Plumbing Connection 4-2015

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4 8 PLUMBING CONNECTION SUMMER 2015
THE BUILDING CHALLENGE
∫ Keep penetration through the concrete slabs and roof
outlet drains to a minimum.
∫ Maximise site capacity and avoid sacrificing car spaces
with an alternative drainage system that can be fitted
without gradient.
∫ Maintain clearance heights with pipes that can be
installed with minimal to no fall.
∫ Reduce the possibility of damage to the pipework in high
traffic areas.
THE SOLUTION
A lot of plumbers would be aware of the fact that
downpipe systems can be inefficient when discharging
water from roofs, as water spirals down around the inner
walls of the pipe with an air column in the centre. By using
the siphon principle, Geberit siphonic (Pluvia) system uses
almost half the size of a conventional pipe to remove huge
amounts of rainwater from roofs to a discharge point. When
the water column builds up underneath the roof outlet, air
is eliminated from the system to enable the rainwater to be
sucked through the pipework under negative pressure.
Geberit’s approach to the Wollongong Hospital project
involves the combination of its Pluvia roof outlet and its
robust HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) pipes to increase
the capacity per outlet, flow velocity within the system and
efficiency of water drainage.
“Geberit’s innovative piping system appealed to us as it
significantly reduced the number of pipes from 26 to just 2
which was one of the determining factors in us winning this
contract. They solved our construction, practical and design
issues,” Troy explains.
“Geberit’s siphonic system operates at a higher discharge
capacity (up to 300L/s with roof outlets and up to 100L/s
per outlet and with fewer roof outlet drains. This means the
HDPE pipes associated with it can be laid with minimal to no
fall and routed to a single downpipe.
Manufactured from High Density Polyethylene, Geberit’s
HDPE piping is significantly stronger than typical PVC pipes.
As the solution uses fewer pipes it meant fewer bollard or
protection systems against car park accidents. This sees a
reduction in maintenance costs in the long-term, which is a
win-win for car park users and hospital management.
“Both Geberit’s HDPE pipes and Pluvia outlet are
significantly smaller than traditional systems, meaning
coordinating the installation of the other services was far
easier,” Troy says.
“Geberit’s siphonic system saved us, and our client, up to
500m of pipe and more than 200 hours of labour.
“In a matter of days our 2D drawings were transposed
into a 3D schematic model and we had a tailored solution
that considered our individual site, design, functionality and
construction constraints,” Troy says.
The next time you’re faced with a stormwater drainage
job… you might suggest Geberit’s Pluvia System siphonic
too.
DRAINAGE
Geberit
The Wollongong Hospital project uses the Geberit Pluvia
system in combination with HDPE pipes.