Fountain terminology glossary

1–1. Types of fountains and water effects

Translated term	English equivalent in the source	Functional definition
Fountain / Water Feature	Fountain / Water Feature	A collection with the designed presence of water; The term Water Feature has a wider scope
Urban Fountain	Urban Fountain	A fountain located in an urban space
Decorative Fountain	Decorative Fountain	Mainly spectacular water feature, no admission required
Static Fountain	Static Fountain	A fountain with a relatively constant pattern during operation
Dynamic / Choreographed Fountain	Dynamic / Choreographed Fountain	A fountain with programmed changes in water movement
Musical Fountain	Musical Fountain	Fountain synchronized with music
Dry Deck Fountain	Dry Deck Fountain	A fountain with equipment embedded in the floor and collecting water below the surface
Splash Pad	Splash Pad	A space designed for people to contact and play with water
Interactive Fountain	Interactive Fountain	A water feature that responds to the presence or command of the audience
Floating Fountain	Floating Fountain	A water fountain installed on a floating structure
Water Curtain	Water Curtain	Continuous or dense arrangement of water drops
Water Screen	Water Screen	The blue surface is suitable for displaying images with a projector
Water Wall	Water Wall	Water flow on the surface or along the wall
Artificial Waterfall	Artificial Waterfall	Designed water fall from height difference
Vertical Jet	Vertical Jet	Water exit with a dominant vertical direction
Laminar Jet	Laminar Jet	Consistent flow with low turbulence and clear appearance
Jumping Jet	Jumping Jet	Segmented jet with on and off time control
Fan Nozzle	Fan Nozzle	A nozzle that creates a water fan zone
Foam / Aerating Nozzle	Foam / Aerating Nozzle	The nozzle creates a white and airy effect
Bell Nozzle	Bell Nozzle	A bell-shaped water crust forming nozzle
Fountain Ring	Fountain Ring	Circular arrangement of water outlets
Misting System	Misting System	Very fine water droplet production system
Jet Height	Jet Height	Measurable height of water effect under certain conditions
Splash Envelope	Splash Envelope	The range that water droplets reach under defined conditions

A dry floor fountain is not necessarily suitable for people to play with, simply because the nozzles are level with the floor; Interactive user should be foreseen in the design and operation.

1–2. Mechanical and hydraulic terms

Translated term	English equivalent in the source	Functional definition
Flow Rate	Flow Rate	Flow volume of fluid per unit time
Head	Head	Fluid energy per unit weight, expressed in meters of fluid column
Total Dynamic Head — TDH	Total Dynamic Head — TDH	The required head of the system in a specified flow rate
Static Head	Static Head	Contribution independent of the flow in the system head
Head Loss	Head Loss	Energy reduction due to friction and track resistance
Operating Pressure	Operating Pressure	Pressure when working at a given point
Duty / Operating Point	Duty / Operating Point	The combination of flow rate and the actual working head of the pump
Pump Curve	Pump Curve	The relationship between pump performance and flow rate
System Curve	System Curve	The relationship between the required head of the system and the flow rate
Efficiency	Efficiency	Ratio of useful power to input power
Net Positive Suction Head — NPSH	Net Positive Suction Head — NPSH	Index of suction conditions to check the possibility of cavitation
Cavitation	Cavitation	Formation and collapse of vapor bubbles in fluid
Submersible Pump	Submersible Pump	Pump designed to work in submerged mode
Dry-installed Pump	Dry-installed Pump	Pump installed outside the water
Manifold / Header	Manifold / Header	Flow distribution or collection pipe or chamber
Strainer	Strainer	Means for separating relatively large particles
Check Valve	Check Valve	Reverse flow limiting valve
Isolation Valve	Isolation Valve	Isolation valve for a part of the circuit
Control / Regulating Valve	Control / Regulating Valve	Valve to change or regulate the flow
Bypass	Bypass	Parallel path for specific performance
Water Hammer	Water Hammer	A transient increase or decrease in pressure due to a rapid change in flow
Dry Running	Dry Running	Pump operation without enough water
Fountain Basin	Fountain Basin	The place of receiving and storing water
Balance / Surge Tank	Balance / Surge Tank	The tank absorbs changes in volume and water level
Make-up Water	Make-up Water	Added water to compensate for the deficit
Overflow	Overflow	Excess water outlet
Drain	Drain	Controlled water discharge path
Air Gap	Air Gap	Physical separation of the incoming water outlet from the receiving level

