Every year Geberit receives literally thousands of telephone calls from plumbers requesting technical guidance. In some cases this can cover complex questions, but in many instances the information required is relatively straightforward. A little education can go a long way to overcome any problems of lack of detailed knowledge and save a lot of telephone call time too.

In common with many building product manufacturers, Geberit recognises the benefits of training to inform installers in the use of their products, by providing a purpose built training centre complete with a unique Hydraulic Tower. The tower demonstrates all of Geberit’s product range and also clearly shows examples of good and bad plumbing practice.

The Hydraulic Tower demonstrates how the Geberit product range provides the complete plumbing solution allowing water to flow into, through and out of a building. It starts with the Geberit Pluvia syphonic roof drainage system with water entering the system from above and flows through HDPE and Mepla pipework and fittings, through Geberit Duofix and through Geberit electronic urinal flushing and taps before exiting through Geberit HDPE soil and waste. Advanced plumbing technology is the basis for the manufacture and development of all Geberit products, ensuring an efficient and practical alternative to many traditional building and plumbing installation techniques.

A recent survey has identified six key areas of potential problems all clearly illustrated in the Geberit Hydraulic Tower.

Back to Back WC Connections
Plumbers are frequently required to connect the drainage for several WC’s together and these are configured so that two rows back onto each other. Connecting of opposing WC’s must be carried out carefully to prevent waste flowing from one WC to another. This requires staggered connections to the common horizontal drainpipe (illustrations).

Combining Wastes from Ranges of Washbasins
A 50mm waste pipe is normally used to connect the waste pipes from several washbasins together. However there are limits to just how many washbasins can be connected before induced siphonage of the appliance drops occurs. Five washbasins should be considered the maximum and all must be fitted with 75mm deep seal traps to maintain a water seal (illustration).

Combining Washbasin and Bath Wastes
Because of the quantity of water discharged when a bath is emptied, full bore flow will occur in the waste pipe, resulting in negative pressure being generated which will siphon any other appliance connected to the same waste pipe. Connecting wash handbasins to the same waste pipe as the bath will often result in noisy plumbing as air is pulled through the trap seal by this action when the bath is emptied (illustration).

Long Washbasin Waste Pipework
Code of Practice recommends a maximum 1.7m waste pipe length with a 32mm bore. Longer lengths will result in self siphonage of the water seal in the trap because of the negative pressure generated by the full bore discharge occurring is such a small diameter pipe. For longer runs either the pipe diameter should be increased, a resealing trap should be fitted or a air admittance valve should be fitted to the end of the waste pipe.

Cross-flow Problems
When installing a WC and a number of other appliances, care must be taken when connecting the waste pipes to the same stack to avoid cross-flow. With WC’s any other appliance must be either connected at right angles to the WC connection or, if not on the same level, they must be at least 200mm below. Moulded branches generally have connections pre-moulded on them at the appropriate permisable connection points (illustration).

In addition to the tower to demonstrate plumbing practice, the showroom also includes displays of Geberit ranges and there is a workshop for the practical aspect of the Geberit training courses and CPD seminars.

Once again these courses cover aspects from the simple to the complex but, as they say on “Who Wants to be a Millionaire”, “they are only simple if you know the answer”.

The training courses include Innovative Plumbing Solutions, Frame System Sanitary Installation, Innovative Pipework Systems, Potable Water Supply, Drainage Design and Syphonic Drainage.

Training is vital. Attending courses should never be considered as time lost, it is extremely valuable knowledge gained which delivers benefits over the longer term. It is the quickest way to learn about new products, techniques and practices and can prevent mistakes which can be both costly and inconvenient to the installer.

The considerable investment by manufacturers in training is a commitment to the industry to the continuing development of professional standards, helping plumbers to keep abreast of latest technology.

< Previous page