GB2484158A

GB2484158A - Perimeter drain access point with removable skirting board cover

Info

Publication number: GB2484158A
Application number: GB1102661.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David William Beddoes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-10-02
Filing date: 2011-02-16
Publication date: 2012-04-04
Also published as: GB201102661D0; GB201016623D0

Abstract

An Access Point is disclosed. An aperture is provided between a wall cladding or wall covering and the floor, through which access to a perimeter floor drain is acheived. A detachable skirting board is provided to cover the aperture. The Access Point allows direct access to a perimeter floor drain for maintenance and defect investigation. Optional removable floor areas and frames are disclosed along with various ways to attach a detachable skirting to the structure or optional frame. Measures to deal with Radon in perimeter floor drains are disclosed.

Description

Access Point for Perimeter, Floor Drains

Background

This invention relates to a method for gaining access to existing and new build perimeter floor drains.

Perimeter floor drains have long been used in buildings for basements subject to water ingress. Perimeter floor drains can also be used as part of a flood protection system.

Perimeter floor drains are positioned inside the building, at the wall to floor join, usually installed below wall and floor construction and as such are difficult to access.

The perimeter floor drain can be an installed drainage channel or pipe or may be formed as part of the structure by the use of a recess or channel formed in the floor slab. Current commercially available perimeter floor drain channels are typically made from plastic and feature removable top soffit sections. Perimeter floor drain channels can also be provided by leaving a perimeter channel when sheets of insulation are laid onto a floor slab.

The perimeter floor drain collects water ingress into the building that enters through walls and floors and the vulnerable floor to wall join. The perimeter floor drain may also collect water ingress from behind cavity membranes fixed to walls and laid on floors. The water collected by a perimeter floor drain is usually carried by the drain to a sump and pump unit for removal from the building. However, water can carry both silt in suspension and salts in solution. The ingress of silt and recrystallization of salts can block perimeter floor drains and any associated cavity membranes. Current methods of perimeter floor drain installation either allow for no access to the perimeter floor drain or very limited access via a rodding point or rodding eye.

Such current rodding points or eyes are usually adaptations of small diameter (50-75mm) domestic waste pipe fittings involving a vertical entry pipe into the horizontal soffit of a perimeter floor drain. It is very difficult to direct a drain inspection camera when it enters the perimeter floor drain through a right angle bend. Similarly problems occur with the attempted introduction of dc-scaling fluid, hoses for flushing and cleaning out the perimeter floor drain.

The process of flushing any sediment blindly along the perimeter floor drain may free sediment from inside the drain only to deposit it further along the drain and possibly cause a problem in another area. Eventually, the blockages in perimeter floor drains leads to water ingress onto the floors of a building.

The likelihood of blockages increases with time as they are due to the silt and dissolved salts carried into the building by the water which is a continuous process. The salts enter in solution and recrystallize in the perimeter floor drain due to changes in temperature, concentration, pH, ionic strength of solute and the availability of silt particles to nucleate the recrystallization process. Blockages of silt deposition and salt recrystallization are made worse by the physical need to lay the perimeter floor drains dead level (floors are level). The dead level perimeter floor drains inevitably produce areas of standing water and standing water is ideal for recrystallization. My recrystallization produces a minor blockage that produces larger areas of standing water and so the process escalates.

Most importantly, the current rodding points or eyes are also aesthetically unacceptable to the majority of building occupiers. Circular drainage end caps are sometimes left protruding from the floor around the perimeter of the room. In some installations a flexible domestic waste pipe is adapted to join the perimeter floor drain soffit to an inspection plate fitted in the centre of the wall above the skirting board. The presence of such drainage caps or wall mounted inspection plates places a stigma on the property that is an embarrassment to the occupier, particularly in domestic installations to combat flooding or provide extra living space in a basement.

