Drain Dictionary

Trade Terminology

The words drainers and plumbers use on site — falls, inverts, laterals and more.

Chainage The measured distance along a pipe from a reference point (usually the camera entry), used in CCTV reports to record exactly where each defect sits. Fall The downhill slope of a drain, usually expressed as a ratio (like 1 in 60) or percentage. Correct fall keeps solids moving; too little or too much causes blocka Invert Level The height of the lowest point on the inside of a pipe — the level water actually runs along. Drain designs, falls and connections are all measured from invert Junction A fitting where one drain joins another — typically a 45-degree (oblique) branch that merges flows smoothly in the direction of travel. Lateral A branch pipe running from a property or fixture group into a larger drain or main — the "side road" of a drainage network.

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Pipes & Materials (4) Drainage Structures (8) Blockages & Causes (14) Inspection & Technology (9) Repair Methods (6) Cleaning & Clearing (3) Plumbing Fixtures (3) Sewer Systems (8) Stormwater (8) Regulations & Standards (5) Water Flow & Hydraulics (5) Tree Roots & Vegetation (2) Maintenance & Prevention (1)

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