I just moved into a new appartment in a new high rise in Southern
China. To my surprise I noticed that ****there are no 's-traps'****
(='smell trap', 'grease traps, etc': those 's-' or 'u' shaped
'contraptions' installed under each sink and all the drain lines. As
far as I know they have to be used in al residential constructions. The
water also drains from the balconies in the same way. The whole
building, all 25 strories, are built this way.

To make sure I explain it clearly: all the drainage lines are connected
to- or go horizontally, straight to the vertical drainege lines, whih
their air escape to the roof! Only the toilet bowls have their built in
'traps'.

Is this an accpetable, sanitary, building practice? Is this done
because we are in a very hot, humid climate or I'm the victim of a
bulding mistake or even of a scam?

Prompt expert's advise is greatly appreciatted, as things are starting
to s(t)ink here!.

MWMAN

It may be piped to British/European standards where the vertical vent pipe
is basically outside the building and the horizontal plumbing runs do not
directly connect with the vertical stack but pour into an open collector
connected to the vertical stack. This creates an air gap between the drain
and the vertical sewer stack. Look at any picture of an older British house
and you will see the external stack and the pipes draining into the
collector. This can only be done where the pipes do not freeze solid in
winter, and may be the reason you are seeing it in Southern China.

"mwman" wrote in message
oups.com...
I just moved into a new appartment in a new high rise in Southern
China. To my surprise I noticed that ****there are no 's-traps'****
(='smell trap', 'grease traps, etc': those 's-' or 'u' shaped
'contraptions' installed under each sink and all the drain lines. As
far as I know they have to be used in al residential constructions. The
water also drains from the balconies in the same way. The whole
building, all 25 strories, are built this way.

To make sure I explain it clearly: all the drainage lines are connected
to- or go horizontally, straight to the vertical drainege lines, whih
their air escape to the roof! Only the toilet bowls have their built in
'traps'.

Is this an accpetable, sanitary, building practice? Is this done
because we are in a very hot, humid climate or I'm the victim of a
bulding mistake or even of a scam?

Prompt expert's advise is greatly appreciatted, as things are starting
to s(t)ink here!.

MWMAN