Very recently, all new work involving the use of perimeter floor drains has become subject to British Standard 8102: 2009 The Code of practice for protection of below ground structures against water from the ground. This applies to basements and flood situations. Accessibility and repairability must be allowed for under BS 8102 e.g. page 13 figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of Type C (drained) protection that details a perimeter floor drain as a maintainable drainage channel. BS 8102: 2009: 10.2.1.2 requirements: where the floor cavity incorporates perimeter channels that discharge into a sump(s), both the channels and the sump(s) should be cleaned before, during and after installation of the membrane to allow uninterrupted drainage. BS 8102: 10.3.1 requirements: Access points that allow routine maintenance of channels and outlets should be incorporated into the design of the waterproofing system. BS 8102:10.3.2 requirements: Immediately after the installation of a cavity drain system, drainage channels and sunips should be cleaned out and tested. The servicing requirements for the waterproofing system should be clearly set out in the documentation supplied by the designer to the client, including the need for regular planned maintenance of the drainage and/or pumping systems not less that once a year.

A new method is needed to gain access to existing installations and all new perimeter floor drain installations for periodic inspection, maintenance, de-scaling, flushing and defect location.

Statement of Invention

To overcome this problem this invention proposes a method of providing an Access Point for perimeter floor drains that is both functional to meet the requirements of the latest British standard BS8 102: 2009 and aesthetically acceptable to the building occupier.

The Access Point allows direct entry into a length of the perimeter floor drain.

Access is provided by the removal of a length of detachable skirting board that can be easily refitted after work is completed.

The Access Point looks like any other length of skirting board and avoids the stigma associated with living in a room with rodding points in the floors or drainage access panels that can be seen on walls.

An Access Point can be located anywhere within a room around the skirting board.

Any type of skirting board material and any board profile or height can be used as an Access Point without any visual evidence, this is important in historic buildings.

Direct access into the perimeter floor drain invert makes the introduction of drain inspection cameras, de-scaling fluids and flushing hoses much easier than before.

Direct access into the perimeter floor drain invert allows the removal of debris by hand from the invert itself The location of an Access Point in the corner of a room will allow direct access into the perimeter floor drain inverts of the two drains that run along the walls that meet at that corner. Therefore all four perimeter floor drains of a room can be accessible from just two Access Points.

When direct access into the corner invert of the perimeter floor drain is combined with the inclusion of radiused or bevelled perimeter floor drain corner pieces then this could enable all four lengths of the drain to be accessed from one Access Point.

The requirement of only one or two Access Points for a room provides a minimum disturbance to floor coverings when maintenance work is carried out.

Direct access into the drain invert allows for inspection and cleaning during construction and final clearance of builders debris before handover to client.

Direct access into the perimeter floor drain means that the Access Point can be fined with a vent to allow the extraction of radon, ground gases and/or smells from rooms by using an extraction fan combined with the sump/pump installation. An anti-backflow gravity operated flap valves on such a vent will prevent dangerous gases being sucked back into rooms under de-pressurization of rooms due to atmospheric effects or building extraction fans.

In the case of problems with an existing perimeter floor drain installation, the first job can be the installation of two corner Access Points as this will allow easy access to all four sides of a room to locate the source of the defect as opposed to having to excavate the whole floor. The Access Points will then be retained in order to provide an opportunity for future maintenance inspections and/or investigation of defects.

For both basements and flood situations the Access Points provide the necessary missing link to provide a holistic solution in that they give an aesthetically acceptable accessibility to perimeter floor drains in compliance with BS 8210: 2009.

Access Points can be installed with any type of floor construction e. g. boarded, screeded and/or underfloor heating.

The builder does not have to take up all the floor finish in a room or all the floor around the edges of the room to be able to inspect the perimeter floor drains, it can be done from an Access Point.

A universal design of frame provides an Access Point that can be installed with any type of wall construction from solid to framed construction. In particular, Access Points can be incorporated into the insulated cavity framed walls now required in basements to reduce heat loss through walls.

The use of an optional Access Point frame can aid the construction process. The frame can be set in the corner of a room to give the exact size and location of the required floor and wall cladding apertures and provides support to the wall cladding and protection to wall and floor edges in use.

A universal design of frame provides an Access Point that can be installed with any type of wall construction from solid to framed construction and can be fitted to new build and existing installations of perimeter floor drains.

Rodents cause problems with perimeter floor drains, they eat both plastic pipework and cavity membranes. The Access Point allows direct access into the perimeter floor drain invert to set and retrieve the necessary rodent traps. Previously the rodents were poisoned and left to decay within the perimeter floor drain.

Drawings The method will now be explained and examples of the invention described by referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 a cross-sectional thawing to show the current method of installation of perimeter floor drains, the drain is below the wall and floor construction.

