Integrated Building Services.

The Roofline, Roof Drainage

Rainwater Intensity,
and it’s Design.
Roof Drainage and Design.
The roofline is the most vulnerable part of a house!
It is exposed to all types of weather conditions; wind, rain, sleet and snow etc.
 Roof Drainage and Design.

Damp Penetration:
There are many reasons why a building suffers from
damp penetration. The main reasons are faulty
rainwater goods such as gutters and down pipes.

With blocked or leaking gutters comes the problem of

rotting fascia boards allowing dampness into the
house, which becomes quite an expense.

It can result in the growth of moulds and fungi, damage

to the interior (and exterior) decor, wood rot, and
ultimately damage to the structure of the building.
Roof Drainage and Design.
The Fascia is the long straight board that runs along the lower
edge of the roof. It is fixed directly to the roof trusses and
usually does all the work of supporting and carrying the
guttering.
Roof Drainage and Design.

The Bargeboard is purely decorative and doesn’t carry

any guttering.

The Soffit board is tucked away underneath in a

supporting role to the other two boards.

The soffit board also provides a vital function in providing

ventilation to the roofs of centrally heated houses.

Without adequate ventilation, condensation would form

in the roof void increasing the risk of timber decay.
Roof Drainage and Design.

Gutters.
(Carry the rainwater)
A gutter should be laid with a slight fall towards the outlet.
Gutters fixed with a fall have a greater carrying capacity than
when fixed level.
Experiments by the Building Research Establishment have
shown that an eaves gutter with a fall of 1 in 600 will carry up
to 40 % more water than when fixed level.

The increased flow also helps to prevent silting up of the

gutter.
Roof Drainage and Design.
Materials used guttering:-
• Cast Iron (18th century as an alternative to lead)
• UPVC EN607
• Stainless Steel (no rust, easy clean, but expensive)
• Seamless Gutters (produced on the spot, or made to order 
no waste)
• Zinc
• Copper

Most Fascia and Soffit are UPVC or Seamless.

Note:- There are a lot of specialists manufacturing, supplying

and installing such systems.
Roof Drainage and Design.

Too great a fall looks unsightly and will sometimes allow

water falling from the roof to miss the gutter.
See Building Regulations Technical Guidance documents.

600
Roof Drainage and Design.

For the same volume of rainwater, the greater the

number of outlets along a gutter and the shorter the
distance along the gutter the rainwater has to travel,
the more efficient the system becomes.

Example:
Roof Drainage and Design.

B is more efficient than A

C is more efficient than B

Roof Drainage and Design.

Information on the frequency of heavy rainfalls is

often required by engineers, architects and others,
usually in connection with design criteria for water
management or drainage schemes. In most cases it
would be uneconomic to construct a system capable
of coping with the most extreme rainfall possible,
even if the magnitude of this is known.
Instead, it is usual to design the system so that it will
be capable of accommodating a rainfall likely to be
exceeded only once in a specified number of years.
Roof Drainage and Design.

RAINWATER PIPES AND GUTTERS

Rainfall Intensity in Ireland:
Roof drainage calculations in Ireland can usually be based on a
rainfall intensity of 75 mm/hour, but short storms of a high
intensity of 150 mm/hour or more do occur and this high
value should be used for situations where overflowing might
cause serious damage.
Note:- This may be changing and needs monitoring.

We need to use a formula to assist us in sizing gutters

depending on the circumstances.
Roof Drainage and Design.
Flow Load/Rate:

The rate of run-off from a roof may be found from the following
formula:

Rate of = effective area (m2) x rainfall intensity (m/hour)

run-off (m3/s) 3600
or
Flow load = effective area (m2) x rainfall (m/hour)
(m3/s) 3600

Rate of run-off = Flow load = Q (Symbol for run off)

Q = roof area (m2) x rainfall (m/hour) x 1000

(litre/sec) 3600
Roof Drainage and Design.
Example 1

Calculate the flow load from a roof having an effective area of

50m2 when the rainfall intensity is 75 mm/hour.

Rate of = effective area (m2) x rainfall (m/hour) x 1000

run-off (l/s) 3600
75 mm/hour = 0.075 m/hour
 Rate of run-off = 50 x 0.075 x 1000
(l/s) 3600
Rate of run-off = 1.042 litres/sec
Roof Drainage and Design.
Effective Roof Area;
To calculate the effective roof area we will be
assuming that all roofs will be drained from
the centre to two sides, and that all the roofs
are symmetrical.

