As per the National Construction Code (NCC) and Australian Standard AS 3740, a floor waste is required in shower areas and in rooms where water may escape onto the floor — such as bathrooms with unenclosed showers or laundries without built-in overflow protection. A floor waste is also required where a wet area is located directly above another unit or public space in multi-storey buildings. However, a floor waste is not mandatory in every bathroom or laundry, especially in single-storey homes with enclosed fixtures. If your renovation includes an open shower or upper-floor wet area, floor wastes are required and should be planned accordingly.
Thankfully, floor wastes have come a long way in recent times and can now make a space look more modern. Knowing which floor wastes to choose comes down to the application and your style preference.
Types of Bathroom Floor Wastes
Floor wastes are available in various formats, with floor wastes and channel wastes being the most common types.
Standard floor wastes are a popular no-fuss solution and are suitable for all applications and all installations. Channel wastes, however, differ from conventional wastes. They are elongated in design and are most suitable for showers and wetrooms.
Linear Shower Drains and Channel Wastes
A linear shower drain is the long, narrow drain that runs along one edge or across the entry of a tiled shower. It’s also called a shower channel drain or a tile insert floor channel waste — the same product under different names. Instead of water running to a single round or square point in the middle of the floor, a linear drain collects it across a straight line, which allows the floor to be laid on a single fall with the tiles running in one direction.
A linear shower drain suits some showers better than others. It’s the better choice for a walk-in or barrier-free shower, where a flush, low-profile drain helps create a seamless step-free entry. Linear drains also handle larger shower areas and higher water flow well, so they’re worth considering with a large rain head or a double shower. For a standard enclosed shower, a conventional point floor waste does the job perfectly well and costs less, so there’s no need to upgrade unless the layout calls for it.
At Ross’s, our tile insert floor channel wastes come in 70cm, 80cm and 90cm widths, with a tile insert top that sets a matching tile into the grate for a near-invisible finish. Like our standard tile insert floor wastes, they suit 50mm and 80mm waste outlets. Visit our Guildford showroom to compare the options in person.
Bathroom Floor Waste Designs
Both floor wastes and channel wastes are available in two design options: standard and tile insert. A standard floor waste is either round or square in design, with both channel wastes and floor wastes featuring a grill and a chrome finish. Floor wastes and channel wastes of the tile insert floor wares are more contemporary and are quickly becoming the preferred choice for new builds and renovations. They feature a tile insert cap, which means they can seamlessly integrate with the flooring. A shower waste tile insert is installed into the tiled floor and then a matching tile is inserted to create a seamless look. This eliminates the need for visible grills, giving the bathroom a sleek and modern appearance.
Besides the aesthetical design options, floor wastes are also available with various waste pipe outlet sizes (50mm and 80mm are standard) and may also come with a reflux non-return valve option.
For quality floor wastes in Perth, look nowhere else but Ross’s Discount Home Centre. We stock a wide range of the latest floor waste designs to meet all needs and budgets. Shop online or visit our bathroom warehouse in Perth to see our entire range.
