What is a Roof Scupper?

A scupper is basically a detail in a roof system that allows water to discharge from the roof into a downspout or leader without having to run through the interior of the building and makes the roof drained. It can be either a metal edge, parapet wall, or a deck.

Normally, scumper drains do not provide protection against water back-up, so, in a situation where they cannot be drained correctly to the outside of the building, they are not recommended as a means of providing drainage.

Additionally, if the drain lines for the scuppers are outside of the building during the winter weather conditions, they can also be at risk of freezing due to their external location and lack of exposure to the heated atmosphere inside of the building as they run under the ground.

Which situations require scuppers?

Integrated drainage systems are used for the purpose of two things: primary drainage and overflow. The purpose of roof scuppers on your commercial building needs to be determined before you start researching maintenance services or alternative installation options that may be more appropriate for your needs.

There are several ways in which primary drainage can be used to remove a significant amount of water from a roof. In order to meet the requirements of the states in which they are used, these scuppers must meet code requirements. In general, they must have a height of at least four inches and a width at least equal to the circumference of an appropriate roof drain, in order for them to be considered suitable. There is a possibility that your roof may not be able to drain adequately if it is any smaller.

The overflow drainage scuppers are typically holes that do not have any downspouts or other intricate details. This is due to the fact that these scuppers are specifically designed to remove water when there is a blockage in the primary system which makes them ideal for this task. Roof drains can be used with overflow drains, as well as roof scuppers that collect primary drainage in the roof.

There may be a combination of scuppers and roof drains on your roof. If you notice any areas of pooled water on your flat roof, take some time to check them. There are several reasons why scruppers are a great renovation project since there is no need to run any additional piping inside your commercial building to do so.

What Are the Advantages of Roof Scuppers?

If you are seeking an affordable solution for installing a new system on your flat roof, scuppers are probably one of the most suitable options. Scuppers that have been sized properly won’t clog with small sticks, leaves, and other debris that can cause them to clog. Because they don’t direct water to any part of the building, there is very little risk of leaky pipes causing water damage throughout the building.

Scuppers are still compatible with downspouts, so you don’t need to worry about pools of water around your foundation, since you can use downspouts with them. Easily channel water to the most convenient The With the use of this unique drainage system, you do not have to worry about constantly cleaning and maintaining your roof drain system because you are able to eliminate this necessity.

What Are the Disadvantages of Roof Scuppers?

While wide scuppers are unlikely to face clogs, smaller scuppers and downspouts tend to have problems with clogs from time to time. When a downspout becomes clogged with debris, it won’t immediately cause water to enter your building, but it can cause pools of water to accumulate on your flat roof as a result. Mold, mildew, and leak problems can occur as a result of this over time.

Some scuppers don’t have a downspout or aren’t sealed to the top of the downspout, which results in water not flowing out. Hence, if this is the case for your building, it is likely that some water will be draining directly down its side, regardless of the system you are using. It can lead to foundation problems as well as flooding in your commercial building’s basement level if this happens.

A scupper is basically a detail in a roof system that allows water to discharge from the roof into a downspout or leader without having to run through the interior of the building and makes the roof drained. It can be either a metal edge, parapet wall, or a deck.

Normally, scumper drains do not provide protection against water back-up, so, in a situation where they cannot be drained correctly to the outside of the building, they are not recommended as a means of providing drainage.

Additionally, if the drain lines for the scuppers are outside of the building during the winter weather conditions, they can also be at risk of freezing due to their external location and lack of exposure to the heated atmosphere inside of the building as they run under the ground.

What is a Roof Drain?

Roof drains, in contrast, are an effective method of draining the water running off the roof assembly. Water runs off the roof assembly into a pipe that runs through the interior of the building before it is discharged either into the ground or into the storm sewer system of any given building.

Roof drains are in most cases also installed in such a manner that they are able to prevent water from leaking out of them if there is some obstruction somewhere along the drain line, and in this case, the water from the drain will not be able to leak out.

Roof Drain Types

Roof drains are available in various types according to the slope or flatness of the roof. As mentioned previously, the specification of a roof drain depends on several factors, including the roof design, the roof size, the roofing material, the roofing pitch, the roof load, the aesthetics, the amount of average rainfall, the storm design criteria, the drainage rate and overflow requirements, the drain location, the maintenance requirements and other features, including vandal-proofing.

• Siphonic Roof Drains

Location: The siphonic roof drain is one of the most popular types of roof drain employed on commercial flat roofs.

Description: It uses siphoning as the drainage mechanism, which has a greater capacity when water is vacuumed and then run directly into the roof drain via horizontal leaders to ensure full capacity rather than relying solely on gravity as it does with sloped pipes that rely on gravity alone. Typically, they are made from galvanized steel, which is a strong material.

Advantages and Disadvantages: There are a number of advantages associated with roof drains that include the fact that they can be connected to one rain leader, which allows for easy connection of a small number of roof drains, the fact that they work smoothly and drain more rapidly than other types of roof drains, the fact that they tend to be relatively low maintenance, and the fact that they can be connected together to one leader. It is important to note, however, that these drain systems are typically more expensive than other drain systems.

• Gutter Systems

Location: Gutter systems normally can be located at the bottom edge(s) of a roof and are fully visible from the outside.

Description: Conventional gutter systems are suitable for certain low-slope roofs with slopes of more than 2% and are ideal for roofs with a slope of up to 5%. It is a system of downspouts, splash blocks, or underground drain lines that collect rainwater from roofs and displace it away from the building’s foundations so that it can be diverted away from the foundation. The slope of gutters is generally sloped at a minimum of 1 inch for every 40 feet of a gutter run. The size of these slats is usually determined by the drainage area of the roof and the material used is typically galvanized steel, aluminium, copper, or copper jacketed with lead.

Advantages and disadvantages: The gutter system is a simple and inexpensive way to maintain the roof, but it requires frequent cleaning and maintenance, can be unattractive, and can cause the roof to freeze in the winter.

• Inner Roof Drains

Location: Flat roofs often use inner roof drains to carry out drainage where it is not desirable for those fixtures to be visible from the roof deck.

Description: Inner roof drains are usually composed of a low section or channel that collects water on the roof at the roof edge and takes that water to a hidden drain or series of concealed drains that eventually lead to a below-surface drainage system. Stainless steel can be used for making them.

Advantages and disadvantages: Inner roof drains offer several advantages over external roof drains, including the fact that they are invisible from the ground, they can be strategically placed in several roof areas, and they are not susceptible to ice dams or cracking, although careful maintenance is required to prevent problems. Interior flat roof drains on the other hand are the most expensive types of flat roof drainage systems, since they require the installation of strainers in order to prevent debris buildup in the system and require routine checks to ensure there has been no buildup of debris.

• Roof Drain Liners

Location: The roof drain liners are installed inside the existing roof drains in order to prevent damage.

Description: Epoxy liners are installed within existing roof drains and are used to repair roof drains that have faults or sections that are deteriorated to the point that they no longer function efficiently.

Advantages and Disadvantages: These roof drain liners are made of high quality materials, are seamless and will cover the entire length of a drain if necessary, or only the deteriorated section of a drain if that is all that is needed, can save a large amount of time, reduce costs, and ensure that drainage is restored back to normal without long delays.