When sizing the gutters and downpipes it will

then only be necessary to size them for one
side as the same system will work for the
other side, (in almost all cases).
Roof Drainage and Design.
FLAT ROOFS.
For roofs with a pitch of less than 10 simply take the effective
roof area to be ½ the plan roof
Roof Drainage and Design.
Effective Roof Area - Run-off from vertical walls:

If a roof is bounded by vertical walls rising above the

roof, some allowance should be made for the
additional run-off from these walls. It is not safe to
allow for absorption of water by the wall surfaces,
even when these are of porous material.

If only one wall is involved, half its area should be

added to the roof area to be drained
 Roof Drainage and Design.
The figure of the effective wall area should be added to the effective roof
area to give the overall area.

Half of wall area added to the roof area A

which eaves
Roof for required eaves gutter is
required.

Effective wall area = ½

(D x E)
 Roof Drainage and Design.
Building Regulations 1997
Technical Guidance Document H
Drainage and Waste Water Disposal
Sub-section 1.5 Surface Water Drainage
Table 14 Calculation of area drained
Type of Surface Effective area (m2)
1 f lat r o o f 0 u p t o 10 p lan ar ea o f r elevan t
p o r t io n
2 Pit ch ed 11 u p t o 30 p lan ar ea o f p o r t io n x
roof 1.15
31 u p t o 45 p lan ar ea o f p o r t io n x
1.40
46 u p t o 70 p lan ar ea o f p o r t io n x
2.00
o v er 70 elevat io n al ar ea x 0.5
3 w alls elevat io n al ar ea x 0.5
Roof Drainage and Design.
Table 15 shows the largest effective areas which should be drained into the gutter
sizes which are most often used. These sizes are for a gutter which is laid level,
half-round in section with a sharp edged outlet at only one end.
 Roof Drainage and Design.

Example 2 Rate of run-off

Find the rate of run off for a flat = roof area (m2) x rainfall (m/hour) x 1000(l/sec)
roof 20 x 12 m. 12 m
3600

20 m The area to be drained to each

gutter is 10m x 12m soQ =

(10 x 12) x (0.075) x 1000

3600

Q = 2.5 litre/sec
 Roof Drainage and Design.

Example 3

A f lat r o o f o f d im en sio n s 20m x 10m is laid t o f all t o a PVC g u t t er

alo n g each lo n g sid e. Fin d t h e ap p r o p r iat e g u t t er an d d o w n p ip e size
w h en t h e g u t t er is t o slo p e at a f all o f 1 in 600.

10 m

20 m
Roof Drainage and Design.
Rate of run-off:
Q = roof area (m2) x rainfall (m/hour) x 1000 (l/sec)
3600
The area to be drained to each gutter is 10m x 10m so
Q = (10 x 10) x (0.075) x 1000
3600
Q = 2.083 litre/sec
From Table 15, one 150mm  gutter and one 89mm  downpipe
could cope with a flow capacity of 2.16 litre/sec from a maximum
effective roof area of 103m2.

This will be fine in this situation as the roof area to be drained is 100m2
and our flow capacity is 2.08 litre/sec.

A smaller gutter could be used if an extra down pipe was appropriate.

Roof Drainage and Design.
Example 4
Size the gutters and downpipes for a roof of dimensions 10m x 4m
with a pitch of 52.
Plan area of roof is 10m x 4m.
So the gutter will be placed along the 4m length.
Roof Drainage and Design.
To calculate the effective area, the plan area would be 5m x 4m.
Plan area = 20 m2.
From Table 14, with a pitch of 52,
the effective area = plan area x 2.

So the plan area = 2 x 20 = 40 m2

Rate of run-off:

Q = roof area (m2) x rainfall (m/hour) x 1000 (l/sec)

3600
Roof Drainage and Design.
Q = (40) x (0.075) x 1000
3600
Q = 0.833 litre/sec

From Table 15, one 115mm  gutter and one 63mm  downpipe
could cope with a flow capacity of 1.11 litre/sec from a maximum
effective roof area of 53m2.

