BOX GUTTER WITH OUTLET NOT AT THE END, AND WITH SIDE OVERFLOW
Allowing for rain shadow effects
Method of Calculating Catchment Areas
Rainfall calculated from all directions and worst case adopted.
Roof Slopes for combined Roofs
Note:
For the purpose of calculation the catchment has been divided into two. Left hand side (LHS), and right hand side (RHS), It doesn't matter which is which, as long as all data is consistent within the side. That is, don't put a vertical face, or roof slope belonging to the LHS, into the RHS.
It is not necessary to use both sides, or use vertical faces. However if the flow approaches the sump from two sides. LHS & RHS. The side with the maximum flow is used to size the box gutter. The total flow is used to size the sump and overflow.
Although the diagram only shows one sump, there can be as many as you like along a box gutter, as long as you have the necessary high points and expansion joints between the sumps.
The important thing, is to ensure that each section of gutter, from the sump to the high point, drains the correct roof catchment area.
This free online box gutter calculator will calculate the size of box gutters, and sumps with a side overflow, in accordance with the Australian Plumbing Code AS/NZS 3500.3 .2021 Part 3 Storm Water Drainage.
But it can be used for elsewhere in the world if you know the design rainfall intensity requirements for your area.
For locations using to the International Plumbing code, or the Uniform Plumbing Code, as in the USA, the rainfall intensity required relates to a storm frequency of 100 years, with duration of one hour.
The calculator is only suitable for draining to a sump with a side overflow.
If draining to a rainwater head at the end of a box gutter use this calculator. or same thing but allowing for vertical faces use this one.
If draining to a sump with a vertical overflow, somewhere along the box gutter use this calculator.
Code Box Gutter requirements
The depth shown, of the box gutter, is the depth at the upstream end.
The suggested down pipe diameter is shown for reference purposes only. This will give a sump depth about 150mm.
Choose an available DP size (or any other size) and enter that for the calculation of the sump. Smaller sizes result in a deeper sump and larger sizes result in a shallower sump.
If the sump length is calculated to be less than 400mm, the calculator will show 400, as this is the minimum allowable under the code.
If the side overflow (spitter) length is greater than 450mm, the minimum allowable slope for the spitter is 1:10.
The calculated depth allows for about 60mm freeboard.
Vertical faces
Enter the full vertical face area. The program does the 50% reduction in area as required by the Code.
Making Adjustments
The box gutter depth, and the sump length, are influenced by the size of the overflow. A wider overflow needs less depth of overflow, hence the box gutter depth will also be reduced.
However a wider overflow may increase the length of the sump.
Making the box gutter wider will also reduce the box gutter depth.
Making the down pipe larger will reduce the sump depth, but has no effect on the box gutter.
More notes on overflowing and fail safe design
Important Note
The code only allows for flows up to 16 litres/sec total runoff in the Down pipe. It recommends that if this figure is exceeded, more downpipes should be added, or catchments reduced.
The graphs in the Code were confirmed by experimentation only up to a flow of 16 litres/sec, and for this reason the graphs do not go beyond this flow.
However these calculators are based on hydraulic formulas, with parameters adjusted to give results consistent with the Code. They work for all flows up to the magical 16 L/s, so there is no reason to believe that they won't give satisfactory results above that flow.
However just to be sure, results are checked with formulas from CSIRO. More explanation of this is explained in the results printout.
Just bear in mind that if you use flows above 16 litres/sec you are beyond the scope of the Code.
The total flow, catchment areas used, and worst wind direction will appear after you do a calculation.
Maximum allowable length (Code requirement for expansion reasons)
Copyright Ken Sutherland 2024Rainfall calculated from all directions and worst case adopted.
Conversions (Rounded)
Roof Slopes for combined Roofs
Note:
For the purpose of calculation the catchment has been divided into two. Left hand side (LHS), and right hand side (RHS), It doesn't matter which is which, as long as all data is consistent within the side. That is, don't put a vertical face, or roof slope belonging to the LHS, into the RHS.
