Your eyes and hands in India · Est. 2019 · Replies within one working day

What is a wall-hung WC, and what concealed cistern does it need?

A wall-hung WC is a pan fixed to a steel frame inside the wall, flushed by a concealed cistern. The pan, frame and cistern must match on fixings, flush pipe and waste.

· 3 min read · Creston & Co

A wall-hung WC is a ceramic pan fixed to the wall with no foot on the floor. It is carried by a steel frame built into the wall, and flushed by a concealed cistern that sits inside that frame. The user sees only the pan and a flush plate.

The pan comes from the ceramic factory. The frame, cistern and flush plate usually come from a specialist maker. Your job as importer is to make sure the two fit each other and your market.

The three parts of the system

  • The pan: a vitreous china WC with a rear outlet and two fixing holes for threaded studs from the frame.
  • The frame (also called a carrier or in-wall module): a steel structure fixed to the floor and wall that carries the user's weight, not the wall itself.
  • The concealed cistern: usually a plastic tank mounted inside the frame, with a dual-flush valve operated from a front flush plate.

What must match

Wall-hung pans and frames are made by different companies, so fit is never automatic. Check these points against the frame you plan to sell:

  • Fixing centres: the distance between the two studs. Frame datasheets commonly show both 180 mm and 230 mm options, so confirm which the pan uses.
  • Flush inlet position and diameter, so the frame's flush bend reaches the pan without strain.
  • Waste outlet height and diameter, so the pan connects to the frame's waste bend.
  • Flush volume: the pan must clear properly at the volume the cistern is set to deliver, for example a full and a reduced flush.
  • Pan projection and height, which affect comfort and must suit local building rules.

Standards in Europe

In Europe, connecting dimensions for WC pans are set out in EN 33, and WC pans themselves fall under EN 997. Ask the factory which EN 33 fixing option its pan follows, and get the drawing.

Flush performance is a system result

A wall-hung pan's flush test is only meaningful with a stated cistern and flush volume. A pan that clears well at 6 litres may fail at a lower setting. When you ask for test reports, ask which cistern and volume were used, and whether the results meet EN 997 or your local standard.

Flush volume limits differ by country. See toilet flush volume rules by country before you fix the cistern setting for your market.

Can the Indian factory supply the cistern?

Some plants can bundle a concealed cistern and frame from a supplier they work with. That is convenient, but check the cistern's certification for your market, the availability of spare valves and flush plates, and the frame's load rating. In the UK, for example, buyers often look for WRAS approval on the cistern and valves.

Many importers prefer to buy the frame from an established local or European supplier and source only the pan from India. That gives installers a familiar frame and easier access to spares.

Next step

If you plan a wall-hung range, send us the frame you want to use. We match pans to it, check drawings and flush test conditions, and inspect before loading. Book a free sourcing review.

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