1–3. Electricity, lighting and control

Translated term	English equivalent in the source	Functional definition
Electrical Control Panel	Electrical Control Panel	A set of distribution, protection and control equipment
Variable Frequency Drive — VFD	Variable Frequency Drive — VFD	Motor speed control equipment by changing frequency and voltage
Programmable Logic Controller — PLC	Programmable Logic Controller — PLC	Program logic execution controller
Human–Machine Interface — HMI	Human–Machine Interface — HMI	The operator's communication page or tool with the system
Show Control	Show Control	Synchronizing the timing of visual effects
DMX512	DMX512	Display equipment command transmission protocol
Remote Device Management — RDM	Remote Device Management — RDM	Two-way communication to identify, configure and report the status of compatible equipment
Start Address	Start Address	The first channel dedicated to equipment
Terminator	Terminator	Electrical terminator of the communication line
Isolated Splitter	Isolated Splitter	Equipment for creating communication branches with proper isolation
Underwater Luminaire	Underwater Luminaire	A light designed for specific underwater work conditions
Power Supply Unit — PSU	Power Supply Unit — PSU	Equipping the supply of electric power suitable for the consumer
Safety Isolating Transformer	Safety Isolating Transformer	Transformer with protective isolation for relevant application
SELV	SELV	Very low voltage system with protective isolation requirements
Protective Conductor — PE	Protective Conductor — PE	Conductor related to protection against electric shock
Protective Equipotential Bonding	Protective Equipotential Bonding	Protective connection of specified components to limit potential difference
Residual Current Device — RCD	Residual Current Device — RCD	Differential current detection and circuit breaker equipment
Overload Protection	Overload Protection	Protection against sustained overload
Short-circuit Protection	Short-circuit Protection	Protection against short circuit current
Voltage Drop	Voltage Drop	Reduction of voltage in the feeding path
Ingress Protection — IP	Ingress Protection — IP	Enclosure protection classification against access, solid objects and water
Emergency Stop	Emergency Stop	Stop command to reduce specified risk
Safety Interlock	Safety Interlock	A condition that allows the operation of the equipment to depend on the safe state
Lockout / Tagout — LOTO	Lockout / Tagout — LOTO	Energy isolation control during repair work

RDM in this application means two-way communication over a DMX compatible network; It does not necessarily mean internet connection. RDM standard in ANSI ^[439]

1–4. Refinement, exploitation and documents

Translated term	English equivalent in the source	Functional definition
Filtration	Filtration	Separation of particles by passing through the filter medium
Disinfection	Disinfection	The process of controlling pathogenic microorganisms
Backwashing	Backwashing	Wash the filter with reverse flow according to the manufacturer's instructions
Turbidity	Turbidity	Light scattering index caused by suspended particles
Free Chlorine	Free Chlorine	Free and measurable portion of residual chlorine
Combined Chlorine	Combined Chlorine	Chlorine in compounds such as chloramines
pH	pH	Water acidity or alkalinity index
ORP	ORP	Electrochemical index of oxidation-reduction state
Biofilm	Biofilm	Microbial layer attached to the surface
Turnover Time	Turnover Time	The ratio of the base volume of the system to the related flow rate
Preventive Maintenance	Preventive Maintenance	Scheduled pre-breakdown service
Commissioning	Commissioning	Checking and recording the performance of the system against the requirements
As-built Drawing	As-built Drawing	The map corresponds to the implemented situation
Operation & Maintenance Manual — O&M	Operation & Maintenance Manual — O&M	Instructions for use, service and troubleshooting
Punch List	Punch List	List of remaining items for correction and completion

Notes and references

Source 297: Standard RDM in ANSI; webstore.ansi.org. Full address in the bibliography.