jar546
Forum Coordinator
Is this a violation?
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Tying Roof Drains Into the Footer Drain
- Thread starter jar546
- Start date
ICE
Oh Well
R801.3 Roof drainage. In areas where expansive soils or collapsible soils are known to exist, all dwellings shall have a controlled method of water disposal from roofs that will collect and discharge roof drainage to the ground surface not less than 5 feet from foundation walls or to an approved drainage system.
Not a good idea. In fact it is a horrible idea but searching the code does not turn up a violation. It should be. It’s probably there and I didn’t find it. Here is SoCal we seldom have foundation drains except with retaining walls. Basements are rare.
Not a good idea. In fact it is a horrible idea but searching the code does not turn up a violation. It should be. It’s probably there and I didn’t find it. Here is SoCal we seldom have foundation drains except with retaining walls. Basements are rare.
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TheCommish
Registered User
I liken the practice of tying them together as standing in a stream fishing with waders on to keep my feet dry holding an inverted umbrella with a hose leading down into my waders.
Or put it this way; the footing drain is to channel water away from the building foundation, why would you wan to direct water there?
Or put it this way; the footing drain is to channel water away from the building foundation, why would you wan to direct water there?
fatboy
Administrator
steveray
SAWHORSE
R405.3 Above-Grade Drainage
Above-grade drainage systems, including but not limited to, gutters and downspouts, roof drains, and yard drains, shall not be connected to the foundation drainage system.
FWIW, you should be able to "downstream" with some type of backwater or check valve.....So you don't have to parallel all the way out to the discharge....Maybe I'll work on that code change...
Paul Sweet
Sawhorse
Storm drainage and footing drains need to be kept separated all the way until they discharge to grade. Otherwise storm drainage could back up into the footing drain if the common pipe got clogged.
ICE
Oh Well
California Residential Code does not have R405.3
steveray
SAWHORSE
And if the footing drain gets clogged?
Inspector Gadget
Registered User
I had to dig into the Canadian Codes for a bit, because I knew in Canada this is wrong, but I couldn't quite find the code for why.
Turns out roof drains are covered by our national plumbing codes..... and it's wrong. Downspouts have to be aimed either to a storm sewer or away from a building in a way that mitigates erosion. FYI.
Turns out roof drains are covered by our national plumbing codes..... and it's wrong. Downspouts have to be aimed either to a storm sewer or away from a building in a way that mitigates erosion. FYI.
Robert
Registered User
I always like separate lines, but my civil engineer has been combining them for years. In any case, I have him separate them until they are away from the foundation, then drop them into a Christy Box with one outflow (at a lower elevation). This allows visual inspection and cleanout.
bill1952
SAWHORSE
Help me out. I get zilch when I Google Christy Box. Perhaps a West Coast colloquialism.
wwhitney
Registered User
Yes, although my first Google hit is on point:
Christy® | Oldcastle Infrastructure
The Christy® product line delivers reliable, and cost effective, hand holes, valve boxes, meter boxes and vaults to the utility market. Christy® concrete products have been the preferred and trusted choice of the utility market for over 40 years.
oldcastleinfrastructure.com
Cheers, Wayne
TheCommish
Registered User
Energystar
SAWHORSE
jj1289
SAWHORSE
Introduced a code proposal for the 2024 IRC to address this issue and it was denied. The weak reasoning they gave was "it is a local issue". But look forward to it again for the 2027 IRC cycle