CareHomeDeskCareHomeDeskLinear channel, point drain or shower former -- the practical criteria for a care environment.
The drain must handle the peak flow rate of the shower, which for a thermostatic mixer valve (the standard in care home wet rooms) is typically 12-18 litres per minute. It must also handle the flow rate from cleaning -- a care home wet room will be cleaned daily, often with a hose or bucket, and the drain needs to cope with a burst of water flow. Specify a minimum 50mm diameter outlet for a point drain or an equivalent-flow linear drain. BS EN 1253 covers gully and drain performance in buildings.
A linear channel drain installed against one wall requires only a single-direction floor fall (1:60-1:80), which is simpler to achieve accurately and easier for the screeder to execute. It also gives a cleaner aesthetic, with no visible central drain to catch casters. The channel cover must be specified with bar or slot openings no greater than 8mm (to prevent caster entrapment) and must be removable for cleaning without tools. Stainless steel tile-insert covers allow the drain to be almost invisible in a tiled wet room. Specify a waterproof connector from the channel body to the waste pipe -- the channel itself is not the waterproof element.
Point drains require a four-direction fall, which is harder to achieve in small or irregular rooms and creates a slight hump at the centre of the floor that can be uncomfortable for barefoot residents. They are generally acceptable in larger wet rooms where the fall is less pronounced. The waste outlet should be 50mm or larger, and the trap must have a minimum 50mm water seal. Anti-bacterial trap inserts are available and are worth specifying in care environments to reduce biofilm build-up.
All wet room drains must be fitted with a trap to prevent drainage odours entering the room. In care homes, this is particularly important because residents spend extended time in their rooms. Specify a trap with a minimum 50mm water seal. Anti-siphon traps or air admittance valves should be used where the drainage run cannot achieve the required fall to prevent siphonage. Bottle traps are easier to clean and are preferred in care environments over P-traps. Include the trap in the monthly maintenance check for blockage.
CareHomeDesk gives you compliance checklists, maintenance logs, and contractor management tools built around exactly this kind of knowledge.