A floor drain is a minor component in the design of drainage and water supply engineering, often overlooked by many designers. In actual engineering construction, many issues arise due to improper floor drain placement, leading to severe indoor odors and overflow, causing numerous inconveniences for the owners.

1. Categories of Floor Drains

Firstly, based on the material used in the manufacturing of floor drains, they can be categorized into cast iron, plastic, and copper or steel floor drains. In early engineering designs, cast iron floor drains were predominantly used. The advantages of cast iron floor drains include their reliability and resistance to damage, making them suitable for a wide range of applications such as residential, office buildings, industrial living spaces, and schools. However, they lack aesthetic appeal. In recent years, with the widespread availability of plastic piping and products, and the maturation of technology, plastic floor drains have been able to meet the lifespan needs of property owners, and they offer both cost-effectiveness and improved aesthetics over traditional cast iron models, leading to their extensive use in engineering designs. Nonetheless, due to their lower strength compared to cast iron, plastic floor drains are more prone to damage. This is where copper floor drains come in, addressing the shortcomings of both cast iron and plastic options. They fulfill both visual and practical strength requirements for floor drains. As a result, copper floor drains are now widely used.

Next, based on their construction, floor drains can be categorized into water-sealed and non-water-sealed direct-through types. In general engineering design, designers often opt for water-sealed floor drains or those with built-in traps. According to the relevant requirements of design specifications, the height of the water seal in floor drains should be 50mm. However, due to the varying quality of floor drains produced by manufacturers on the market, some products do not meet the requirements, making it difficult to achieve the desired final performance. On the other hand, using a floor drain with a trap is easier to design. The drawback of this approach is that it requires a greater height for installation compared to the former, necessitating more ceiling space in bathrooms.