It is very necessary to drain off the roof water totally within 48 hours. The commercial, as well as the industrial roofs, may use the combo of various drainage components. If you have drainage issues on your roof then you will need to have a proper understanding of every element of the roof drainage system and its working process.
Components of roof drainage system
The chief indicator about your roof’s capability to drain off water is not for the presence of an individual roof component but the design. The roofs having low-slopes are constructed with that much pitch to direct the water to the roof drains and then off from your roof. All the drainage components, layout, dimension, quantity etc are taken into consideration during drafting, designing and planning steps before new construction. All in all your Roof drainage system is likely to contain the below-mentioned components:
1) Internal Drains
- a) Drains
These are quite similar to that of the drains present in your shower works. The internal roof drains also consist of plumbing that paves inside the building for diverting water. A pipe system is installed under the roof. The roof drains are mainly found on the roofs, exactly near to the centre of your building. A well-experienced engineer or architect can determine the placement of drains through evaluation of the location on your rooftop which can collect the water. Roofing contractors can clear the stones and vegetation from the drain bowl, drain sump area and drain basket but when the drain line gets clogged itself, then an experienced plumber needs to be called for.
- b) Drain Strainer/Basket/Dome
The drain baskets are the strainers that are set on the drain and twisted a bit to lock into a clamping ring. It prevents huge debris and vegetation from going into the internal drain pipes. The price of drain baskets is much affordable. Replacing the drain basket will not cost much but a plumber can charge more to just twist the drain when it gets backed up. The drain strainer/ baskets can come in various shapes and are made up of different materials such as cast iron, plastic etc. If your roof drainage system is missing the drain basket immediately get one so that it will be easy to catch spare parts, soda bottles, rags and many more materials left behind at the end of the roof drain.
- c) Crickets
The crickets are insulation that is cut or created into inverted v-shaped or diamond ridges that can direct the water to the drains without any ponding. These tools are sometimes situated in the front of huge curbs at the parapet walls for diverting water to the drain or via wall scupper. Mostly these are used on low-slope roofs. If you want to change the direction of the drainage then use crickets on a steep slope.
- d) Drain Sump Pan
Another good way for drawing water towards the roof drains is through a sump pan. These are metal plates that entrail the drain below the roof level that is essential otherwise it will be too high to be effective.
2) Perimeter Drainage
- a) Scuppers
The scuppers are openings in the wall side of open-air structures that are installed into the parapet walls. If there are no internal drains (Suppose blocked), the scuppers can prevent the roof from holding water just like a bathtub. The openings are like levels with roof surfaces (a little bit higher if it is a case of emergency/secondary scuppers). It allows water to get drained out from the roof’s edges. These scripers can also be used in confluence with gutters or conductors.
b)
Conductor Head
The conductor heads are helpful in channelling water that runs from houses’ gutters to the downspouts. The conductor head catches excess of the water and keeps downspouts from submerged by directing a much more controlled runoff. The conductor head name goes by different other names such as collector head, collection box, gutter head etc). These all tools function the same as the conductor’s head and are made up of sheet metal.
- c) Gutters and Downspouts
Both gutters and downspouts are an important part of the roof drainage system. Gutters are horizontal surface water collection channels. This component channels the water which rolls off from the roof to the downspouts and slightly away from your building.
The vertical pipes are commonly known as downspouts which carry water from your roof to the ground level. Remain sure that the water has to flow freely and be secured.
Each and every component of the roof drainage system serves an important part, especially in the rainy season. Maintaining the drains is important so that they can work efficiently. The purpose of the roof drain is to get away from the excess water. Designed in a way to prevent pooling on surface roofs and finally preventing the damage of homes from the water.
