Page 584 - The City and Guilds Textbook: Plumbing Book 1 for the Level 3 Apprenticeship (9189), Level 2 Technical Certificate (8202) and Level 2 Diploma (6035)

The City & Guilds Textbook: Plumbing Book 1

All whirlpool baths require regular cleaning to remove any build-up of soap and
other impurities. Circulation cleansers should be run through the system every
month to six weeks depending on use. Additionally, sanitiser tablets can be
used after each bath to sanitise the system ready for the next user (particularly
important in hotels and guesthouses).
All baths of this type incorporate a safety cut-out to suspend the pump or
suction if anything blocks the water suction pipe.

p Figure 9.50 Square shower tray Shower trays and cubicles
Shower trays (also known as shower bases) vary in size from compact square
shapes to large rectangular, quadrant and five-sided models. They are made
from a variety of materials, such as heavy-duty reinforced acrylic sheet, fireclay
and resin bonded. The choice of shower tray depends largely on the space and
budget available.

Many shower trays have a raised lip that, when placed against the wall, allows
tiles to be placed over it to help the sealing of the tray. Some trays have
p Figure 9.51 Rectangular
shower tray adjustable feet to assist in levelling the tray. Resin-bonded and fireclay trays are
bedded on a weak bed of sand and cement.

Waste arrangements for shower trays
The most common waste arrangement for a shower tray is by use of a
combined shower waste and trap. Most modern trays are bedded to the
floor and, because of the position of the waste on the tray, the trap is often
inaccessible, making cleaning and clearing of blockages almost impossible. The
combined shower waste and trap allows the trap to be cleaned of potential
p Figure 9.52 Five-sided shower tray blockages, such as hair, from the top of the waste on the shower tray. The inside
of the trap is removable from above.

Shower cubicles and enclosures
Shower enclosures are available in three distinct forms, as described below.
1 The freestanding shower cubicle: as the name suggests, a freestanding
shower cubicle is one that does not use any of the walls of the building in its
construction. However, the cubicle may be fixed to the wall for support.
2 The shower enclosure that uses one or more walls: where a shower
enclosure uses either one or two walls to form part of the showering area.
This is the most common of all shower enclosures installed.
3 The shower door: a single shower door is fixed between two opposing walls.
This uses three walls of the building to form the enclosure.

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