APP164

Practice Note for Authorized Persons,
Buildings Department Registered Structural Engineers and APP-164

Registered Geotechnical Engineers
Enhanced Design Standards of Aboveground Drainage System
Taking into account the findings of a consultancy study, the Buildings

Department has completed a comprehensive review of the Building (Standards of
Sanitary Fitments, Plumbing, Drainage Works and Latrines) Regulations (Drainage
Regulations) with a view to, among others, enhancing the planning and design of drainage
works. Whilst the legislative exercise to amend the Drainage Regulations is being
actively pursued, it is high time to promulgate the enhanced design standards of floor
drain, anti-syphonage pipe, branch discharge pipe, ventilating pipe and rain water pipe of
the aboveground drainage system in a Practice Note for Authorized Persons (APs),
Registered Structural Engineers and Registered Geotechnical engineers (PNAP).
2. By virtue of section 28(1) of the Buildings Ordinance, I shall require the

aboveground drainage system to comply with the following:
Floor drain
(a) To prevent loss of water seal through evaporation for the trap
of a floor drain1 of a kitchen in a domestic unit, a toilet or a
pantry, used water from a lavatory basin, a bath or a shower
bath should be diverted to replenish the water seal of the floor
drain without causing backflow;
Anti-syphonage pipe
(b) Adequate cross-ventilation should be provided to the

drainage stack via connections with a main anti-syphonage
pipe. Such connections should be provided as follows:
(i) The connecting pipes should be sloping upwards at an

angle not greater than 67.5° from the drainage stack
(Figure 1 of Appendix A) with internal diameter not
less than the main anti-syphonage pipe;
(ii) Connections should be provided at intervals not more

than 5 storeys for a building more than 5 storeys and
not more than 20 storeys 2 , and at intervals not
/more …
1
The floor drain should be provided with a suitable trap complying with regulation 25 of the
Drainage Regulations.
2
Irrespective of the number of storeys that the drainage stack serves. For drainage stacks
solely serving podiums or basements, the connections should be provided at intervals with
regard to the number of storeys of the podiums or basements.
-2-
more than three storeys for a building over 20

storeys2, starting from the lowest storey with branch
discharge pipe connected to the drainage stack
(Figures 2 and 3 of Appendix A); and
(iii) A connection should be provided at a point below the

lowest branch discharge pipe and above the bend of
an offset 3 of the drainage stack (Figure 4 of
Appendix A). No such connection is required
between offsets which no branch discharge pipes are
connected with.
Branch discharge pipe
(c) No drainage pipe connection is permitted within a restricted

zone at every offset. The restricted zone is up to 600 mm
above the bend of the offset4 for a building not more than 5
storeys and 1 000 mm above the bend for a building over 5
storeys; and within 2 500 mm away from the bend
horizontally (Figure 4 of Appendix A);
(d) At the floor where the drainage stack of a building more than
3 storeys and not more than 20 storeys 5 discharges to a
manhole, sanitary fitments, if any, on that floor should not be
connected to the drainage stack and separate pipework should
be provided for such sanitary fitments for discharging
directly to a manhole (Figure 5 of Appendix A);
(e) At the floor where the drainage stack of a building over 20

storeys5 discharges to a manhole, the sanitary fitments, if any,
on that floor and the floor above should not be connected to
the drainage stack and separate pipework should be provided
for such sanitary fitments for discharging directly to a
manhole (Figure 6 of Appendix A); and
Ventilating pipe
(f) The open end of every ventilating pipe for any drain or sewer
on the roof should be not less than 3 m from a common
boundary with an adjacent site, and any window, opening or
fresh air intake of a building (Figure 7 of Appendix A).
/Implementation ...
3
An offset occurs when a drainage stack changes direction from vertical to horizontal. It also
occurs when the drainage stack discharges into a manhole. This requirement is not applicable
to the separate pipework discharging directly to a manhole as required under paragraph 2(d)
or (e) below.
4
Measured from the invert of the tail of the bend.
5
Irrespective of the number of storeys that the drainage stack serves. For drainage stacks
solely serving podiums or basements, the number of storeys should be based on the number of
storeys of the podiums or basements.
-3-
Implementation
3. New drainage plans or major revision of drainage plans for development