Figure 2 a cross-sectional drawing to show a skirting Access Point according to the invention installed with a framed cavity wall construction.

Figure 3 a cross-sectional drawing to show a skirting Access Point installed with a wall having direct plaster finish onto a solid masonry inner leaf or skin. The wall may not have any waterproofing or may have a wall membrane as shown.

Figure 4 is a plan to show the access into perimeter floor drains.

Figure 5 is a plan to show the advantages of Access Points combined with radiused/bevelled corners and a typical location of sump/pump unit.

Figure 6 is a line thawing to illustrate the Access Point and direct access to the drain invert as shown in cross-section in figure 2 the framed wall.

Figure 7 is a line thawing to illustrate the Access Point and direct access to the drain invert as shown in cross-section in figure 3 the solid wall.

Figure 8 is a line thawing to show an Access Point mid-way along a wall that provides access into the perimeter floor drain invert and a floor cross drain.

Figure 9 is a line thawing of art optional wall frame.

Figure tO is a line drawing of an optional narrow frame that can be accommodated within the wall cladding of a solid wall.

Figure 11 is a line drawing to show the optional narrow frame as fitted to an Access Point.

Figure 12 is a line drawing of a steel angle narrow frame to typically provide an Access Point for fitting to existing perimeter floor drains.

Figure 13 is a line thawing of a universal frame to typically provide an Access Point for perimeter floor drains when fitting to new build or existing framed walls with cavities.

Figure 14 is a line drawing of a universal frame as shown in figure 13 to typically provide an Access Point for perimeter floor drains when fitting to new or existing direct plastered walls.

Detailed Description

Figure 1 shows the current method of perimeter floor drain construction along with membranes to walls and floor. The masonry wall is shown as A with wall membrane B fixed to the wall with sealed waterproof brick plugs C. The plastic perimeter floor drain P is located below the floor membrane M and floor screed or waterproof chipboard board L. The concrete slab is shown as N, the channel in which P sits may be provided by a channel made into the concrete or by placing insulation board onto the slab.

The framing for the support of the wall cladding H is comprised of a sole plate or frame bottom member K fixed to floor screed or board L and a series of vertical frame or studs G. The wall cladding H can be any type of suitable boards e.g. plasterboard, any type of drywall boards, plastic sheets and/or wood veneer boards. Stand-off brackets D secure the frame studs to the walls. The skirting board J is fixed to the face of the wall cladding.

The perimeter floor drain P is inaccessible as it is located below the wall and floor construction, so blockages due to silt and salt ingress with water R cannot be effectively cleaned out.

Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional drawing of a framed wall and the Access Point according to the invention. The masonry wall is shown as A with cavity wall membrane B fixed to wall with masonry plugs C. Stand-off brackets D support vertical frame members or studs G. The studs are at typically 600mm centres and support the wall cladding H. The horizontal framing member S spans between adjacent studs along the length of the Access Point and there is no bottom wall frame member or sole plate that usually sits on the floor between the vertical studs as with conventional framed wall construction. The aperture in the wall is formed by three edges of the wall cladding and the edge of the floor, there is no bottom frame member.

An optional member Y is not part of the framed wall construction but may be used to support the edge of the floor construction L. Member Y can be used as a guide to show where the floor construction must finish in order to gain the necessary width T for access into the perimeter floor drain P. The aperture T allows access into the invert of the perimeter floor drain.

Floor membrane M can be removed along the floor edge or left lying on top of the perimeter floor drain and simply folded back across the floor edge when access is needed into the perimeter floor drain. Leaving M in place allows for it to be taped to the wall membrane B if necessary. Detaching the skirting W allows direct access into the invert of the perimeter floor drain via the wall aperture and T. The Access Point allows direct access to the drain invert to carry out maintenance, introduce inspection cameras, de-scaling fluids, flushing hoses, manual debris removal and rodent control. Lengths of the perimeter floor drain can remain covered over as shown in figure 1, the inclusion of a suitable number of Access Points that enable direct access to the drain invert will provide sufficient accessibility for the work required to maintain the installation. The invention provides the increased access needed for the continued use of conventional perimeter floor drain technology and construction. The invention can be installed into existing and under BS8102: 2009 all new build construction.

With the Access Point installed, after work to the perimeter floor drain is complete the detachable skirting W can be refitted to the opening with minimum disturbance to the floor covering.

