As house design becomes more complex, and as more and more buildings are converted into flats, there is greater potential for pressure fluctuations to occur in plumbing systems. This might not sound too serious at first glance; however it can lead to the standard water seal traps fitted under sinks, basins and showers to fail. This can in turn lead to foul air entering the building from the drains, breaching the Building Regulations not to mention causing a health issue and being unpleasant for users.

Examples of some of the design flaws in bathrooms that can lead to pressure fluctuations include the following (which might be found for example in an adjacent bathroom and ensuite):

• Excessive length of branch pipe from waste
• Combined branch pipes
• Alternative branch runs incorporating vertical drops below WC
• Vertical drops to bath waste
• Shallow seal traps

Water seal traps have been habitually installed by the industry for many years, however they are vulnerable if such pressure fluctuations occur. This will cause the tell-tale gurgling which indicates that siphonage is occurring in the system, and that the water seal has been broken, and foul air allowed in. As HepvO is waterless, it prevents foul air from entering a building when siphonage might have otherwise been a factor.

The 10 ways water seals can fail:

• Self-siphonage – atmospheric pressure causing water seal to be sucked out of trap
• Induced siphonage – atmospheric pressure plus fixture causing water seal to be sucked out
• Compression – water discharging from above combines with bend in system to create positive pressure
• Evaporation – reduces seal depth by 2.5 mm per week
• Wind effect – positive or negative pressure depending on wind direction
• Foaming – backing up of foaming detergent causes depletion of water seal
• Momentum – water poured at high speed above outlet carries seal away
• Capillary action – caused by material hanging over edge of trap drawing water away
• Leakage – caused by damage to ‘U-bend’
• Movement – in mobile applications e.g. caravans, boats, trains

There are many situations where a water trap might fail, but with a waterless trap such as Wavin’s self-sealing waste valve, HepvO, these are all avoided. Its unique membrane design allows fresh air in until equilibrium is achieved and negative pressure removed, and then closes to create an air-tight barrier between the living space and the drainage system. No venting is required and siphonage cannot occur. The product also allows straight or vertical pipe runs to be created, allowing for a simpler system design, in addition to longer runs from the waste, providing increased design freedom.