1 SANITARY APPLIANCES

In buildings, many types of sanitary appliances are required. They fulfil a variety of specialized
functions, which are connected with drainage and disposal of sewage and refuse from
buildings. Those can be divided into waste appliance and soil appliances.
Waste appliances will be wash basins, shower trays, bath tubs, bidets, kitchen sinks, etc. The
soil appliances will be the water closets (WCs) and urinals.
1.1 Desirable characteristics of sanitary fittings
Their surfaces should be durable, easily cleanable, non-absorbent, non-corrosive, smooth and
self-cleansing. Hence, the materials must be hard, non-absorbent and non-corrosive. These
characteristics can be obtained from materials like ceramic, vitreous china, glazed fire clay,
acrylic plastic (Perspex) and stainless steel.
1.2 Waste appliances
1.2.1 Wash basins
The standard basin consists of a bowl, weir overflow and holes for taps. The basin may be
supported on brackets screwed to the wall or a pedestal which conceals the pipework.

Wash basins

1.2.2 Shower sprays, trays and cubical

A shower will consume less water than a bath tub. It is more hygienic as well. The shower
spray can be provided with hot water as well, which will then need a mixer tap. For an efficient
shower, a minimum head of water of 1.0 m above the spray is required with 1.5 m being the
preferred value. When this minimum head of water is not available, a small pump could be
installed.
The shower tray may be ceramic or acrylic plastic. This also should be provided with a trap
seal.

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 Shower tray Shower Shower cubical

1.2.3 Bath tubs

The water supply could be with pillar taps. The supply pipes should be 19 mm diameter. The
trap and waste pipes shall be 38 mm internal diameter. It should be provided with an overflow
to ensure that the taps kept open will not spill over.

Bath tubs

1.2.4 Kitchen sinks

Kitchen sinks can be single bowl, single bowl single drain board, single bowl double drain
board, double bowl single drain board and double bowl double drain board types. The preferred
material is stainless steel.

Kitchen sinks

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1.3 Soil appliances
Soil appliances are for the disposal of waste of human body. These are connected to a vertical
stack for waste disposal. Since there is foul air within the stack, there should be trap seals. A
trap seal is a column of water (50 mm in the case of WC) should be there for this separation.
For flushing, there should be a cistern. Cistern means a vessel for holding water. Cistern must
be fitted with a float valve. Float valve is expected to control the level of water at a certain
mark on its own.

Cisterns
The principal parts of the cistern visible from the outside are the cistern itself (A), the flush lever
(B) and the flush pipe (C) although this latter is sometimes concealed in close-coupled WCs. Inside
the cistern are the syphon (D) and the siphon bell or dome (E) which are joined to the flush pipe.
The dome is open at its base. Inside the dome is the perforated plunger plate (F) which is loosely
covered by a flexible plate (G). The plunger plate is connected via a rod(H) and a hook (J) to the
flush lever.

Siphon is taking water over a barrier. The advantage is that siphon has to be activated deliberately.

Dual flush cisterns: These WCs introduced after 2001 operate on a different system. The usual type
works by allowing air into the syphon tube when the water in the cistern falls to the half-way point,
breaking the siphonic action and stopping the flush (Figure B). To prevent this occurring when a
full flush is required, the hole designed to allow air into the syphon is blocked by the plunger plate
when the flush lever is held down (Figure A).

Figure A Figure B

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 Valve type system: An example of which is shown in Figure. The flush lever, A, (or knob) is
connected by a chain, B, to a stopper, C. The stopper is held by the pressure of the water in the
cistern against an opening in the flush valve apparatus, D, which also includes a vertical tube to
form the overflow. Thus the opening is sealed, and water is retained in the tank.
When the flush lever is activated, the stopper is pulled from the opening, and water begins to flow
down the flush pipe. The stopper is made of a light-weight material and floats, so water continues
to flow until the cistern is empty and the stopper settles back against the aperture. The cistern refills.

Valve in closed position Open valve during flushing

Float valve: Float valve has a float that can be used to detect the water level. It can be
adjusted so that the water flow will stop as it reaches a certain level floating on water.

