Why is there a batten behind my cistern?

[WaterApprentice]

Hi I was wondering if anyone could help me please, I’m thinking of replacing my toilet in the cloakroom, the cistern that is in has a batten attached to the wall and then the cistern attached to the batten, why would this be and is it needed to be left/replaced, the current one is still attached to the cistern but came away from the stud wall, hope this helps and hope somebody could shed a little light, thanks guys (I live uk if that helps incase it’s a regulation thing)
WaterApprentice!

 

[Wayners]

To pack the toilet out from wall maybe.

The soil pipe coupling might not be in the correct place for toilet, so it was moved away from wall to line up

 

[WaterApprentice]

Ahhh cheers mate, I was thinking it was because it was a stud wall and the screws to the cistern would pull out easier with it only having 2 fixings rather than a batten that would have 4 maybe 6 so it’d get better hold, kinda like curtain pole battens and handrail battens, feel stupid now and looks like I’ve over thought it, at least I know now for sure, I thought it’d have had a flexi waste fitted if that was the case, my bad we live and learn, glad I asked, now I know I’ll defo leave it off, thanks mate really

 

[Alec_t]

at least I know now for sure

Do you? Wayners used the word "maybe". Spreading the load (as you imply in post #3) is a possible reason too.

 

[Wayners]

Could be a way to take the weight on the wall.
Many toilets get swapped and the soil pipe causes a problem with lining up so cisterns are packed out.
They OP will have to decide if this is the case.
So maybe I'm right or maybe I'm wrong @Alec_t

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Common issue when an old S Trap Low Level pan and cistern were replaced with a Close Coupled WC, with a Horizontal Outlet.

The Pan position was dictated by the outgoing soil pipe/drain, which ware often clayware and/or encased in concrete/screed, and as the cistern position is rigid with a Close Coupled setup, invariably the cistern sat a few inches proud of the wall. (With Low Level WC's the Flush pipe can be made to suit the gap.) Digging up the floor to alter the soil pipe position was/is a monumental task for what little benefit would be gained, so a common workaround was/is to batten the wall out to meet the Cistern.

We used to put a few tiles on the top of the battens to create a shelf, and make it more aesthetically pleasing.