IL302245B2 - Leakage discharge assembly - Google Patents

Description

42399/IL/21-DIV1 - 1 - LEAKAGE DISCHARGE ASSEMBLY Field of the InventionThe present invention relates to the field of bathroom related installations. More particularly, the invention relates to a leakage discharge assembly that facilitates detection of water intrusion into the space under the flooring. Background of the InventionA floor drain is characterized by a hole (i.e., a drain opening), usually covered by a grate, formed in a floor surface, in order to capture the overflow from a household water handling device such as a sink, bathtub, shower, toilet, and washing machine. The floor around the drain is generally sloped to direct the overflow water to the drain and to the sewer in liquid communication therewith. Many floor drain assemblies are configured to complement the look of the surrounding tiles. At times, the grout and sealant applied between the floor drain assembly and the surrounding tiles, or between adjacent tiles, deteriorates and wears away, such that the overflow water infiltrates through the worn grout into the underlying substrate. The amount of water infiltration is increased when a puddle of overflow water is collected in the vicinity of the floor drain, after having being directed thereto by the slope in the floor. Water seepage is particularly bothersome in a high-rise building where water infiltrates through the worn grout into the permeable concrete layer interposed between two adjacent stories. The presence of the infiltrating water is usually unknown, and unfortunately becomes noticeable after passing through the concrete layer to the ceiling of the lower floor and causing dampness patches and at times even a steady drip. The amount of water leakage into the underlying substrate from a bathroom, generally resulting from showering or bathing, has been estimated to be up to half a cup a day. The infiltrated water is unable to be discharged from the building and increasingly accumulates in a cavity below the bathroom floor, causing swelling walls and peeling paints due to capillary action. Many other building defects result from water leaking into reinforced concrete to produce an electrolyte that is one of the basic causes for corrosion to occur. It would be desirable to collect and discharge the water leakage; however, the overflow water leaking through worn grout tends to infiltrate through the underlying substrate in different unpredictable directions and is therefore difficult to collect and discharge. 42399/IL/21-DIV1 - 2 - It is an object of the present invention to provide a leakage discharge assembly that is suitable to alleviate and even eliminate the damage caused by water infiltration through worn grout, such as in the vicinity of a floor drain. It is another object of the present invention to provide a leakage discharge assembly that is capable of indicating that water has penetrated under the flooring. It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a leakage discharge assembly that is cost effective. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. Summary of the InventionAn assembly for outwardly discharging, from a room or a building, water that has infiltrated a substrate underlying a floor surface, said assembly comprising a collection unit embedded within, or surrounded by, the substrate which is configured to receive the infiltration water and to block introduction of the substrate into an interior of said collection unit, and a transfer element in liquid communication with said collection unit penetrating an outer wall of the room or the building through which the received infiltration water is dischargeable following sufficient accumulation of the received infiltration water to prevent formation of a building defect and to indicate that water has penetrated under the floor surface. In one aspect, the assembly further comprises a mechanical discharge member in communication with the transfer element for intermittently occluding the transfer element. In one aspect, the transfer element is sealed at a region of penetration through the outer wall. In one aspect, the transfer element is a discharge pipe, the assembly further comprising a tube surrounding and coupled to the discharge pipe which is sealable when tube related apparatus is engaged with the outer wall. In one aspect, the collection unit comprises a cage configured with a plurality of void regions. 42399/IL/21-DIV1 - 3 - In one aspect, the collection unit further comprises a cover member coupled with the cage which is unapertured. In one aspect, the assembly comprises one or more side protectors extending downwardly from a cover of the cover member which block horizontal movement of particulate material of the substrate into the interior of the collection unit while allowing the infiltration water to flow through the void regions into the collection unit interior. In one aspect, the assembly further comprises a vertical drain pipe extending downwardly from a drain hole that penetrates a floor surface on which overflow water is able to collect and through which the overflow water is able to gravitate and flow to a sewer system; a skirt that encircles the drain pipe and configured to intercept any of the overflow water that has infiltrated through worn grout applied to the floor surface and located outwardly from the drain hole; and a conduit connected to the closure member and in liquid communication with both the skirt and the collection unit interior, the intercepted overflow water capable of flowing through the conduit and into the collection unit interior. In one aspect, the skirt comprises a substantially horizontal collection surface and a surface downwardly extending from said collection surface along which the intercepted overflow water is flowable and subsequently dischargeable. In one aspect, the mechanical discharge member is a closure pivotally connected to a terminal end of the transfer element, said closure configured to be opened in response to a sufficiently high opening force