How we supply it: SWR pipes and fittings are arranged through a partner plumbing dealer who quotes, supplies and bills them and pays us a referral commission. For the outside inspection chambers and drain beds, the 20 mm jalli, M-Sand and crusher dust come from us.
In one line: SWR pipe is unplasticised PVC pipe for non-pressure drainage, used for soil (WC), waste (basins, sinks, floor traps) and rainwater lines and made to IS 13592.
What SWR stands for
SWR pipe is unplasticised PVC pipe for non-pressure drainage, used for soil (WC), waste (basins, sinks, floor traps) and rainwater lines and made to IS 13592.
Drainage runs by gravity, so slope and venting matter more than pressure rating. A well-vented, steadily falling line stays clear; a flat, unvented one smells and blocks.
Types, joints and fittings
| Item | What it is | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Type A | Lighter wall | Rainwater downpipes, vent pipes |
| Type B | Thicker wall | Soil and waste lines, buried runs |
| Ring-fit joint | Rubber ring in the socket | Long vertical stacks; allows expansion |
| Solvent (self-fit) joint | Cemented socket | Short branches and fittings |
| Floor (nahani) trap and multi-floor trap | Water seal at floor drains | Bathrooms, balconies, kitchens |
| Door bend and cleanout | Opening for rodding | Bends and stack bases |
Type A or Type B?
Type B costs more per metre but takes knocks, sun and buried loads far better. The saving from Type A on a soil stack is small next to the cost of breaking a tiled wall to replace it.
Sizes and slopes
These are typical house-site values; follow the plumbing drawing where one exists.
- WC soil branch and soil stack: 110 mm
- Basin, sink and floor-trap waste: 75 mm is common
- Horizontal drains: a steady fall, commonly about 1 in 40 to 1 in 60 for 100–110 mm lines
- Vent pipe carried above the roof with a cowl
- Inspection chambers outside at every junction and change of direction
Checks on pipes and joints
- The print should show IS 13592, Type A or B, size and batch.
- Look at a cut end: Type B's wall is visibly thicker than Type A's.
- Rubber rings should be seated in their grooves and slid in with the supplied lubricant.
- Plug the lower end, fill the stack with water and watch every joint.
- Check the fall of horizontal runs with a spirit level.
Storage
- Keep rubber rings bagged and out of the sun.
- Store pipes in shade, supported along their length, with sockets protected.
- Do not stack bricks or bags on top of pipe bundles.
Drainage mistakes
- Type A on soil lines or buried runs.
- No vent, so traps siphon dry and the bathroom smells.
- Too little fall, so solids settle in the pipe.
- Oil or grease used to slide rings in, which swells the rubber.
- No cleanout at bends where blockages will happen.