I work in a retail store, and one of the fitting rooms (in the back corner of the store) has an open PVC pipe protruding a couple of inches from the wall. I don't know what it's for or where it goes to, but most days, there is a distinct rotten smell coming from the pipe. The smell tends to be stronger when it rains or snows. Is this potentially harmful? Could there be some sort of leak?
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those are usually designed to be sewage pipes. Should've had a cap, either a cover or a screw in, they are used in an event of a clog where a snake can be inserted to clean the pipe system. You should get it capped before an overflow occurs.
Measure the inside diameter of the pipe. Go to a plumbing supply store (or a Home Depot) and ask for a test plug. It'll be obvious what to do next.
It may be a vent pipe for the sanitary drains. Look above the ceiling of the fitting room and see if there is also a pipe going up to the roof. Whoever built the rooms may have been stupid enough to cut it. If this is the case then the pipe needs to be reconnected. Capping it would prevent the drains from working properly On the other hand it may have been cleanout or a drain for a makeshift sink or something in which case capping it would be fine.
