GB2496575A - Cleanable perimeter floor drain with pivot corner and T connectors - Google Patents

Abstract

A cleanable perimeter floor drain system is provided which incorporates a first fitting in the form of an adjustable pivotally connected elbow bend and a second fitting in the form of a pivotally connected T piece, combined with straight lengths of perimeter floor drain. Both fittings can be fitted with a deflector to aid water flow along level channels. The fittings ensure that secure joints with both axial and invert alignment are maintained throughout the system which is essential for movement of water through the level perimeter floor drains

Description

Cleanable perimeter drain system

Background

This invention relates to a perimeter drain system that can be quickly and easily assembled on site and cleaned out when installed.

Many perimeter floor drains are in common usage. Perimeter floor drains are used inside buildings that are subject to water ingress, typically basements and flood situations. The perimeter floor drain is typically made from plastic and can be either a one part moulding or two parts that snap together, comprising the top flat soffit section and a lower channel section.

The perimeter floor drain collects water that passes through the external structure of the building and enters the internal space. The perimeter floor drain is situated at the vulnerable floor to wall join to collect water ingress through both walls and floors. The perimeter floor drain can also collect water from Type C (drained cavity) installations as described in BS8102: 2009. A waterproofing installation to BS8102: 2009 Type C uses waterproof structures to form a cavity between floor, adjacent wall, and/or ceiling which is then drained into the perimeter floor drain. One of the main advantages of the Type C system using perimeter floor drains and waterproofing structures (such as cavity membranes) is that they do not stop water at the point of entry, so that there is no increase in hydrostatic pressure onto the building structure. The water ingress is also filtered as it passes through the building structure. However, the Type C system is incapable of accepting any hydrostatic pressure and the collected water must be removed from the system or leaks will occur. The perimeter floor drain is one of the most important parts of the water collection and handling system that must function properly to prevent leaks from occurring.

The perimeter floor drain is laid directly onto the level floor of the building at the internal wail to floor join, therefore the invert of the perimeter floor drain has to be level. The perimeter floor drain is installed around the perimeter of the building and a T piece is incorporated at some point to transfer all the water collected by the perimeter floor drain into a link drain which then leads to a sump/pump unit. The sump/pump unit is typically located within the central floor area having a discharge pipe leading to an outside domestic drain. All water ingress through walls, floor, ceilings, wall to floor join and collected from the waterproofing cavities must be transported along the perimeter floor drain to the link drain and then into the sump/pump for removal from the building and most importantly these perimeter floor drains and link drains have no gradient to move the water as they are laid directly onto a level floor. It is the successful movement of the water along the perimeter floor drain that presents the current problem because if the water is allowed to build up then as the Type C installation cannot withstand hydrostatic pressure we will get leaks into the internal occupied space. Furthermore, if water is allowed to pond inside the perimeter floor drain then the standing water leads to recrystallization of salts which have entered as a solution within the water. Blockages can then occur due to the deposition of recrystallized salts, which cause more standing water and more blockages etc. Water can only move along level perimeter floor drains by the hydraulic head due to the gravitational effects on the water, this driving force is very weak and it is therefore essential that the invert of the perimeter floor drain is completely level and has no obstructions. Any minor obstruction or misalignment of a perimeter floor drain invert causes an increase in depth of water upstream of the obstruction which may then exert hydrostatic pressure on the waterproofing structure and cause a leak. As an illustration we can consider a perimeter floor drain installed in a building that is 8 metres by 6 metres on plan. The water collected by the perimeter floor drain at the furthest point from the link drain wilt have to travel at least 14 metres and negotiate at least two elbow bends and a T piece connection into the link drain when the depth of the perimeter floor drain that needs to be filled up in order to cause a leak is only 40 millimetres. This example does not take into account the fact that matters are often much worse as there may be a back-fall due to the floor itself not being exactly level across its surface. A floor that is 8 metres in length may well be 25 millimetres lower at the point furthest away from the link drain, combine this with a mere 5 millimetre invert obstruction at each of the two misaligned bends and the I piece and we have the perimeter floor drain full of water with a leak into the occupied building. In these circumstances, which are unfortunately often found on site, the perimeter floor drain cannot be flushed out and cleaned and it is not possible to maintain the system as per the requirements of B58102.