applied thereto by the flowing infiltrated overflow water. In one aspect, the downwardly extending surface of the skirt is connected to the drain pipe and one or more apertures are formed in the drain pipe upwardly to a connection region between the downwardly extending surface and the drain pipe, the intercepted overflow water capable of flowing downwardly along the downwardly extending surface and through the one or more apertures to an interior of the drain pipe, and then to the sewer system. In one aspect, the downwardly extending surface of the skirt is integrally formed with the drain pipe. In one aspect, the skirt is connected to the drain pipe. 42399/IL/21-DIV1 - 4 - In one aspect, the skirt is integrally formed with the drain pipe. In one aspect, the drain pipe comprises a vertical main drain pipe and a vertical extension attached to the main drain pipe, an upper edge of one of the main drain pipe and of the extension coinciding with the drain hole and extending downwardly therefrom. Brief Description of the DrawingsIn the drawings: - Fig. 1 is a vertical cross sectional view of an embodiment of a floor drain assembly; - Fig. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view of another embodiment of a floor drain assembly; - Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view of a floor drain assembly, according to another embodiment; - Fig. 4 is a perspective view from above of an embodiment of a collection unit; - Fig. 4A is a top view of a cover member, when unconnected to the collection unit of Fig. 4; - Fig. 4B is a perspective view of a cover member, when coupled to the collection unit of Fig. 4; - Fig. 4C is a perspective view from the side of the collection unit of Fig. 4; - Fig. 4D is a perspective view from the rear of the collection unit of Fig. 4 when coupled with the cover member; - Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a leakage discharge assembly and of a filled cavity within which it is embedded; - Fig. 6 is a perspective end view of a sealable tube that is usable in conjunction with the assembly of Fig. 5; - Fig. 7 is a perspective side view of the tube of Fig. 6; - Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of a leakage discharge assembly which comprises the tube of Fig. 6 and of a filled cavity within which the leakage discharge assembly is embedded; - Fig. 9 is an enlargement of Detail A of Fig. 8; - Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of a leakage discharge assembly and of a filled cavity within which it is embedded; and - Fig. 11 is a perspective view from above of another embodiment of a cover member which is usable in conjunction with the assembly of Fig. 10. 42399/IL/21-DIV1 - 5 - Detailed Description of the InventionThe leakage discharge assembly comprises a collection unit that is positioned on top of a sealed concrete subfloor underlying the wet environment of a bathroom. A concrete sub-floor is conventionally constructed below bathroom flooring, particularly in a multi-story building. An occurrence of overflow water infiltration through worn grout in the bathroom flooring and through an intermediate substrate is generally unnoticed. The infiltrated water settles on the sealed concrete subfloor. If an excessive amount of infiltrated water accumulates, the prolonged hydrostatic pressure applied on the subfloor is liable to cause the moisture barrier to become compromised, allowing the accumulated water to pass through the permeable concrete subfloor and into a lower floor. Also, a significant amount of the accumulated water rises through capillary action to cause building defects to a wall adjacent to the bathroom. Provision of the collection unit on top of the sealed concrete subfloor, such as being removably positioned on top of the subfloor, obviates the occurrence of a significant amount of accumulated infiltrated water and of the compromising of the moisture barrier as the infiltrated water is received in the collection unit. As the level of the accumulated water received in the collection unit rises, the accumulated water is introduced into a transfer element and is then discharged from the building via a mechanical discharge member in communication with the transfer element. Reference is first made to Fig. 1, which illustrates a floor drain assembly indicated by reference numeral 10. Floor drain assembly 10 includes a vertical drain pipe 12, generally made of elastomeric or plastic material for reduced costs. According to conventional building practice, drain pipe 12 is embedded within a permeable substrate layer underlying floor surface 7, such as gravel or a sand-gravel mixture, to ensure that the floor surface will be assured of remaining intact when stepped upon yet facilitates maintenance operations that require temporary removal of the floor tiles. Overflow water is intended to gravitate through the drain hole 8 that penetrates the floor surface 7, schematically illustrated, on which the overflow water collects and through drain pipe 12 to a sewer system. At times, as described above, the overflow water infiltrates through worn grout located outwardly from drain pipe 12 and into a permeable substrate layer underlying the floor surface. Many building defects and unsightly dampness patches result from the infiltrating water. In addition, the overflow water is liable to infiltrate through worn grout located at other regions of the bathroom flooring. 