Approved Document H - UK Drainage and Waste Disposal Standard
Approved Document H provides UK Building Regulations guidance on drainage and waste disposal systems. It covers foul drainage, rainwater drainage, solid waste storage, and cesspools for residential and commercial buildings in England.
Overview
Approved Document H is part of the UK Building Regulations and provides practical guidance for complying with drainage and waste disposal requirements. The document covers sanitary pipework (above-ground drainage), foul drainage (below-ground drainage to sewers or treatment plants), rainwater drainage (surface water disposal), and solid waste storage. It establishes performance standards for drainage system design, installation, testing, and maintenance accessibility. Approved Document H ensures drainage systems adequately convey wastewater and rainwater, prevent foul air from entering buildings, provide access for clearing blockages, and minimize environmental impact. The document applies to all building work in England and coordinates with other Approved Documents, particularly Document G (sanitation). Updated to reflect sustainable drainage practices (SuDS) and modern materials, Document H emphasizes proper system design, installation quality, and long-term maintainability.
Key Features
- Sanitary pipework sizing, gradient, and venting requirements
- Below-ground drainage pipe materials, bedding, and jointing standards
- Access provision for inspection and maintenance (rodding points, inspection chambers)
- Rainwater drainage design and sustainable drainage system (SuDS) integration
- Wastewater treatment plants and septic tank specifications
- Solid waste storage requirements for residential and commercial buildings
- Combined and separate drainage system design guidance
- Testing and commissioning procedures for drainage systems
Applicability
Approved Document H is primarily used by:
- Drainage engineers for foul and surface water system design
- Plumbers and drainage contractors for above-ground and below-ground installation
- Building control surveyors for plan checking and site inspection
- Civil engineers designing site drainage and connections to public sewers
- Architects for coordinating drainage layouts with building design
- SuDS designers for sustainable rainwater management
- Environmental health officers for septic tank and treatment plant approval
Geographic Application: Applies to England. Scotland uses a different system (Scottish Building Standards), Wales has separate guidance, and Northern Ireland follows distinct regulations.
Comparison Notes
- Partner to Document G - Document H handles drainage; Document G covers water supply and sanitation
- SuDS integration - Emphasizes sustainable drainage more than traditional US codes
- Combined sewers common - UK often uses combined foul/surface systems; US typically separates them
- Metric sizing - Uses metric pipe sizes and gradients unlike US inch-based systems
- Building Regs vs. standalone codes - Part of integrated Building Regulations, not standalone plumbing code
Official Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/drainage-and-waste-disposal-approved-document-h