An effective functioning drainage system should safely remove waste water from the house. Each fitting and drain should collect waste water and drain it from the house to a treatment system.  It is essential that all parts of the drainage system, including pipe sizes, fittings and falls are designed and constructed as specified and are well maintained.

The data show that 84% of houses showed no sign of house drainage system failure. This represents an improvement of 4% since 2006. Still, 16% of houses have some type of drainage failure leading to waste water being observed under the house or in the surrounding yard area.

Survey data on the diameter of the shower drain, which is usually the highest water-using area of the house, show that only 70% of houses had the recommended 100 mm diameter floor drain, a 2% improvement since 2006. Smaller diameter drains block more easily and are harder to check for blockages, such as concrete and cement tile grout, caused during construction.

• exposed drainage pipe work
• storm water corroding steel column
• Water from leaking waste pipe
• Failed stormwater and yard drainage may undermine foundations and encourage mosquitoes
• Poor waste pipe work
• Leaking shower waste
• Corroded support to pipe work
• Leaking floor waste
• Poorly connected drainage leads to pools of waste water under the house and mosquitos.

Ensure

• B3.2 .1.

  drains in all wet areas are minimum 100mm diameter in ground, slab or structure to the top of floor level, with reduced drain sizes for hand basins, kitchen sinks and laundry tubs rising only above floor level and where they are accessible

• B3.2 .2.

  each floor drain has a grate to prevent objects blocking the drain

• B3.2 .3.

  the size of all drain pipes is noted on the drawings and the pipes are sized according to plumbing and drainage standards

• B3.2 .4.

  inspection openings are noted on the drawings

• B3.2 .5.

  a vent at the top of drainage lines is shown on the drawings, as required

• B3.2 .6.

  if a waste stack is used for a double storey house, it is vented

• B3.2 .7.

  the position of the overflow relief gully is shown on the drawings and it is not near a door or outside the kitchen window

• B3.2 .8.

  if ‘P-traps’ are used for any fixtures, the exposed pipe is protected from accidental damage

• B3.2 .9.

  drains are installed in accordance with local regulations

• B3.2 .10.

  the building contract includes a requirement that all drainage works be inspected and tested before trenches are backfilled and that these drainage inspections are undertaken by a plumbing inspector with qualifications to certify the works.

Consider

• where a new kitchen sink is installed selecting a sink that fits both a standard rubber sink plug in addition to a basket waste plug

Real world examples of Solutions

• Cast iron overflow relief gully cover
• Cast iron inspection outlet cover
• Adequate floor drainage
• A large amount of work is required to improve existing shower drainage
• Yard drainage to concrete slabs

• all drains have been set out as shown on the drawings
  

  When: COMPLETED DESIGN & SPECIFICATION
  DURING CONSTRUCTION
  AT HANDOVER
  TRADE TEST

• the exposed tops and ends of all drain pipes are covered and sealed to prevent concrete and rubbish getting into the pipes and causing blockages
  

  When: DURING CONSTRUCTION
  TRADE TEST

• barriers are erected to prevent falls into the drainage trenches and/or damage to the pipes
  

  When: AT HANDOVER
  FINAL COMPLETION

• all drains have the required fall in the direction that the water has to flow
  

  When: COMPLETED DESIGN & SPECIFICATION
  DURING CONSTRUCTION
  AT HANDOVER
  FINAL COMPLETION

• the size of drains gets bigger, not smaller, in the direction that the water will be flowing
  

  When: COMPLETED DESIGN & SPECIFICATION
  DURING CONSTRUCTION

• drains that are suspended under houses are supported at regular intervals using brackets and hangers, and that will not rust in coastal areas.
  

  When: COMPLETED DESIGN & SPECIFICATION
  DURING CONSTRUCTION
  AT HANDOVER
  FINAL COMPLETION

• vent pipes, overflow relief gully and inspection openings have been installed and are well secured
  

  When: DURING CONSTRUCTION
  AT HANDOVER
  FINAL COMPLETION

• exposed drains, stacks, gullies and vent pipes are protected from accidental damage by vehicles, mowers and weed cutters
  

  When: COMPLETED DESIGN & SPECIFICATION
  AT HANDOVER
  FINAL COMPLETION

• where any tiling is being installed in the house, check floor drains carefully to ensure that left over grout, used to seal between the tiles, has not washed down the house drains
  

  When: DURING CONSTRUCTION
  AT HANDOVER
  FINAL COMPLETION

• drains are water tested before backfilling and ensure all grates are fitted to floor drains after testing
  

  When: DURING CONSTRUCTION

• that downpipes from the roof gutters are not connected to the waste water disposal system.
  

  When: DURING CONSTRUCTION
  AT HANDOVER

• the plumber has provided a trade certificate for the works
  

  When: AT HANDOVER
  FINAL COMPLETION
  TRADE TEST

• the works have been tested and approved by a plumbing inspector
  

  When: DURING CONSTRUCTION
  AT HANDOVER
  FINAL COMPLETION
  TRADE TEST

• 'as-built' drawings are provided on completion of the works.
  

  When: FINAL COMPLETION
  TRADE TEST

As part of cyclical maintenance:

• run water through all drains to check they are working properly; if the drains overflow or there are leaks under or around the house, contact a plumber to check and fix the drains
  

  Who : Plumber, Local Maintenance Team

  When : 12 Months

• check that caps are fitted on all inspection openings and replace any missing caps; if the caps are frequently being removed by children, consider using a small amount of silicone or a screw on the outside of the caps to secure them but remember that a plumber needs to be able to remove the inspection opening cap for maintenance access
  

  Who : Plumber, Local Maintenance Team

  When : 12 Months

• check the grates on floor drains and drains in fixtures, such as the basin drain and kitchen sink, are in place to prevent blockages and replace missing or broken grates
  

  Who : Plumber, Local Maintenance Team

  When : 12 Months

• check that there is a mesh cap on the top of all vent pipes
  

  Who : Plumber

  When : 12 Months

• check the grate is in place on the overflow relief gully.
  

  Who : Plumber

  When : 12 Months

AS/NZS 3500.3:2021 - Plumbing and drainage - Stormwater drainage

AS/NZS 3500.0:2021 - Plumbing and drainage - Glossary of terms