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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/R81275/01
Title: Investigations of Positive Air Pressure Transients in Building Drainage Vent Systems
Principal Investigator: Jack, Professor L
Other Investigators:
Campbell, Dr D
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Caroma Industries Geberit Ltd Hepworth Plumbing Products
University of Nottingham
Department: Sch of the Built Environment
Organisation: Heriot-Watt University
Scheme: Fast Stream
Starts: 06 January 2003 Ends: 05 January 2006 Value (£): 62,541
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Building Ops & Management
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Construction
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The use of the single stack drainage system has long been recognised in the UK as a means of providing a route for waste removal from sanitary appliances. It is known that as appliances discharge into the vertical stack, an annular water flow is formed which entrains an associated air flow. The unsteady nature of this flow continuously generates low amplitude air pressure transients which have the potential to deplete or destroy the appliance trap seal, thereby permitting foul odour to enter the habitable space. The probem of suction (negative) pressure transients has been the focus of a coherent programme of research however, often neglected are positive air pressure transients. Trap seal depletion due to positive transients appears to be increasing and represents a significant barrier to system simplification.This research will investigate the generation, duration and propagation of positive air pressure transients and will assess the effect of a range of associated factors on trap seal depletion. Investigations (essentially laboratory based but including site data whenever possible) will develop a transient loss coefficient representative of water curtain formation at the base of the stack. This will include variables representative of the pipework configuration. The resultant code will then act as a 'plug-in' to the Heriot-Watt University model, AIRNET, allowing complete systems to be analysed andl facilitating the assessment of the impact upon codes and legislation of the research findings and of changing usage patterns and discharge profiles.
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Organisation Website: http://www.hw.ac.uk