It is not necessary to use both sides, or use vertical faces. However if the flow approaches the sump from two sides. LHS & RHS. The side with the maximum flow is used to size the box gutter. The total flow is used to size the sump and overflow.
Although the diagram only shows one sump, there can be as many as you like along a box gutter, as long as you have the necessary high points and expansion joints between the sumps.
The important thing, is to ensure that each section of gutter, from the sump to the high point, drains the correct roof catchment area.
This free online box gutter calculator will calculate the size of box gutters, and sumps with a side overflow, in accordance with the Australian Plumbing Code AS/NZS 3500.3 .2021 Part 3 Storm Water Drainage.
But it can be used for elsewhere in the world if you know the design rainfall intensity requirements for your area.
For locations using to the International Plumbing code, or the Uniform Plumbing Code, as in the USA, the rainfall intensity required relates to a storm frequency of 100 years, with duration of one hour.
The calculator is only suitable for draining to a sump with a side overflow.
If draining to a rainwater head at the end of a box gutter use this calculator. or same thing but allowing for vertical faces use this one.
If draining to a sump with a vertical overflow, somewhere along the box gutter use this calculator.
Code Box Gutter requirements
- The minimum width allowed for domestic projects is 200mm. For commercial projects the minimum allowable width is 300mm.
- Box gutters must be straight, (no bends).
- Sides must be vertical.
- Constant width.
- Must have a constant slope between 1:40 and 1:200.
- Down pipe must be vertical from sump (not to the side)
- Minimum sump length is 400mm.
- Minimum box gutter depth is 75mm.
The depth shown, of the box gutter, is the depth at the upstream end.
The suggested down pipe diameter is shown for reference purposes only. This will give a sump depth about 150mm.
Choose an available DP size (or any other size) and enter that for the calculation of the sump. Smaller sizes result in a deeper sump and larger sizes result in a shallower sump.
If the sump length is calculated to be less than 400mm, the calculator will show 400, as this is the minimum allowable under the code.
If the side overflow (spitter) length is greater than 450mm, the minimum allowable slope for the spitter is 1:10.
The calculated depth allows for about 60mm freeboard.
Vertical faces
Enter the full vertical face area. The program does the 50% reduction in area as required by the Code.
Making Adjustments
The box gutter depth, and the sump length, are influenced by the size of the overflow. A wider overflow needs less depth of overflow, hence the box gutter depth will also be reduced.
However a wider overflow may increase the length of the sump.
Making the box gutter wider will also reduce the box gutter depth.
Making the down pipe larger will reduce the sump depth, but has no effect on the box gutter.
More notes on overflowing and fail safe design
Important Note
The code only allows for flows up to 16 litres/sec total runoff in the Down pipe. It recommends that if this figure is exceeded, more downpipes should be added, or catchments reduced.
The graphs in the Code were confirmed by experimentation only up to a flow of 16 litres/sec, and for this reason the graphs do not go beyond this flow.
However these calculators are based on hydraulic formulas, with parameters adjusted to give results consistent with the Code. They work for all flows up to the magical 16 L/s, so there is no reason to believe that they won't give satisfactory results above that flow.
However just to be sure, results are checked with formulas from CSIRO. More explanation of this is explained in the results printout.
Just bear in mind that if you use flows above 16 litres/sec you are beyond the scope of the Code.
The total flow, catchment areas used, and worst wind direction will appear after you do a calculation.
Maximum allowable length (Code requirement for expansion reasons)
| Material | Base Metal Thickness (mm) | Max Length (metres) | Minimum expansion space (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | 0.90 | 12 | 50 |
| Copper | 0.60 | 9 | 50 |
| Copper | 0.80 | 15 | 50 |
| Copper | 1.0 | 26 | 50 |
| Steel Colorbond Zincalume | 0.55 | 20 | 50 |
| Steel | 0.75 | 25 | 50 |
| Stainless Steel | 0.55 | 20 | 50 |
| PVC | - | 10 | 30 |
| Zinc | 0.80 | 10 | 50 |
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