IPC Code Question

Of The Week
While running departments and teaching classes the following questions have been asked and many times the answer seems confusing. The following is
an interpretation and/or explanation of the International codes or NEC. As always , the building official for your jurisdiction has the final say on an
interpretation of the code.

John England has been teaching inspectors and building officials for over 25 years. For further information on this code question
email classes@ibcode.net. Visit our website at https://ibcode.com/Code_Questions.html for an archive of code questions.

According to the 2012 IPC, a 3" diameter vertical leader used on a building in an area with an estimated
rainfall rate of 6 inches per hour, can be used to evacuate water from a maximum _____ square feet of
horizontal roof area.
A. 1,470
B. 1,760
C. 3,070
D. 3,680

Process Has Been Completely

Changed In The 2015 IPC
See Following Pages

Testing done by the American Society of Plumbing Engineers revealed that they
have been sizing roof drain systems incorrectly for the last 40 years. They were
using a diameter of pipe that was not being fully utilized because they overestimated the ability of the roof drain itself to handle the water. Also as a result of
this, the rate of water flow off of the roof was overestimated, which caused some
structural failures the past couple of years. So now they have a new simple table
1106.2 that basis the pipe size off of the roof drain flow rate published by the
manufacturer.

Tables 1106.2(1), 1106.2(2) and 1106.3 were deleted for this simple table.
Manufacturers are in a hurry to develop head-of-water versus flow rate data for roof drains,
because head of water above a roof drain must be coordinated with the structural capacity of
the roof. Right now they are using the (gpm) of the roof drains stated in the table above, and
assuming that the flow in gpm of 1-inch-per-hour rainfall on 1 square foot of horizontal
surface is 0.0104 gpm.
So if the Design Professional said you had a head-of-water that required a drain to handle 25
gpm, then you would use a drain that the manufacturer says will handle 34 gpm and 2 inch
pipe with a horizontal slope of at least 1/4 per foot.

So the new process for a Design Professional is:

1) Choose a specific roof drain based on the manufacturers published flow rate.
2) Verify the head of water required for that flow rate meets the structural capacity as
designed by the Design Professional.
3) Choose pipe size based on new tables.

Secondary roof drains and scuppers will still come into play when designing the roof system,
as the Design Professional will use these to regulate the height of head-of-water and the
flow rate at a drain in order to meet structural capabilities of the roof.
Inspectors will now have to verify that the contractor has used the drains that are included
on the approved construction drawings.

Table 1106.6 greatly simplified!

Again, this table assumes that the flow in gpm of 1inch-per-hour rainfall on 1 square foot of horizontal
surface is 0.0104 gpm.