INTERIORS 91


Getting commercial drainage right when space is tight


Erik Mul at ACO Building Drainage looks at the drainage issues that arise when high- use washrooms have limited space for installation, and how to solve them.


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n gyms, spas and hotels, drainage has to fi t around a lot besides the fi nished fl oor. A shallow fl oor build-up, restricted service voids or existing pipework can all make the job more diffi cult. There are demanding hygiene standards and sustainability targets to hit, while still being expected to deliver a fi nished space that looks the part.


Much of the drainage will be out of sight once the work is complete. That can make it easy to overlook during design. It is only when something goes wrong that its importance tends to become obvious; poor fl ow, blockages and unpleasant odours can all affect the way a washroom performs, and putting problems right afterwards can be expensive.


A further reason to get it right early is that in high-end hospitality, the end user experience matters hugely, so drainage problems can affect the business as well as satisfaction with the fi nished job. Considering the drainage at the outset gives the design more opportunity to work with the restrictions of the building instead of trying to accommodate them later.


Working within existing constraints Refurbishments and retrofi ts can leave very little room for manoeuvre as fl oor build- ups may be low, service voids restricted and existing pipework can make routing more complicated. These are not reasons to accept poor drainage. Effective drainage should remain ‘non-negotiable,’ even where conditions make it harder to achieve. Good drainage is more achievable when architects have a strong understanding of the available options – be they solutions or approaches. The aesthetic requirements of a washroom need to be enabled by the drainage in place, rather than one of these aspects having to compromise so the other can be kept to a high standard.


ADF OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2026 WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK


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