UNITED KINGDOM — One of the more overlooked marvels of the modern skyscraper is its plumbing system, which handles the very important job of managing the building’s waste. <br /> <br />British drainage expert Mark Briggs, while speaking to the Daily Mirror, explained how waste flushed from a height goes down at speeds of up to 122 mph as it hits terminal velocity. <br /> <br />The bottom of the pipe levels out to slow down the flow and minimize any bounce backs. <br /> <br />Buildings 20 or more storeys high also need to have separate stacks or pipes for toilets in the first two floors, to prevent anything from spewing out. <br /> <br />The design of a toilet system depends largely on the number of appliances, and the amount of fluids those appliances are expected to discharge. <br /> <br />Since skyscrapers produce more fluid discharge, its drain pipes need to be much wider than those in single family homes. <br /> <br />Pipes are typically made from PVC, but some buildings use cast iron for extra protection against rats, fires, and the sheer pressure of tons of human waste rushing through them.
