Northampton, England

High-rise drainage testing at full scale.

A world-class environment for developing, testing and demonstrating drainage, waste and ventilation systems.

A unique vertical test environment

Built to make high-rise drainage behave like it does in the real world.

The National Lift Tower is home to Aliaxis UK's Training and Research Centre and the world's tallest drainage testing installation: a 75-metre soil stack within one of the tower's vertical shafts.

The facility can recreate the conditions that drainage systems face in tall buildings, including up to 40 flushes in a single test. It provides a practical setting for investigating drainage, waste and ventilation performance before products and systems reach site.

National Lift Tower in Northampton, home to a high-rise drainage testing facility — Aliaxis UK's Training and Research Centre at the National Lift Tower.

Control and measurement

Controlled flows. Repeatable results.

The test installation combines full-scale height with automated control and live measurement, allowing test conditions to be set, repeated and observed with confidence.

Siemens PLC automation: Siemens programmable logic controllers coordinate the test sequence, including computer-controlled flush flows and valve operation.
Constant-flow control: Siemens-controlled valves are used to regulate accurate, consistent flow conditions throughout a test.
Pressure measurement: Pressure transducers provide live measurement at key points in the system, helping teams understand how a drainage installation responds.
Ultrasonic level sensing: Ultrasonic water-level sensors provide accurate level readings without interrupting the flow path.
Bespoke test software: Our bespoke monitoring and control software brings the test data together, supporting consistent test delivery and clear, usable results.

Inside the facility

A real-world high-rise drainage test environment.

From the fixture test station to the control room and the shaft itself, the installation makes system behaviour visible at every stage of a test.

PLC control panel, instrumentation and pipework at the National Lift Tower drainage testing facility — PLC control panel and instrumentation supporting automated test sequences.

Four-fixture flush test rig with drainage pipework inside the National Lift Tower — Four-fixture flush test rig with instrumented drainage pipework.

Drainage testing station with flush fixtures and pipework at the National Lift Tower — Flush fixtures and pipework in the high-rise drainage test station.

Live camera monitoring screen for the drainage test station — Live camera monitoring of the test installation.

Capabilities

A specialist facility for the high-rise building industry.

Product development

Explore the real-world performance of high-rise drainage, waste and ventilation products and systems in a controlled vertical environment.

Technical testing

Assess solutions for gravity drainage, active drainage ventilation, and hot and cold water applications at meaningful scale.

Demonstrations and learning

Use the facility to bring high-rise drainage behaviour to life for project teams, consultants, designers and industry professionals.

Make an enquiry

Have a drainage product or system you need to test?

Tell us what you are developing or investigating, the type of system involved and the testing or demonstration you have in mind. We will route your enquiry to the appropriate team and discuss whether the facility is suitable for your project.

Enquire about drainage testing