1.3.1 Water closets

Wash down type: This is the most commonly used type. In this the contents of the pan are
removed by a gravity water flush. These are designed to maintain a 50 mm minimum water
seal over fouling area. These are i.) simple ii.) cheap iii.) efficient iv.) rarely blocked
Siphonic type: these are more silent and positive in action, but these are more prone to
blockages.
Depending on the level at which the cistern is located, WC can be categorized as close coupled,
low level or high level.
1.3.2 Urinals
Urinals can be provided in wash rooms when the number of males using it is more than 5.
Depending on the space available, bowl type or other types can be provided.

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Water closets

Close coupled wash down type Close coupled siphonic type

Water closets – low level and high level

Urinals- Bowl type

Bowl type Slab type

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 Stall-type urinals Automatic flush cistern The slab type is cheaper than
the stall type, but provides less
privacy.
Urinals must be provided with
flushing cisterns. The capacity
is 4.5 liters. Sometimes,
automatic flushing cisterns can
be used.

1.4 Trap seals

In order to separate the foul air in the vertical stacks and the fresh air in the wash rooms, it is
necessary to provide trap seals.

Minimum internal diameter of traps When not provided with a

ventilating pipe or anti-siphon
Domestic type Diamete Non-Domestic type of Diameter
fitting r (mm) fitting (mm) pipes, 75 mm trap seal is
Wash basin 32 Drinking fountain 19 needed up to 64 mm diameter
bidet 32 Bar well 32 With ventilation pipe, 40 mm
Sink 38 Hotel and canteen sink 38 is sufficient
Bath 38 Urinal bowl 32
Shower 38 Urinal stall (1 or 2) 50 Above 75 mm internal
Wash-tub 50 Urinal stall (3 or 4) 64 diameter, 50 mm is needed
Kitchen waste 38 Urinal stall (5 or 6) 75 irrespective of having
disposal unit ventilating pipe
Waste disposal unit 50

1.5 Loss of trap seals

Trap seals can be lost due to various pressure fluctuations in the vertical stacks or due to other
reasons. This has to be prevented by having ventilating pipe or anti-siphon pipes. Self
siphonage occurs on its own in small diameter discharge pipes.

Pressure fluctuations in vertical stacks Self siphonage and its prevention

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1.5.1 Self siphonage
This is usually greater in wash basins and other small appliances. It is caused by a moving
plug of water in the waste pipe. A partial vaccum is created at the outlet of the trap thus causing
siphonage of the water. The slope is generally limited to about 5 degrees to prevent this
happening.
1.5.2 Induced siphonage
This is due to the pressure fluctuation in the vertical pipe. The negative pressure on the waste
pipe due to flushing of other appliances will cause this. This can be prevented by using
ventilation pipes or anti-siphon pipes which can ensure near atmospheric pressure on either
side of a trap seal.
1.5.3 Compression
This generally occurs at the foot of a vertical stack. A waste pipe connected to the stack in the
pressure zone may loose its trap seal momentarily into the appliance. This is prevented by
connecting the ground floor appliances at a manhole provided outside the building. It can be
prevented by using anti-siphon pipes as well.
1.5.4 Other reasons
Trap seals can be lost due to capillary caused by a piece of porous material being caught at the
outlet of a trap. When the appliances are not used for a long time, evaporation could cause a
loss of trap seal.

Induced siphonage

Compression Capillary action Wavering out

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1.6 Selection of number of appliances
The number of appliances needed shall comply with BS 6465-1:2006 - Code of practice for the
design of sanitary facilities and scales of provision of sanitary and associated appliances.

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1.7 Arrangement of sanitary appliances
When sanitary appliances are arranged, the following desirable practices can be followed:
1. When a wash room is located close to a place where food is stored or prepared, an intervening
ventilated space shall be provided (not essential for bed rooms or dressing rooms)
2. Easy maintenance of the facility should be carefully thought

Wash rooms in a house

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 Back to back bathrooms and kitchens for flats

If mechanical ventilation is provided, a minimum of 3 air changes per hour (ach) is

recommended. When natural ventilation is provided, it can be by a fan light or a sky light
directly opening to the external air. The size of the opening required is 1/15 of the floor area
(UDA Building Regulations).

Ventilation and entry arrangement.

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 Arrangement for a large office

The guidelines on desirable arrangements and the minimum dimensions required (such as
activity spaces and circulation spaces for different types of buildings) and can be obtained from
BS6465-2:2006.

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Key

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