Drainage & Water Systems
The water side of the building, specified to code
Zurn covers trench and area drainage, grease management, backflow prevention, and high-efficiency fixtures — the systems inspectors look at hardest and operators think about least. MLSpec specifies them to your local code, not a generic catalog cut sheet.
The problem
Where water costs you money
Standing water on the floor
Undersized or badly placed drains leave water where staff walk. It is a slip hazard, a sanitation finding, and an accelerant on every floor failure you already have.
Grease discharge violations
Interceptors sized to a national default rather than local limits get flagged — and a retrofit after opening costs several times what the correct spec would have.
Utility spend nobody reviews
Legacy fixtures and flush valves quietly consume water at rates that were normal a decade ago and are expensive now.
How it works
Specified before it is bought
- 1
Site and code review
We look at the layout, production volume, and existing conditions, then pull the drainage and discharge requirements that actually apply in your jurisdiction.
- 2
System specification
Drain type, placement, slope, interceptor sizing, backflow, and fixture packages are specified as one coordinated scope with the flooring.
- 3
Submittal package
Documented submittals go into plan check, with the goal of clearing review without a redesign cycle.
- 4
Sourcing and follow-through
Material is sourced and coordinated with the installer, and MLSpec stays on the project through inspection.
Benefits
What proper specification buys
Drainage that drains
Trench, area, and floor drains sized and sloped for real kitchen volume, not a generic layout.
Grease management to local limits
Interceptors specified against your jurisdiction's discharge requirements and placed to be serviceable.
Measurable water efficiency
Fixture and flush-valve packages that cut consumption and show up on the utility bill.
Documented submittals
Plan check reviews a specified system, which is how you avoid a redesign loop.
Backflow protection
Preventers specified and documented where the code requires them, including test provisions.
Commercial-duty materials
Components rated for continuous service in a room that never gets a light day.
Specifications
Scope coverage
| Drainage | Trench, area, and floor drains with grate selection matched to traffic and cleanability |
|---|---|
| Grease management | Interceptors sized and specified to local discharge limits, placed for serviceability |
| Backflow prevention | Assemblies specified where code requires, with access for periodic testing |
| Fixtures | High-efficiency commercial fixtures, flush valves, and faucet packages |
| Coordination | Drain terminations and floor slope specified jointly with the flooring assembly |
| Documentation | Submittal package prepared for plan check and health-department review |
| Applications | New builds, kitchen and hotel renovations, and water-efficiency retrofits |
| Support | Sourcing, installer coordination, and MLSpec involvement through inspection |
Model numbers, flow rates, interceptor sizing, and code citations are confirmed against current manufacturer documentation and your local authority having jurisdiction.
Where it fits
Best-fit projects
- New restaurant construction
- Commercial kitchen remodels
- Hotel and resort renovations
- Warewash and prep area upgrades
- Grocery and commissary production floors
- Restroom water-efficiency retrofits
- Stadium and venue concessions
- Multi-site facility standardization
Compliance
The most common failure point
Drainage and grease systems are among the most common sources of health-department and plumbing-inspection failures. The requirements are local: sizing methods, discharge limits, drain placement, and backflow provisions vary between jurisdictions and change over time.
MLSpec specifies to your local code and documents it, so what plan check receives is a defensible system rather than a manufacturer part number. Where the flooring scope is in play, drain terminations and slope are documented as part of the same assembly.
Questions
Zurn water solutions FAQ
Get the water side specified correctly
Send us the project — new build, remodel, or a floor that will not stay dry. We will review the drainage, grease, and fixture scope against your local requirements.
Email MLSpec