Flat Roof Drainage Plan

These are the three types of drainage systems that work best for flat roofs.

Flat roof drainage plan.

Unlike other roofing types that are slanted or sloped to allow water to drain automatically flat roofs need a built in drainage system to help remove moisture and debris. Poor drainage can lead to serious issues with flat roofing from leaks to structural damage. Each of these systems has its own pros and cons. A major maintenance issue shared between all types of roof drains is debris removal.

Using tools from the international plumbing code ipc it s not that hard. There are three types of drain systems commonly used on flat roofs. The drains are often topped by a strainer that prevents leaves and debris from getting into the pipes. The one challenge with flat roofing is ensuring proper drainage.

Check for possible tears or punctures that could have been caused by workmen during snow shoveling if there has been a lot of repairs done around the drain area it s time to. Of course the best designed flat roof has the correct amount of pitch to drain the water off naturally. Determine 100 year 1 hour rainfall rate used for location of building. Inspect the roof surface and roof drains on a regular schedule to find and clear away any debris clogging the drains.

This drainage system is composed of drains placed at intervals near the center of the roof and an internal network of gutters and pipes that move the water to the exterior of the building. There are roof coating products available if there isn t enough slant or slope to accomplish this. Size horizontal storm drainage piping. Ipc provides four steps to size the roof drains on a building.

Your building and location can help determine which drain will fit your roof needs. Inspect the current roof drain s and the drain line through the building for leaks and assure that the materials are.