From grate to waste pipe
What does a removable grate give access to?
A removable grate gives access to what the maker has placed under it, and that differs by product. Schluter says the KERDI-LINE grate may be removed to clean the drain housing and the drain pipes.
Infinity Drain’s components page says some of its drain designs do not allow access for a hair basket or strainer.
| Term | What it means here |
|---|---|
| Grate or cover | The top piece that lifts out. |
| Channel body | The trough under the grate. |
| Hair catcher | A basket, comb or strainer that holds hair. |
| Odor trap | A water or mechanical seal that keeps drain air out of the room. |
| Outlet | Where the channel body joins the waste pipe. |
| Bonding flange or collar | The edge that ties the drain to the waterproofing. |
What sits under the grate, from the top down?
The order below combines what Schluter, ACO and wedi publish about their own drains. Not every drain has every part.
- Grate or cover; on KERDI-LINE in a frame adjusted to the tile thickness.
- Hair catcher, where the design has one.
- Channel body, which collects the water.
- Odor trap, in some drains a part that lifts out.
- Outlet, joined to the waste pipe.
- Waste pipe; wedi’s instruction refers to a P-trap on it, fixed to the subfloor.
Schluter says the KERDI-LINE channel body has a 2 in (50 mm) no-hub outlet attached to the pipe with a mechanical coupling.
Which parts do named makers say lift out?
Makers name different lift-out parts, so the answer depends on the model.
| Product | Lifts out, per the maker | Maker’s note |
|---|---|---|
| Schluter KERDI-LINE | Grate | To clean the drain housing and drain pipes. |
| Geberit CleanLine80 | Cover with comb insert | Geberit says CleanLine shower drains have no hidden areas. |
| Infinity Drain | Grate, then hair basket where fitted | Lift-out key used at one end of the grate. |
| ACO ShowerDrain S+ | Grate, hair strainer, foul air trap | Trap splits in two; its removal gives pipe access. |
| TECE TECEdrainprofile | Cover, then odor traps | Pulled up by stainless steel brackets. |
| KESSEL Linearis Infinity | Insert and hair filter | Also has a mechanical odor trap. |
| Dallmer CeraLine Nano W Duo | Trap insert | Listed as removable. |
TECE says a blocked TECEdrainprofile drain pipe can be fully accessed once the odor traps are out, and cleaned with a pipe cleaning spiral.
Is a hair catcher the same as an odor trap?
No. A hair catcher holds hair; an odor trap keeps drain air out of the room. ACO lists the hair strainer and the foul air trap of ShowerDrain S+ as separate internal components.
| Part | Named example | What the maker says |
|---|---|---|
| Hair trap | Schlüter KERDI-LINE-VARIO-S | Catches hair and other small parts. |
| Hair catcher | wedi Strainer Key | Tightens the compression seal, then stays in place as a hair catcher. |
| Hair basket | Infinity Drain | Some drain designs do not allow access for one. |
| Foul air trap | ACO ShowerDrain S+ | Lifts out and splits in two. |
Ask what odor control the offered drain has, if any, and how it is reached.
Which standards and codes may a supplier cite?
Published scopes and one regulator’s guidance give the terms a supplier may quote. The clauses of the standards were not read for this guide.
EN 1253-1:2015
The SIS listing shows this edition as valid. Its scope covers factory-made gullies for systems requiring a trap with a water seal of at least 50 mm.
Makers citing EN 1253
TECE writes that DIN EN 1253 requires a 50 mm minimum sealing water height, and lists 30 mm for its flat TECEdrainprofile drain. Dallmer lists a 24 mm water seal on CeraLine Nano W Duo as deviating from the standard.
ASME A112.6.3/CSA B79.3-2022
ASME gives the scope as floor, adjustable floor and area drains. The CSA page puts trench drains and seam-welded, socket type stainless steel fabricated drains under other standards. It says drains of outlet NPS-2 and smaller intended only for shower areas are covered here and in ASME A112.18.2/CSA B125.2.
Approved Document H
This 2015 guidance for England says every discharge point should have a trap, and that a trap not built into the appliance should be removable or have a cleaning eye. Its table lists a 50 mm seal for a shower trap, or not less than 38 mm where the shower discharges directly to a gully.
- Water seal height
- Whether the trap lifts out
- How the pipe is cleaned
- The standard cited
Which parts are installation work, not routine cleaning?
The parts that tie the drain to the waterproofing and the waste pipe are installation work. Three examples from makers, and one maker’s advice:
Waterproofing collar
Schluter says the KERDI-LINE channel body has a bonding flange laminated with a KERDI collar.
Factory-fitted sealing
Geberit describes a premounted foil on CleanLine; KESSEL a factory-fitted waterproofing membrane on Linearis Infinity.
Pipe connection
wedi’s Fundo linear instruction says the waste pipe and P-trap must be fixed to and supported by the subfloor structure.
Installer
Geberit says a shower drain should be installed by a professional.
A repair that would disturb the collar, the sealing or the pipe connection is no longer routine cleaning.
What cleaning limits do makers set?
Cleaning limits belong to each product. The last row is general guidance on stainless steel.
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| Schluter KERDI-LINE | Household cleaners free of hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid and chlorides; no abrasive or alkaline cleaners. |
| TECEdrainprofile | Mild household cleaners with anionic or non-ionic surfactants; no strong acids, chlorine, bleaching or scouring agents. |
| Infinity Drain user guide | Soft brush or towel with mild soap and water; wipe 1-2 times a month depending on use. |
| British Stainless Steel Association | Chloride solutions, including hypochlorite bleaches and hydrochloric acid cleaners, can stain and pit stainless steel; rinse thoroughly. |
How should a buyer write a task-by-task service schedule?
Replace “top access” with one line per task. These steps are procurement guidance, not an installation method.
- Lift the cover. Ask for the instructions and the lifting tool.
- Clear the hair catcher. Ask whether one is fitted and how it is cleaned.
- Clean the odor trap. Ask where it sits and whether it lifts out.
- Reach the pipe. Ask whether the maker describes pipe cleaning through the drain.
- Name the cleaners. Record the maker’s excluded cleaning agents.
- Mark the limit. List the parts only the installer should disturb.
- Put it back in service. Ask for reassembly checks and spare-part references.
When the answer is a photo of a grate
A photo of a lifted grate does not show whether a hair catcher or odor trap is fitted. Ask for the maintenance instructions before the floor is built.
What should you send and ask before a quotation?
A complete request names the service tasks, not just the drain length and finish.
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Which parts lift out from above? | Makers name different parts. |
| Is a hair catcher fitted? | Some designs do not take one. |
| Is there an odor trap in the drain? | Schluter’s KERDI-LINE page refers to an odor trap below the floor. |
| What is the water seal height? | Dallmer lists 24 mm; TECE lists 30 mm and 50 mm. |
| Can the pipe be cleaned through the drain? | Only some makers describe it. |
| Which cleaners are excluded? | Limits differ by maker. |
Include with your request
- Project location and adopted code
- Floor build-up and waterproofing
- Drain length and outlet
- Who will clean the drain
- Spare parts wanted
WNS Global confirms any offered drain, its service instructions and commercial terms separately in writing. This guide does not state that WNS Global products have any removable part, trap, water seal height, rating or listing named above.