Figure 3 is a cross-section to show the invention with a solid inner skin wall with or without a wall membrane where plaster is applied direct to the wall without any framing or cavity. The masonry wall is shown as A, and the optional wall membrane as B. The perimeter floor drain P is on concrete slab N with a floor membrane M laid over. On top of the floor membrane M sits floor construction L which is typically boarded or screed. There is an optional floor support member Y which both supports and protects the floor edge. There is an area of removable floor is shown as X. The detachable skirting board W is removed from the Access Point. The removable floor area X can then be removed to expose the floor membrane M on top of the perimeter floor drain P. The floor membrane M can be folded back along the floor edge where the optional member Y may be fitted to give direct access to the perimeter floor drain P. The top of the perimeter floor drain can be lifted off to allow direct access into the invert of the perimeter floor drain P. The removable area of floor X is only needed for the length of the Access Point, typically 500-600mm, this means that only a small section of floor finish needs to be disturbed.

Furthermore, if the Access Point is positioned in the corner of a room adjacent to the sump/pump installation cover it means that all necessary access and disturbance can be confined to one small corner of the room.

Reinstatement after work is completed on the drain requires replacing the perimeter floor drain top, folding down the floor membrane M back onto the top of the perimeter floor drain, replacing the removable floor area X and refitting the detachable skirting board W to the Access Point. The floor membrane edge can be sealed to any wall membrane if necessary.

The detachable skirting board on the Access Point can be attached by clips, gripper catch, ball catch, roller catch, magnetic catch, magnetic strip, screws, adhesives, mastics, Velcro, slot and rail or rebate/recess, a form of latch, hinge, pivot, and any other form of attachment that can be incorporated into this invention in order to releasably attach the skirting board to the wall structure or framework of the Access Point.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the corner of a room to show typical installation features. The wall construction is shown as 5 and the perimeter floor drain as 4. The jetting point or jetting eye shown as I is typical of the current provision made for maintenance of a perimeter floor drain. The jetting point is a small diameter 50-75mm domestic waste fitting that is let into the soffit of the perimeter floor drain. The accessibility provided by such a fitting is very limited and it is extremely difficult to get an inspection camera or any other equipment around a ninety degree bend into the perimeter floor drain and ensure that it is travelling in the desired direction. Furthermore, these jetting points are not aesthetically acceptable to the building occupier as they can be typically seen as either drainage covers set into the floor around the perimeter of the room or drainage access covers that are installed into the plastered wall above the skirting level in the middle of a wall. It is not possible to remove builders debris or any silt /salts from the drain invert through one of these jetting points. The Access Point 2 according to the invention is shown fitted into the corner of the room. This corner Access Point 2 allows easy access into the two perimeter floor drains that meet at the corner as shown by arrows 3. The Access Point allows direct access into a length of the invert of one drain and direct access into the end of the other drain invert. The access as shown by arrows 3 will allow all required maintenance and other necessary work to be carried out on the perimeter floor drains as per BS8 102: 2009.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a room to show typical installation features. The wall construction is shown as 5 and the perimeter floor drain as 4. Two Access Points are shown installed at opposite corners of the room as 2 and 2b. The use of two corner Access Points allows access to all four perimeter floor drains around the room. Alternatively the incorporation of radiused corners pieces 9 and/or bevelled corner pieces S can facilitate access around the ninety degree bends and permit full access to all four perimeter floor drains from only one corner Access Point, The arrows 7 show access into the link floor drain between the perimeter floor drain and the sump/pump unit shown as 6. Positioning this link drain within the corner Access Point 2 again allows easy access for maintenance and keeps all work and disturbance limited to one corner of the room. There is no limit to the number of Access Point that can be used or to the length of each Access Point, however this plan shows how any room with four perimeter floor drains can be maintained from two or even one Access Point, this is a major advantage over typical current jetting points that can require drainage access covers in the middle of every floor or plastered wall. A chimney breast within a room can be easily accessed via one corner Access Point installed on the chimney breast reveal or side.

