UNDERSTANDING

THE NCC
GUTTER AND DOWNPIPE PROVISIONS FOR HOUSING

The Performance Requirements of the National Construction Code (NCC) can be met by either using a Performance Solution,1
a Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution (i.e. complying with the DtS Provisions) or a combination of both. The following is a general
representation of the DtS acceptable construction practice provisions in the NCC for the selection and installation of gutters
and downpipes, including overflow measures, for housing. Housing is classified as Class 1 and 10 buildings. It is based on a
national perspective and does not address any State or Territory variations.2 This information is useful for building designers,
hydraulic consultants, plumbers, builders and other on-site trades.
The gutter and downpipe provisions for housing are in Volume Two of the NCC.
The requirement to install drainage systems from roofs and sub-soil drains should be confirmed with the appropriate authority.
These provisions need only be applied when drainage systems are necessary.

The ABCB has developed a ‘Gutter, Downpipe and Overflow’ (GDO) Calculator which can be found in the
Resource Library of the ABCB website.

EAVE GUTTERS NCC Volume Two (Part 3.5.2)

An eave gutter is a gutter that is fixed to a fascia (or an eave) to catch rainwater 5 MINUTE DURATION
running off a roof and is part of a roof drainage system. An eave gutter must be
supported by suitably fixed brackets at the stop ends and spaced at not more RAINFALL INTENSITY
than 1.2 m centres along the entire length of the gutter. Eave gutters must have a EXAMPLES
minimum fall of 1:500 (unless fixed to a metal fascia).
Table 3.5.2.1 in Volume Two shows
The minimum size required for an eave gutter is dependent on a number of that Mackay in QLD has a 5 minute
factors. First, you need to consider the location of the building. Different locations duration rainfall intensity of 250 mm/h
have different rainfall intensities that the roof drainage system must cope with. for a storm with an average recurrence
For selection of eave gutters, a rainfall intensity of 5 minute duration and 20 year interval (ARI) of 1 in 20 years. For
average recurrence interval expressed as millimetres per hour (mm/h) is used. Albury in NSW, it is 139 mm/h.
Rainfall intensities for different locations are shown in Table 3.5.2.1 of Volume Two.

1 Previously known as an ‘Alternative Solution’.

2 State and Territory variations and additions to the NCC are located in the NCC. The NCC is available at the ABCB website.

© 2017 Commonwealth of Australia and States and Territories of Australia The ABCB website is www.abcb.gov.au
 Once a rainfall intensity is identified, the catchment area of the roof (that is to flow GUTTER SELECTION
into the gutter) must be determined. Typically this is done by multiplying the length
of the eave gutter by the distance between the ridge and the eave gutter. For EXAMPLE
example if the gutter is 3 metres long and the distance from the gutter to the ridge is Table 3.5.2.2a shows that 30 square
3 metres, then the catchment area of the roof is 9 square metres (3 m x 3 m = 9 m2). metres of roof catchment area
Once the rainfall intensity and roof catchment area are known, the appropriate (which flows into one downpipe) in a
type/size of eave gutter is selected using Table 3.5.2.2a in Volume Two. location with a design rainfall intensity
of 255 mm/h, requires a minimum of
Volume Two of the NCC has provisions for two types of eave gutter: A or C type gutter.
• Rectangular gutter;
• D (quad) gutter.

Rectangular gutter D (quad) gutter

Rectangular gutter
These gutters are then broken down into six gutter types (based on their size and shape). They are labelled A through to F and
Top of fascia
are described below.
10 mm Top of fascia
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Gutter types (as per Table 3.5.2.2b of NCC Volume Two) 10 mm

Gutter type A is a medium rectangular gutter with a minimum 25 mm sectional area of 6,500 mm².
cross
B is a large rectangular gutter with a minimum cross sectional area of 7,900 mm².
10 mm
Gutter type
10 mm
type C is a 115 mm D gutter with a minimum cross sectional area of 5,200 mm².
GutterSpacer
Spacer
Gutter type D is a 125 mm D gutter with a minimum cross sectional area of 6,300 mm².
Gutter type E is a 150 mm D gutter with a minimum cross sectional area of 9,000 mm².
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Gutter type F must be designed in accordance with the joint Australian
10 mm and New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 3500.3 or Section
5 of AS/NZS 3500.5. Top of fascia
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25 mm
25 mm

