Building Services Sanitary pipework

Waste Pipe Connections

Relevant British Standand BS 5572

When an appliance has been installed it will need to be connected to the above-ground
sanitary pipework. This is done by installing a waste fitting into the appliance and
connecting it to the discharge pipe via a trap. The different minimum sizes of waste
fitting and trap are given in the table.
Minimum appliance waste sizes
Type of appliance

Waste fitting

Discharge pipe

size (in)

and trap size (mm)

Sinks, showers, baths,

washing machines
and trough urinals

40

Wash basins, bidets,

drinking fountains and
bowl urinals

32

Stall and slab urinals

65

Appliances such as sinks and baths use a combination overflow and waste fitting. which
does away with the need for a separate overflow pipe discharging out of the building;
note that the overflow connects into the waste above the trap seal.
Appliances such as the Belfast butler sink, wash basins and bidets have an integral
(built in) overflow and therefore the waste fitting needs to have a slot to allow its
connection. The urinal bowl, on the other hand, has no overflow at all; thus an unslotted
waste fitting must be chosen. Most waste fittings connected to the appliance are best
fitted using a rubber-type material to give a good seal; however, materials such as
Plumbers' Mait (a non-setting putty) can be used, providing the appliance is completely
dry when it is applied.

Traps
A trap is a fitting or integral part of an appliance designed in such a way as to retain a
body of water, thus preventing the passage of foul air. There are many different
designs, including those with a vertical outlet (S traps), those with a near-horizontal
outlet (P traps), and those fitted in a pipe run, called running traps.
The depth of the trap seal would depend upon the circumstances and usage of the pipe,
but in general, pipes of less than 50 mm internal bore should have a trap with a seal of
not less than 75 mm however for baths and shower trays and for basins with spray
taps, provided that a flush-grated waste is fitted (i.e. no plug) this depth may be
reduced to 50 mm. If the appliance is discharging into an open gully, this depth may be
reduced to 38 mm. For pipes with a larger internal bore than 50 mm, a trap with a seal
of only 50 mm is required as trap seal loss is much less likely to occur in a pipe so large.
Traps up to 40 mm outlet size may be or either tubular or bottle trap design (see
figure). Tubular traps tend to be less prone to blockage. (See page 284 for an example
of a special trap which is designed to maintain its water seal under adverse design
conditions.)
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Sanitary Pipework
Relevant British Stand BS 5572
A system of above-ground drainage designed to remove all the foul and waste water to the
below-ground drainage system. Originally, the foul water from soil appliances was kept
separate from the water from waste appliances and two separate discharge stacks were
required; the water only joined at ground level in the below-ground drainage system. This
type of system was known as the two-pipe system.
All sanitary pipework today is based on the one-pipe system in which one discharge stack is
used to convey both foul and waste waters. There are three basic systems in use, these
being the ventilated system, the ventilated stack system and the single stack system.
With the ventilated system a ventilating pipe is extended to connect to each of the
individual branch pipes throughout the system; it is designed to safeguard against trap seal
loss. This system is generally adopted in situations where it is no possible to have close
groupings of sanitary appliances, and long branch discharge pipes can be expected.
In the ventilated stack system only the main discharge stack is ventilated, to overcome
pressure fluctuations. With this system the branch discharge pipes connect directly into
the main stack without the need for a branch ventilating pipe. This system therefore, is only
suitable for buildings in which the sanitary appliances are closely grouped to the main stack.
Finally there is the single stack system, which is used in similar situations to the ventilated
stack system, the difference being that the stack ventilating pipe can be omitted if the
discharge stack is large enough to limit pressure fluctuations.
Whichever system is chosen, all work must comply with Part H of the Building Regulations.

Branch discharge pipe This pipe should connect to the main discharge stack in such a way
as not to cause any 'crossflow' into other pipes (see figure). The sizes of branch discharge
pipes should be at least the same diameter as the appliance trap. Oversizing the pipe to
avoid self-siphonage could prove uneconomical and lead to an increased rate of solid deposit
accumulation. Bends should be avoided but where they are unavoidable, long radius bends
should be used. The gradient of branch discharge pipes should be between 1 and 1 1/4 (1822 mm drop per metre run).

Branch ventilating pipe No branch ventilating pipe should connect to the discharge stack
below the spillover level of the highest fitting served. The minimum size for a branch
ventilating pipe serving a single appliance should be 25mm, but, where the branch run is
longer than 15m or contains more than five bends or serves more than one appliance, the
minimum pipe size should be 32mm.

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Single Stack System

Relevant British Standard BS 5572

Most buildings are designed to meet the criteria of this system, therefore reducing
the cost of installation. The system is designed so that no separate ventilating pipes
are required to prevent trap seal loss. This can only be achieved by observing the
following guidelines:
(1) All sanitary appliances must be closely grouped to the discharge stack, within the
limits shown.
(2) All appliances, as far as possible, should be fitted with a P trap with a discharge
pipe diameter equal to that of the trap and bends in branch pipes avoided - the
gradient being kept to a minimum.
(3) The vertical discharge stack must be as straight as possible, with a long radius bend
fitted at its base.
(4) The lowest connection to the discharge stack must be a minimum of 450 mm above
the invert of the drain. If the building is over three storeys, this distance should be
increased to 750 mm and for buildings over five storeys, all groundfloor appliances
should not connect into the stack. In buildings over 20 storeys, all first floor, as well as
ground floor, appliances should not be connected.
(5) Where a range of appliances is installed, it should comply with the following table:
Unvented discharge pipes serving more than one appliance
Appliance

