Establishing a new childcare centre in a high-rise building with concrete slab flooring posed a number of issues for the Reggio Emilia Early Learning Centre, specifically with regards to the plumbing. Traditional plumbing was ruled out because digging through the post-tension concrete slab to the tenancies below was not an option.

The architect’s plans called for a kitchenette, a main kitchen and a number of children’s toilets, all of which were easily accommodated for with the inclusion of a range of Saniflo pumps.

Saniflo’s largest seller, the Sanispeed, was specified for the kitchenette. The compact commercial grey water pump, which is most often used in office kitchens and small cafés, handles higher temperatures than the domestic range and allows for the installation of a dishwasher, glasswasher, washing machine, kitchen sink, shower, vanity basin, bath or coffee station in areas without plumbing access.

Further down the hall, the larger Sanicom pump was chosen for the main kitchen because of its ability to handle higher volumes of incoming waste and higher temperatures, along with potentially greasy waste.

In the children’s toilets, the Saniaccess 2 macerator pump offered ease of access for serviceability, which is ideal for childcare centres, commercial applications or anywhere where blockages are a potential issue. A panel on top of the unit provides direct access to the blades and the electrical chamber.

Reggio Emilia Early Learning Centre owner, Nasser Benjamin, had learnt of the Saniflo range when he opened his first childcare centre in 2012. “There, we faced the same problem; we couldn’t go through the concrete slab,” he says. “My hardware supplier recommended Saniflo and the rest is history.”

The Sanispeed is installed discreetly inside a cupboard under the childcare centre’s kitchenette sink, pictured left.

It is able to handle a higher temperature than other domestic pumps and can pump 7m vertically and 70m horizontally, or lesser combinations of both. It is ideal for light commercial applications as it can handle up to 75°C for short periods and has a carbon filter to neutralise odours.

The Sanicom lifting station, pictured below left, is designed for wastewater from the kitchen, bathroom or laundry. The tank is fitted with a plunger tube which switches on the motor. When the wastewater enters the tank, the pump starts and expels the grey water into the main pipes.

Its powerful motor and multiple inlet options make the Sanicom the ideal lifting station for commercial kitchens. It can pump up to 8m vertically and 100m horizontally through a 25mm discharge pipe and can handle up to 90⁰C.

The Saniaccess 2 macerator pump, pictured below, can connect to both a toilet and a hand basin and pumps up to 5m vertically and 100m horizontally, or lesser combinations of both.

Saniflo’s technical team assists in pump selection and provides after sales service. Saniflo also offers a project design consultancy service – reviewing plans, helping with design layouts, specifying pumps and locations, and assisting with hydraulic design.

For more information, visit saniflo.co.nz or call 0800 107 264.

ArchitectureNow and Architecture New Zealand work with a range of partners in the A&D supply sector to source appropriate content for the site. This article first appeared in Architecture New Zealand magazine and has been supported by Saniflo New Zealand.