DR4317P | Drainage Channel 135 Degree Angle (H)

The Specialist Angle Piece for Obtuse Corners and Gentle Direction Changes

Not all pool and spa designs follow simple right angles and straight lines. Many of the most attractive installations feature obtuse corners, gentle curves, and architectural details that create visual interest while presenting unique challenges for drainage system design. The DR4317P Drainage Channel 135 Degree Angle (Type H) is the specialist fitting that addresses these exact situations, allowing you to navigate wider angles and create drainage layouts that follow your pool’s unique geometry with precision and efficiency.

What is a 135 Degree Angle Drainage Channel?

As a retailer of hot tub spare parts, I’ve worked with countless pool designs, and I can tell you that obtuse angle fittings like the 135 degree piece are often the unsung heroes of professional drainage installations. While standard 90 degree corners are familiar to most people, the 135 degree angle serves a distinctly different purpose.

A 135 degree angle represents an obtuse angle—one that’s greater than 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees. In practical terms, this creates a gentle, wide-angle turn rather than a sharp right-angle corner. The DR4317P allows drainage channels to navigate these wider corners smoothly, maintaining optimal water flow while following pool perimeters that feature obtuse angles, slight direction changes, or architectural elements that don’t conform to standard 90 degree geometry.

Understanding 135 Degree Angles in Pool Design

To visualize a 135 degree angle, imagine starting with a straight line. A 90 degree turn would create a perfect right angle corner—like the corner of a square. A 135 degree angle is 45 degrees more than that right angle, creating a much gentler, more open turn. This is the type of angle you encounter in:

• Octagonal or multi-sided pools where adjacent wall sections meet at obtuse angles
• Architectural design features incorporating angled walls or design elements
• Gradual direction changes where drainage needs to shift course without sharp corners
• Transitional areas between different pool zones or deck sections
• Spa and pool combinations with angled connecting sections

The 135 degree angle fitting allows your drainage channel to follow these design elements precisely, maintaining consistent water collection around the entire perimeter without forcing the channel into unnatural configurations or creating gaps in coverage.

Key Features and Benefits

Obtuse Angle Navigation

The Type H configuration provides a purpose-designed angle piece that creates smooth 135 degree turns in your drainage system. This obtuse angle is essential for following pool designs that don’t conform to standard rectangular layouts, ensuring complete perimeter coverage regardless of your pool’s unique geometry.

Smooth Flow Characteristics

Unlike sharp 90 degree corners where flow can be restricted and turbulence created, the 135 degree angle provides a gentler transition for water flow. The more gradual direction change reduces flow resistance and helps prevent debris accumulation that can occur at sharper turns. Water flows more smoothly through obtuse angles, contributing to better overall drainage system performance.

Architectural Compatibility

Many contemporary pool designs move away from simple rectangular shapes, incorporating angled walls, octagonal configurations, and architectural features that create visual interest. The 135 degree angle piece ensures your drainage system can match these sophisticated designs without compromise, maintaining both aesthetic appeal and functional performance.

Reduced Flow Restriction

In drainage system design, corners are natural points where flow can be restricted. Professional installers recognize that making corners high points where possible is ideal, but when flow must pass through corners, gentler angles perform better. The 135 degree configuration minimizes flow restriction compared to sharper turns, helping maintain consistent drainage capacity throughout your system.

Applications and Design Scenarios

Octagonal and Multi-Sided Pools

Octagonal pools are particularly popular for above-ground installations and architectural hot tubs. Each corner of an octagon creates a 135 degree internal angle—exactly what the DR4317P is designed for. Using proper 135 degree angle pieces at each corner ensures your drainage channel follows the perimeter precisely with optimal performance at every turn.

Angled Pool Entries and Exits

Many pool designs incorporate angled entry areas, beach entries, or transitional zones that create obtuse angles between sections. The 135 degree angle piece allows drainage channels to navigate these transitions smoothly, maintaining comprehensive water collection across all areas.

Contemporary Geometric Designs

Modern pool architecture often features non-traditional geometries—trapezoids, multi-level designs with angled transitions, and asymmetrical layouts that create visual drama. These designs demand drainage fittings that can accommodate angles beyond the standard 90 degrees, making the 135 degree piece an essential component.

Spa Corner Designs

Hot tubs and spas frequently feature octagonal or multi-sided configurations. Whether you’re installing a standalone spa or an elevated spa that overflows into a pool, having 135 degree angle pieces available ensures your drainage system can follow the spa’s perimeter correctly.

Gradual Direction Changes

Sometimes drainage channels need to make gradual direction shifts rather than sharp turns—perhaps to avoid obstacles, follow deck contours, or align with architectural features. The 135 degree angle provides these gentle directional transitions without forcing sharp corners that could restrict flow or create awkward installations.

Custom and Freeform Pools

Custom pool designs that incorporate irregular shapes, organic curves, and unique architectural elements often create angles that don’t fit standard 90 degree geometry. Having 135 degree angle pieces in your component selection provides the flexibility to accommodate these specialized designs.