42399/IL/21-DIV1 - 6 - Fig. 4 illustrates an infiltrated water collection unit indicated by reference numeral 75 according to one embodiment for preventing the onset of such building defects. Collection unit 75 with an upper opening is configured as a rectilinear cage defined by three vertical peripheral walls 76a-c and bottom surface 78 all of openwork design. The openwork design enables passage of the infiltration water through the periphery of the cage and prevents passage of pieces of the substrate layer therethrough to avoid clogging of the mechanical discharge member. The fourth vertical wall 76d of the cage may be closed and uncompromised, and is fitted with horizontal discharge pipe 84 that is adapted to penetrate an outside wall and to thereby outwardly discharge the received infiltrated water. The cage may be made of injection molding to easily define, for each of the peripheral walls, upper void regions 71 each of which being formed between adjacent upper wall elements and lower void regions 73 each of which being formed between adjacent legs that extend continuously from an upper wall element, as well as void regions 79 formed in bottom surface 78. The infiltrated water is able to flow across void regions 71, 73 and 79 and to be thereby received within the interior 74 of collection unit 75. Void regions 71 and 73 are shown to be rectangular and void regions 79 are shown to have an elliptical shape, but other shapes as well are in the scope of the invention. The size of void regions 71, and 79 is smaller than the size of each gravel piece. It will be appreciated that the collection unit may be configured with a cover having void regions when the substrate includes relatively large gravel pieces exclusively. Alternatively, the cage may be a mesh made of heavy gauge wire or metal bars. Cover member 86 shown in Figs. 4A-B is suitable for preventing the passage of sand granules into the interior of the collection unit. Cover member 86 has a continuous and unapertured planar cover 87 to block downward movement of sand granules, with the exception of apertures 89 used for receiving a corresponding coupling element 81 protruding upwardly from an upper wall element 72 of collection unit 75 as shown in Fig. 4C. Coupling element 81 may have a curved upper protuberance laterally protruding from a rectangular vertical extension, or any other suitable arrangement to facilitate passage through an aperture 89 and engagement with cover 87 as shown in Fig. 4B. 42399/IL/21-DIV1 - 7 - Four continuous and unapertured side protectors 88 extend downwardly from a corresponding edge of cover 87, while one of the side protectors is conditioned with an opening to accommodate discharge pipe fitting 83 secured to peripheral wall 76d (Fig. 4). Cover member 86 may be dimensioned such that each side protector 88 is slightly spaced from a corresponding peripheral wall of collection unit 75 as shown in Fig. 4D, e.g. by a dimension of 2 cm, to block horizontal movement of sand granules into the interior of the collection unit while allowing the infiltration water to flow through the void regions into the collection unit interior. In one embodiment, each side protector 88 is of a specific height that is sufficient to block upper void regions 71 and to keep lower void regions 73 unblocked. Protection against blockage of upper void regions 71 is of importance since sand granules are able to be conveyed by flowing infiltration water and to block the upper void regions. Sand granules located close to the subfloor are substantially not at a risk of being introduced through lower void regions 73 due to the relatively low flow rate of the infiltration water at the subfloor. If for some reason lower void regions 73 become clogged by sand granules, infiltration water nevertheless flows through upper void regions 71 into the collection unit interior. It will be appreciated that the collection unit may be configured with differently shaped peripheral walls such as with an annular wall or oblique walls insofar as they are of openwork design and delimit the collection unit interior, while projecting vertically from the sealed concrete subfloor on top of which the collection unit is positioned and which is generally in abutment with planar bottom surface (Fig. 4). Bottom surface 78 protects against unwanted introduction of substrate pieces into the collection unit interior following incorrect position of the collection unit. One of the peripheral walls or a peripheral wall region is suitably configured with means that are engaged with the discharge pipe. In one embodiment, the collection unit may be fixedly installed to the subfloor without being provided with a bottom surface and be configured to receive an adequate amount of infiltration water within its interior. Fig. 5 illustrates the operation of a leakage discharge assembly 85 according to one embodiment which is intended to protect against damage resulting from the infiltration of water into a permeable substrate 59 underlying the floor surface 7 that is installed in a bathroom. Leakage discharge assembly 85 comprises the previously described collection unit 75, discharge pipe 84 in liquid 42399/IL/21-DIV1 - 8 - communication with collection unit 75, and a pivotal closure 89 that is operatively connected to the terminal end of discharge pipe 84. Discharge pipe 84 penetrates wall 95a, and a sealing element may be in engagement with the outer surface of the discharge pipe at the penetration region to prevent influx of moisture resulting for example from precipitation. Pivotal closure 89 prevents insects and small animals from entering discharge pipe 84 from the surroundings. Collection unit 75 is positioned on top of the moisture barrier 91 which is applied to concrete sub-floor 94 and which underlies the bathroom floor surface. As shown, a cavity is defined below floor surface 7 by walls 95a-b, generally also made of concrete, extending upwardly from sub-floor 94 to at least the ceiling overlying floor surface 7. This cavity between floor surface 7 and subfloor 94 is filled with substrate 59, such as self-compacting pea stone. Moisture barriers 97a-b in abutment with moisture barrier 91 are applied to walls 95a-b, respectively, to avoid water infiltration through the walls. During an occurrence of water infiltration, the water infiltrates through substrate 59 in one or more directions and is received by collection unit 75. When the level of the infiltrated water received within the collection unit interior is sufficiently high, the hydraulic pressure associated with the received water applies an opening force on pivotal closure 89 to enable opening of the closure and outward discharge of the infiltrated