The perimeter floor drain itself is usually made from plastic and has a smooth invert, it is the elbow bends and T piece where inverts become misaligned that causes the problems with obstructions that lead to a leak. As a result of problems with Type C installations and subsequent leaks all new work involving the use of perimeter floor drains is now subject to revised BS8102: 2009 The code of practise for protection of below ground structures against water from the ground. This applies to basement and flood situations where accessibility and repairability must be allowed for in design. For example BS8102: 2009 page 13: shows a cross-sectional view of Type C (drained) protection that details a perimeter floor drain as a maintainable drainage channel, BSS1O2: 2009: 10.2.1.2. requirements: where the floor cavity incorporates perimeter floor drain channels that discharge into sump(s) both the channels and the sumps should be cleaned before during and after installation of the membrane to allow uninterrupted drainage, BS8102:2009: 10.3.1. requirements: access points that allow routine maintenance of channels and outlets should be incorporated into the design of the waterproofing system, BSS1O2: 10.3.2. requirements: immediately after the installation of a cavity drain system the perimeter floor drainage channels and surnps 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 than once a year.

In order to have perimeter floor drains that function correctly and also satisfy the requirements of British Standards for flushing out and cleaning perimeter floor drains it is necessary to have perimeter floor drain joints, elbow bends and I pieces that are securely fitted together and accurately aligned both axially and across inverts. The current methods of perimeter floor drain installation use a straight butt joint that is often held together with adhesive tape. These butt joints are easily disturbed both during their own installation and also during the subsequent floor laying and framed wall building operations that are carried out immediately on top of the perimeter floor drains by different tradespersons. At a corner joint in the perimeter floor drain the installers currently use a woodsaw to roughly mitre the corners of the perimeter floor drain and then attempt to wrap adhesive tape around the joint in less than favourable damp conditions, such joints are easily disturbed.

In a similar manner, the T pieces are formed by cutting out the side of a perimeter floor drain with a woodsaw and simply butt jointing an intersecting link drain connection, attempting to tape together the loint in the wet conditions. The end product inevitably results in a perimeter floor drain with joints that have moved and produced obstructions to the flow of water around the perimeter floor drain. Subsequent attempts to flush out and clean the perimeter floor drain then result in water backing up around the perimeter floor drain leading to standing water and leaks into the occupied building. Some manufacturers and contractors have introduced rigid corner pieces and rigid T pieces but these have bought their own problems. The rigid items are difficult to fit and align with the runs of the perimeter floor drains as mast corners encountered in buildings are not exactly 90 degrees and most sumps cannot be directly accessed by a 90 degree T piece. Some adjustment of the 90 degree T piece is always necessary on site because the sump has to be installed so that as far as possible the water from the entire floor area being treated can find its way to the sump, the sump must be placed in an area like a door opening where it always remains accessible and the sump must be positioned so that a connection can be made to a nearby drain or so that the installed pump can be plumbed to a drainage point.

More importantly, the use of rigid elbow bends and rigid T pieces leads to the need for even more straight butt joints at each side of the installed fittings where they meet the straight lengths of perimeter floor drain that run around the floor perimeter. Attempts to use wrap around rigid clips at straight butt joints has resulted in insecure fixings that pull out very easily and the clips which are positioned underneath the perimeter floor drain actually lift the invert levels at all the butt joints which then of course produces the negative effect of impeding the flow of water around the perimeter floor drain.

A new method is needed to insure that the inverts of a perimeter floor drain system when installed are kept level throughout and have no obstructions to impede water flow. The system must address the problems at joints, elbow bends and I pieces where not only inverts must be in line but also the axial or longitudinal axis alignment of the perimeter floor drain and link drain must be maintained in order to ensure a secure fixing and also enable the flow of water along a channel that has no gradient. This will then ensure that the perimeter floor drain does not sit with standing water held continuously within the perimeter floor drain and that when flushing out and cleaning is underway the water introduced at an access point or jetting point can successfully make its way around the perimeter floor drain and flush any sediment into the sump, all as required by the revised British Standards of 2009.

Statement of invention

To overcome the problems associated with the installation of cleanable perimeter floor drains this invention proposes a system which employs an elbow bend that is pivotally connected and has secure joints, a T piece that is pivotally connected and has secure joints together with a perimeter floor drain that connects to the respective fittings.

Summary

The system can be easily and quickly assembled on site using the pre-made elbow bends and T pieces that all slot together and form secure joints.

The elbow bends and T pieces can be used with both one part and two part perimeter floor drains and in both cases a secure joint is formed.

The elbow bend is pivotally connected across the corner mitre and a gap across the mitred join allows the angle of the elbow bend to be adjusted to suite any corner found during installation.

The pivotal connection across the mitre holds the two top sections of the elbow bend level with each other which ensures that the invert across the corner mitre join is held level.

The elbow bend has extended channel sections to allow a snap together staggered joint when using two part perimeter floor drain thus ensuring a level invert across a staggered joint.

