SmartScreen Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating

Unit 010 Handout 2

Unit 010: Sanitation systems

Handout 2: Other methods of connecting to the drainage system

There are a number of additional methods of connecting ground floor appliances to the drainage system. The requirements for trap seal depths and pipe sizes covered earlier still apply equally to these types of installation.

The stub stack system

The stub stack system A stub stack is a short unventilated discharge stack. In order for this type of stack to be used the following conditions apply: Where one or more stub stacks are used in a property then the head of the drain must be ventilated by means of a stack vent. The distance between the finished floor level (FFL) and the drain invert level must not exceed 1.3m and the highest appliance connection must be within 2.0m of the drain invert level.

2012 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. www.SmartScreen.co.uk

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SmartScreen Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating

Unit 010 Handout 2

Direct WC connection to drain

An unventilated WC connection may be made directly to the drainage system provided that the invert of the drain is within 1.3m of the finished floor level (FFL) on which the WC is located.

Stub waste connection

The stub waste connection which includes making a direct waste pipe connection to the drainage system via an unventilated sealed connection for ground floor appliances is often used to make remote waste connections such as kitchen sinks and washing machines/dishwashers. The main requirement when connecting via a stub waste is to ensure that a deep seal trap is installed on the appliance.

2012 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. www.SmartScreen.co.uk

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SmartScreen Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating

Unit 010 Handout 2

Direct waste connection to gully

Kitchen sink/washing machines are often connected to the drainage system via a gully. Key features of this type of installation are: a gully that is capable of accepting waste pipe connections must be installed. A back inlet type gully (BIG) is often used for this purpose the waste pipe must discharge below any grid fitted to the gully but must also terminate above the water level in the gully certain ground floor appliances connected to a gully may be of the shallow seal type trap with a 38mm seal depth this is because there is an air break between the gully contents and the pipe end.

Test 1. What is the distance of the highest branch connection that can be made on a stub stack from the invert level of the drain?

2.

What is the name of a waste connection made directly to a drainage system?

3.

How could the 1.3m distance between the floor level and drain invert level be exceeded when making a direct WC connection to the drainage system?

2012 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. www.SmartScreen.co.uk

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SmartScreen Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Plumbing and Domestic Heating

Unit 010 Handout 2

Points to remember Check the system it is important to check the type of system you will be connecting into to help prevent making a connection to the wrong type of sewer. Discharge stack also known as a soil stack this is the main above ground sanitation pipe. Ventilating pipe this is the pipe that allows air into the system to relieve pressure problems. The air helps create an equilibrium in the system Invert of the drain this is the bottom of the drainage pipe at the base of the stack. Radius of bend imagine that the bend was part of a circle; this is the circles radius. Wet portion of the stack the part of the stack that has waste water running through it. Dry portion of the stack the part of the soil stack that is above the wet portion that will never normally have waste water running through it. Expansion in pipework consideration for this must be included in the installation of pipework to prevent problems. Co-efficient of expansion of PVCu is approximately 0.06mm/m/C. Expansion gaps and joints need to be provided in order to cope with thermal expansion in systems. Self-cleansing velocity the speed of the flowing water required to prevent a build up of deposits in pipework. This is achieved by installing the pipe with the proper gradient. Cross flow zones must be followed for the system to work correctly. Maximum pipe lengths and gradients must be adhered to otherwise another method of ventilation should be used.

2012 City and Guilds of London Institute. All rights reserved. www.SmartScreen.co.uk

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