overflow water from the building. The outward discharge of the infiltrated water through pivotal closure 89 not only reduces risk of damage to the building, but also serves as a visual leakage indicator. When closure 89 is opened and water is discharged, the tenant or even the building owner is able to become aware that there is a leak. The region of worn grout causing the water infiltration is accordingly able to be located and repaired by virtue of the presence of the visual leakage indicator. Since moisture barrier 97a is compromised in order to accommodate the penetration of the discharge pipe through wall 95a, the infiltration water infiltrating through the substrate in contact with the discharge pipe is liable to leak through the clearance between the discharge pipe and wall 95a and to infiltrate through wall 95a, producing a wall defect. Leakage through the clearance between the discharge pipe and wall 95a can be advantageously avoided by employing the sealable protective tube 105 shown in Figs. 6-9 that is adapted to surround the discharge pipe. 42399/IL/21-DIV1 - 9 - As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, protective tube 105 which is shorter than the discharge pipe is provided with two wall-engaging elements 107 and 108 that are axially displaceable along its smooth outer surface 101. Each of wall-engaging elements 107 and 108 is a vertically oriented element configured with a circular aperture that has a slightly larger diameter than that of tube 105. The wall-facing side 103 of elements 107 and 108 is hollowed with respect to wall-engaging peripheral edge 106, and the opposite side of the element is planar. A sealant injectable aperture 111 is formed within the portion A of wall-engaging elements 107 and 108 that is adapted to be positioned above outer surface 101. The portion B of wall-engaging elements 107 and 108 that is adapted to be positioned below outer surface 101 is of such a small radial length, e.g. 10 mm, so as to minimize interference with the subfloor. To retain outer wall-engaging element 107 at a selected axial position, narrow axially spaced abutments 112 and 113 protrude radially from outer surface 101 at the outlet end 117 of tube 105. Rim 109 surrounding the aperture of outer wall-engaging element 107 within which tube 105 is received, at the wall-facing side thereof, engages one of the abutments 112 and 113 when element 107 is set at a selected axial position. To retain inner wall-engaging element 108 at a selected axial position, a plurality of axially spaced, narrow and shallow depressions 114 are recessed relative to outer surface 101 at the inlet end 118 of tube 105. A tooth 123 (Fig. 9) extending radially inwardly from a band 121 that surrounds outer surface 101 and axially extends from inner wall-engaging element 108 towards inlet end 118 is selectively receivable in one of the depressions 114 while inner wall-engaging element 108 is being displaced until set at a selected axial position. Tube 105 is also configured with a thin-walled region 126 at the extreme outlet end of the tube. The radial dimension of sealing ring 128 (Fig. 9) within which the discharge pipe is engaged is substantially equal to the difference in thickness between thin-walled region 126 and the nominal outer surface 101, i.e. tube regions without abutments and depressions. Sealing ring 128, which has an inner diameter substantially equal to that of the discharge pipe, is accordingly able to be fixated at the interface between thin-walled region 126 and the relatively thick-walled region. Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate wall-engaging elements 107 and 108 while engaged with wall 95a, following introduction into sealing ring 128 of discharge pipe 84 that extends from and is fitted in collection unit 75. After wall-engaging elements 107 and 108 are set in this position, a sealant is injected into 42399/IL/21-DIV1 - 10 - the corresponding apertures 111 (Fig. 6). The sealant is consequently received in the hollow volume of wall-engaging elements 107 and 108 between wall 95a and the corresponding wall-facing side 103. After the sealant is applied to the outer surface of tube 105, its level rises. Once sealant flows through the sealant injectable apertures 111, the user becomes aware that a sufficient amount of sealant has been injected and that the clearance between discharge pipe 84 and wall 95a is well sealed. In another embodiment while referring back to Fig. 1, floor drain assembly 10 is configured with a skirt 14 made of similar or different inexpensive material which encircles, and is connected to, or integrally formed with, drain pipe 12. The use of floor drain assembly 10 advantageously obviates the risk of water infiltration through the substrate layer as skirt 14 intercepts any overflow water that infiltrated through worn grout located outwardly from drain pipe 12 before gravitating to the substrate layer. As shown, skirt 14 comprises a substantially horizontal collection surface 15, i.e., which may slightly slope towards drain pipe 12, e.g., at an angle of no more than 2 degrees. Collection surface receives the overflow water that has infiltrated through the floor surface 7 surrounding drain hole 8. An outer edge 18 of collection surface 15 is located at a distance D from the central axis 21 of drain pipe 12 equal to a product of the radius R of drain pipe 12 and a factor ranging from 1.5-2.5. For any embodiment described herein, skirt 14 is generally annular, but may assume other shapes as well, for example a rectangular periphery. To accommodate positioning of skirt 14, the width of the conventional drain pipe receiving cavity that is provided below floor surface 7 is enlarged by the factor which ranges from 1.5-2.5. Since the width of the conventional drain pipe receiving cavity is substantially equal to the relatively small outer diameter of drain pipe 12 and the structurally strong substrate layer surrounds the cavity and underlies floor surface 7, the floor surface is assured of remaining intact when stepped upon. Collapse of a portion of floor surface 7 overlying the enlarged drain pipe receiving cavity due to the application thereon of a force, for example during a stepping or a jumping motion, is prevented by filling the cavity with a medium that provides a suitable reactive force, such as a sand-gravel mixture. An inclined surface 17 extends downwardly from the radially inward edge 16 of collection surface to a lowermost inclined surface edge 19 located radially inwardly to drain pipe 12 and below the lowermost edge 13 of the drain pipe to which inclined surface 17 is attached, such as by welding. 