Max no. fitted

WC

Min pipe size

(mm)
100

Gradient
(mm/m)
9-90

Wash basin

50

18-90

Bowl urinal

50

18-90

Stall urinal

65

18-90

(6) The main discharge stack must be large enough to limit pressure fluctuations
without the need for a ventilating stack; as a general guide, 100 mm diameter is
required for buildings with up to five storeys and 150 mm diameter for those with up to
20 storeys, with two groups of appliances on each floor. (Note: a group of appliances
consists of one WC, bath, basin and sink.)
(7) Branch connections must join the main vertical discharge stack at an angle of 45 or
at a radius of 25 mm for pipes up to 75 mm in diameter and a radius of 50 mm for pipes
over 75 mm in diameter.
Where the discharge pipe exceeds the criteria listed, it should be vented by a branch
ventilating pipe, located at the highest point, extended to the atmosphere or connected
to a ventilating stack, in which case the system is generally referred to as a `modified
single stack system'. Sometimes air admittance valves, or resealing traps, are used
which allow air into the system in order to prevent trap seal loss.

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Ventilation of Sanitary Pipework

Relevant British Standard BS 5572

It is essential that air is freely allowed to enter discharge and drainage pipes and thus
help maintain an equilibrium of pressure within the pipe and the outside atmosphere:
for example, should the pressure be greater outside the pipe than inside, the trap seals
of sanitary appliances and gullies would be lost. By allowing a current of fresh air to
flow through the whole system, any foul matter adhering to the insides of pipes would
soon dry and be washed away; ventilating the pipes also prevents any build-up of foul
(and possibly dangerous) gases. Air enters the drain at low level, via holes in inspection
covers, etc., and rises up through the stack by convection currents.
The termination of a ventilating pipe into the atmosphere should be at a position that
does not cause a nuisance or health hazard. It is recommended that if a ventilating pipe
is within 3 m of a window opening it should be carried up above the window to a minimum
height of 0.9 m. Ventilating pipes should be fitted with a domical cage or grating which

does not unduly restrict the free air flow and prevents the nesting of birds, etc. The
size of the ventilating pipe may be reduced in houses up to two storeys. but should be
at least 75 mm in diameter.
Discharge stacks may terminate within the building when fitted with an air admittance
valve. These valves are designed to allow fresh air to enter the ventilating pipe but
prevent odours and gases escaping. Air admittance valves should not be used on
discharge stacks connecting to drains which are subject to surcharging (filling with
water) or on a drain which has an intercepting trap fitted, as they may cause the trap
seal loss of the appliance.
The number of air admittance valves fitted to a drainage system should be limited to
prevent excessive back pressures and, where five or more domestic dwellings are
located in the same drainage run, a conventional open ventilating pipe will be required at
the head of the system. Should the number of dwellings exceed ten, conventional
venting will be required at mid-point and at the head of the system. Note that the valve
must be located above the floor level of the discharge stack; where valves are fitted in
roof voids, etc., they should be insulated, because any condensation forming within may
freeze and prevent their use.

Stub stacks
A discharge stack which is capped off with a rodding eye at its top end. Stub stacks
are only permitted to be installed where they connect to a ventilated discharge stack
or drain within 6 m from the base of the stack. However, this distance is increased to
12 m maximum where a group of appliances is fitted. If a stub stack is used, no branch
waste connections may be made into the stack higher than 2 m above the invert level of
the drain, and, in the case of a WC pan connection, this distance is reduced to 1.5 m
maximum.

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Trap Seal Loss

Relevant British Standard BS 5572

If the trap seal is lost, objectionable smells will enter the building; therefore, the water
seal in the trap must be maintained under all circumstances. Trap seal loss can result from
various unforeseen circumstances, such as leakages or evaporation. In designing any sanitary
discharge system, special care will need to be taken to prevent pressure fluctuations
occurring within the pipework itself. Typical design faults include:

Waving out Caused by the effects of the wind passing over the top of the ventilation pipe, bringing about pressure fluctuations; thus wave movements in the trap
gradually wash over the outlet.

Compression This generally only occurs in high-rise buildings where the discharge of water down the main discharge stack compresses the air at the base of the
stack, thus pushing the water out of the trap back into the appliance. This problem can
usually be overcome by ensuring that a long radius bend is installed at the base of the
stack and that no connections are made within 450 mm of the invert level of the drain;
alternatively, a relief vent should be carried down to connect to the lowest part of the
discharge stack.

Induced siphonage Caused by the discharge of water from another sanitary

appliance connected to the same discharge pipe. As the water falls down the pipe and
passes the branch pipe, it draws air from within, thus creating a partial vacuum;
subsequently, siphonage of the trap takes place. To overcome this problem, trap
ventilating pipes could be introduced into the system; these would permit air into the
discharge pipe, preventing the development of a partial vacuum.

Self-siphonage Mostly caused in such appliances as wash basins; being funnel

shaped, they tend to discharge their contents of water quickly. As the water discharges
it sets up a plug of water, which, as it passes down the pipe creates a partial vacuum,
thus causing siphonic action to take place. To overcome this problem of self-siphonage, a
larger waste pipe is sometimes used, but in most cases a resealing trap cures the
problem.

Resealing traps
A trap designed to maintain its water seal should a partial vacuum be created in the waste
discharge pipe. There are various designs of resealing trap and the moss common one used
today incorporates an anti-vacuum valve; should the pressure drop inside the discharge pipe,
this valve opens under atmospheric pressure, giving a state of equilibrium inside the pipe.
Unfortunately these traps often tend to leak through this valve. The other types of
resealing trap work on the principle of retaining the water in a reserve chamber should the
conditions be right for siphonic action to take place.

Extracts from
Treloar R D - Plumbing Heating and Gas Installations 2nd Edition Blackwell Science, 2000
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