Irish schools close at the end of June and reopen in late August. A trap that goes unused for two to four weeks loses its water seal, so over a full summer closure every trap in the building is dry. Back-to-school week then brings sewer odours through the corridors, drain flies in the kitchen and a queue of calls to the caretaker. Green Drain™ deals with the cause.
No pupils, no kitchen, no one using the toilets. A trap left unused for two to four weeks loses its water seal, so by the end of a summer closure every trap in the building is dry. Odours build, flies breed in the biofilm, and it is all waiting for staff and pupils on the first morning back.
Ireland has roughly 3,100 primary schools and around 720 post-primary schools recognised by the Department of Education (2024/25), alongside the ETB sector and a steady programme of new-build campuses. Every one of them closes for the summer, and for mid-terms and bank holidays as well. A trap that goes two to four weeks without water loses its seal, and the building reopens with sewer odour and drain flies in the toilet blocks, kitchen and changing rooms.
Statistical data taken from official Irish and EU sources: Central Statistics Office Ireland (cso.ie), Health Service Executive (hse.ie), Fáilte Ireland (failteireland.ie), Bord Bia (bordbia.ie), IDA Ireland (idaireland.com), Health Products Regulatory Authority (hpra.ie). Regulatory framework: EUR-Lex for EU directives — EU 2017/745 (MDR), EU 178/2002 (food safety), EU 1935/2004 and EU 10/2011 (food contact materials), EU 528/2012 (BPR), EU 2014/34 (ATEX). Standards: EN 1253-1 (floor P-traps, water seal ≥50 mm), EN 1253 Parts 6/7/8 (gullies with a water seal below 50 mm, with mechanical closure, and combined types; 2023 editions), HACCP International RG-04, ASSE 1072-2020, NSF/ANSI 2, HSE SARI guidelines. Revision date: May 2026.
Ideally: the end of August, before classes start. A typical school — half a day's work for one technician.
The technician maps all drains throughout the facility — classrooms, toilets, kitchen and sports hall.
A written proposal for the principal and the maintenance team, covering boarding accommodation where there is any.
We fit three samples at the critical points and your maintenance team judges the result.
Half a day's work, carried out in the week before term starts.
Irish schools are built to EN 1253. Most primary schools built after 2000 have DN50 P-traps in washrooms. Older buildings have a mix of DN65/80. Sports halls always have larger traps (DN80–100) for shared shower facilities.
Green Drain™ doesn't work alone — for maximum drain control it's combined with GD Uri-Tabs™ (urinals) and GreenSwirl™ (drain unblocking).
Patented silicone seal for every floor drain in school toilets, kitchens and sports halls. Remains sealed through a seven-week summer without use.
Bio-enzymatic urinal tablets for school toilets. Fewer odours, fewer complaints from parents, and an easy job for the caretaker.
Biological cleaning of kitchen and changing room drains. It breaks down organic build-up in canteens and sports halls, with a formula that is safe around a school.
We come to the site, map the drains, and provide a written recommendation — no cost, no obligation.