42399/IL/21-DIV1 - 11 - Inclined surface 17 extends downwardly at an angle relative to the horizontal plane, e.g., ranging from about 1-70 degrees. An additional vertical drain pipe 24, only a portion thereof being shown, which may be flexible and corrugated and considered as an extension, is concentric to, in abutting relation with, and of a slightly smaller diameter than, the main drain pipe 12, extends downwardly from lowermost inclined surface edge 19. Two or more circumferentially spaced apertures 22 are formed in drain pipe 12 slightly above lowermost drain pipe edge 13, for example at a height of 5 mm thereabove. After the infiltrated overflow water has been collected on collection surface 15 and the water level rises, the collected water gravitates along inclined surface 17 and flows through an aperture 22. The collected water then flows downwardly through the additional vertical drain pipe 24 to the sewer system, such as by means of a Tee fitting. Skirt 14 may be a unit that is separate from drain pipe 12. To ensure that the collected water will be introduced into an aperture 22, skirt 14 may be immobilized, for example to the overlying floor or to any other suitable structure, while being in abutting relation with drain pipe 12 at edge 13. Fig. 2 illustrates a floor drain assembly 40 according to another embodiment. In this embodiment, the infiltrated overflow water is delivered through a conduit 38 and is discharged outwardly from the building via a pivotal closure 69. This configuration can be used as a visual leakage indicator, as normally water should flow through drain pipe 52. Skirt 44 comprises a rim 42, shown to be round, and an annular concavity 46 that curves downwardly and inwardly from the radial inward edge of rim 42. The radial inward edge of concavity 46 may be affixed either to vertically oriented drain pipe 52 (as shown in Fig. 3) or to an annular extension attached to the inner surface of drain pipe 52 (as shown in Fig. 2). The upper edge of extension 54, which is coincident with floor surface 47, delimits the drain hole 58. The outer edge of skirt 44 is located at a distance from the central axis of drain pipe 52 equal to a product of the radius of drain pipe 52 and a factor ranging from 1.5-2.5. The overflow water introduced within drain pipe 52 is able to flow downwardly into multi-outlet and individually occludable access chamber 56 and through one of its outlets 62 to the sewer system. Access chamber 56 may be embedded in fill material 59, such as self-compacting pea stone or any 42399/IL/21-DIV1 - 12 - other suitable substrate. A downwardly sloped sealing layer 53 may be applied to overlie fill material 59. Conduit 38 in liquid communication with an aperture formed in concavity 46 extends downwardly to inlet port 61 of a discharge pipe 64, which is also embedded in fill material 59 and penetrates an outer wall 63 of building 65. A planar abutment plate 67 surrounding inlet port 61, which may be annular, is conveniently positionable in abutment with sealing layer 53 to ensure that the longitudinal axis of discharge pipe 64, which may be parallel to abutment plate 62 with the assistance of elbow 68 curving downwardly from inlet port 61, will also be downwardly sloped. Pivotal closure is operatively connected to the end of discharge pipe 64. A medium, such as a sand-gravel mixture, is preferably added to the cavity 55 defined vertically between floor surface 47 and sealing layer 53 and horizontally between outer walls 61 and 63 to ensure that the floor surface will be assured of remaining intact when stepped upon. Skirt 44 is adapted to collect any infiltrated overflow water that has infiltrated through worn grout located outwardly from drain pipe 52 and through the underlying medium, causing the collected infiltrated water to flow downwardly along concavity 46 and then through conduit 38 and discharge pipe 64. When the flow rate of the infiltrated water flowing downwardly through discharge pipe 64 is high, the hydraulic pressure is sufficiently high to apply an opening force on pivotal closure 69 that enables the infiltrated overflow water to be discharged outwardly from the building. It will be appreciated that sealable protective tube 105 (Fig. 6) may be employed to seal the clearance between discharge pipe 64 and outer wall 63. In another embodiment shown in Fig. 10, leakage discharge assembly 135 comprises floor drain assembly 40 configured with skirt 44 as described with respect to Fig. 2, collection unit 75 as described with respect to Fig. 4, and sealable tube 105 as described with respect to Fig. 6. Conduit in liquid communication with an aperture formed in a concavity of skirt 44 extends downwardly and is introduced into an aperture 137 formed in the cover 87A of cover member 86A shown in Fig. 11. Thus not only infiltration water intercepted by skirt 44 will be discharged, but also water infiltrated through substrate 59, located above moisture barrier 91, from other regions of bathroom floor 7 and received in collection unit 75 will be outwardly discharged via discharge pipe 84. 42399/IL/21-DIV1 - 13 - While some embodiments of the invention have been described by way of illustration, it will be apparent that the invention can be carried out with many modifications, variations and adaptations, and with the use of numerous equivalents or alternative solutions that are within the scope of persons skilled in the art, without exceeding the scope of the claims.

