For food manufacturers and commercial kitchens in Queensland, a failing grease trap is more than just a maintenance issue. It can quickly become a trade waste compliance risk, leading to council notices, approval reviews, or even operational shutdowns.
That was exactly the challenge facing a food manufacturing facility in Darra, QLD. Their ageing trade waste infrastructure had deteriorated beyond serviceable condition, the internal plumbing no longer met current regulatory standards, and the clock was ticking on their compliance exposure.
The solution required more than a simple repair. It demanded a fully engineered commercial kitchen plumbing installation, including a new grease trap installation for commercial kitchens, a complete internal hydraulic fit-out, and a trade waste plumbing system designed to meet Queensland compliance requirements from the ground up.
Citi Industries, as experienced commercial plumbing contractors in Queensland, was engaged to deliver exactly that.
Project Overview
This was not a patch job. The existing grease trap had exceeded its serviceable life, the internal plumbing couldn’t support food production demands, and the whole system needed a proper rebuild. On top of that, it all had to happen while the facility kept operating.
We planned every stage carefully, scanned before cutting, staged works around production schedules, and ensured nothing below ground would cause problems later. The scope was substantial and the stakes were real.
Key project objectives included:
- Supply and installation of a 2,000L below-ground grease trap with Class D vehicular traffic lid
- Full decommissioning and remediation of the existing grease trap
- Trade waste drainage system installed as per the approved hydraulic plan
- Complete internal hydraulic fit-out including cold water, hot water ring main, and sanitary plumbing
- Installation of 9 bucket traps across the commercial kitchen drainage network
- RPZD backflow prevention valve and cold water supply to all kitchen fixtures
- Connection of 4 basins, 2 wash sinks, commercial tapware, and boot wash station
Challenges
The facility had been operating with an ageing below-ground grease trap that could no longer handle the volume of fat, oil, and grease (FOG) generated by daily food production. Over time, the system reached its capacity and began presenting serious compliance risks.
Key issues included:
- A deteriorating grease trap approaching structural failure
- Internal plumbing that no longer met modern trade waste requirements
- Hot and cold water infrastructure unable to support operational demand
- Kitchen fixtures requiring compliant trade waste connections
- Increasing risk of grease trap compliance failure under Queensland plumbing regulations
For a facility operating at full production, the only viable solution was a complete trade waste plumbing upgrade designed for long-term reliability and compliance.
Operational Constraints
Moreover, we delivered the upgrade while the facility stayed fully operational. Meanwhile, we carefully staged concrete scanning, cutting, excavation, and plumbing works around production schedules. Additionally, we fully barricaded all work zones, maintaining safety while production continued. It required tight coordination between the Citi Industries crew and the facility’s operations team from day one.
Grease Trap Decommissioning
Furthermore, the team safely decommissioned the existing grease trap, eliminating long-term structural and environmental risks. Simply abandoning the tank in place was never an option. Then, we filled the tank with gravel and sand and concreted it over, preventing subsidence and contamination.
Trade Waste Compliance
All works were completed in accordance with the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018 (Qld) and the pre-treatment requirements outlined in Unitywater’s Trade Waste Guidelines. The new 2,000L grease trap and trade waste drainage system were installed strictly according to the approved hydraulic plan.
Water Safety and System Design
To protect the potable water supply, an RPZD backflow prevention device was installed near the grease trap. Additionally, we installed a hot water ring main with a Grundfos pump and Rheem unit, maintaining consistent temperatures throughout. Unlike a straight-run hot water system, a ring main keeps water at temperature continuously, eliminating long wait times and water wastage during peak production hours.
What Was Delivered
With the groundworks done and the old infrastructure properly dealt with, the focus shifted to building a system that would actually perform under the demands of daily food production. The scope covered both the external drainage network and a full internal hydraulic fit-out.
External Drainage and Grease Trap Installation
The centrepiece of the external works was the supply and installation of a 2,000 litre below-ground grease trap installation for commercial kitchens, sized to handle the trade waste volumes this facility generates every single day.
Scope of works included:
- Supply and installation of a 2,000L below-ground grease trap with Class D vehicular traffic lid
- Concrete scanning, cutting, removal, and reinstatement across affected areas
- Installation of new trade waste drainage lines throughout the tenancy
- Venting of both the grease trap and trade waste line to atmosphere
- Full decommissioning of the existing grease trap
- Capping of redundant underground pipework
- Installation of 9 bucket traps across the commercial kitchen drainage network
- Installation of an RPZD backflow prevention valve
- Full barricading of affected areas during construction
The nine bucket traps are worth calling out specifically. Positioned at each fixture, they capture food solids and debris at the point of source before they travel into the drainage line. This protects the downstream system from premature blockage and significantly extends the time between grease trap pump-outs. It is a straightforward measure that makes a real difference to how the system performs over time.
Internal Hydraulic Plumbing Fit-Out
Inside the facility, we rebuilt the plumbing to support a working production kitchen’s demands. Additionally, we completed cold water rough-in throughout and installed a ring main hot water system, fed by a Grundfos pump and Rheem unit.
The ring main configuration was a deliberate choice. In a large production kitchen, a straight-run system means long wait times at the tap and significant water wastage during busy periods. A ring main keeps water moving and at temperature continuously, which matters when the kitchen is running at full capacity.
Sanitary plumbing was installed throughout, and all kitchen fixtures were connected to the new commercial kitchen plumbing installation in accordance with the approved hydraulic design. Fixtures connected included 4 basins, 2 wash sinks, commercial tapware, and a new boot wash station, all supplied by the client.
Final Outcome
The project came in on schedule and the facility now has a trade waste plumbing system that was built properly from the ground up, with the capacity to support serious production demands for years to come.
With the new infrastructure in place, the facility now benefits from:
- A high-capacity grease trap installation in Queensland designed for heavy food production loads
- A compliant trade waste drainage system meeting Queensland standards
- Reliable hot water delivery across the entire production area
- Nine bucket traps protecting the drainage system at the point of source
- Reduced risk of grease trap compliance issues or operational disruption
- All internal kitchen fixtures connected and fully operational
As outlined in the National Construction Code Volume Three, Plumbing Code of Australia, commercial hydraulic systems must meet defined minimum standards for flow, drainage, and health protection. Furthermore, we delivered every element against those benchmarks, so the facility stays compliant as requirements evolve.
For this facility, the real outcome was straightforward. No more compliance exposure from ageing infrastructure, a hot water system that performs reliably under production load, and a trade waste system that will not need revisiting for years to come.
Need a Grease Trap Installation for Your Commercial Kitchen?
If your commercial kitchen, food production facility, or hospitality venue is running on ageing trade waste infrastructure, the time to act is before compliance becomes a problem rather than after. Indeed, Citi Industries delivers end-to-end solutions and gets it done right the first time.
- Learn more about our commercial grease trap installation services and how we deliver compliant systems for commercial kitchens and food production facilities across Queensland.
- Explore our trade waste plumbing solutions for end-to-end hydraulic fit-outs including drainage, backflow prevention, and hot water systems.
- Find out about our commercial kitchen drainage systems and how we protect your drainage network from the point of source.
Call us on 1300 002 484 Monday to Friday, 7am to 6pm, or send us your details online and we will get back to you with a detailed scope and quote.
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