When using a one part perimeter floor drain the extended channel sections can easily slide inside the preformed one piece drain to provide a secure joint with level invert.

S

The T piece is pivotally connected between the two top sections so that the angle between the main perimeter floor drain passageway and the link drain passageway is adjustable to provide accurate axial alignment when installing the link drain on site.

The I piece top sections are pivotally connected so that the invert of the link drain or intersecting passageway is set under the invert of the perimeter floor drain passageway so as to encourage water to flow from the perimeter floor drain into the link drain in level channels that are laid on a level floor.

The T piece has extended channel sections at each joint to feature a snap together staggered joint for two part perimeter floor drains which is secure when fixed together and keeps inverts level across the joint.

The T piece extended channels can slide inside any manufacturers one part perimeter floor drain to provide a secure joint with level inverts.

The robust secure staggered joints of the perimeter floor drain and respective fittings will not be disturbed during installation and will not be further disturbed during the subsequent floor laying operations that take place immediately above the perimeter floor drain.

The pivotally connected elbow bends and T pieces will now provide an installation on site that is both axially, longitudinally aligned and also held level across inverts due to staggered and/or inserted joints which is essential in perimeter floor drains that have to transport water where there is no gradient along their channels.

The new system with aligned perimeter floor drains will facilitate flushing out and cleaning of the system before handover to the client and will be necessary for subsequent yearly maintenance.

To further assist the flow of water along the level perimeter floor drain a deflector can be fitted across the corner of the pivotally connected elbow bend.

To further assist the flow of water along the level perimeter floor drain a combined support and deflector can be fitted at the intersection of the I piece passageways to support the weak flat soffit top section of the perimeter floor drain across the intersection and also to deflect flowing water into the link drain passageway.

Drawings The method will now be explained and examples of the invention described by referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a line drawing that shows an end elevation of (a) one part perimeter floor drain and (b) two part snap together perimeter floor drain.

Figure 2 is a plan view to show a typical installation of the new system having perimeter floor drains combined with the pivotally connected elbow bends and I piece.

Figure 3 is a line drawing to show the pivotally connected elbow bend.

Figure 4 is a line drawing to show the pivotally connected I piece.

Detailed description

Figure 1 is a line drawing that shows an end elevation of one part perimeter floor drain and two part snap together perimeter floor drain. Figure 1 (a) shows a one part perimeter floor drain with an upstand (A), a perimeter floor drain can be installed with or without this upstand. The upstand is sometimes used against the inside wall of a building to hold the lower edge of a waterproofing structure in place and hence is not always needed. The one piece perimeter floor drain has holes (B) in the channel sidewall in order to collect water that has passed through the external building structure. Figure 1 (b) shows a two part perimeter floor drain that consists of upper fiat soffit section (C) and lower channel section (0). The two part perimeter floor drain may also feature an upstand (A) where needed and has the holes (B) to collect water ingress into channel section (D). The two separate parts, upper flat soffit section (C) and lower channel section (D) securely snap together as shown at(E).

Figure 2 is a plan view to show a typical installation of the new system having perimeter floor drains combined with the pivotally connected elbow bends and T piece. The external structure of the building that serves to filter the water ingress as it enters the building is shown as (F). Inside the building the straight lengths of perimeter floor drain (as figure 1) are shown as (G) and the link drain (H) transfers the water to the sump/pump (J) or gravity exit point. The pivotally connected T piece (K) transfers water from perimeter floor drain into the link drain (H). The pivotally connected elbow bends (L) are situated at each internal corner of the building and can be adjusted to suite each corner to ensure axial alignment of perimeter floor drains. An access point or jetting point (N) can be used to introduce flushing water into the system which, provided there are no obstructions, will then make its way around the perimeter floor drain as shown by arrows (M). The new pivotally connected elbow bends (L) and the new pivotally connected T piece (K) will ensure that the inverts are level across every joint and that axial alignment of channels across joints is achieved. Hence without any obstructions the collected water will flow under gravity along the level channels to the I piece (K) where it will transfer into the link drain (H) and into the sump (J) for removal from the building.

Figure 3 is a line drawing to show the pivotally connected elbow bend. The bend has two top flat soffit sections (P) which are mitred and then a pivotal connection is made across the mitred join using a connecting piece (R) and connectors (Q). The connecting piece (R) can be a separate item or part of one of the top sections that is pivotally connected to the other top section. The design uses at least one pivotal connection (0.) between the two top sections (P). The connecting piece can also incorporate a deflector to aid water flow around the elbow bend. The gap (W) between the two top section mitred edges allows the two top sections to rotate relative to each other so that the elbow bend can be fitted into building corners that are not exactly 90 degrees, this is an important feature in maintaining both axial and invert alignment and it allows secure joints to be made between straight lengths of perimeter floor drain and the elbow bend fittings. The connecting piece (R) is rotationally and securely connected so that the two top sections (P) are held together on a level plane.

