TRAPS

Traps are defined as fittings at the end of soil

pipes of waste pipes to prevent foul gases
coming out of the soil pipe/ waste pipe

TRAPS

Traps are an integral part of a modern sanitary

system, being designed to retain a small quantity
of the waste water from the discharge of fitting to
which they are attached as a barrier to prevent
foul air entering the building as shown in Figure
Traps should be self-cleaning, that is to say , they
should be designed so that their walls are scoured
by the discharging water. One of the advantages
of modern traps constructed of plastic materials is
the ease with which they may be dismantled for

Traps And Pipes and other components

of house Drainage System
Following are the main components of House drainage
system.
Traps: Good Traps should have following Qualities:
Should provide enough water seal ( around 50 mm)
with large surface area.
Interiors surface should be smooth so that the flow is
not obstructed which enables self cleansing.
An assess door should be provided for cleaning the
trap.
It should be made of non- adsorbent material.

Classification of Traps
Depending upon the shapes the traps are classified
as:
P-Trap
Q-Trap
S-Trap
Above three types of traps are shown in the
following figures.
The depth of a Trap Seal would depend upon the
usage of a pipe. The trap seal varies from 25 to 75
mm deep.

P, Q and S Traps

P Trap

Q Trap

S Trap

P, Q and S Traps

Nahni Trap

Gully Trap

Intercepting Traps

Advantage of Intercepting Traps

Foul Gases of larger municipal sewers are
prevented from entering house drainage
system.
Harmful pathogens are not entered in house
drains.
Well designed and contructed interceptors can
quickly remove foul matter of house drain to
muncipal sewers.

Loss of Trap Seals

If a trap seal loss,

smells from the
sanitary
appliances would
enter the building.
Therefore the
water seal in the
trap must be
maintained under
all circumstances.

1) Evaporation
When trap is not being used, the rate of water
evaporation
depends upon the relative
humidity of the air in the room. The rate is
approximately 2.55 mm per week, so a 25 mm
seal would last for 10 week. See Figure 3.6.

Figure 3.6 : Evaporation occur

when trap not being used

2) Capillary attraction
Is another rare
occurrence which
happens in S trap
when a piece of porous
material being caught
over the bend of a trap
absorbs water and
deposits it down the
waste discharge pipe.
See Figure 3.7.

Figure 3.7 :
Capillary
attraction

3) Momentum
4) Leakage
This is caused by a
It is caused by a fault
sudden discharge of
in the trap or plumbing
water from a bucket.
installation and water
Due to velocity water is
on the floor would be
discharged and it shoots apparent.
around the trap bend
and goes down the
waste pipe, leaving no
5) Wavering out
seal.
This is caused by the effect
of the wind which passes
over
the
top
of
the
ventilation pipe and thus
causes pressure fluctuations.
See Figure 3.8.
Figure 3.8 : Wavering out

6) Compression or back pressure

This occurs in high rise buildings. When water is
discharged down to the main discharge stack, air is
compressed at the base of the stack. A waste pipe
connected to the stack in the pressure zone may have
the seal of the trap lost by the compressed air forcing out
the water. Detergent foam increases the risk of
compression. See Figure 3.9 .

7) Induced siphonage
This is caused by discharge of water from another
sanitary appliance connected to the same discharge
pipe. In either a vertical or horizontal main waste
pipe, as water flows down the pipe and passes the
branch pipe connected to it, it draws air from it, thus
creating a partial vacuum and subsequently
siphonage of the trap takes place. See Figure 3.10.

8) Self siphonage
This is caused by
appliances such as
wash basins and
other
small
appliances, due to
their curved shape,
and is caused by a
moving
plug
of
water in the waste
pipe.
A
partial
vacuum is created
at the outlet of the
trap, thus causing
siphonage
action

Thank you