Gutter and Downpipe Design > Performing a Design > Input
Input
Optionally enter a descriptive title for the design, and then enter the rain storm and roof drainage characteristics:
• Roof dimensions
• Gutter and wind parameters
• Storm parameters
• Gutter dimensions
• Downpipes geometry
• Additional inflow
Any errors detected in the input, are reported in the errors box.
Roof layout
Define the roof layout by entering the roof and downpipe dimensions.
Roof dimensions
The roof being drained can have a rectangular or trapezoidal layout:
• Width of roof from gutter to ridge, Br.
• Length of roof to be drained at the position of the gutter, Lr.
• Horizontal offset the start of the ridge of the roof, Tx1 Leave blank or enter zero for a rectangular roof
area.
• Length of the roof at the ridge, TLr. Enter the same value as for Lr for a rectangular roof area.
• Height of roof from gutter to ridge, Hr.
Gutter and wind parameters:
• Position of the start of the gutter along the length of the roof, x1. Leave blank or enter zero if the gutter
extends for the whole length of the roof.
• Position of the gutter end, x2. Enter the same value as for Lr if the gutter extends for the whole length of
the roof.
• Wind characteristics will determine whether there will be increased water flow compared to the case
where rain is falling vertically:
◦ Driven: The rain is driven unto the roof (at an angle of 26°) resulting in increased water flow
due to rain on sloping roofs. This is accounted for in the analysis by increasing the
impermeable area of the roof (Table 3 of the code).
◦ Perpendicular: The impermeable area of the roof is calculated using Tr, the distance from
the gutter to the ridge measured along the slope of the roof.
◦ None: Rain is falling vertically, and the impermeable roof areas is calculated using the
horizontal distance from the gutter to the ridge, Br.
• Gutter type: Eaves gutter or valley/parapet gutter.
• Risk factor: Factor with which to multiply the minimum rainfall intensity. Refer to Table 2 of
BS 12056-3 - 2000 for more information.
Storm parameters
Enter the following parameters to define the magnitude of the rain storm:
• Return period (years): This parameter is used as a measure of the security of an acceptable degree of
damage. A return period of between five and fifty years is normally used for typical situations. For higher
risk scenarios, a value of one and a half times the expected life of the building and higher should be used.
Refer to the code for detail.
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Gutter and Downpipe Design > Performing a Design > Input
• Two minute M5 rainfall (mm or in): This quantity is defined as the expected rainfall in a two-minute
period during a one in five year storm. Press Select button to display regional data for the United
Kingdom and South Africa, and click a value to select it. Refer to the code or other relevant hydrological
data for regions not listed.
• Design duration (1 to 10 minutes): The M5 rainfall is adjusted for the actual duration in accordance with
Table NB.1 of the code.
Gutter dimensions
Define a rectangular and trapezium-shaped gutter:
• Width at the top of the gutter, B.
• Gutter base width, Bs. Set the value equal to the top width
for a rectangular gutter.
• Overall gutter depth, H.
• Sloped depth, yd of a trapezium shaped gutter, enter the
depth in which the gutter slopes outward from the base.
Leave this input blank or zero for a rectangular gutter.
Downpipes
Define one or more downpipes using the following parameters:
• Position of the downpipe from, measured from the edge of the roof (m or ft).
• The type of outlet influences the flow collected from the gutter (code clause 5.4). The following types of
outlets can be specified:
◦ Type 1: Outlet with sharp corners.
◦ Type 2: Outlet with rounded corners.
◦ Type 3: Outlet with tapered edges not exceeding 45° with the vertical.
• Breadth to width ratio: Use a unity value for square and circular down pipes.
• Width: The larger dimension of the down pipe. Use the diameter in the case of a circular down pipe.
• Rectangular: Indicate if the downpipe is rectangular or circular.
• Drop box: Indicate if the downpipe has a box receiver or sump increases the drainage capacity before
overtopping.
Additional inflow
If draining one or more other roofs into this gutter, enter the location (measured from the start of the roof) (m or ft) and
2 2
the equivalent drainage areas (m or ft ) for each.
More information:
• List of symbols
• Design results
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