“In plumbing, a tundish is a small, open-ended container or pipe fitting that serves as a safety device. It is typically installed on the discharge pipework of certain pressure relief valves or temperature relief valves. These valves are designed to release excess pressure or temperature from the system to prevent it from becoming dangerously high.
The tundish has a few important functions:
Safety: It acts as a visual indicator to show that the relief valve has operated and released pressure or hot water. This helps alert homeowners or maintenance personnel that there might be an issue with the system.
Preventing contamination: The open-ended design of the tundish ensures that any discharged water or steam is safely diverted to a visible location (usually a drain) rather than coming into contact with the surrounding area, thus preventing potential water damage or scalding.
Air gap: The tundish provides an air gap between the relief valve and the discharge point, which helps prevent backflow or contamination of the plumbing system by external sources.
The specific requirements for tundishes can vary depending on local building codes and regulations, but they are generally considered an important safety feature in plumbing systems to protect against overpressure, overheating, and potential water damage.”