Part H building regulations are the requirements for adequate drainage and water disposal which set out the technical design standards for the internal sanitary pipework, foul drainage, rainwater drainage and wastewater treatment and discharges. Part H was introduced by the Government to regulate the quantity and disposal of both household and commercial waste.

There are six approved documents within Part H

building regulations:

• H1 Foul Water Drainage

• H2 Wastewater Treatment Systems and Cesspools

• H3 Rainwater Drainage

• H4 Building Over Sewage (Public and Private)

• H5 Separate Systems of Drainage (Foul Water and Surface Water)

• H6 Solid Waste Storage (Bins and Recycling)

Building professionals, especially plumbers and drainage contractors, will need to consider Part H when carrying out their work in order to comply with the building regulations.

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) –

Sustainable drainage systems also known as SUDS are methods of controlling the rainwater runoff from both commercial and household buildings in order to reduce the impacts of urbanisation on flooding. SUDS manage runoff flow rates, enhance water quality, provide habitats for wildlife and encourage natural runoff recharge.

Popular methods of sustainable drainage systems are to install a green roof or a green façade where a building is partially or completely covered with vegetation over a waterproofing membrane. These systems absorb rainwater which will reduce the impacts of urbanisation on flooding as well as reducing the heat loss from the building, increasing the energy efficiency.

Low Flush WC’s –

Low flush toilet systems have been introduced to reduce the amount of water used when flushing. Toilets can use up to 30% of the total water used in a household and with a low flush toilet the quantity of water used per flush can be decreased to less than half.

Package Pumping Stations –

A package pumping station provides an efficient and economical alternative when drainage by gravity is not possible. They can be used for mechanical building services and pumping of liquids such as surface water, wastewater and sewage.

Reed Fields –

Reed fields, otherwise known as constructed wetlands, use reeds or other marshland plants to form a sewage treatment system. The microorganisms in the plants feed off the sewage for growth nutrients, resulting in a clean effluent.

Treatment Ponds –

Treatment ponds are similar to reed fields except on a smaller scale. They are used to clean the sewage from a single house or small neighbourhood.