Scupper Drain

Scupper Drain

In short, a scupper is a detail that provides drainage to a roof system by allowing the water runoff from the roof to exit the roof through a metal edge, parapet wall or through the deck into a downspout or leader not run through the interior of the building.

What is difference between scupper and drain?

As nouns the difference between drain and scupper

is that drain is a conduit allowing liquid to flow out of an otherwise contained volume while scupper is (nautical) a drainage hole on the deck of a ship.

Where is a scupper located?

A scupper is an opening in the side walls of a vessel or an open-air structure, which allows water to drain instead of pooling within the bulwark or gunwales of a vessel, or within the curbing or walls of a building.

Does a scupper need a downspout?

Overflow drainage scuppers are typically holes with no downspout or other intricate designs. This is because these scuppers are specifically designed to remove water when there is a blockage in the primary system.

How does a flat roof drain?

What do Drainage Systems do? A low-slope roof tilts slightly downhill from its center or from one side, so water rolls off to parapet scuppers and down the hopper (downspout). The scuppers are the openings in the outside walls, specifically designed to allow water, but not debris, to wash off your roof.

Why is it called a scupper?

Scupper Has Military Origins

All efforts to figure out where this verb came from have been defeated, including attempts to connect it to the noun scupper, a 500-year-old word for a drain opening in the side of a ship.

What are roof drains?

“ROOF DRAIN: A drain installed to receive water collecting on the surface of a roof and to discharge it into a leader, downspout or conductor.”

What is a scupper on a wetsuit?

A scupper is fitted to your wetsuit pants, it lets you urinate out of your suit. A great accessory to keep your wetsuit more hygienic.

How do you redirect water to a flat roof?

How to drain water from a flat roof
You can use interior drains, positioned where the water pools on the roof. Gutters are attached to the edge of the roof and redirect water away from the side of the building where damage can be caused.

How do you slope a flat roof for drainage?

For drainage purposes, the current building codes require a minimum two percent slope or a one-fourth unit vertical for every 12 units horizontal. In other words, the roof must slope one-fourth of an inch for every 12 inches. The slope is barely noticeable to the naked eye.

How close can a roof drain be to a parapet?

The recommended maximum distance between drains is 200 ft. Provide adequate flashing at parapets, openings, walls, joints, etc. Limit the parapet walls or provide overflow scuppers. These should be located at the anticipated maximum water depth (build-up).

How many roof drains do I need?

Take the roof’s total square footage and divide by the total square footage handled by one drain. The result is the number of drains needed. For example: 50,000 / 4,400 = 11.36; or 12 drains required.

What do scuppers do?

What Do Scupper Plugs Do? Scupper plugs give you the ability to cover the self-bailing drain holes in the hull of a sit-on-top kayak. This helps you achieve a drier ride by preventing water from coming up through the scupper holes.

How do you size a scupper drain?

The only unconditional guideline for roof scupper sizing provided by the code is that “scupper openings shall be not less than 4 inches (102 mm) in height and have a width that is equal to or greater than the circumference of a roof drain sized for the same roof area.”

How do you calculate scupper size?

To adjust this table for other than a 5-inch design rain fall rate, multiply the square footage on the table by 5 then divide by the local design rain fall rate. Example: For 4 inches of design rainfall rate, a 4-inch long scupper with a 1-inch head would accommodate 287 square feet. (230 x 5) ÷4 = 287.

What are pool scuppers?

When it comes to a swimming pool, scuppers are a water feature that serves to bring water from another section into the pool. For example, a scupper can bring water from a spa, or it helps circulate the water, keeping it fresh. The design of a scupper also adds beauty and elegance to the oasis.

James H. Sterling
Author

James H. Sterling

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.