110mm Soil Pipe: The Complete Guide to Above-Ground Drainage Fittings
110mm soil pipe is the black or grey pipe that carries waste from toilets, and the soil and vent stack on multi-storey buildings and extensions. It is a separate system from plastic waste pipe — different pipe diameter, different fitting types, different rules. This guide covers the Aquaflow 110mm range at APM: when to use solvent weld vs push-fit, the full fitting catalogue, and the venting requirements that catch out builders on first-fix inspections.
110mm Soil Pipe vs Waste Pipe: Know the Difference
Plastic drainage in buildings runs at two scales. 32mm, 40mm, and 50mm waste pipe carries the output from basins, baths, showers, and sinks — small-bore waste. 110mm soil pipe carries toilet waste, the soil stack, and rainwater downpipes on some systems. The two systems connect at a manifold or branch, but they are never interchangeable.
- 110mm soil pipe can carry waste pipe discharge (via a boss adaptor) but not the reverse
- 110mm fittings are not compatible with 50mm waste fittings despite surface similarity
- Soil pipe is always vented to atmosphere — either open to the roof or via an air admittance valve
Black vs Grey: When Colour Matters
The Aquaflow 110mm range comes in black and grey. Both are the same pipe and pressure rating — the colour difference is for installation context:
- Black — conventional above-ground soil pipe, internal and external. The standard colour for new residential work.
- Grey — used when the pipe will be visible in a finished space (utility rooms, exposed pipework) and a less industrial appearance is preferred. Also common in commercial fit-out.
Push-fit fittings (for internal, accessible runs) are available in both colours. Solvent weld fittings are grey (the standard for permanent external and underground connections above the drain).
Push-Fit vs Solvent Weld: Which to Use
The same principle applies here as with waste pipe:
- Push-fit — for internal runs where the pipe may need to be dismantled for maintenance. The rubber seal grips the pipe and allows slight movement. Suitable for vertical stacks inside a building, branch connections at WC, and any run where the joints will remain accessible.
- Solvent weld — for permanent external connections, underground above-drain runs, and any joint that will be concealed in a wall or floor chase. Not demountable once set. Use solvent cement rated for ABS/PVC soil pipe — not the same as 32/40/50mm waste pipe solvent cement.
The Aquaflow 110mm Range at APM
Pipe
- Aquaflow 110mm × 3m Plain End Soil Pipe, Black — £19.11 — plain end for solvent jointing or socketing with a rubber push-fit ring. Three-metre lengths for stacks and external runs.
Couplings
- Aquaflow 110mm Push-Fit Straight Coupling, Black — £4.49 — double socket push-fit for joining two plain-end pipe lengths. Use on internal accessible runs.
- Aquaflow 110mm Solvent Straight Coupling, Grey — £4.09 — solvent weld version for permanent external connections.
Bends
Soil pipe bends come in two angles. Use the correct angle — a 90° tight bend on a WC connection creates blockage risk. The swept 92.5° bend is the standard for WC branch connections because it maintains flow velocity.
- Aquaflow 110mm Solvent Double Socket Swept Bend 92.5°, Black — £5.97 — the standard WC outlet connection bend. The swept radius reduces blockage risk versus a tight 90°.
- 110mm 90° Double Socket Knuckle Bend, Grey — £5.86 — tight 90° for space-constrained direction changes where a swept bend won't fit. Not for WC connections.
- Aquaflow 110mm Solvent 45° Double Socket Bend, Black — £4.90 — for gentle direction changes on long horizontal runs, and for connecting the bottom of a vertical stack to an underground drain at a shallow angle. A 45° bend here reduces impact loading compared to a 90°.
Branches
- Aquaflow 110mm Solvent 92° Triple Socket Branch, Grey — £10.03 — three-way junction for combining two waste inputs and the main stack. Used where a basin waste and bath waste both enter the stack at the same level, or where two WC outlets are close together on a stack.
Boss Connections
Small-bore waste pipe (32/40/50mm) enters the 110mm stack via a boss. There are two methods:
- Aquaflow 110mm Push-Fit Bossed Pipe Connector, Black — £6.44 — a short section of 110mm pipe with a pre-formed boss socket on the side. Replace a plain section with this to create a waste entry point. Available for 32mm, 40mm, and 50mm waste pipe.
- Aquaflow 110mm Strap-On Boss, Black — £2.85 — fits onto an existing 110mm pipe run without cutting out a section. Core drill the pipe, fit the strap-on boss, and connect the waste pipe. Suitable for retrofit connections where cutting the stack is disruptive.
Access and Plugs
- Aquaflow 110mm Access Plug with Screw Cap, Grey — £5.91 — for rodding access on long horizontal runs or at changes of direction. Building Regulations Part H recommends rodding points at 45° bends and every 12m on horizontal runs.
- Aquaflow 110mm Push-Fit Socket Plug, Black — £5.89 — for temporarily capping a stack during installation, or permanently capping an unused branch socket.
Venting: The Regulation Everyone Gets Wrong
Every soil stack must be vented. Without venting, the pressure differential as waste falls down the stack siphons the water seal from traps — you get sewer gas entering the building through dry traps. There are two options:
Open Vent Pipe (Traditional)
The stack exits through the roof with an open-ended vent pipe. Requires a roof penetration, a flashing collar, and the vent must terminate at least 900mm above any openable window within 3 metres horizontally. Simple, permanent, no moving parts.
Air Admittance Valve (AAV)
The AAV (sometimes called a Durgo valve) replaces the open vent pipe. It is a one-way mechanical valve fitted to the top of the stack inside the building — typically in the loft or a cupboard. It opens under negative pressure (when waste falls and creates suction) to admit air, preventing trap siphonage. It stays closed otherwise, preventing sewer gas escape.
AAV restrictions under Building Regulations Part H: the stack must still have at least one open vent at roof level if there are more than five WC connections on the system. On a typical single-house stack (1–3 WCs), an AAV at the top of the internal stack is compliant. Always check with Building Control on extensions — some inspectors require an open vent regardless.
Quick Reference: Fitting Selection by Application
| Application | Fitting | Price |
|---|---|---|
| WC branch connection to stack | 92.5° Swept Bend (solvent) | £5.97 |
| Stack direction change, tight | 90° Knuckle Bend | £5.86 |
| Stack to underground at base | 45° Double Socket Bend | £4.90 |
| Two waste inlets at same level | Triple Socket Branch | £10.03 |
| Waste pipe entry (new install) | Bossed Pipe Connector | £6.44 |
| Waste pipe entry (retrofit) | Strap-On Boss | £2.85 |
| Rodding access point | Access Plug with Screw Cap | £5.91 |
| Venting (AAV) | 110mm Air Admittance Valve | £28.27 |
All fittings are available for same-day collection from our Acton trade counter. For extension projects with a complete soil stack list, call ahead and we'll have the full order ready.
APM Plumbing & Electrical | 24 Western Avenue, Acton, London W3 7TZ | 020 8702 8080 | apmi.uk
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