Figure 6 is a line drawing to show the installation of an Access Point in the corner of a room typically as shown in the cross-sectional figure 2. In this illustration the construction is typical of that found in basements where one wall is insulated cavity and the adjoining wall is directly plastered without a cavity. The framed cavity wall is shown by vertical frame members or studs G that support wall cladding H. The masonry wall A typically has a plaster finish and may include a wall membrane B. The perimeter floor drain P is set into concrete floor N and a floor membrane M is laid with floor construction L on top of M. The skirting boards WF are fixed to the walls and across the Access Point the detachable length of skirting board has been removed to show the extent of access allowed into the perimeter floor drain P. The edges of the wall cladding may be protected by an optional support member. Through the aperture in the floor T the floor membrane M is folded back and the invert of the perimeter floor drain can be seen and the end of the other perimeter floor drain on the adjacent wall can be accessed via the Access Point. There is no sole plate or bottom frame member fitted to the floor, a cross member fitted at a higher level corresponding to the bottom edge of the wall cladding between studs G supports the wall cladding edge. An optional floor edge support and protection member may be fitted that will protect the floor whilst work is underway to the drain. Such accessibility allows equipment to be introduced into the perimeter floor drains and debris to be directly removed from the inverts.

Figure 7 is a line drawing to show the installation of an Access Point in the corner of a room where both walls are of masonry construction typically as show in the cross-sectional figure 3. The masonry and/or solid wall construction A has typically a plaster finish H and may have an optional wall membrane B. The perimeter floor drain P is set into concrete floor N and a floor membrane M is laid with floor construction L on top of M. The skirting boards WF are fixed to the walls and across the Access Point the detachable length of skirting board has been removed. The area of removable floor (X in figure 3) below and adjacent to the detachable skirting has been removed. The edges of the wall plaster and/or the floor edge may be supported and protected by fitment of optional members, this may be dependent on the floor construction. The floor membrane M can be folded back across the floor L and access gained to the perimeter floor drains via the aperture T. As in the previous figure 6 the perimeter floor drain inverts are now accessible.

Figure 8 is a line drawing to show the installation of an Access Point along the length of a wall. The detachable skirting board across the Access Point has been removed from between the two fixed skirting boards WF. Where wall cladding H is supported by a wall frame with a cavity the folding back of the floor membrane M and removal of optional perimeter floor drain soffit will allow direct access into the drain invert via T. Where the wall is solid and H is a plaster coating an area of floor (X in figure 3) in front of the detachable skirting will be removed and then the floor membrane is folded back. An Access Point may be installed in the length of a wall to gain access to the ends of floor drains that may run across the centre of a large floor or to gain access to the end of a link drain Z from the perimeter floor drain to a sump/pump unit.

Figure 9 shows an example of an optional wall frame that can be used to provide an Access Point according to the invention. The frame has vertical studs shown as 1, 2, and 3 to support the wall cladding. The frame shown is for a corner Access Point to allow access to two perimeter floor drains. An Access point used along the length of a wall would have typically two vertical members and a cross member 4, there is no sole plate or bottom frame member.

The cross member 4 provides support to the wall cladding as the wall cladding is removed below the cross member to allow access when the detachable skirting has been removed from the Access Point. The cross member 4 will prevent any bowing or bending of the wall cladding between the vertical studs to ensure an adequate fit between wall cladding and detachable skirting. As an option the studs 1, 2, 3 and cross member 4 may also be fitted with a trim or moulding around the aperture in the wall cladding to guide the cutting of the wall cladding aperture. As another option the frame may incorporate a trims or mouldings to protect the edges of the wall cladding when the Access point is used to work on the perimeter floor drain. The vertical studs used as part of the frame can be of any length and the cross member 4 can span between two or more vertical studs dependent on the stud spacing and the length of Access Point required.

The frame can also be fitted with an optional member 5 that can act as a guide for cuffing the aperture in a boarded floor and/or as a means of protecting the floor edge across the Access Point. In the case of a screeded floor construction the optional member 5 can be used as a guide for the location of the edge of the floor, a support member for the edge of the screed floor and for protection of the floor edge when the Access Point is in use. The optional member 5 can also act as a support for the lower edge of the detachable skirting when it sits across the Access Point. The optional member 5 may be used as an aid during the construction process and subsequently removed if required after floor construction is finished.

