Commercial Drain Surveys

Drain-It provides a commercial drain surveys service for the construction, estate management, and real estate sectors, all over Ireland.

Commercial drain surveys may be necessary in several situations, including:

• During the development phase of any new project.

• Following completion of a project, for example, to allow the taking in charge of a housing estate by a Local Authority.

• Prior to any redevelopment working taking place.

• Prior to entering into a sale/lease/rental contract for a commercial premises.

• To identify and tackle existing issues in a commercial premises.

Whatever the circumstances and wherever the job, Drain-It can provide the most expert and professional commercial drain surveys in Ireland.

This type of commercial drain survey applies when new-build ground-works have been installed and the site is ready for commencement.

We survey the pipes laid and identify any possible issues ahead of the major build effort commencing, and before heavy plant traffic traverses the ground regularly.

We then produce a report for site management and cost containment/prevention purposes.

In such circumstances, we prepare a plan for the project and submit this with our estimates to the developer. Another feature of this service is that we operate an open book policy, where the developer has a window into our job management system to stay up to date with progress on the job.

Reporting is prepared on site also to ensure full transparency of work and clear communication lines. These reports are required to comply with Planning Authority (Council) requirements to close out development projects, and to recoup funds placed as security at the outset.

Our service covers cleaning of the main lines of waste and debris to allow accurate survey media (video and photograph), engineering grade reports, remedial work recommendations and estimates. These activities relate to both the manholes and the sewer connections for both foul and storm drains.

The “Main Sewer Lines” are those surveyed and reported on. The connections from each building or unit are not generally part of the scope.

There can be various combinations of development life-cycle ongoing at the same time and the work to be done will vary therewith. These include:

1. Existing Structures completed but not occupied

• Structures have been completed but may have remained empty.
• Some of these may have been occupied by pests and may need action ahead of any drain survey. Pests can also damage pipework and infest a property. Once a survey is completed we can identify any issues and repair them, with minimal impact and often without the need for digging. This reduces impact and delay, and therefore also reduces costs.
• As the Taking in Charge survey is focused on the main line, infestation of individual structures is generally not part of the scope, but where the main line is affected this is part of the work required.

2. Existing Structures now occupied

• The only difference here is primarily the impact of traffic and access to manholes which are on the purchaser’s property.
• Traffic management is required and communication with people in the properties affected by the cleaning, survey and any repairs required.
• Moving vehicle and/or ensuring manhole access even on the public road can result in delays and additional costs.

These commercial drain surveys are of particular benefit to engineers and/or financial institutions, ahead of agreement of sale/lease/rental contracts.

Engineering firms provide valuable services relating to the structural integrity of the property involved. In addition to the above ground survey, which the engineers provides, we give them the confidence of a below ground drain survey to ensure that there are no “hidden” issues in the drain network, waiting to appear after the deal has been finalised or the contract signed. Leaks in waste are against the law. In some particularly bad cases, they have led to grand subsidence and structural damage.

Some financial institutions are interested in rolling this into the service requirement from the structural engineering report. We are happy to advise and provide this service to both engineering firms and financial institutions directly if so requested.

Issues identified can sometimes be associated with previous tenants, e.g. grease not properly managed or dealt with in a compliant/proper waste management manner, such as letting it go down pipes and clogging the drains completely. On some occasions we have seen this cause a shutdown of a restaurant or food service establishment by Health and Safety (HSE) until the issue was properly addressed and compliance certified.

Where an existing business suffers from smells or persistent blockages, we can provide a commercial drain survey and report. In the vast majority of cases, these will identify the source and make recommendations, which completely eliminate the issue when carried out fully.

We will also examine and report on the above ground pipework, design and layout as to its appropriateness for the activity being carried out. For example, too few traps on pipes can allow odours to emanate from the pipes and lines and if there are section of the pipes which hold waste water. This can lead to fly infestations and other problems, as well as unwanted odours.

In such circumstances, our commercial drain surveys will:

• Identify the existing network layout and any current issues with it.

• Identify, quote for, and possibly deliver efficient corrective solutions for any issues or anomalies identified, and ensure the existing network is compliant after such works are done.

• Analyse proposed development works and the implications for the drain network as currently exists.

• Provide post works surveys and reports to ensure “build to plan” compliance and planning authority compliance.