This will work as the roof area to be drained is 40m2 and our rate of
run-off is 0.833 litre/sec.
Roof Drainage and Design.
Example 5
Size the gutters and downpipes for a roof of dimensions 20m x 10m
with a pitch of 30.
Plan area of roof is 20m x 10m.The gutter is to be placed along the
10m length.
Roof Drainage and Design.
To calculate the effective area, the plan area for each half of the roof,
and therefore each gutter, would be 10m x 10m.

Plan area = 100 m2.

From Table 14, with a pitch of 30, the effective area is plan area x
1.15.

So the plan area = 1.15 x 100 = 115 m2.

Rate of run-off:

Q = roof area (m2) x rainfall (m/hour) x 1000 (l/sec)

3600
Roof Drainage and Design.
Q = (115) x (0.075) x 1000
3600

Q = 2.396 litre/sec

Looking at Table 15, there is no one gutter and downpipe which can
cope with a flow capacity of approximately 2.4 litres/sec. So in this
case, we need to use more than one downpipe.

If we use 2 downpipes, this would mean that each downpipe and

section of gutter would only have to be able to cope with run-off from
half the roof area again.

The effective area = 115 m2

Roof Drainage and Design.
So using 2 downpipes,

new effective area = 115  2 = 57.5 m2

New rate of run-off = 2.4  2= 1.198 l/sec

From Table 15, a 125mm  gutter and 75mm  downpipe could cope with a
flow capacity of 1.37 litre/sec from a maximum effective roof area of 65m2.

So 2 x 125mm  gutters and 2 x 75mm  downpipes.

This will work as the roof area to be drained is 57.5m2 and our rate of run-off
is 1.198 litre/sec.

The downpipes could be placed at either end of the guttering, but placing
them in from the end would give a more efficient system.
Roof Drainage and Design.
Example 6
Size the gutters and downpipes for a roof of dimensions 35m x 20m
with a pitch of 32. Plan area of roof is 35m x 20m.
The gutter is to be placed along the 20m length.

35 m

20 m
Roof Drainage and Design.
To calculate the effective area, the plan area for each half of the roof,
and therefore each gutter, would be 17.5m x 20m.

Plan area = 350 m2.

From Table 14, with a pitch of 32,

the effective area = plan area x 1.40

So effective area = 1.40 x 350 = 490m2.

Rate of run-off:
Q = roof area (m2) x rainfall (m/hour) x 1000 (l/sec)
3600
Roof Drainage and Design.
Q = (490) x (0.075) x 1000
3600

Q = 10.21 litre/sec

Looking at Table 15, there is no one gutter and downpipe which can
cope with a flow capacity of over 10 litres/sec. So in this case, we need
to use more than one downpipe.

The flow capacity and effective areas calculated for this roof are almost
5 times the maximum values quoted in Table 15. This suggests that 5
downpipes are needed, one every 4 metres along the length.
 Roof Drainage and Design.
The effective area = 490 m2
So using 5 downpipes,
new effective area = 98 m2

And new rate of run-off = 2.04 litre/sec

From Table 15, a 150mm  gutter and one 89mm  downpipe could cope with
a flow capacity of 2.16 litre/sec from a maximum effective roof area of 103m2.

This will work as the roof area to be drained is 98m2 and our rate of run-off is
2.04 litre/sec. i.e. 5 downpipes, 1 every 4 metres.

NOTE:
The largest sized guttering available from most suppliers is 150mm ..
But larger ones are available.
Roof Drainage and Design.
Example 7
Size the gutters and downpipes for the pitch roof building 10m x 8m
with a pitch of 30. Note: the wall bounding the roof.
 Roof Drainage and Design.
Solution;
Assume a rainfall intensity of 75 mm/hour.
The plan area of the roof is 10m x 4m = 40m2

From Table 14, to calculate the effective area of a roof with a pitch up to
30, the plan area must be multiplied by 1.15

Therefore, effective area = 40 x 1.15 = 46m2

But consideration must be made for the wall draining onto the roof.
The effective area of this must be calculated and added to give an overall
effective area.

