House Drain

Collection Line of a Plumbing System

The portion of the plumbing system that receives discharges of all soil and waste stacks within the
building, and conveys the same to the house sewer.

Classification of House Drain

1. Combined Drain

type of house drain that receives discharges of sanitary waste as well as storm water, oldest
form of house drain. Phase out and no longer permitted.

2. Sanitary Drain- receives the discharges of sanitary and domestic waste only. Storm water is not
allowed in sanitary drain.

3. Industrial Drain- receives discharges from industrial equipment that contains some objectionable acid
wastes.

4. Storm Drain- conveys all storm clear water, or surface water waste except sanitary waste.

Determining the size of House Drain

Unit System- most practical method to use in determining the size of a house drain. It has been
formulated from test conducted by the Uniform Plumbing Code Committee.

Plumbing Code Provides that:

1. No water closet shall discharge into a drain less than 75 mm or 3 inches pipe diameter

2. No more than two water closets shall discharge into any 75 mm horizontal soil branch, house or
house sewer.
Example:

Determine the size of a Sanitary House Drain to serve 6 water closets, 5 urinals, 5 shower bath,

6 washbasins, 4 floor drains and 3 combined fixtures.

Solution

Fixture Unit values are:

6 x 6 water closet = 36 units

5 x 5 urinals = 25 units

2 x 5 shower bath = 10 units

1 x 4 floor drain = 4 units

3 x 3 combined fixture = 9 units

Total = 90 Fixture Units

House Drain Appliances:

House Trap

A device installed in the house drain immediately inside the foundation wall of the building

It serves as a barrier and prevents gases coming from public sewer or septic tank.
Backflow Valve

A device used in a drainage system to prevent the reversal of flow. It is installed in a house drain
or branches of the house drain that are subjected to reversal flow of liquid.

Backflow Valves are constructed in two patterns and classified as:

1. The Balance Valve- most preferred because it has the characteristics of non-interferences in the
movement of air in drainage system
2. The Unbalanced Valve

Area Drain

Area drain assembly consist of a running trap installed under the basement floor to protect it
from freezing. The trap is equipped with cleanout. The minimum size of an area drain is 10mm or 4
inches pipe to drain basement entryways, loading platforms or driveways

Floor Drain

Defined as a receptacle used to receive water to be drained from the floor into the plumbing
system.

Yard Catch Basin

Defined as a receptacle used to catch surface water drained from cemented courts, driveways
and yards.
Garage Catch Basin

A device designed to convey waste from garage, wash rack, grease pits and repair floors into the
house drain.

Grease Basins