EN 1253 Standard Guide - Floor Drain Compliance

EN 1253 is the European product standard for drains for buildings - the gullies, floor drains, roof drains and odour traps installed in and around structures across the EU and other markets that adopt European norms. For specifiers it is the reference that defines what a floor drain must do, how it is tested, and what documentation should accompany it.

What EN 1253 covers

The standard is published in several parts, each addressing a drain type by its odour-trap arrangement and water-seal depth:

• EN 1253-1 - gullies and floor drains for buildings with a water seal of at least 50 mm. This is the most common type used in bathrooms, wet rooms and commercial wet areas, and the part most specifiers mean when they say "EN 1253".
• Low-profile / shallow-seal parts - drains with a water seal under 50 mm, permitted only under stricter conditions of use, typically where construction depth is unavoidably shallow and the seal is protected from evaporation and siphonage.
• Mechanical odour traps - drains that close mechanically rather than relying on a water seal, restricted in the building heights and applications where they may be used.
• Combined traps - units pairing a mechanical closure with a water seal, again limited to defined low-rise applications.
• Roof and balcony drainage - separate parts address roof drains and rainwater gullies.

Because part numbering and scope have been revised across editions, always confirm the current published edition and the exact part that applies to your product and application.

Key performance requirements

EN 1253 type testing addresses the performance dimensions that matter on a real project:

• Water seal depth - the retained-water barrier against sewer odour; at least 50 mm for the general part, with shallower seals only under the restricted low-profile parts.
• Flow rate - how much water the drain passes at a defined head, which determines whether it keeps up with simultaneous fixture discharge in a shower or wet area.
• Load-bearing classification - covers and gratings carry a load class appropriate to the installation area, from pedestrian zones to trafficked areas. Confirm the class your project requires and ask the supplier to evidence it for the specific model.
• Odour tightness - the seal's ability to prevent sewer gas passing back into the building.
• Durability and corrosion resistance - long-term material behaviour, where stainless-steel grade selection (304 vs 316) and finish matter.
• Acoustic performance - discharge noise, relevant in multi-residential buildings.

CE marking and the Declaration of Performance

Floor drains placed on the EU market as construction products fall under the Construction Products Regulation (CPR 305/2011). Where a harmonised standard applies, the product carries CE marking supported by a Declaration of Performance (DoP) stating the declared values for the relevant characteristics. The DoP is the document a specifier should request and keep on file - it is the manufacturer's formal statement of declared performance.

What to request when specifying to EN 1253

For a defensible specification package, ask the supplier for, per model: the Declaration of Performance; the EN 1253 type-test report(s) from a recognised laboratory; flow-rate data at the stated head; load-class evidence for the grating; and corrosion / material test data (for example, stainless-steel grade verification). Where a document does not exist for a given model, a trustworthy supplier will say so plainly rather than imply coverage.

Melody Drain confirms documentation status in writing, per model and destination market, before you commit - see our certification status policy.