An effective, reliable internal drainage system is a key requirement of any building, but perhaps nowhere more so than in a hospital. Jonathan Briafield, senior product manager at Geberit, examines ‘the growing issue’ of ageing cast iron drainage pipes in hospitals, and considers alternative materials available to Trusts.
One of the more common issues in ageing hospital buildings across the UK is a deterioration in the condition over time of ‘legacy’ drainage systems – which were often installed when the building was first constructed. Blockages and leaks are becoming more regular; one reason may be that temporary fixes have been made by onsite maintenance teams over the years, coupled with which low-cost, shortterm solutions may well now have been exhausted. For such ‘mission critical’ services as waste water and soil disposal, however, short-term solutions are not the answer.
Too many hospitals – and especially those employing just a short-term ‘fix’ – find that the original issues soon return, or, worse still, never go away, and a lack of knowledge among site staff and incorrect material choice will only add to the problem (and the eventual cost). Whether it is the high temperature of sterilising water, the strength of chemicals and cleaning waste, or even the sheer frequency of use, a hospital drainage system needs to be robust and reliable – and that is before we even consider high power cleaning procedures. In such harsh environments, the choice of material for pipes and fittings can make the difference between an efficient, reliable system, and one which can cause persistent leaks for the Trust – both physically and financially.
Material choice
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