drainage & plumbing 53
Free your build from the water trap
Tim Wootton of Wavin explains how compact alternatives to traditional water traps can provide the practical answers while enhancing design freedom for housebuilders in kitchens and bathrooms.
comes to installing pipework to appliances and fittings using traditional water traps. They face a combined challenge of preventing
T
foul sewer gases entering properties and comply- ing with Part H of the Building Regulations, while also freeing up as much space as possible in tight building footprints. Whether it is providing a pedestal washbasin in an en-suite bathroom, a bath or shower installation, or simply an inte- grated waste bin under the sink to save space in the kitchen, standard water traps can compro- mise space, in turn limiting design freedom or leading to possible issues on site. Being able to install a trap that saves space can
provide significant benefits in domestic projects, whether as a result of reducing the size of the trap itself or by enabling it to be installed vertically or horizontally in plumbing systems. This can deliver both time and cost savings thanks to its ability to achieve a simpler system design, which can prove particularly beneficial in large housing developments.
Solving problems on site
There is a range of potential problems on domestic installations with standard waste trap solutions. For example, in order to accommodate the U-bend of a traditional trap, installers may have to cut the floor under a shower. Alternatively, they might consider installing a shallow bath trap – this will fit into the space, but is likely to be in breach of Building Regulations. Fitting a compact valve which can be installed horizontally under a bath avoids this risk. Traditional water-based traps such as ‘P’, ‘S’
and bottle trap varieties have been used for many decades as a solution to prevent sewer gases. All such products however are vulnerable to failure if water is removed from the trap, which can
he needs of modern housing develop- ments can present a range of challenges to plumbers and contractors when it
result from siphonage or evaporation from lack of use. There are versatile options available which do
not rely on water being present to operate fully, such as HepvO from Wavin – an alternative to a traditional waste trap. The self-sealing waste valve comprises a purpose-designed membrane which creates an airtight seal between the living space and the drainage system, avoiding the need for water in the trap. The membrane opens under water pressure of an emptying appliance, after which it closes to form a tight seal.
Design benefits for homeowners
The design flexibility offered when installing a compact waterless trap comes into its own in bathroom layouts; because the trap acts as an air admittance valve, the pipe run to a basin can be extended from 1.7 m to 3 m without needing to increase the pipe size from 32 mm. It also makes it easier to install slimline pedestals, as the compact product can be installed ‘in-line’ verti- cally, allowing the waste pipe to drop in a straight line from the appliance outlet. In addition, traditional secondary vent pipes or additional branch ventilation may not be required. Many homeowners wish to maximise storage
space under the kitchen sink by installing an inte- grated waste bin, so a compact waterless trap is ideal for opening up the space. In addition, a greater number of appliances can be connected without risking pressure fluctuations and opera- tion can be silent, even under abnormal pressure. Compact waterless traps can provide an ideal
solution for freeing up space and offering an array of design choices for housebuilders in mod- ern housing developments. They also offer a proven and highly-engineered practical alterna- tive to traditional water-based traps which provide an equivalent service life. Tim Wootton is manager of technical design at Wavin
“Standard water traps can compromise space in turn limiting design freedom or leading to possible issues on site”
Enq. 177 respond online at
www.hbdonline.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68