A commercial food service business in Acacia Ridge needed a full grease trap installation before its new kitchen could open. The tenancy had no trade waste drainage and no interceptor tank in place. Without that infrastructure, the kitchen could not discharge legally, so trading could not begin.
As a result, the business engaged Citi Industries to deliver the grease trap installation on a do and charge basis. The brief covered below-ground works, internal drainage, and a complete plumbing fit-out. Because the unit sat within an active industrial complex, the team planned each stage around pedestrian safety.
Project Overview
This grease trap installation in Acacia Ridge involved a full commercial kitchen fit-out within an existing tenancy. Consequently, the scope required significant groundwork. This included concrete scanning, cutting, excavation, and full slab reinstatement once the tank was set.
The team installed a below ground grease trap rated for vehicle loading. Furthermore, both the tank and the new trade waste line were vented to the atmosphere. The new drainage then ran inside the tenancy to connect every kitchen fixture as per the plan.
Key scope items included:
- 1,000-litre below ground grease trap with a Class D vehicular traffic lid
- Concrete scanning, cutting, removal, and replacement for all groundworks
- Trade waste drainage installed as per the hydraulic plan
- Vents run to atmosphere for both the tank and the new trade waste line
- New trade waste line extended inside the tenancy to connect all fixtures
- One RPZD backflow valve fitted on the closest hosetap
- Two bucket traps installed in the commercial kitchen
- Barricading of the affected area for pedestrian safety
Challenges
Commercial kitchens in Queensland must meet trade waste requirements before any sewer connection is approved. Under Urban Utilities trade waste guidelines, this means a correctly sized grease trap and compliant drainage. Without approval, the kitchen cannot open.
This site added complexity beyond the standard compliance path. For instance, the grease trap sat in an area open to vehicle movement. Therefore, the tank needed a Class D lid rated for traffic loads. A lighter lid would fail under a vehicle, which would create a safety hazard.
Concrete scanning came first, before any cutting or excavation began. Because hidden services can sit below a slab, the team mapped them in advance. Meanwhile, the unit formed part of a busy complex, so barricading protected pedestrians throughout the works.
Key constraints on this project:
- Vehicle-accessible location required a Class D lid on the below ground grease trap
- Concrete scanning was completed before any cutting or excavation started
- Both the tank and the trade waste line needed independent venting to atmosphere
- Active pedestrian traffic meant full barricading stayed in place during the works
- The new RPZD valve had to protect the potable supply from cross connection
Solutions
Citi Industries managed the full scope from concrete scanning through to internal fixture connection. The following sections set out each stage of the grease trap installation.
Below Ground Grease Trap Supply and Installation
First, the team scanned and cut the concrete to allow excavation for the tank. A grease trap is an underground interceptor that captures fats, oils, and grease before kitchen wastewater enters the sewer. Without one, those substances solidify in pipes and cause blockages.
Then, the crew installed a 1,000-litre unit with a Class D lid. Class D is the load rating needed when a lid sits in a vehicle-accessible area. Subsequently, the team completed full concrete reinstatement once the tank was set. You can see our wider trade waste plumbing installation approach for similar sites.
Trade Waste Drainage and Atmospheric Venting
Next, Citi Industries installed all trade waste drainage as per the hydraulic plan. The line ran from inside the tenancy, through the grease trap, and out to the sewer connection. In addition, the team vented both the tank and the trade waste line to atmosphere.
This venting is a requirement under Queensland regulated plumbing work requirements. Proper venting prevents pressure buildup and stops odour entering the building. Moreover, the team extended the new trade waste line to connect every kitchen fixture, completing the commercial kitchen trade waste system end to end.
Backflow Prevention and Bucket Traps
After that, the team fitted one RPZD backflow valve on the closest hosetap. An RPZD, or Reduced Pressure Zone Device, stops contaminated water flowing back into the mains supply. Therefore, this valve is a compliance requirement for any water connection serving a trade waste area.
The crew also installed two bucket traps in the commercial kitchen. A bucket trap captures solid matter at floor level before it reaches the drainage system. As a result, it reduces the load on the grease trap and extends the interval between pump-outs.
Internal Plumbing Fit-out
Finally, Citi Industries completed the internal works inside the tenancy. This covered the cold water rough-in, the hot water rough-in, and sanitary plumbing. The team then connected the basin, the double wash sink, and the tapware as per the plan, with all fixtures supplied by the client.
In addition, the crew installed a new electric hot water unit with a safe tray to service the kitchen. The unit itself was supplied by others. Our commercial plumbing services cover this kind of fit-out from rough-in to final connection.
Final Outcome
This grease trap installation in Acacia Ridge gave the business a fully compliant commercial kitchen trade waste system. The team completed the works in December 2025 without incident in a busy industrial setting. Consequently, the kitchen can operate legally, and the drainage is sized for the volume it must handle.
- Below ground grease trap built to trade waste approval conditions
- Class D lid correctly matched to the vehicle-accessible location
- All internal fixtures connected and operational as per the hydraulic plan
- RPZD valve and two bucket traps protecting the system and the potable supply
Because the design followed plumbing compliance and standards Australia, the business holds infrastructure it can rely on. The concrete was reinstated to match the existing surface, so the area looks as it did before.
Final Thoughts
Running a commercial kitchen means compliance does not stop at fit-out. Once the doors open, the trade waste system has to keep working and hold up under daily use. However, systems that are not installed to spec tend to show problems quickly through failed inspections or early blockages.
Citi Industries focuses on getting the grease trap installation right the first time. Therefore, operators avoid rework and failed inspections after opening. The team understands Queensland trade waste requirements, works to hydraulic design, and meets approval conditions before a job is called complete.
Whether you are fitting out a new kitchen or replacing a system that no longer complies, speak with the team. We provide industrial drainage solutions, commercial kitchen plumbing, and the documentation needed for a clean handover.
Call Citi Industries on 1300 002 484 to discuss your project.
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