A high rise solution to drainage and ventilation

150 150 Daniel Fountain
  • 0

Geberit’s Sovent fitting, a space saving drainage and ventilation solution for high-rise buildings, has been installed for the first time in the UK at Birmingham’s 140 bedroom Premier Inn. Negating the need for a two stack drainage system, Sovent takes up less space in the service riser, while servicing bathrooms efficiently, quietly and without the risk of unpleasant smells.Installed by Sharpe Mechanical Services, Philip McMaster, from Sharpe, explains the benefits of Sovent: “The Sovent system reduces the requirements for a soil vent pipe throughout the full height of the building, taking up space in the congested service riser, solving a particular problem in tall buildings.”

About Sovent

The flow-optimised Sovent fitting enhances the pipe capacity several times over and dispenses with the need to install a parallel ventilation pipe in most instances.

Rapidly changing pressure situations in conventional discharge stacks above a certain length can lead to unwanted side effects. They could, for example, cause the floor pipes connected to the stack to be sucked dry by high negative pressure or be blown dry by overpressure. This is why the drainage systems of many high-rise buildings include very generously dimensioned discharge stacks and a parallel ventilation pipe that is connected with this stack at regular intervals.

Sovent prevents hydraulic closures in the discharge stack caused by floor connections, thus enhancing its flow capacity. At the same time, Sovent ensures a supply of air between branch discharge pipe and discharge stack, making it possible to dispense with parallel ventilation pipes. In addition, a partition prevents foam or splash water from getting into the branch discharge pipe.

Total hotel plumbing solutions

Installed along side Geberit Sovent is Geberit’s Silent-db20; a waste water pipe with built in sound insulation; ensuring peace and quiet for the hotel’s guests and Geberit Mapress, a press-fit pipe system for general plumbing. Geberit’s long lasting and environmentally sound HDPE delivers above-ground drainage.

The Premier Inn provides an example of where a number of Geberit’s solutions, specifically suited to jobs of this nature, have come together. Philip McMaster concluded: “All of Geberit’s products are of excellent quality, with a range of products to suit different plumbing and ventilation challenges.”

Daniel Fountain / 17.07.2013

Editor, Hotel Designs

Share

  • 0

Fun fact: I’m usually the person friends rely on to organise trips, schedules, and group plans.

Workhighlights: Successfully coordinating events from planning through to delivery and seeing everything come together on the day.

Fun fact: I’m a keen cyclist and will happily bore people with copious amounts of cycling chat. My top cycling experience (so far) would have to be riding in the spectacular mountains of Crete.

Work highlights: Charles joined Forum Events in 2022. With a background in publishing, editorial media and events, Charles brings a wealth of experience to his role as Senior Production Manager. Having being involved with SPACE from the outset, he is excited to see the brand grow and develop.

Fun fact: People tell Sienna she gives off Bridget Jones vibes, and she loves to bake, always making sure there are shortbreads floating around the office

Work highlights: Sienna joined Forum Events & Media Group while studying Communications and Media, starting in the sales team where she managed and helped launch the first the PA Life Leading Venues of London SHOWCASE, where she built relationships with luxury venues across the capital. Drawn to the stories behind these spaces, she naturally transitioned into the editorial team, creating social media and editorial content. Upon graduating in June 2026, she is excited to be joining as Assistant Editor for Hotel Designs and SPACE.

Fun fact: When not working, Jess can usually be found tending to her kitchen garden in the Sussex countryside or foraging for herbs in the nearby woods. A keen grower, she recently studied a RHS Level 2 Diploma in the Principles of Horticulture during her spare time.

Work highlights: Jess joined SPACE magazine in 2022 and has since progressed from Assistant Editor to Editor. During this time, she has worked across many aspects of the publication – from shaping editorial strategy and overseeing operations to contributing to art direction and representing the brand on stage at industry events including Surface Design Show and WOW!house.

Alongside her role at SPACE, Jess has built a creative career spanning the arts, culture, design and travel sectors. Prior to joining the magazine, she spent more than a decade in the commercial art industry, in artist liaison, gallery management, and curating collections for the hospitality sector across hotels and cruise ships. During this time, she also worked on freelance projects as a writer, photographer, and creative content producer.
 
Jess studied photojournalism at London College of Communication and the Danish School of Media and Journalism and holds a first-class BA (Hons) in Culture, Criticism and Curation from Central Saint Martins.

Fun fact: Katy has spent years perfecting all kinds of accents and loves a good impersonation!

Work highlights: Katy has been with Hotel Designs since the beginning, way back in 2015 when Forum Events & Media Group acquired the brand.

During this time, she has fostered many meaningful relationships with clients from across the hospitality spectrum, as well as playing a pivotal role in the launch of The Brit List Awards, Hotel Designs MEET UPs, client-led roundtables and panel talks, brand and website redesigns, HD Wellness Sets, DESIGN POD podcast, Hotel Designs LIVE panel talk series, Accessible Design Talks and more. Katy is always on the lookout for the next opportunity to help grow the Hotel Designs brand even further.
 
Most recently Katy has stepped in to the role of Publisher at SPACE magazine, the printed bi-monthly publication focused on hotel design, architecture, and development.

Together these platforms offer a comprehensive 360-degree service encompassing digital media, print publishing, and live events – providing unparalleled value to advertisers, partners, and readers alike.