BOX GUTTERS NCC Volume Two (Part 3.5.2)

100 mm
100 mm

A box gutter is typically a gutter that is set into the slope of a roof. As a box gutter is usually located above a room or space in
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a building, there an increased risk that rainwater overflow could cause damage to the building, or cause loss of amenity to
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its occupants. Top of fascia
100 mm
75 mm risk, a box gutter must be able to cope25with
Because of this increased mma 5 minute duration rainfall intensity and a 1 in 100 year
100 mm
average recurrence interval, rather than 1 in 20 as is the case for eave gutters. 75 mm

A box gutter must be installed with a fall not less than 1:100 and be designed in accordance with the joint Australian and New
Zealand Standard AS/NZS 3500.3 or Section 5 of AS/NZS 3500.5.
Examples of box gutters are shown below.

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Top of fascia
25 mm
20 mm 25 mm

200 mm

The information in this document is intended to be used as guidance material only, and is in no way a substitute for the NCC and related State and Territory legislation. The information
in this publication is provided on the basis that all persons accessing the information undertake responsibility for assessing the relevance and accuracy of the information to their
particular circumstances.

© 2017 Commonwealth of Australia and States and Territories of Australia The ABCB website is www.abcb.gov.au
 VALLEY GUTTERS NCC Volume Two (Part 3.5.2)

A valley gutter is an exposed open gutter located in the valley of a roof. Valley gutters DID YOU KNOW?
on a roof with a pitch more than 12.5 degrees must have a width of at least 400 mm
with at least 150 mm of the roof covering overhanging past each side of the gutter. A valley gutter on a roof with a pitch
of less than 12.5 degrees must be
Examples of valley gutters are shown below. designed as a box gutter.

DOWNPIPES NCC Volume Two (Part 3.5.2)

A downpipe is a pipe that carries rainwater from a gutter to a sub-surface drainage system or ground level. They are part of a roof drainage
system. One downpipe must serve no more than a 12 m length of gutter and must be located as close as possible to valley gutters.
Volume Two of the NCC has provisions for four types of downpipes. They are:
• 75 mm diameter (round)
• 90 mm diameter (round)
• 100 mm x 50 mm (rectangular)
• 100 mm x 75 mm (rectangular)
All of these types of downpipes can be used with all eave gutter types, except for 75 mm diameter (round) downpipes which
are not suitable for use with Type E 150 mm D gutters.

OVERFLOW DESIGN NCC Volume Two (Part 3.5.2)

Allowing for rainwater overflow is critical in gutter design to minimise the risk of DID YOU KNOW?
damage to buildings or loss of amenity for occupants. The NCC requires overflow
measures capable of coping with a 5 minute duration rainfall intensity and a Overflow measures are not required
100 year recurrence interval. These overflow measures can be continuous or for an eave gutter that is fixed to:
dedicated measures. • a verandah; or
Continuous overflow measures run along a length of gutter, for example, slots • an eave that is greater than 450 mm
at regular intervals along the front face of a gutter. Dedicated overflow measures in width, which—
are specific points where rainwater overflow can occur, for example, a rainhead. -- has no lining; or
These measures can be used separately or in combination to achieve the required -- is a raked eave (with a
overflow capacity. lining that falls away from
the building).
Continuous overflow measures are based on the distance from the ridge to
gutter (in metres). This is then cross referenced with the 5 minute duration rainfall
intensity appropriate to the location (see Table 3.5.2.3a in Volume Two of the NCC)
to enable the overflow capacity required to be determined in litres per second per
metre of gutter (L/s/m).

The information in this document is intended to be used as guidance material only, and is in no way a substitute for the NCC and related State and Territory legislation. The information
in this publication is provided on the basis that all persons accessing the information undertake responsibility for assessing the relevance and accuracy of the information to their
particular circumstances.

