When it comes to managing water at hotels or leisure centres, drainage solutions will play a key role. Not only is drainage vital to keep the building dry and functional but it can also help in improving health and safety, caring for the environment and enhancing the wellbeing experienced by guests. Across the venue, drainage design will be a significant part of the effective operation of the facility.

Lobby Area
You only get one chance to make a good first impression. Hotel receptions and lobbies form an important part of the guest experience. As they’re often the busiest areas of the building, aesthetics and easy maintenance are crucial. Specifiers, suppliers and contractors should look to integrate reliable and easy-to-maintain drainage systems in a way which complements the design of the reception and lobby area. Doorway drainage solutions should be factored in to help enhance the health and safety of this vital area.

Commercial Kitchen
Commercial kitchens are extremely busy environments with potentially wet and greasy floors due to the amount of liquids used in both the cooking and cleaning processes. Wastewater can also contain fat which is a major cause of pipe blockages and cannot be released into the wastewater system. ACO puts hygienic drainage solutions into commercial kitchens, including channels which are easy to clean and can help boost food safety, improve operational cost and increase health & safety.

The FOG Factor
Fats, oils and grease (FOG) have a serious impact on the performance of a kitchen’s internal and external drainage system. ACO’s grease management systems are a vital part of the responsible and efficient management of FOG. Our high-performance solutions are specifically designed to help prevent the build-up of FOG in commercial kitchen drainage systems and ultimately the main sewer network. These systems help keep kitchens operational, avoiding the need for closure due to blocked pipes caused by FOG build ups. For new-builds, installation of a grease separator will be essential to obtain vital utility connections.

Bathroom
Designing a high-quality bathroom involves a combination of aesthetic and functional challenges. In bathrooms, the requirements for comfort, safety and design are crucial for the overall wellbeing experience. Modern bathroom design trends seek to create space and freedom of movement.

Architects need flexible drainage solutions that provide uncompromising quality, safety and freedom of design. ACO’s shower drain channels are available in a range of designs and styles to provide the ideal finish to any wetroom, walk in shower or bathroom environment.

Pool and SPA
As the central area of many spa and leisure facilities, the pool areas require special attention to detail when it comes to design and drainage. In addition to outstanding aesthetics, particular focus must be given to safety and the hygienic performance of the drainage systems specified. Drainage solutions must be manufactured from highly corrosion resistant materials to cope with aggressive agents including chlorine, and/or weather conditions. Systems must also comply with strict safety requirements. Learn more about ACO's range of pool and shower channels here.

Balcony and Façade
Elevated terraces, roof gardens, level thresholds, façades and balcony drainage present specific challenges to specifiers and contractors. To tackle some of the symptoms of climate change, the reuse of rainwater and the requirement to make use of it at source are becoming increasingly important aspects of planning conditions imposed by local authorities. ACO provides solutions that can manage rainwater around level thresholds, raised decking and façade drainage.

Roof Terrace
With the increase in use of roof terraces as amenity spaces, plus the need to meet planning conditions in dealing with the surface water, having a suitable attenuation system on the roof is becoming vital to fulfil regulations and maximise available space. Blue, green and blue/green roofs are ideal flat roof drainage systems with numerous benefits and have an increasingly important role in the creation of the sustainable urban environments which society needs and demands. ACO provides a patented blue roof system that can drain slowly in normal use to alleviate flooding and drain quickly in storm conditions.

Paying attention to drainage design around the different areas of hotels and leisure centres is vital. At ACO, our Drainage Design Services team believes early consideration of drainage solutions not only helps achieve a look that ties in with the design concept, but knowing the depths available for floor or balcony drainage from the beginning can have massive benefits for the end result. It allows us to calculate and advise on exactly the right system to handle the volume of water for the application, whereas late engagement may mean raising floor levels to accommodate different products – this disrupts other trades, costs more and compromises both timescales and design integrity. In other words, to preserve your design vision, look at drainage earlier.

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