The frame can be used as shown with or without optional members to set up the Access Point during construction. The use of such a frame ensures that building operatives cut or form the correct size of aperture in the correct location within the floor construction for the provision of the Access Point. It will also serve to ensure that the wall cladding is cut to form the correct size aperture that is also in the correct place. Installation of cross members and cutting wall claddings and holes in floors after new construction work is finished is unprofessional, time consuming, expensive and produces damage to the structure, poor quality finishes and dissatisfied clients. As an example a corner frame could be set into the floor screed or boarded floor as part of the floor construction to ensure direct access into the perimeter floor drain invert for checking and flood testing before the wall construction starts. The frame then provides a datum for the wall construction as full height studs can be fitted to its vertical members. The frame provides a guide to cut the wall cladding and after wall construction is complete the perimeter floor drain can again be inspected and flood tested to make sure it functions and is not left full of builder and plaster debris. An optional Access Point frame can be built into any type of internal wall.

An optional length of skirting board can also be supplied ready fitted to the frame as shown w.

An optional length of skirting board and form of attachment for the skirting to frame or wall structure can also be supplied ready to fit.

Figure 10 shows an optional narrow Access Point frame. It some installations it is not possible to incorporate a frame into a framed wall construction, e.g. new build with blockwork internal leaf and many retro fit situations have perimeter floor drains fitted and masonry walls that are directly plastered. A solution is to install an Access Point using an optional narrow section frame that can be fitted wholly or partly within the thickness of the plaster and or on the face of the plaster finish. This example narrow corner frame as shown has vertical members (a) and (b), with corner (e) that detachable skirting (w) fits into.

Attachment of (w) can be made to the frame at (0 or wall structure. The frame can have an option of being supplied with skirting board (w) fitted, or supplied with skirting and form of attachment. The member (d) is optional as a guide and to support and for protect the floor edge. The advantages of using such a frame for an Access Point are: the frame can be located in the floor during construction to ensure correct size and location of Access Point apertures, optional member (d) can act as a floor retaining member and floor edge protector, optional member (d) can provide positive seat to ensure accurate fit of detachable skirting board and the frame acts as a protector for the edges of the wall plaster.

Figure ills a line thawing to show the installation of the optional Access Point narrow frame as shown in figure 10. In this example of the invention the frame can be seen in situ set within the thickness of the wall plaster (h). The detachable skirting (w) has been removed from the Access Point and the fixed skirting boards (wO remain on the wall. In this example the mitred end of detachable skirting (w) sits into the corner (e). The free end of (w) can be attached at (f). The frame and optional member (d) protect the edges of the plaster and floor when the Access Point is in use.

Optional frames can be made from plastic, metal, wood or any suitable construction material.

The frames can be cast, pressed, formed or fabricated.

Figure 12 shows an example of an optional narrow section frame for provision of an Access Point. This example is fabricated from metal angle and could be installed during the new build construction process or retro fitted to an existing perimeter floor drain. Members (a), (c) and (b) will protect the wall finish in use. Optional member (d) will protect the floor edge in use. Holes (z) are provided for fixing the frame to the wail structure. The frame can be supplied with or without detachable skirting (w) and form of attachment for skirting.

Figure 13 is a line drawing of a universal frame to typically provide an Access Point for perimeter floor drains when fitting to new build or existing framed walls with cavities. The universal frame B can be installed in any type of wall construction to include both framed cavity walls and direct plastered walls. As shown in figure 13, in the case of a framed cavity wall, an access aperture A is cut into the section of suitable board to make the frame B. The height of the board and frame B is such that it is less than the height of the skirting to be used.

A form of attachment is provided between the frame B and a length of skirting board large enough to cover the aperture.

A hole is cut through the plasterboard H at floor level, the size of the hole in the plasterboard is just high enough to allow the frame B to pass through and long enough to reveal the aperture A in the frame. The frame B can be inserted through the hole in the plasterboard H and fixed to the rear face of the plasterboard with adhesives and/or fixings shown as F. The skirting board WF can then be fitted around the room at wall to floor join with a detachable section fitted over the aperture A and held to the wall structure with attachments fitted to the frame B. A section of floor construction may be removed adjacent to the frame for access into the perimeter floor drains.

Figure 14 is a line thawing of a universal frame as shown in figure 13 to typically provide an Access Point for perimeter floor drains when fitting to new or existing direct plastered walls.