The effective area of a wall draining onto a roof is half the area of the
wall section affecting the roof.
 Roof Drainage and Design.
So effective area = ½ (6 x 2) = ½ (12) = 6

Then, Total Effective Area = 46 + 6 = 52 m2

Flow capacity (Rate of run-off):

= roof area (m2) x rainfall (m/hour) x 1000

3600

= (52) x (0.075) x 1000

3600
= 52 x 0.02083

= 1.083 litre/sec
 Roof Drainage and Design.
From Table 15, a 115 mm  gutter and one 63mm  downpipe could cope with
1.08 litres/sec draining a roof 52 m2.
Next check if this size gutter will work for both sides of the Building.
Opposite roof side has no wall draining onto it so;
Total Effective Area = 46 m2

Q = roof area (m2) x rainfall (m/hour) x 1000 (l/sec)

3600
= (46) x (0.075) x 1000
3600
= 0.958 litre/sec

From Table 15, one 115 mm  gutter and one

63 mm  downpipe could cope with 0.958 litres/sec draining a roof 46 m2.
(the same for both sides)
 Roof Drainage and Design.
Example 8
Size the gutters and downpipes for both the buildings shown, each having a 20 roof
pitch. The buildings must be designed to cope with a rainfall intensity of 150mm /
hour.
 Roof Drainage and Design.
SOLUTION
Building A
The plan area of the roof is 20m x 7.5m = 150m2
From Table 14, to calculate the effective area of a roof with a pitch of to 20,
the plan area must be multiplied by 1.15
Therefore, effective area = 150 x 1.15 = 172.5 m2
Flow capacity (Rate of run-off):
= roof area (m2) x rainfall (m/hour) x 1000
3600
= (172.5) x (0.15) x 1000
3600
= 7.1875 litre/sec
Looking at Table 15, there is no one gutter and downpipe which can cope with a
flow capacity of approximately 7.2 litres/sec. So we need to use more than one
downpipe.
 Roof Drainage and Design.
SOLUTION
The largest gutter available can only handle 2.16 litres/sec flow.
If we use 4 downpipes, this would mean that each downpipe and section of
gutter would only have to be able to cope with a quarter of the flow capacity.

Flow capacity = 7.2 litre/sec

Using 4 downpipes,
the flow capacity to each pipe = 1.8 litre/sec

From Table 15, a 150mm  gutter and 89mm  downpipe could cope with a
flow capacity of 1.8 litre/sec (we need 4 outlets)
NOTE: If the gutter had been selected based on the max effective area values
from Table 15 then only two downpipes would have been used. This would not
work for the rainfall intensity of 150 mm/hour.
The flow rate takes precedence.
 Roof Drainage and Design.

Building B
The plan area of the roof is 8m x 5m = 40m2

From Table 14, to calculate the effective area of a roof with a pitch
of to 20, the plan area must be multiplied by 1.15

Therefore, effective area = 40 x 1.15 = 46m2

But consideration must be made for the wall draining onto the
roof.
 Roof Drainage and Design.
The effective area of this must be calculated and added to give an overall
effective area.
The effective area of a wall draining onto a roof is half the area of the wall
section affecting the roof.
So effective area = ½ (8 x 2) = ½ (16) = 8
Then, Total Effective Area = 46 + 8 = 54 m2

Q = roof area (m2) x rainfall (m/hour) x 1000 (l/sec)

3600

= (54) x (0.15) x 1000

3600

= 2.25 litre/sec
 Roof Drainage and Design.
Looking at Table 15, there is no one gutter and downpipe which can cope with a
flow capacity of approximately 2.25 litres/sec. So we need to use more than one
downpipe.

But the calculated flow capacity value is just over the flow capacity value for the
largest gutter given in Table 15, so we will only need to use 2 downpipes in total.

But there is no need to select the largest gutter size available. A 125 mm 
gutter and 75 mm  downpipe (2) could cope with half the flow capacity, 1.125
litre/sec.

NOTE: If the guttering and downpipes had been sized solely based on the max
effective area values from Table 1 only one downpipe would have been used, and
so the system would be undersized.
The flow rate takes precedence.
 Roof Drainage and Design.
Next check if this size gutter will work for both sides of Building B.
Opposite roof side has no wall draining onto it so;
Total Effective Area = 46 m2

Q = roof area (m2) x rainfall (m/hour) x 1000 (l/sec)

3600
= (46) x (0.15) x 1000
3600
= 1.92 litre/sec

From Table 15, one 150 mm  gutter and one

89mm  downpipe could cope with 1.92 litres/sec draining a roof 46 m2.
It is likely that the same system as the other side of the building (a 125 mm 
gutter and 75 mm  downpipes(2)) could be used. It would be slightly oversized
but would make ordering and installing easier.
Roof Drainage and Design.

END

Any Questions.