A toilet of any habitat structure generally consists of sanitary fittings such as baths, showers, wash basins and water closets. Sanitary Fittings or appliances can be considered less than two way.

(a)     Soil fitments: Those that are used to remove soil water and human excreta such as water closets and urinals.

(b)     Waste water fitments: Those that are used to remove the waste water from washing, kitchen sinks, wash basin baths and showers.

The fitting of the toilet along with the soil and waste pipes needs to be designed/ placed in such a fashion so that the discharges can flow by gravity with self-cleansing velocity.  Self-cleansing velocity at minimum flow should prevent deposit and blockage of the pipes.

The layout of domestic sanitary appliances is governed by the size of fitments, personal preference, pipe work system being used and the space availability.  Ventilation of sanitary accommodation, which contains a water closet fitting, is compulsory.

Generally building regulations sets out in detail the minimum requirements for soil pipe, waste pipe and sometimes details of ventilating pipes.

The only pipe work which is permissible on the outside of the external wall is any waste pipe from a waste appliance situated at ground floor level providing such a pipe discharges into a suitable trap with a grating/cover.  The basic pipe work can either be one-pipe or two-pipe system.  However irrespective of the pipe work system adopted, the functions of quick, reliable and quiet removal of the discharges through the drain remains constant.

The arrangement of basic drainage scheme of a toilet is governed by :

(i)                   Internal layout of sanitary fitting

(ii)                 External position of soil/waste water pipe.

For any connection to a soil/waste water pipe, the sanitary appliance requires a trap to prevent foul gases emanating from the appliance.  The entire sanitary fittings is required to be connected through traps of various types.  While fitting the Indian style WC or the squatting type of W.C a trap which is about 43cm deep is required.

Consequently, the toilet requires a sunken floor top of which is about 50 cm below the floor of the toilet.  Whereas if the water closet is of European or seating type, a trap is generally provided with the appliance and the sunken floor level is governed by the depth of floor traps required for fittings other than water closet.  The wash basin, showers/baths can be fitted with floor traps which are only 20 cm deep.

In order to accommodate the waste or the soil pipes a sunken floor becomes necessary.  After placing the floor traps and other traps along with the related pipes connected to soil/waste water pipe, the sunken area is filled up with compacted cinder.  Plain cements concrete (PCC) floor 65-75 mm thick is placed over the trap and pipe to receive the flooring of the toilet.  The flooring can be chosen from many types such as punned plain cement concrete, concrete with granolithic finish, ceramic tiles or stone.  Generally for placing tiles or stone a layer of mortar of 15mm thickness is required for even placement of the tiles or stone.  The 65-75mm thick PCC is finished flush with the collars of the floor traps.  When tiles or stones are provided on the PCC, the top of the flooring is generally 25-35 mm above the top of PCC and a water leakage source develops in many cases due to the fact that water may find an easy passage through the 15mm thick plaster which is generally discontinuous.

Sources of leakages:

The above type of leakage is generally associated with dampness of nearby brick walls.

Besides this leakage source, defective plumbing associated with partial blockage of waste water pipes provided on the sunken floor of the toilet may be another source of leakage in the sunken toilet floor.  Broken Indian i.e squatting type of water closet is a source of undesired leakage as the water from the water closet directly discharges the water on the cinder filling and travels downwards on the sunken floor which shows wet patch and may cause even a water drip.

For toilets which have been used for ten or more years, the sunken cinder filling may get water from leakage in the pipe which might have corroded or cracked.  The sufferers from these leakages are the persons who are using the area immediately below the sunken floor of the toilet.

Remedial Measure:

·         For water leakages as evidenced by damp walls, the remedy consists of improving the sealing of the gaps around the floor trap.  WATERPLUG – quick setting paste should be applied by hand to effectively seal the gaps between the tile or stone and the floor trap collar.

WATERPLUG is a fast setting compound, which sets very fast (within 3 to 5 minutes) and ready to use material requiring an addition of 400 ml. of water per kg of WATERPLUG for mixing. WATERPLUG can stop running water instantly and seepage through concrete, and masonry walls, dams, wells, tanks, and wall and floor junctions.

·         Broken Indian water closets definitely require a replacement.  While making the replacement, the connection with the traps needs to be properly sealed.  For expediting the sealing process CRACKSEAL should be used.

CRACKSEAL : CRACKSEAL is a easy to use, high strength, crack repair mortar, which ensures perfect filling of cracks and will not allow water penetration. It is an expanding cementitious mortar, which will ensure the perfect bonds on both the side s of the cracks. It is a non-metallic and chloride free. 5kg of CRACKSEAL will give the yield of 2.5 ltrs. which will approximately cover 2-3 cracks having the width & depth of 15 mm-10mm.

For leakages developed in old toilets where defective or leaking pipes is anticipated, the rectification plan is much more elaborate.  Proper rectification will require cement grout injection around the defective pipe.  The location of different waste pipe could perhaps be established by proper superimposition of the floor trap position and its outlet in the external soil/waste pipe assuming that no bend has been introduced in between.

To make effective cementitious grouting, it will be necessary to drill hole upto the cinder in-fill top by means of rotary drill.  To avoid breaking of ceramic tiles and stones small hole max 10mm dia should be drilled through the tiles or stone.

The grouting should be done with non-shrink injection grouting compound – FAIRADD S upto a maximum pressure of 2kg/cm².  The spacing of grout injection holes should be around 300mm.

Leakage around P or S traps of water closet can also be sealed by injection grouting.  Location of the trap can be visualised from the relative position of the water closet and its connection with the soil water pipe, which is on external wall.

As a precautionary measure the sunken floor may be plaster mortared with FAIRCRETE RMW - integral waterproofing compound.  The plastering may be coated with WATERGUARD A and should have proper slope towards the external wall.  A perforated pipe may be placed in the cinder filling to serve as an outlet of the deposited waste water and the end of the perforated pipe may be placed in the cinder filling to serve as an outlet of the deposited waste water and the end of the perforated pipe should project out by 100mm from the external wall.

FAIRADD S : FAIRADD S is a combination of an expanding medium and a plasticising agent by generating gas during the hydration process before the initial set takes place, counteracts the natural settlement and shrinkage of the grout.  It ensures permanent contact and high bond to ensure grouted surfaces.  It can be used as an admixture for Cementitious grouts where a low water cement ratio and positive expansion are required. 

FAIRCRETE RMW : FAIRCRETE RMW is a chloride free, liquid form of an integral-waterproofing admixture. The plasticising action of FAIRCRETE RMW aids in producing denser concrete, which greatly reduces permeability. It can be used in water retaining structures, precuts units and structural members. Improve plasticity & cohesion aids easier placing, better compaction and finish. Dosage of FAIRCRETE RMW is 150 ml. To 200 ml. Per 50 Kg cement. FAIRCRETE RMW confirms to IS 2645.

WATERGUARD A: WATERGUARD A is an easily applied two-pack acrylic polymer modified water proofing system requires only mixing of liquid and powder at site. It an be applied in 2/3 uniform coats by brush at an application rate of 1-1.5 Kg/m². It can be used in all structures, which is required to be water proofed and protected against the ingress of moisture.