projects and alteration and addition works submitted to the Building Authority for
approval after 31 August 2021 should comply with this practice note. For development
projects with consent to the commencement of superstructure works granted after 31
August 2021, the requirements in paragraph 2(b), (c) and (f) above should be complied
with and corresponding amended drainage plans should be timely submitted.
Alternatively, deferred submission for such minor amendments may be made in
accordance with paragraphs 22 to 24 of PNAP ADM-19. For other development
projects and alteration and addition works, APs should consider exploring the possibility
to incorporate requirements in paragraph 2 above. For the avoidance of doubt, this
practice note is applicable to the erection and alteration of any aboveground drainage
system to be commenced under the Minor Works Control System after 31 August 2021.
4. In respect of proposed alteration and addition works and minor works

involving (i) the installation/erection of a new floor drain (of a kitchen in a domestic unit,
a toilet or a pantry), a drainage stack, an offset of an existing drainage stack, a drainage
pipe connection to the drainage stack, a sanitary fitment at the lowest or second lowest
floor of the drainage stack, or a ventilating pipe; or (ii) alteration of an existing ventilating
pipe at the roof, the respective requirements in paragraph 2 above are applicable.
Examples of alteration and addition works and minor works that should comply with the
respective requirements in paragraph 2 above are listed in Appendix B.
5. To enhance the environmental hygiene at the roof of a building for

occupants’ enjoyment, in addition to the requirements in paragraph 2(f) above, APs are
advised to consider carrying up ventilation pipes to a height of not less than 3 m above
the accessible roofs.
6. In order to obviate the need for frequent maintenance such as removing

debris and vegetation to avoid blockage in a hopper head, APs should consider not to
provide hopper heads in the aboveground drainage system of their development projects.
7. According to the updated design practice of the Drainage Services

Department and to cater for anticipated increase in rainfall intensity, APs are advised to
follow the guidelines for rain water pipes with internal diameter less than 100 mm:
Maximum horizontal roofed-over

Internal diameter of pipe
surface to be served
40 mm 10 m2
65 mm 38 m2
80 mm 66 m2
/8. When…
-4-
8. When undertaking drainage repair works and comprehensive maintenance

works in an existing building, APs should advise their clients to consider incorporating
the requirements and recommendations in this practice note, including if applicable,
replacing the open system with hopper heads to a closed system with the provision of
suitable traps in accordance with regulations 12(2), 12(3) and 25 of the Drainage
Regulations.
( YU Po-mei, Clarice )
Building Authority
Ref. : BD GP/BREG/SF/1 (VI)

BD GP/BREG/SF/7
BD GR/1-55/296
First issue April 2021 (AD/NB1)

This Revision December 2021 (AD/NB1) (Paragraph 1 amended and paragraph 7
added)
Appendix A
(PNAP APP-164)
Figure 1: Connection between drainage stack and main anti-syphonage pipe
Figure 2: Ventilation of drainage stack for a building more than 5 storeys and not
more than 20 storeys
* Figures 1 and 2 are for illustration of the connections between the main anti-syphonage pipe
and the drainage stack for soil and/or waste water only without showing details such as anti-
syphonic valves and branch anti-syphonage pipes.
-1-
Figure 3: Ventilation of drainage stack for a building more than 20 storeys
* For illustration of the connections between the main anti-syphonage pipe and the drainage
stack for soil and/or waste water only without showing details such as anti-syphonic valves
and branch anti-syphonage pipes.
-2-
Figure 4: Ventilation and restricted zones for an offset of a drainage stack
Example (a)
Example (b)
* For illustration of the connections between the main anti-syphonage pipe and the drainage
stack for soil and/or waste water only without showing other details such as anti-syphonic
valves and branch anti-syphonage pipes.
-3-
Figure 5: Separate pipework for sanitary fitments for a building more than 3
storeys and not more than 20 storeys
* For illustration of the required separate pipework for discharging soil and/or waste water only
without showing details such as anti-syphonic valves and anti-syphonage pipes.
-4-
Figure 6: Separate pipework for sanitary fitments for a building more than 20 storeys
* For illustration of the required separate pipework for discharging soil and/or waste water
only without showing details such as anti-syphonic valves and anti-syphonage pipes. The
pipework for the lowest floor and the floor above can be combined provided that Drainage
Regulations and the relevant requirements in PNAP APP-93 and APP-164 are complied
with.
-5-
Figure 7: Requirements for open end of a ventilating pipe
(4/2021)
-6-
Appendix B
(PNAP APP-164)
Application of Enhanced Design Standards

