of a bowl.
Hydro-therapy :
“All therapies using the physical or chemical properties of water and treatment by baths, affusion or showers” (Larousse Dictionary, 1998). Thalassotherapy, water cures, etc. are forms of hydro-therapy. In the bathroom, the term hydro-massage is more commonly used than that of hydrotherapy, which is reserved for the medical field.
Jointing :
Making joints between wall or floor tiles.
Kit :
Complete set of parts to be assembled.
Mixer tap :
Taps with two handles and one spout that mixes hot and cold water in the body of the tap.
NF Norm :
The brands NF sanitary appliances (created in 1998) and NF taps (created in 1996) are voluntary certification marks delivered by AFNOR (French Normalisation Organisation). They certify that a product conforms with the different quality characteristics defined in norms (French, European or international) which are completed with various specifications concerning the product and Wirquin’s quality organisation. The technical characteristics of the appliance are set and controlled by AFNOR, which certifies that the products are conform to the norms and undergo permanent quality control during manufacture.
Phonic insulation :
Protection against certain phonic phenomena, obtained by sound-obstructing materials.
Pushbutton :
pressure switch with a stable position (open circuit).
Pressure reducer :
Appliance enabling to reduce water pressure. Should be fitted if the network pressure exceeds 3 bars. It is placed in the main cold water pipe, just after the meter. Its main function is to obtain ideal pressure by simple adjustment, thus avoiding all the disadvantages of over-pressure (damage to pipes, over-consumption, etc.).
Pipe grip :
Instrument used for holding a pipe in place during operations (gluing, brazing, welding, etc.).
Putty :
Product with a pasty consistency used as protective finish or filler.
Percussion drill :
Electric drill with backward-and-forward movement that hammers at the same time as it rotates: used for drilling stone, brick and ordinary concrete.
Plug :
part used for lodging screws in solid matter (concrete, brick, plaster, etc.).
Polypropylene :
The most recent of mass plastic materials. This material has, in a few years, reached an unprecedented stage of development and variety in application. Its resistance to heat and abrasion is remarkable, and it should also be noted that it has excellent conducting and insulating properties. There are several types of polypropylene. The fields of application are extremely varied : from sanitary articles, to household appliances, from toys, to elements for the car industry, etc.
PVC :
Polyvinyl chloride, the most common plastic matter : drainpipes, pipes, door & window frames, electric sheaths, etc.
Re-boring :
Boring a second hole of a larger diameter and in the same axe, in a previous hole.
Railway :
tool used for standing calcareous stone or plasterboard.
Septic tank :
Central element (tank) in a purifying station where there is no direct drainage. Collects wastewater and purifies it by bacterial action.
Scaler :
Appliance used to avoid chalky deposits in a water pipe.
Scotch shower :
Function found in certain hydro-massage stalls. Interrupts the shower with jets of cold water according to a give frequency. The aim is to stimulate the lymphatic system and blood circulation, and increase muscle tonicity.
Swan-neck :
High tap spout in the shape of a swan’s neck.
Sanitary appliance :
General term for all bathroom products to which taps are fitted : bidet, hand/wast basin, bathtub and shower.
Shower column :
multi-function equipment integrating taps (preferably thermostatic), a hand shower and several hydro-massage nozzles. Can be fitted on the front or in the corner of a shower, depending on the model. Can also include storage space to have everything handy (shower gel, soap, shampoo, etc.).
Snake :
Long flexible metal rod for unblocking pipes.
Stainless steel :
Steel containing more than 11% of chrome, giving better resistance to corrosion than carbon steel.
Self-piercing tap :
Small tap, easily fitted by piercing into a pipe.
Sealing :
Permanent fixing into wall, partition, ground, etc.
Single-unit tap :
Tap with only one command that controls both water temperature and flow.
Shower stell :
shower equipment set including a shower tray, inner shower partitions and doors, and pre-mounted taps.
Sanding block :
piece of wood, rubber or plastic to keep a sheet of sandpaper firmly held.
Silicon :
Synthetic resin, mostly used in watertight putty, and generally for watertightness.
Sheath :
hollow plastic tube sunk into walls to enable the passage of electric cables.
Seal :
Normalised depth of 5 cm minimum of water in a trap to avoid unpleasant smells rising from the waste.
Shower guard :
Adjustable partition, most often transparent or translucent, to avoid splashing.
Thermal insulation :
Protection against certain thermal phenomena, obtained by heat loss reducing materials.
Trap :
Curved device that retains a plug of water to prevent unpleasant odours coming up from the drains.
Tungsten carbide :
highly resistant metal made from a combination of carbon and tungsten, used in cutting or drilling tools and as filaments in incandescent lights.
Toilet seat :
Tip-up cover for WC seat, made from different materials (solid or compressed wood, ABS, etc.)
Thermoforming :
Heat-assisted forming or pressing process (e.g. shower stalls).
Thermostat :
Automatic temperature regulating device.
Thermostatic (tap):
Tap with two water inlets (hot and cold) and only one outlet. The temperature is defined to the degree by a special lever. This gives a constant water temperature and avoids cold showers or scalding. A second lever enables to regulate the flow.(rate)
U-bend drain :
Mobile drain for water outflow, avoids unpleasant smells.
Vasque :
Lavabo (ou bassin) en forme de coupe peu profonde
Vidage :
Mécanisme manuel (bouchon chaînette) ou automatique (tirette permettant d’actionner l’ouverture ou la fermeture du lavabo ou du bidet) permettant de conserver l’eau dans l’appareil sanitaire ou de la vider. Les lavabos, les bidets ainsi que les baignoires sont équipés de ces systèmes de vidage.
Water hammer arrester :
Device fitted in water pipes to avoid knocking and noises due to irregular flow or over pressure.
Watertight bed :
Waterproof layer integrated into the masonry to avoid rising damp.
Water Softener :
Appliance that reduces the amount of lime in water.
Water hammer :
shaking and noise in a water pipe made when turning a tap off.
WC disposal unit :
WC fitted with an electric device for crushing matter and evacuation through small-diameter pipes.
Washer :
Junction between two surfaces or volumes / material garnishing two neighbouring elements / small watertight element.
Wash/hand basin column :
Wash/hand basin comprising a basin and column (which dissimulates the pipes and taps).
Water repellent :
Waterproofing product to apply to a surface or mixed with mortar or concrete.
Waste :
Delivered with the sanitary appliance for which it commands the outflow; it screws on to the trap.
Wash/hand basin cabinet :
Bathroom cabinet that fits underneath a wash/hand basin.
Y (or branch) :
Device in the form of a Y used to separate two divergent branches from a main pipe.