The universal frame B can be installed in any type of wall construction to include both framed cavity walls and direct plastered walls. As shown in figure 14, in the case of direct plastered walls the frame B is placed against the plastered wall at floor level and the plaster behind the frame B is removed from the wall structure. The front face of frame B is fixed to the rear face of the room skirting board WF that is positioned adjacent to the frame aperture A. A detachable length of skirting board is attached to the frame B to cover the aperture A. With a direct plastered wall the frame B sits within the thickness of the plaster itself and immediately behind the skirting board WF. The frame B can be attached to the rear of the skirting board WF with adhesive or fixings. A section of floor construction may be removed adjacent to the frame for access into the perimeter floor drains.

Claims

Claims 1. An Access Point into a building perimeter floor drain including an aperture made between the edge of the wall cladding or wall covering and the floor whereby a perimeter floor drain is accessible through such aperture, and a skirting board with or without a frame adapted to cover such aperture, said skirting board being detachable from the wall structure to allow access through said aperture.
2. A skirting board adapted to cover an aperture between the edge of a wall cladding or wall covering and the building floor, such skirting board being detachable from the wall structure to allow access through the aperture.
3. An Access Point according to claim 1 whereby an area of floor under and or adjacent to the aperture made in the wall cladding or covering can be readily removed to gain increased access to a perimeter floor drain.
4. An Access Point according to claims 1 or 3 that is located in the corner of a building to allow access into the perimeter floor drains of the two walls that meet at the corner from only one Access Point.
5. An Access Point according to claims 1 or 3 that is located in the corner of a building to allow access into the perimeter floor drains of the two walls that meet at the corner and combined with radiused and/or bevelled drain corners allows for access to all four perimeter floor drains of a building from one Access Point.
6. An Access Point according to claims I or 3 that allows access to the end of a floor drain laid across the central area of a floor or access to the end of a link drain between the perimeter floor drain and a sump pump unit.
7. An Access Point according to claims 1 or 3 and 4 that allows access to the end of a floor drain laid across the central area of a floor or access to the end of a link drain between the perimeter floor drain and a sump pump unit.
8. An Access Point according to previous claims that uses an optional frame mounted behind or within and/or on the face of the wall cladding or covering as a guide and aid during construction.
9. An Access Point according to previous claims that uses an optional frame mounted behind or within and/or on the face of the wall cladding or covering to form the aperture in the said wall cladding or covering.
10. An Access Point according to previous claims that uses an optional frame mounted behind or within and/or on the face of the wall cladding or covering to provide protection to the edges of the aperture in the said wall cladding or covering.
11. An Access Point according to previous claims that uses an optional frame mounted behind or within and/or on the face of the wall cladding or covering and an optional floor retention and support and protection member to provide protection to the edges of the aperture floor.
12. An Access Point according to previous claims that uses an optional frame mounted behind or within and/or on the face of the wall cladding or covering and an optional floor retention and support and protection member that can be removed at the end of the construction process having acted as a construction aid and also provided protection to the edges of the aperture floor during construction.
13. An Access Point according to previous claims that uses an optional frame mounted behind or within and/or on the face of the wall cladding or covering that provides a fixing point for the attachments that fix the detachable skirting.
14. An Access point according to previous claims where the detachable skirting board across the Access Point is fitted with a vent to allow the extraction of Radon, ground gases and for smells from the room via the de-pressurization of the perimeter floor drain due to the incorporation of a radon or other extraction pump as part of the sump pump unit.
15. An Access point according to claim 14 that includes an anti-backflow gravity operated flap valve fitted to the skirting board vent so that any de-pressurization of the building due to atmospheric effects or the operation of building extraction fans is not able to overcome the Radon extraction fan and suck gases from the perimeter floor drain gas extraction system back into the rooms of the building interior.
16. An Access Point according to previous claims where the length of detachable skirting can be readily detached and replaced by the use of attachments such as clips, gripper catch, ball catch, roller catch, magnetic catch, magnetic strip, screws, adhesives, mastics, Velcro, slot and rail or rebate/recess, a form of latch, hinge, pivot, and any other form of attachment that can be incorporated into this invention in order to releasably attach the skirting board to the wall structure or framework of the Access Point.
17. An Access Point according to previous claims that is supplied with or without the skirting board and/or form of attachment.
18. An Access point according to previous claims that due to direct access into the perimeter floor drain can be used for control of rodents.