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5StepstoCalculateTotal
RoofDrainsNeeded

Thereare5easystepstofigureouthow
manydrainsyourcommercialroofing
projectwillneed.

Step1:Calculatetotal
roofarea
Calculatethetotalroofareaby
multiplyingitslengthbywidth.
Example:A200ft.x250ft.=50,000
sq.ft.area.

Step2:Determineleadersize
Determineleaderorpipesize.Followingarethestandardsizesforsomeofthe
topmanufacturers:
=XUQDQGLQ
-RVDPDQGLQ
:DGHDQGLQ
6PLWKDQGLQ

Step3:Findrainfallrate
Findtherainfallrateforthebuildingslocation.Themostaccurateandupto
dateresourceforrainfallratesisgoingtobeyourlocalcodes.
However,thereareresourcesliketheInternationalCodeCouncilthatlistthe
rainfallratesforlargercitiesinall50states.Thisshouldbeusedonlyasa
generalreference

Step4:Findtheareahandledbyonedrain
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Usingthechartbelow,findthetotalsquarefootageonedraincanhandlebased
onhourlyrainfallrate.
Leader
/Pipe
Size
(in.)

2,880

1,920 1,440 1,150

8,800

5,860 4,400 3,520 2,930 2,200 1,760 1,470 1,260 1,100

HourlyRainfall(in.)
1.5

2.5

480

410

360

TotalSq.Ft.CoveredPerDrain
960

720

575

18,400 12,700 9,200 7,360 6,130 4,600 3,680 3,070 2,630 2,300

34,600 23,05017,30013,84011,530 8,650 6,920 5,765 4,945 4,325

54,000 36,00027,00021,60018,00013,50010,800 9,000 7,715 6,750

116,00077,40058,00046,40038,66029,00023,20019,31516,57014,500

ThistableisbasedonZurn'sRoofDrainVerticalRequirementforHorizontalRoof
AreasatVariousRainfallRatestable.Theabovesizingdataisofferedasaguide
only.

Step5:Calculatedrainsneeded
Taketheroofstotalsquarefootageanddividebythetotalsquarefootage
handledbyonedrain.Theresultisthenumberofdrainsneeded.
Forexample:50,000/4,400=11.36or12drainsrequired.

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