The installation of mains drainage and services is usually thought of as a groundworks operation, undertaken when the structure of the house is built. However, some services are an integral part of the substructure construction and shouldn’t be left too late without risking unexpected problems.
This month I’ll explain which services must be installed as part of the substructures and how to make sure the work is done properly so problems don’t occur later on.
WHAT ARE MAINS SERVICES?
When we talk about mains services we are referring to the key services that enable a house to function. These are the foul and surface water drainage, mains water and electricity and could include the gas service, depending upon the renewable technologies you intend to adopt. Since October 2022, we also have to comply with approved document R which requires the installation of infrastructure for electronic communications — so if you didn’t know it before, broadband is now an essential service for all new builds.
When building the substructures, you must plan to install or make provision for any service that penetrates the substructure or influences the height at which the floor level is set. This therefore includes the drainage, water and electrical services. The gas and broadband services are installed outside and brought into the building by simply drilling
