Storm Drain Research and Its Impact on Design

Plumbing engineers have traditionally designed storm drainage systems based on the rainfall rate and capacity of the storm drainage piping. The performance of the storm drain has never been considered. Design methods currently outlined in the Plumbing Codes and ASPE documents do not address the flow rate through the roof drain. The ASPE Research Foundation conducted a series of tests of roof drain to evaluate their capacity to drain the rainfall based on the ponding around the roof drain. The results of the study will impact the design of a storm drainage system and secondary storm drainage system. The results of the study will be presented followed by the impact to the design of the storm drainage system. This program will review new methods of design that plumbing engineers must consider when designing a storm drainage system.