Walking into a bathroom with water all over the floor is annoying, and you might wonder why some bathrooms handle water better than others. The answer is a fixture on your bathroom floor — a floor waste. This article will explain how floor wastes keep your bathroom dry, drains clear, and your home protected from water damage.

What is a floor waste?

Many bathrooms have a floor waste installed flush into the floor tile near the bath or shower. This fixture connects to your bathroom’s drainage pipes. Floor wastes include a grate and sometimes extra cover and/or tile insert.

The area around your floor waste slopes gently downward. This slope, called a fall, is created during construction and makes sure water naturally flows into the drain.

What does a floor waste do?

Floor wastes are your bathroom's safety system. They catch and drain away any water that ends up on your floors after you shower or take a bath. This stops water from pooling on your floor and seeping into walls, damaging grout and causing mould.

The system also catches hair, waste and debris before they clog your pipes. Without this barrier, these items would build up in your drains and cause blockages. If you notice slow draining or standing water around your waste, you could have a waste or pipe block.

Australian floor waste regulations

The National Construction Code and Australian Standard AS 3740 set clear rules and requirements for floor wastes by building type and location.

Class 1 buildings (houses)

Houses need a floor waste where there’s a shower over a bathtub without screens on three sides. Floor wastes aren't mandatory in other wet areas, but many homeowners install them for peace of mind. Check your local state regulations too — some states have extra requirements.

Class 2–4 buildings (apartments, hotels and boarding houses)

These buildings must have floor wastes in all bathrooms and laundries that sit above other units or public spaces. The floor needs the right slope toward the waste, and the waterproofing must meet certain standards to protect the rooms below.

Get it right with Yabby floor wastes

Getting your floor waste right makes a big difference to your bathroom drainage. Our tile insert floor wastes are designed to blend in with your floor tile and tapware while giving you all the protection you need. Talk to our friendly team about finding the right floor waste for your bathroom renovation.