Types of sanitary appliances
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
The Building Regulations Approved Document G: Sanitation, hot water safety and water efficiency suggests that the term ‘sanitary appliance’ means a ‘… WC, urinal, bath, shower, washbasin, sink, bidet and drinking fountain. It also includes appliances that are not connected to a water supply (e.g. composting toilet) or drain (e.g. waterless urinal).’
These appliances collect and remove waste matter. They are generally grouped into two categories: soil appliances and waste water appliances.
[edit] Soil appliances
Soil appliances remove different types of solid waste material. Examples of soil appliances include:
- Toilets or other types of water closets (such as squatting, composting, washdown, siphonic or universal).
- Bidets (either pedestal or wall hung).
- Urinals (bowl type, slab, stall, squatting, syphon jet or waterless).
- Slop sinks (found in hospitals and used for emptying and washing bedpans and urine bottles).
- Bed pan sinks (again, found in hospitals).
[edit] Waste water appliances
Waste water appliances are primarily used to collect and remove water once it has been used. Examples of waste water appliances include:
- Wash basins.
- Wash troughs.
- Sinks.
- Showers.
- Bathtub.
- Drinking fountains.
These appliances should have a durable, smooth, easily cleaned and non-absorbent surface. They are typically made of non-corroding material, such as ceramic, china, porcelain, enamelled cast iron or pressed steel, stainless steel, glass or specially treated plastic.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Approved Document G.
- Bathroom definition.
- Bath.
- Bidet.
- Earth closet.
- Gas fired toilet.
- Installed level access shower.
- Lavatory.
- Macerating toilet systems.
- Sanitary accommodation.
- Sanitaryware.
- Shower.
- Sink.
- Sink v basin.
- Solid surface wash troughs.
- Types of showers.
- Urinal.
- Wall hung toilet.
- Water closet.
Featured articles
Check out some of the best features and news from Designing Buildings as well as key stories from around the web.
New and updated CLC building safety guidance.
New UK National Buildings Database.
Building Safety Wiki Interviews
Chief executive of the British Woodworking Federation.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief explanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.


