Installation Considerations

Measuring and Planning

Before installing your DR4317P angle piece, accurate measurement is essential:

• Verify the actual angle: Confirm that the corner or direction change you’re navigating is truly 135 degrees (or close enough that this fitting provides the best solution)
• Consider adjacent fittings: Plan how the angle piece will connect to straight channel sections or other fittings on both sides
• Maintain consistent depth: Ensure the drainage channel remains at proper depth throughout the turn
• Plan for slope: Remember that proper drainage slope must continue through and beyond the angle piece

Proper Installation Technique

Installing angle pieces requires attention to detail:

1. Position accurately: Align the angle piece precisely with the pool’s geometry to ensure proper fit and function
2. Connect both sides: Ensure secure connections to channel sections on both the inlet and outlet sides
3. Verify alignment: Check that the top surface remains level and consistent with adjacent channel sections
4. Support adequately: Provide proper bedding support beneath and around the angle piece to prevent settlement
5. Seal connections: Apply appropriate sealant at connection points to ensure watertight integration
6. Test flow: Before final installation, verify that water flows smoothly through the angle without backing up or creating turbulence

Integration with Other Components

The 135 degree angle piece works as part of a complete drainage system:

• Combine with straight sections to create complete perimeter coverage
• Use multiple angle pieces where pool design requires several obtuse corners
• Integrate with other fittings such as outlets, end caps, and couplers as needed
• Match to existing systems when retrofitting or expanding drainage installations

Why 135 Degree Angles Matter

In my years supplying drainage components, I’ve seen countless installations where attempting to navigate obtuse corners without proper angle pieces created problems:

• Forced connections that stressed components and created leak points
• Gaps in coverage where drainage couldn’t follow the pool perimeter properly
• Flow restrictions from makeshift solutions that impeded water movement
• Aesthetic problems where improvised corners looked unprofessional and out of place

The DR4317P provides a purpose-engineered solution specifically designed for 135 degree applications. It maintains structural integrity, ensures smooth water flow, and creates professional-looking installations that perform reliably for years.

Design Flexibility and Problem Solving

Having 135 degree angle pieces available in your drainage component inventory provides design flexibility that’s impossible to achieve with only standard 90 degree corners. This is particularly valuable when:

• Working with existing architectural features that create obtuse angles
• Matching drainage to unique pool shapes that don’t fit standard templates
• Creating custom solutions for one-of-a-kind installations
• Solving layout challenges where standard fittings won’t work

The relatively gentle angle also makes this piece useful for creating gradual transitions where you need to shift drainage channel direction without the abrupt change of sharper corners.

Maintenance and Performance

Once installed, your 135 degree angle piece requires minimal maintenance:

Regular Inspection

Periodically verify that:

• Water flows smoothly through the angle without backing up
• No debris has accumulated at the turn
• Connections remain secure on both sides
• No settling or movement has occurred

Cleaning Considerations

During routine drainage system maintenance:

• The gentler angle typically accumulates less debris than sharper corners
• Access from either direction for thorough cleaning
• Monitor flow patterns to ensure optimal performance continues
• Check seals and connections especially if the system has experienced heavy use

Long-Term Benefits

Properly installed 135 degree angle pieces contribute to:

• Complete perimeter coverage following unique pool geometries
• Optimal flow characteristics with minimal restriction at corners
• Professional appearance that matches architectural design
• System reliability for years of trouble-free operation

Technical Specifications

Specification	Detail
Product Code	DR4317P
Product Type	Drainage Channel Angle Piece
Variant	Type H
Category	Overflow Grating & Drainage Channel
Angle Configuration	135 degrees (obtuse angle)
Primary Function	Obtuse corner navigation and gentle direction changes
Application	Swimming pools, hot tubs, spas, octagonal designs, custom shapes
Installation Type	Corner/angle fitting for direction changes
Material	Rigid PVC construction
Key Features	Obtuse angle design, smooth flow characteristics, architectural compatibility
Design Benefits	Follows non-rectangular geometries, reduced flow restriction, professional appearance
Compatibility	Standard overflow drainage channel systems
Typical Use Cases	Octagonal pools, angled designs, gradual transitions, multi-sided spas
Flow Characteristics	Gentler turn provides better flow than sharp angles

Matching Drainage to Design

The beauty of modern pool and spa design lies in moving beyond simple rectangular boxes to create installations with architectural interest and visual appeal. But sophisticated designs demand drainage systems that can match that complexity. The DR4317P 135 degree angle piece ensures your drainage system can follow obtuse corners and gentle direction changes with the same precision it follows straight sections.

Whether you’re building a new octagonal spa, navigating the angled corners of a contemporary pool design, or creating gradual transitions in your drainage layout, having the correct angle piece makes the difference between a professional installation and a compromised one.

Planning for Success

When planning drainage for pools with obtuse angles:

• Measure carefully to confirm actual corner angles
• Select appropriate fittings rather than forcing standard 90 degree pieces into obtuse corners
• Consider flow patterns and ensure gentle angles support optimal drainage
• Plan complete layouts showing how all components connect and integrate

The DR4317P provides the specialized fitting needed for these applications, ensuring your drainage system performs as well as it looks.

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Note: Accurate measurement and proper fitting selection are essential for successful drainage installation. When working with non-standard pool geometries, consider consulting with experienced pool professionals to ensure optimal component selection and system design.