Claims (14)

1. 42399/IL/21-DIV1 302245/2 - 14 - CLAIMS 1. An assembly for outwardly discharging, from a room or a building, water that has infiltrated a substrate underlying a floor surface, said assembly comprising: a) a collection unit embedded within, or surrounded by, the substrate which is configured to receive the infiltration water and to block introduction of the substrate into an interior of said collection unit; and b) a transfer element in liquid communication with said collection unit penetrating an outer wall of the room or of the building through which the received infiltration water is dischargeable following sufficient accumulation of the received infiltration water to prevent formation of a building defect and to indicate that water has penetrated under the floor surface, wherein said collection unit comprises: i. a cage comprising: one or more peripheral walls delimiting the collection unit interior and formed with a plurality of void regions, including upper void regions each of which being formed between adjacent upper wall elements and lower void regions each of which being formed between adjacent legs that extend downwardly from one of the upper wall elements; and one or more coupling elements protruding upwardly from each of the one or more peripheral walls, wherein one of the peripheral walls is configured with means that are engaged with the transfer element; and ii. a cover member coupled with the cage, the cover member comprising: a cover that is unapertured to block downward movement of particulate material of the substrate into the collection unit interior, with the exception of a plurality of apertures used for receiving a corresponding coupling element; and one or more side protectors extending downwardly from the cover which block horizontal movement of the particulate material of the substrate into the collection unit interior via the upper void regions while allowing the infiltration water to flow through into the collection unit interior.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a mechanical discharge member in communication with the transfer element for intermittently occluding the transfer element. 42399/IL/21-DIV1 302245/2 - 15 -

