Cleanouts in a Drainage System

Every drainage system is must incorporate cleanout fittings at various points to allow for rodding or snaking the entire system. Cleanouts are simply pipe fittings that can be opened and resealed, allowing an entrance point into the drainage system for drain cleaning, clearing blockages or camera inspections.

Some examples of cleanouts

Where cleanouts are required

Traps that serve certain fixtures; such as: sink, lavatory (bathroom sink) and laundry tray are prone to blockages are required to have cleanouts built into the lowest part of the trap; these are usually threaded plugs or caps. Exception to this rule is if the trap is removable it does not require a cleanout.

A cleanout fitting is required at the base of every soil or waste stack and rain water leader, but may be up to 3 meters upstream of the base.

A cleanout is required on a building trap (or any other running trap) if it is installed. The cleanout fitting should be located on, and extending directly up from the inlet side.

A cleanout must be located as close as possible to the wall where a building drain leaves the building. In the past a building drain cleanout had to be inside the building but is now permitted to be outside, as long as it will be accessible.

Rules for cleanouts

The size of cleanout fittings are the same as the pipes they serve up to the maximum of 4". Example:

• 1.5” drain pipe = 1.5” cleanout
• 6” drain pipe = 4” cleanout
• Pipes over 8” require a manhole

Cleanouts must be installed in accessible areas. IE - not sealed inside a wall or under a concrete slab.

Cleanouts are not to be used as drains and are to be sealed when maintenance is not being performed.

The piping served by a cleanout cannot change direction by more than 45 degrees in a single fitting or an additional cleanout will be required.

The parts of a cleanout that are removable must be noncorrosive; such as brass, and be capable of repeatedly creating a gas tight seal.