CCTV Drain Survey Codes
Understand the codes in a CCTV drain survey and discuss the findings with us. We can carry out a survey, inspect the drain and advise on suitable repair options.
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Understanding a survey code
Search the main code or a plain-English term such as roots or cracks. UK CCTV reports commonly use WRc’s Manual of Sewer Condition Classification (MSCC) and the BS EN 13508-2 visual inspection coding system, but older or report-specific conventions also exist. Check the standard or edition shown on the report; extra characters and measurements add detail.
Putting the finding in context
Distance, clock position, photographs and footage help show where a defect is and how much pipe is affected. A code alone does not establish repair urgency. We can review an existing report and explain what needs closer inspection.
When you have no report
A recurring blockage, slow flow or suspected damage is enough to start a conversation. We can carry out a CCTV drain survey and inspect the affected sections. You do not need to commission a separate survey before contacting us.
Choosing a repair
Relining may suit some defects, while collapsed or badly displaced sections may need another approach. Cleaning and access also affect the options. We can assess the drain and explain which work is suitable; this lookup does not approve a lining specification.
Common questions
Can I contact you without completing the tool?
No survey report yet? We can carry out the CCTV survey and explain the findings for you. You can enquire directly; completing the tool is optional.
What do grade 4 or grade 5 mean?
It depends on the grading system used in the report. A grade summarises an assessment; it is not a universal repair deadline or price. Check which grading method was used and which observations support the grade.
Is every crack urgent?
No. A crack code alone does not establish urgency. The extent of the defect, the rest of the pipe condition and the consequences of failure need to be assessed together. Do not infer a repair deadline from the main code alone.
Does a roots code mean the drain needs lining?
It means roots were observed. Root removal may be needed before the entry point can be inspected properly. A repair may also be needed, but the code alone does not decide between lining, local repair and replacement.
Why is my code missing?
This is a selected lookup, not the full WRc manual or BS EN 13508-2 coding system. Reports can also include additional characters and contractor-specific labels. Check the report legend or ask the surveyor rather than assuming a similar-looking code has the same meaning.
Can a repair be priced from the code list?
A code list identifies reported observations but is not enough to define a reliable repair scope. The recording, affected length, diameter, material, access and connections should be reviewed before a repair is priced.
Sources and limits
The scope and status of the coding frameworks are checked against WRc and BSI publisher material. Selected UK report labels and EN 13508-2 main-code associations are cross-checked against the published survey records and technical papers listed below. Repair relevance is editorial guidance, not wording taken from those sources. The licensed WRc and BSI code tables have not been used or reproduced. This is not an official WRc or BSI tool, a complete coding manual, a grading system or an engineering assessment. It does not calculate severity, repair urgency or lining suitability.
- WinCan: WRc/MSCC code reference overview
UK report conventions; copyrighted reference linked, not reproduced
- Published UK drainage survey: code examples
Primary survey record showing UK code labels
- Published drainage investigation: XP and report event examples
Primary survey record; contractor conventions vary
- Werey, Dorchies and Mellac Beck: sewer asset management research
EN 13508-2 main-code examples; no grading tables reproduced
- Ibrahim and colleagues: visual sewer inspection research
EN code associations including infiltration and soil ingress
- WRc: Manual of Sewer Condition Classification 5th Edition
WRc publisher page confirming MSCC5 as the UK water-industry sewer defect classification manual
- BSI: BS EN 13508-2:2003+A1:2011
Authoritative scope and current edition of the visual inspection coding standard; code tables not reproduced
Published by Drain Relining. Sources checked 13 September 2026. Editorial policy.
If a result looks wrong, tell us and we will check it against the listed sources.
Talk to us about the work
No survey report yet? We can carry out the CCTV survey and explain the findings for you.