While it’s not the most glamorous part of building a new home, talking about waste regulations is an important part of the process. After all, you need to know where the bathroom waste water is going to go! Luckily, Queensland’s government has a set of rules and regulations for this very purpose, making sure you know exactly what’s required of you when drawing up the plans for your home.
But what are the bathroom floor waste regulations for Queensland, and how much extra work will be expected of you? How much can you expect this to all cost? Today we’re hoping to answer all of these questions and more, so keep reading to learn all about floor waste regulations!
Table of Contents
What are the regulations for bathroom floor waste in QLD?
Under the National Construction Code (NCC) 2022, floor waste requirements apply in all areas of your building:
- That includes a shower
- Contains a urinal
- Where a bathroom or laundry room is located at any level above a sole-occupancy unit, or public space in Class 2 or 3 buildings or a Class 4 part of a building
These are otherwise referred to as wet areas, and they need a floor waste system to efficiently and safely flush waste water out of the house. When installing a waste system in your own home, the graded floor surface will affect the design of your system, including fittings and fixtures.
Here are a few things that need to be considered before drawing up plans for a floor waste system:
- The ability to raise thresholds or the ramping of tiles at bathroom doorways to create a necessary fall
- Use linear grates to use larger tiles and avoid cutting the tiles around the waste system
- The use of bedding under toilet pans
- The use of adjustable feet and sealant around the base of freestanding bathtubs
- Potential to move the location of the proposed floor waste system to suit the type of floor finish
You can learn more about floor waste requirements in the Building and Plumbing Newsflash 622.
How do I ensure that my bathroom floor waste is compliant?
The best and most foolproof way of making sure your bathroom floor waste system is compliant with the regulations is to hire a building inspector. A building inspector will check your new build construction multiple times throughout its journey, as required in the Building Regulation 2021.
They’ll inspect most things to make sure everything’s up to code, including damp and weatherproofing, fire safety, and construction of wet areas. These checks are a mandatory payment that you agree to when embarking on your new build, so technically making sure your bathroom floor waste system is compliant shouldn’t cost you any extra money.
Are there any exemptions to the bathroom floor waste regulations?
According to the recent NCC 2022 update, all bathrooms and laundry rooms where floor waste is installed need to have a fall on the floor to help drain the surface.
Queensland’s performance requirements are a little different from other states, so you need to be aware of these special requirements. You can read all about these in the QDC Mandatory Part (MP) 4.5 Livable Dwellings and Grading.
Here’s where you’ll also find the exceptions for Queensland’s floor waste regulations, including:
- All vessels need to have in-built overflow protection, along with flood stop safety valves fitted to all flexible hose assemblies in the wet area, or
- Each entrance to the bathroom has a linear drain spanning the entire entrance, or
- Each entrance to the bathroom has a weir spanning the entrance, at least 10 mm above the height of the floor waste, along with a maximum gradient of 1:8 within the door jamb
- You won’t need your floor to be graded if there isn’t a floor waste system
Choosing an experienced and trusted contractor can make sure you’re knowledgeable of these exemptions before any building work goes on. They should be able to help you make the best decisions for your new build, so you’re not spending any extra time or money on unnecessary plumbing tasks.
What are the consequences of not following the bathroom floor waste regulations?
Your building inspector should notify you if they spot anything wrong with your bathroom floor waste system, greatly reducing the risk of you not following the correct regulations.
However, the consequences of using a poorly installed floor waste system can be huge. If it starts leaking, you’d probably only realise once water damage began to seep through the walls, and by that point, it might be too late to save some of the hard work you’ve put into your new build.
With a well-placed floor waste system in your bathroom, you should be able to relax, knowing that the waste water will drain properly and effectively, preventing water damage from ruining your day. Always make sure you know the regulations of your local council before starting any building work on your bathroom. After all, better safe than sorry!
What are the different types of bathroom floor waste systems that comply with the QLD regulations?
The minimum requirements for floor waste systems are simple and effective, but you also have the choice of upgraded alternatives to add a touch of style and convenience to your home. Let’s take a look at your options that still comply with the QLD regulations while looking and performing better:
Upgrade your floor grates
The standard floor waste system in most QLD bathrooms includes a simple plastic grate over a hole in the floor, but why stop there? There are lots of more attractive grate options to choose from, such as copper, brushed stainless steel, or even stone! You can even choose ones that come with fancy features, so make sure you shop around before choosing your system.
Motion-activated floor waste
This upgrade might seem a little unnecessary, but we say if you can’t go all out when building a new home, when can you?! Motion-activated floor waste systems automatically open when the bathroom is in use, and close when empty to prevent odours from escaping. They’re perfect in basements and other wet areas where floor waste traps are at risk of drying out. If you’re planning on getting one of these systems, bear in mind that they run on batteries, so you’ll need to keep on top of replacing them when they run out.
Heated floor wastes
You might want to upgrade your floor waste system to a heated one, especially if you’re building in a cold climate. The system comes with a heater that prevents ice from building up and keeps the water flowing freely, hopefully stopping any leaks or smells. You will need to accommodate an electrical connection here, but we often find that the energy used will be more effective and efficient than another solution.
How much will bathroom floor waste cost in QLD?
The price of installing floor wastes greatly depends on your personal circumstances and what you want to get out of it. For example, if you’re hoping to use multiple floor waste systems in a larger bathroom for multiple showers and sinks, you can expect to pay more than if you were renovating a smaller bathroom with one of each amenity.
We’ve all been there – it’s tempting to find a plumber who will do the job for cheap. However, we personally recommend checking reviews and customer testimonials to make sure you’re getting the best job for your money. After all, if you have to fix your floor wastes after laying the flooring and adding the finishing touches to your bathroom, you’re going to have to lose out on much more money!
0 Comments