© 2017 Commonwealth of Australia and States and Territories of Australia The ABCB website is www.abcb.gov.au
Once the required overflow capacity is known, the Dedicated overflow measures are based on the roof
appropriate overflow measure is selected. For example, a catchment area (in square metres). This is then cross
front face slotted gutter provides 0.5 L/s/m of overflow. In referenced with the 5 minute duration rainfall intensity for
other words, 1 metre of slotted gutter will have the capacity to a specific location (see Table 3.5.2.3b in Volume Two of
allow 0.5 litres per second of rainwater to overflow. Therefore, the NCC) to enable the overflow capacity required to be
5 metres of slotted gutter will provide 2.5 litres of overflow determined in litres per second.
every second. Some examples of continuous overflow
For example, one end stop weir will allow 0.5 litres of
measures are provided below.
rainwater to overflow every second. Some examples of
• Front face slotted gutter (A) provides 0.5 L/s/m of dedicated overflow measures are provided below.
overflow. It must have a minimum slot opening area of
• An end stop weir (D) provides 0.5 L/s of overflow. It must
1200 mm2 per metre of gutter with the lower edge of the
have a minimum clear width of 100 mm and be installed a
slots installed 25 mm below the top of the fascia.
minimum of 25 mm below the top of the fascia.
• Controlled back gap (B) provides 1.5 L/s/m of overflow.
• An inverted nozzle (E) provides 1.2 L/s of overflow.
It must have a 10 mm (or greater) spacer permanently
It must be installed within 500 mm of the gutter high
installed between the back of the gutter and the fascia.
point with a minimum nozzle size of 100 mm x 50 mm
The spacer must be installed at every bracket (and be no
(positioned lengthways in the gutter). The top of the nozzle
more than 50 mm wide). The back of the gutter must be
must be a minimum of 25 mm below the top of the fascia.
installed a minimum of 10 mm below the top of the fascia.
• A front face weir (F) provides 1.0 L/s of overflow. It must
• Controlled front bead height (C) provides 1.5 L/s/m of
have a minimum clear width of 200 mm with a minimum
overflow. It must have the front of the gutter installed a
height of 20 mm. The weir edge must gutter
D (quad) be installed 25 mm
minimum of 10 mm below the top of the fascia.
below the top of the fascia.
D (quad) gutter
Rectangular gutter • A rainhead (G) provides 3.5 L/s of overflow. It must have a
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75mm diameter hole in its outer face with the centre line of
Top of fascia the hole positioned 100 mm below the top 25ofmm the fascia.
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10 mm
25 mm
D (quad) gutter
Rectangular gutter
D (quad) gutter
D (quad) gutter
A 10 mm B Rectangular gutter
Rectangular gutter Top of fascia
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D25(quad)
mm gutter Rectangular gutter 10 mm 10 mm
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25 mm 10 mm
10 mm 10 mm
25 mm Top of fascia
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10Top
Top ofmm of fascia
fascia Spacer
10 mm
25 mm 10 mm25 mm Spacer
25 mm
Spacer
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10fascia
Top of mm 10 mm
Spacer
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C 10 mm
D
100 mm
E
Top 25
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mm
Top of fascia Top of fascia Top of fascia
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10 mm
10 mm 25 mm 25 mm
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25 mm Top of fascia
25 mm
100 mm 100 mm
75 mm 25 mm
100 mm
100 mm
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100 mm Top of fascia
Top of
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mm 100mm
mm
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25 mm
100 mm
F 25 mm
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75 mm
100 mm
75 mm
G Top o
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Top of fascia 20 mm 25
25 mm Top of fascia
25 mm 75 mm 100 mm
100 mm 200 mm
20 mm 25 mm 75 mm

200 mm

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20 mm 25fascia
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20 mm Top of fascia 25 mm
200 mm
20 mm 25 mm
200
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fascia
200 mm Top of fascia
The information in this
20document
mm is intended to be used as guidance material
25 mmonly, and is in no way a substitute for the NCC and related State and Territory legislation. The information
in this publication is provided on the basis that all persons accessing the
20information
mm undertake responsibility for assessing
25the
mmrelevance and accuracy of the information to their
particular circumstances.
200 mm
© 2017 Commonwealth of Australia and States and Territories of Australia
200 mm The ABCB website is www.abcb.gov.au