Two lengths of perimeter floor drain lower channel section (5) are mitred and fixed to the pivotally connected top sections (P).

The gap (W) is maintained across the join of top sections (P) and lower sections (5) so that the elbow bend when fully assembled as show in figure 3 can pivotally rotate to fit into corners that are not exactly 90 degrees. The lower channel sections (S) extend out past the top sections (P) and are a feature of the new elbow bend as they are used to form a secure joint with the straight lengths of perimeter floor drain, If the two part perimeter floor drain (as figure lb) is being used on an installation the straight channel of the perimeter floor drain is placed against the end of the extended elbow bend channel (S} and then the top section of the perimeter floor drain is snapped into place, spanning across the channel joint to create a secure staggered joint. There is no longer a straight butt joint that passes directly through both top and channel sections of the perimeter floor drain which is the major disadvantage associated with current rigid bends. If a one part perimeter floor drain is being used for the straight lengths of perimeter floor drain then the protruding channel section (5) will slide inside any of the one part perimeter floor drain channels currently available to form a secure joint. The pivotally connected elbow bend is universal and can therefore be used in installations of two part and one part perimeter floor drains and in both cases will provide a secure joint to the straight lengths of perimeter floor drain and the pivotal connection will ensure that soffits and inverts are kept at the same level across the bend to prevent obstructions to water flow.

Figure 4 is a line drawing to show the pivotally connected T piece. The top section (U) of a length of two part perimeter floor drain is pivotally connected (0) to the link drain top section (V). This pivotal connection allows adjustment of the angle of intersection at the T piece and ensures that on a construction site installation the link drain is axially aligned into the T piece in order to prevent obstructions to water flow and also achieve a secure joint.

The link drain top section (V) is set under the top section (U) so that the invert in the link drain is lower than that of the perimeter floor drain to encourage water to flow from the level perimeter floor drain invert into the link drain invert. A length of two part lower channel section has the side wall cut away and is fixed into the top section (U), similarly a lower channel section is cut and fixed into the link drain top section (V), In both cases the channel sections are longer than their respective top sections and protrude out as shown (5). As previously described above for the elbow bend (see figure 3) the protruding channels provide secure joints to both one part and two part perimeter floor drain straight lengths to ensure axial and invert alignment and hence no obstructions to flow. The lower channel section at the point of intersection must have the sidewall removed to allow water to pass into the link drain and removal of the sidewall weakens the construction of the I piece and reduces the capacity of the flat top soffit section to handle floor loadings. A support can be fitted that spans between invert and flat soffit top section at the point of intersection. The support sits inside the I piece in the channel section and serves to both support the weak flat top section and due to its shape also deflects water into the link drain passageway.

The pivotally connected elbow bend and T piece need gaps such as (W) shown in figure 3 so that they can be adjusted on a construction site during installation. Such gaps would not be acceptable in any form of conventional drainage as the gaps would allow the entry of sand, minerals and impurities that would soon lead to a blockage in the drain. In this invention the pivotally connected elbow bends and T pieces are installed as part of a perimeter floor drain that only collects water that has already been filtered by the structure of the building in which it is fitted. In these circumstances the gaps 1W) can only serve to introduce filtered water into the perimeter floor drain and the most important issue is to keep axial and invert alignment across secure joints so that the water can flow under hydraulic head alone to the sum p. The pre-made elbow bends and I piece make installation much easier and quicker on site.

The pre-made bends can be fitted to the exact corner angle and then the secure joints hold the system together during assembly. The I piece link drain connection can be accurately aligned to meet the sump location. The whole installation process needs less skill to complete, as the operatives no longer have to try and mitre odd shaped plastic mouldings with woodsaws. With pre-made items the system is simply snapped together. There is no longer any need to try and tape together misaligned joints in wet conditions, and these joints which are so crucial to the proper functioning of a perimeter floor drain can be secure, correctly aligned and look professional for the client.

Claims (1)

1. <claim-text>Claims 1. A cleanable perimeter drain system comprising straight lengths of perimeter floor drain combined with at least one pivotally connected elbow bend.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A system as in claim 1, further comprising a deflector in each pivotally connected elbow bend.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A system as in any preceding claim, further comprising at least one pivotally connected I piece.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A system as in any preceding claim, further comprising a soffit support and/or deflector in each pivotally connected T piece.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A system substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A method substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.</claim-text>