Plumbing Africa November 2026 | Page 37

TECHNICAL 35

The National Building Regulations SANS 10400-P has this to say: 4.9.2 Grease interceptors 4.9.2.1 When a grease interceptor is required for a building, it shall serve only that building.

This is what the National Building Regulations has to say: SANS 10400-P 4.9.3 Light liquid interceptors 4.9.3.1 When a light liquid interceptor( for example oil and petrol) is required for a building, it shall serve only that building.

NOTE: Two types of grease interceptors exist, namely those designed for installation inside a building or room and those designed for installation outside a building. Typically, small restaurants or similar establishments that generate small amounts of grease would most likely use a grease interceptor that is installed inside the building.

Oil separators( light liquid interceptors) are not required for the average domestic installations.

In summary, most domestic installations will not require either a fat trap or an oil separator and will at most need a standard grease trap installed at the kitchen drain.

Source: Information drawn from the National Building Regulations and also from Pollution Solution Africa.

The oil separators are required for installations that service any motor service centre, car wash or anywhere that manufactures any product that contains light liquids, i. e. any liquid that floats on water.

As can be imagined these are more complex than the fat traps and must also be specified as part of the design for this type of installation.

“ Most domestic installations will not require either a fat trap or an oil separator, and will at most need a standard grease trap installed at the kitchen drain.”

Need help or advice? For any further information regarding this topic, please contact: Patrick Gordon | + 27( 0) 83 303 1437 | patrickg @ splashworks. co. za Keith | keith @ pollutionsolution. co. za

Do you have a technical question for Patrick? Email your technical questions to megan @ interactmedia. co. za, with the subject line‘ Technical question’.

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