3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein a clearance between the transfer element and a region of penetration through the outer wall is sealed.

4. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein the transfer element is a discharge pipe, the assembly further comprising a tube surrounding and coupled to the discharge pipe which is sealable when tube related apparatus is engaged with the outer wall.

5. The assembly according to claim 2, further comprising: a) a vertical drain pipe extending downwardly from a drain hole that penetrates the floor surface on which overflow water is able to collect and through which the overflow water is able to gravitate and flow to a sewer system; b) a skirt which encircles the drain pipe and configured to intercept any of the overflow water that has infiltrated through worn grout applied to the floor surface and located outwardly from the drain hole; and c) a conduit connected to the mechanical discharge member and in liquid communication with both the skirt and the collection unit interior, the intercepted overflow water capable of flowing through the conduit and into the collection unit interior.

6. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein the skirt comprises a substantially horizontal collection surface and a surface downwardly extending from said collection surface along which the intercepted overflow water is flowable and subsequently dischargeable.

7. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein the mechanical discharge member is a closure pivotally connected to a terminal end of the transfer element, said closure configured to be opened in response to a sufficiently high opening force applied thereto by flowing infiltrated overflow water.

8. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein the downwardly extending surface of the skirt is connected to the drain pipe and one or more apertures are formed in the drain pipe upwardly to a connection region between the downwardly extending surface and the drain pipe, the intercepted overflow water capable of flowing downwardly along the downwardly extending surface and through the one or more apertures to an interior of the drain pipe, and then to the sewer system. 42399/IL/21-DIV1 302245/2 - 16 -

9. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein the downwardly extending surface of the skirt is integrally formed with the drain pipe.

10. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein the skirt is connected to the drain pipe.

11. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein the skirt is integrally formed with the drain pipe.

12. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein the drain pipe comprises a vertical main drain pipe and a vertical extension attached to the main drain pipe, an upper edge of one of the main drain pipe and of the extension coinciding with the drain hole and extending downwardly therefrom.

13. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein the cage is rectilinear, being defined by three of the peripheral walls and by a fourth wall that is fitted with the discharge pipe, and four of the side protectors extend downwardly from a corresponding edge of the cover while one of the side protectors is conditioned with an opening to accommodate a discharge pipe fitting that is secured to the fourth cage wall.

14. The assembly according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the cage is further configured with a bottom surface formed with a plurality of void regions to protect against unwanted introduction of substrate pieces into the collection unit interior.