5 things architects need to know about SFA - Sanigrey drainage solutions for commercial spaces

Key highlights: 

• Context: Leased commercial spaces are increasingly common, but most tenancy agreements prohibit structural floor modifications.
• Problem: Traditional drainage systems require 100mm+ pipes embedded in the floor — nearly impossible when drilling is not allowed.
• Solution: SFA's Sanigrey macerator pump eliminates the need for floor drilling entirely, using only 22–32mm pipes routed through walls or false ceilings.
• Conclusion: The 5 core technical specs below help architects and MEP engineers confidently specify SFA Sanigrey in their design documentation.

How do you add a sink in a leased space without drilling through the floor?

This is a question most architects and MEP engineers encounter at least once when designing fit-outs for leased commercial spaces. The landlord prohibits structural modifications to the floor. The existing drainage point is too far from where the new sink needs to go. And the handover deadline is fast approaching.

The traditional solution — embedding 100mm gravity drainage pipes beneath the floor slab — is almost always off the table in these situations. But with SFA's Sanigrey macerator pump system, what seems like an unsolvable problem can be resolved in a matter of hours, without breaking a single tile.

Here are 5 things architects and MEP engineers need to know about SFA Sanigrey drainage solutions when designing commercial spaces in Vietnam.

How does SFA Sanigrey work?

SFA Group is a French brand with over 65 years of experience in pump and wastewater management, present in more than 50 countries worldwide. The Sanigrey product range is purpose-built for commercial applications — offices, clinics, restaurants, cafés, and diverse leased environments.

Rather than relying on gravity to carry wastewater through large floor-embedded pipes, Sanigrey uses an integrated pump motor to push wastewater through slim 22–32mm pipes to the nearest discharge point — even if that point is dozens of metres away or on a different floor.

This principle allows sanitary fixtures to be installed anywhere in a space, regardless of where the fixed drainage point happens to be.

5 core advantages of the SFA Sanigrey system

1. No floor cutting required — structural integrity fully preserved

This is the single most important advantage of Sanigrey in leased commercial environments. The pump unit is installed above the floor, directly behind or beneath the sanitary fixture, eliminating the need to break into the floor slab to run drainage pipes.

This not only fulfils the obligations set out in the tenancy agreement, but also protects the concrete floor structure — particularly critical in occupied commercial buildings or during active renovation phases.

Spec to remember: 0 mm — floor area required to be broken when using SFA Sanigrey.

2. Ultra-slim 22–32mm discharge pipe — concealed in walls or false ceilings

Traditional drainage requires PVC pipes of 100mm or more in diameter, which must run beneath the floor or be hidden inside bulky service ducts.

Sanigrey only needs a 22–32mm discharge pipe — nearly 5 times smaller. This slim pipe is easily routed inside plasterboard walls, along skirting boards, or hidden within false ceilings, without compromising the aesthetics of the space.

Spec to remember: Sanigrey's 32mm pipe vs. 100mm+ traditional drainage — a 68% reduction in pipe cross-section.

3. Horizontal pumping up to 100m — no distance limitations

One of the most common challenges in commercial drainage design is the distance between the fixture and the discharge point. With gravity-fed systems, this distance is constrained by the minimum slope required for drainage to function properly.

Sanigrey eliminates this constraint entirely:

• Horizontal pumping: up to 100m
• Vertical lift: up to 5m
• Both directions can be combined within a single system

This enables fixture installation virtually anywhere on a floor — from the centre of an open-plan office to the furthest corner of a restaurant kitchen.

Spec to remember: SFA Sanigrey pumps horizontally up to 100m and vertically up to 5m in a single unit.

4. Near-silent operation under 45dB — suitable for offices, spas, and clinics

In commercial spaces where a quiet environment is essential, drainage noise can be a genuine concern. Sanigrey pumps are engineered with built-in sound insulation, keeping operational noise below 45dB — roughly equivalent to a quiet whisper.

This specification is particularly important when designing for:

• Offices and coworking spaces that require concentration
• Spas and wellness centres where ambience is everything
• Medical clinics and hospitals with strict noise requirements

Spec to remember: Sanigrey <45dB — quiet enough for premium clinics and spas.

5. A range of models for every application: Sanivite, Sanispeed, Sanicom

The SFA Sanigrey range available in Vietnam includes multiple models tailored to specific use cases:

Architects and MEP engineers can combine multiple models within a single project to optimise the drainage system by functional zone. 

Read more: Sanigrey solution - Install a kitchen or laundry room wherever you want

Comparison: traditional drainage vs. SFA Sanigrey

Designing a commercial space and need a flexible drainage solution?

The SFA Pumps Vietnam technical team is ready to provide in-depth support — from selecting the right model to producing technical drawings tailored to your specific project.

→ Request a free technical consultation today.