Plastec

A puddle flange, also called a leak control flange, gives the waterproof membrane a positive connection into the drainage pipe. Water that gets past the tiles, grout or screed is collected at membrane level and directed into the waste instead of sitting in the bed or tracking out to the wall junctions. Without one, the membrane has to be terminated against a bare pipe, which is a far less reliable detail.

You dress the membrane into the flange, not up to the edge of it. The membrane is carried across the substrate, over the flange body and terminated inside the collar so there is no break in the waterproof line at the penetration. Follow the membrane manufacturer's detail for the flange junction, because primers, reinforcing bandage and termination method vary between membrane systems.

Australian wet area work is governed by standards such as AS 3740 for internal wet areas and AS 4654 for external above ground areas, along with state plumbing regulations, and these require drainage penetrations to be properly sealed to the membrane. Whether a leak control flange is nominated for a particular job depends on the drain type, the substrate and the specification you are building to. Check the hydraulic drawings or confirm with the certifier or waterproofing consultant on site before you set out.

The flange is a plumbing stage item, so it goes in before waterproofing, not after. The subfloor or screed is rebated so the flange sits flush rather than proud, then the flange is bonded to the waste pipe and left clean and dry for the waterproofer. Fitting it after the membrane has gone down means cutting into finished waterproofing, which is the usual cause of remedial work.

PVC leak control flanges are bonded to PVC DWV pipe with the appropriate solvent cement and priming fluid for that pipe class, applied to clean, dry, deburred surfaces. Do not rely on silicone to hold the flange or to bridge the flange to the substrate, because most membranes will not bond over silicone and the detail will fail at that joint. Confirm the correct adhesive and any surface preparation on the relevant product's technical data sheet before you start.

The Plastec flange is made for standard PVC DWV waste pipe, and the pipe size it suits is stated in the product title on its listing. Measure the outside diameter of the installed waste before ordering, as retro and on top of screed flanges are not interchangeable with pipe stub versions. If you are unsure which flange style suits your drain, send us a photo of the penetration and we will point you to the right one.

You can order Plastec direct from this collection page. Plastec is currently a single PVC leak control flange line with us, and it is listed under our Leak Control Flanges and Puddle Flanges category so you can compare it against other flange styles before you commit. Orders ship Australia wide to trade and site addresses, and our team can help match the flange to the membrane system you are already using on the job.