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 cleaning.
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
Floor 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
• Evaporation
water seal in the trap
• Capillary action
must be maintained
• Momentum under all
• Leakage circumstances.
caused
• Wavering out
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
This is caused by a sudden
discharge of water from a
bucket. Due to velocity water
is discharged and it shoots
around the trap bend and
goes down the waste pipe,
leaving no seal.
4) Leakage
It is caused by a fault in the
trap or plumbing installation
and water on the floor would
be apparent.

5) Wavering out
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