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Do you have a commercial roof drain question? Check out answers to our most commonly asked questions, or contact our Drain Wizard below.
The size and type of roof drain needed is generally determined by a number of factors, including:
Have a roofer or a plumber inspect the leak. There are 3 common causes of roof drains leaks:
While these are the most common causes of leaks, there are many others ways a drain can fail and only an inspection can determine the actual cause.
A “sump pan” or “sump receiver” is a square, flat piece of steel (unless it’s a dual pan) approximately 1/8-in. thick. It fits a roof drain bowl, and secures the drain to the roof. Sump pans are manufacturer specific, so they cannot be used with other manufacturers’ roof drains.
Building designs will normally specify whether or not a sump pan is necessary. Ask the engineer or architect if you’re unsure. Some roofs don’t require a sump pan: for instance, poured concrete roofs normally don’t need them. That being said, sump pans tend to make installation easier for most applications.
If the building plans do not specify that either is required, this decision is one of personal preference.
The Wizard recommends a top-mounting sump instead of an underdeck clamp, as this eliminates the need to attach a clamp inside the building. However, the underdeck clamp does provide a tighter connection to the roof and is preferred by some roofers.
A lead stack flashing is a pipe-shaped lead sheet with a flat, square base perpendicular to the main/vent stack pipe. It covers a building’s main or vent stack, and protects it from the elements.
A lead stack flashing slips over the main/vent stack, and then the top is folded over the top of the stack, draping over the inside of the pipe. The square base is then sealed to the roof in a manner consistent with the roof style.
There are other methods of stack sealing, or “flashing,” including aluminum or rubber boots. However, lead stack flashing is most common.
The term “drain insert” is actually a misnomer; the proper term is “insert-style drain.” An insert-style drain is a drain that is inserted into an existing drain, completely sealing the interior of the drain leader/pipe by specially designed rubber seals or o-rings.
These are ideal for resolving leaks without removing the existing drain.
Olympic, Marathon and Zurn are the only insert-style drain manufacturers we offer.
If the drain itself is made of lead, the Wizard is unaware of any connectors available. Some plumbing supply houses do carry transition fittings for lead pipes, but they’re rare and sizes over 1-in. even more so.
If you’re referring to a “lead joint” or an “inside caulk joint,” you’ll need to find a plumber that still pours lead joints. This is a very tedious and specific process that requires special tools and lead melting equipment. A No-Hub connection with rubber coupling is the preferred alternative, since it remains watertight despite the drain expanding and contracting with the weather.
When flashing, lead is a common material and perfectly acceptable.
When referring to the drain connection, there’s no reason you can’t use lead if you have a plumber with the equipment and knowledge to pour a “lead joint,” commonly called an “inside caulk joint.” Many roofers and plumbers still prefer this style as it lasts a long time and rarely leaks, but finding someone with tools and experience is difficult.
The recommended method is a No-Hub connection with a rubber coupling, since it maintains a watertight seal despite the drain expanding and contracting with changing temperature and weather.
Zurn roof drains have no dedicated “waterproofing ring:" instead, you must use either a clamp ring, waterdam ring or extension ring, all of which create a waterproof seal around the drain bowl.
When purchasing a drain, the customer determines the connection type. Common connectors include:
The building’s architect or engineer will specify when roof drain underdeck clamps are required.
If not specified, they aren’t always necessary: certain types of sump receivers attach directly to the drain bowl, eliminating the need for underdeck clamps. These are generally referred to as “top mounting sump receivers,” though each manufacturer calls their own particular pan something different. (Among other names, some manufacturers may call it a “top set deckplate” or a “clamping drain receiver.”)
An underdeck clamp is attached to the drain’s underside, inside the building. Each manufacturer’s method of attaching underdeck clamps differs slightly, but generally they attach with a provided bolt or mounting hardware—drawing the drain bowl towards the roof and sump receiver when tightened.
Standard sump receivers are attached directly to the roof deck, and the drain is placed into the receiver and attached with clips, if provided. Some drains “free float” in the pan and are secured by the underdeck clamp.
Top mounting sump receivers are bolted directly to the drain bowl’s bottom, and then the entire assembly is attached to the roof deck. No underdeck clams are required, or can be used.
Most manufacturers do not place the actual model number on their drains—Zurn included—because many parts in the drain’s assembly are interchangeable and used in other products.
You may find identifiable casting or part numbers on the drain’s ring or dome, but this is not always the case. The only way to identify the drain otherwise is by the drain bowl’s dimensions (including the drain ring dimensions). This is what our Drain Wizard is intended to do.
“Fernco” is the brand name for a type of rubber coupling, or boot. Another brand name of rubber couplings is “Mission.”
“No hub” and “shielded couplings” are similar to rubber couplings and may serve as replacements, but the are not recommended for roof drain connections.
The Josam roof drain rubber coupling is placed over the outlet on the drain’s bottom and secured by tightening the SS clamp on the coupling. The drain leader is then attached to the other end in the same manner.
Blake is a manufacturer that has been out of business since the late 1950s / early 1960s. There are no Blake-brand manufacturer parts available for their drains, although the parts of some other manufacturers have been known to work. None, however, are a perfect fit.
Unfortunately, the most common repair solution for Blake drains is to remove and replace them, or use an insert-style drain. For more information, contact Hy-Tech at 800-635-0384 or info@hy-techroof.com.
Contact the Drain Wizard or submit a photo of the drain or part you want to replace. Our Drain Wizard will follow up with you in the next 1-2 business days with an identified solution.
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