for Alteration and Addition Works and Minor Works
Examples on the applicable requirements in paragraph 2 of this practice note in respect

of drainage works involved in alteration and addition works and minor works:
Examples of drainage works involved in

Requirements
alteration and addition works and minor works
Paragraph 2(a)  Addition of a new floor drain in a kitchen of a domestic unit,

a toilet or a pantry.
Paragraph 2(b)(i)  Erection of a new drainage stack.

and (ii)
Paragraph 2(b)(i)  Erection of a new drainage stack, or

and (iii)  Provision of a new offset when altering an existing drainage
stack.
Paragraph 2(c)  Erection of a new drainage stack,

 Provision of a new offset when altering an existing drainage
stack, or
 Erection of a new drainage pipe connecting to an existing
drainage stack.
Paragraph 2(d)  Erection of a new drainage stack, or

 Installation of a new sanitary fitment at the floor requiring
separate pipework for discharging directly to a manhole.
Paragraph 2(e)  Erection of a new drainage stack, or

 Installation of a new sanitary fitment at the floors requiring
separate pipework for discharging directly to a manhole.
Paragraph 2(f)  Erection of a new ventilating pipe, or

 Alteration, relocation or extension of the portion of an
existing ventilating pipe above the roof.
(4/2021)

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Practice Note for Authorized Persons,

Buildings Department Registered Structural Engineers and APP-164

Enhanced Design Standards of Aboveground Drainage System

Taking into account the findings of a consultancy study, the Buildings

2. By virtue of section 28(1) of the Buildings Ordinance, I shall require the

(b) Adequate cross-ventilation should be provided to the

(i) The connecting pipes should be sloping upwards at an

(ii) Connections should be provided at intervals not more

more than three storeys for a building over 20

(iii) A connection should be provided at a point below the

Branch discharge pipe

(c) No drainage pipe connection is permitted within a restricted

(e) At the floor where the drainage stack of a building over 20

3. New drainage plans or major revision of drainage plans for development

4. In respect of proposed alteration and addition works and minor works

5. To enhance the environmental hygiene at the roof of a building for

6. In order to obviate the need for frequent maintenance such as removing

7. According to the updated design practice of the Drainage Services

Maximum horizontal roofed-over

8. When undertaking drainage repair works and comprehensive maintenance

Ref. : BD GP/BREG/SF/1 (VI)

First issue April 2021 (AD/NB1)

Figure 1: Connection between drainage stack and main anti-syphonage pipe

Application of Enhanced Design Standards

Examples on the applicable requirements in paragraph 2 of this practice note in respect

Examples of drainage works involved in

Paragraph 2(a)  Addition of a new floor drain in a kitchen of a domestic unit,

Paragraph 2(b)(i)  Erection of a new drainage stack.

Paragraph 2(b)(i)  Erection of a new drainage stack, or

Paragraph 2(c)  Erection of a new drainage stack,

Paragraph 2(d)  Erection of a new drainage stack, or

Paragraph 2(e)  Erection of a new drainage stack, or

Paragraph 2(f)  Erection of a new ventilating pipe, or

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