Suction Pipeline Layout
Correct design of your suction system pipeline is critical for good operation of your suction system and continuous delivery of suction to your suction tips.
Pipelines that are badly designed can create pools of fluid in the line, resulting in poor and fluctuating performance. However, correctly designed pipelines will keep fluids moving towards the Plant-Room, while providing you with uninterupted suction.
SUCTION SYSTEMS - Pipeline design
Design of the suction pipeline should be done in consultation with the equipment supplier, and performed by plumbers experienced in dental suction system pipelines.
Below are some key points to be followed for semi-wet systems, such as the Turbo SMART:
The suction connection and plumbing in the Plant-Room
The suction system should be connected to the pipe coming from the surgeries with a length of flexible tube. Typically, the suction pipe from the surgeries enters the Plant-Room through the floor, as can be seen in the above diagram. In these cases, the lift from the bottom of the pipe to the ground level should be kept as low as possible, and no greater than 500mm.The final rise of the pipe into the Plant-Room, as shown in the above diagram, is the only point at which there can be any lift in the suction pipe. There should also be a minium 1 degree slope in the suction pipeline towards the Plant-Room, to assist fluids moving along the pipe and to the suciton unit.
Drain Connection
The connection to drain must be done in compliance with all local regulations (your plumber will be able to advise what is required). All connections must be secured, with the use of hose clamps, as fluids are pumped out under force and can pop off under pressure, spaying contaminated fluids around the room.
Pumping up to drain
Where there is only a drain connection at a high point in the room, some suction systems will be able to pump the fluids up to this height. For example, the Turbo SMART can pump fluids up to 1.5 meters. However, when this system is fitted with its amalgam retention system (the ISO-18 Hydrocyclone), the waste must gravity drain. This means that if you were to install amalgam retention at a later stage, you may need to change the configuration of the Plant-Room or drainage to suit.Exhaust air
Exhaust air must be vented outside of the Plant-Room (to a non-populated area, typically above roof-height). The exhaust air connections must be secure (i.e. hose clamps where flexible hose connects to piping) as if an exhaust hose blows off it will heat the room very quickly, potentially damaging your suction unit and compressor and causing you downtime. Flexible hose should be heat resistant (i.e. resistent to 100 degrees) to ensure that it doesn't melt.
Why exhaust my suction
Exhaust air from suction systems MUST be vented outside the Plant-Area, into a non-populated area (typically this means above the roof-line of the building).
There are two reasons for this:
- The exhaust air is laiden with bacteria, and will be drawn into the inlet of the compressor and returned to your surgery and other patients' mouths via the air-driven instruments.
- Exhaust air is extremely hot, and will cause the Plant-Room to overheat very quickly, severely damaging your equipment.
- Exhausting your suction will reduce the noise level within the plantroom and surgery.
Where the exhaust air cannot be vented into a non-populated area, a bacterial filter can be fitted. These are available for all size suction units, and are 99.9999% efficient.
PIPELINE DESIGN AND LAYOUT
The pipeline should be designed with a main line to which branches connect, as can be see in the above drawing. In cases of large clinics, sub-branches may be needed.As can be seen in the drawing, the size of the pipe reduces the further away from the Plant-Room, according to how many surgeries that section of pipe is serving
ANGLES, BENDS AND JUNCTIONS
Turns in the pipeline should never be greater than 45 degrees. Where a 90 degree bend is required, 2 X 45 degree bends should be used (as can be see in the diagram to the right). Where a branch is to enter the main line,
the branch should enter the main line at 45 degrees, as the diagram also shows.
Where a main line is to split into two, a right angled T-junction cannot be used. Instead a configuration as see in the diagram to the right should be used, utilising a 45 degree Y-junction to for the first branch off the main line,
and then 2 X 45 degree bends to achieve the second branch.
