Shared soil stack in apartment building?

New_User

Is it normal for all of the toilets in an apartment block to drain into a single soil stack / SVP?
If the SVP blocked at the lower level, what would stop the sewage all backing up and flowing out of the lowest toilet in the block?

HappyMJ

Yes and a well designed system with one way valves should help prevent any sewage overflows downstairs.

New_User

HappyMJ wrote: »

Yes and a well designed system with one way valves should help prevent any sewage overflows downstairs.

Thanks.
Do you know if there are any building regs regarding this?
Does it depend on the age of the block?
Are new build flats still designed this way?

phill99

New_User wrote: »

Thanks.
Do you know if there are any building regs regarding this?
Does it depend on the age of the block?
Are new build flats still designed this way?

This is still how new flats are constructed and it has been done for decades.

Biggest problem now is wet wipes which are not designed to dissolve and can easily cause blockages.

cyclonebri1

New_User wrote: »

Is it normal for all of the toilets in an apartment block to drain into a single soil stack / SVP?
If the SVP blocked at the lower level, what would stop the sewage all backing up and flowing out of the lowest toilet in the block?

Nothing other than the almighty amount of gravity, (and shot, :eek:), being applied to the blockage

New_User

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Nothing other than the almighty amount of gravity, (and shot, :eek:), being applied to the blockage

If the sewage pipe collapsed etc, then gravity may not be enough to clear the blockage.
In a single dwelling, the house holder would notice the blockage and (hopefully) have enough sense to stop flushing his toilet. But in a block of flats, those in the higher up flats would be unaware of the blockage and would carry on flushing. Hence the continued downflow of waste would escape via the lower flat's toilet...

Mankysteve

phill99 wrote: »

This is still how new flats are constructed and it has been done for decades.

Biggest problem now is wet wipes which are not designed to dissolve and can easily cause blockages.

The worse are those wet wipes for your jacksy that say there flushable but really there not.

New_User

Mankysteve wrote: »

The worse are those wet wipes for your jacksy that say there flushable but really there not.

I think this country is actually unusual in that we can flush toilet paper down the toilet. Most other countries seem to have a waste paper bin for toilet paper, but most people use the water hose instead.

phill99

New_User wrote: »

I think this country is actually unusual in that we can flush toilet paper down the toilet. Most other countries seem to have a waste paper bin for toilet paper, but most people use the water hose instead.

Not sure what countries you have been to, but in all my extensive travel, the only place to ask you to put loo roll in a bin is Cyprus. Toilet paper is designed to disintegrate when it is immersed in water.

Problem is that people now insist on flushing a£se wipes, tampons, condoms, sanitary towels and nappies down the pan.