B79-08 Commercial and residential drains and clean outs
This CSA section B79-08 is the most current Canadian Code requirement for shower drains. The code covers point drains to linear drains and every type of shower pan in between.
Here is a closer look at the requirements for a CSA B79-08 approval. This is the fourth version of this code and was published in 2008. This edition covers floor and trench drains for both residential and commercial use. The code also covers more things like roof drains and clean out but I'll focus my blog post on showers, linear shower drains, line drains, trench drains, gutter drains and linear shower drains.
You will see references from companies like Schulter Systems, Quick Drain USA, ACO, Infinity and the like referencing this requirement. Shower drains are required to conform to this B79-08 requirements and the requirement also covers the finer install points like flood testing the completed work.
The CSA code B79-08 covers three types of drains.
1). Area Drain - a manufactured receptacle for receiving wastewater and storm water from an open
area and conveying such water to a drainage system.
2). Floor Drain - a manufactured receptacle for receiving wastewater and storm water from building
floor areas and conveying such water to a drainage system.
Note: An adjustable floor drain is a floor drain that is designed for use in finished floor areas, including showers, and
has an adjustable strainer and grate and a seepage flange.
conveying such water to the drainage system.
Floor Drains are the most common drain viewed and many adjustable drains can be found by suppliers like Watts, Schluter Systems, CanPlas and Zurn. Shower Drains are a little more diverse and include many other suppliers.
You can have three different outlet set ups on your shower drain. You can connect from the bottom, the side or somewhere in between. I have only seen one side outlet linear drain and have installed it here in Vancouver. Understanding that all three options are available to you can help you with your design parameters.
In Canada the drain needs to be marked with the CSA approval. This needs to be visable to the city inspectors so confirm that your drain does. In reading this entire code I have noticed a large amount of points that would seem to make some drains no qualify for approval. I will need to inquire a little more and find out how some drain companies are getting around these published requirements.
Other than the CSA B79-08 requirements plumbing officials are looking for an IAPMO report on your shower waterproofing product or shower drain. Installing a shower drain with out this IAPMO certificate can become problematic if these documents are requested.
I will try and list all the IAPMO Certificates I can find here on my blog site. The list will take a while to generate and if your in a rush you can go here and search for them. http://pld.iapmo.org/default.asp
Many drains are made by another manufacture and relabelled - for example you will find the approval for the CeraLine drain under the Dallmer GMBH & Co. KG listing here http://pld.iapmo.org/file_info.asp?file_no=0006104 New products may state they comply with these codes but complying and being certified are two separate things. Make sure your linear drain has a IAPMO certification. Printing these reports off and having them ready for city inspectors can make your life very simple come inspection time.
Below is a list of the technical committe that help develop this standard.
Technical Committee on Drains and Interceptors - below is a list of the current technical committee members for the CSA B79-08 section
R. Guinn Canplas Industries Ltd.,
Barrie, Ontario
Chair
P. Paré Watts Industries (Canada) Inc.,
Burlington, Ontario
Vice-Chair
R. Ackroyd Rand Technical Consulting, LLC,
Rye, New Hampshire, USA
Representing the Plumbing and Drainage Institute
S. Aridi NSF International,
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
Associate
P. Ashton Masco Canada Limited,
Mississauga, Ontario
C. Buehler Organic Resource Management,
Woodbridge, Ontario
C. Caruana CSA International,
Toronto, Ontario
Associate
T.D. Ellison Canadian Water and Wastewater Association,
Ottawa, Ontario
Associate
G. Emberson Contour Industries Inc.,
Toronto, Ontario
E.J. Forty HR Wallingford Ltd.,
Oxon, United Kingdom
Associate
M. Gordon Region of Waterloo,
Cambridge, Ontario
G. Hale Town of Markham,
Markham, Ontario
G.W. Harrison Wayne Harrison Consulting,
Edmond, Oklahoma, USA
K.S. Hui Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing,
Toronto, Ontario
Associate
E.C. Jowett Waterloo Biofilter Systems Inc.,
Rockwood, Ontario
B. Lagueux Saint-Nicolas, Québec
Consumer representative
C.M. Matthews City of Toronto,
Toronto, Ontario
D. Millar City of Hamilton,
Hamilton, Ontario
M. Mullen City of Brantford,
Brantford, Ontario
D. Oliveira Town of Markham,
Markham, Ontario
Associate
P. Power City of Calgary,
Calgary, Alberta
W. Smith Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co.,
Montgomery, Alabama, USA
Associate
M. Snyder Specca Services,
Barrie, Ontario
C. Tevis Lowe Engineering/Highland Tank,
Marlton, New Jersey, USA
Associate
P. Tov Green Turtle Technologies Ltd.,
Mississauga, Ontario
Associate
J. Walker Green Turtle Technologies Ltd.,
Mississauga, Ontario
M. Weiss Weiss Research,
Polson, Montana, USA
Representing Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co.
W.C. Whitehead Whitehead Consulting Services,
Danvers, Massachusetts, USA
Associate
A.I. Murra Canadian Standards Association,
Mississauga, Ontario
Project Manager
