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International Building Code

[ 2009 Commentaries (Second Printing) ]
Chapter 16 - Structural Design
SECTION 1601 GENERAL
SECTION 1602 DEFINITIONS AND NOTATIONS
SECTION 1603 CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS
SECTION 1604 GENERAL DESIGN REQUIREMENTS
SECTION 1605 LOAD COMBINATIONS
SECTION 1606 DEAD LOADS
SECTION 1607 LIVE LOADS
SECTION 1608 SNOW LOADS
SECTION 1609 WIND LOADS
SECTION 1610 SOIL LATERAL LOADS
SECTION 1611 RAIN LOADS
SECTION 1612 FLOOD LOADS
SECTION 1613 EARTHQUAKE LOADS
SECTION 1614 STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY
1611.1 Design rain loads.
1611.2 Ponding instability.
1611.3 Controlled drainage.
1611.1 Design rain loads.
1611.2 Ponding instability.
1611.3 Controlled drainage.
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SECTION 1611 RAIN LOADS

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1611.1 Design rain loads. Each portion of a roof shall be designed to sustain the load of rainwater that will accumulate on it if the primary drainage system
for that portion is blocked plus the uniform load caused by water that rises above the inlet of the secondary drainage system at its design flow. The design
rainfall shall be based on the 100-year hourly rainfall rate indicated in Figure 1611.1 or on other rainfall rates determined from approved local weather data.
R = 5.2(ds + dh)

(Equation 16-35)

For SI: R = 0.0098(ds + dh)

where:
dh = Additional depth of water on the undeflected roof above the inlet of secondary drainage system at its design flow (i.e., the hydraulic head), in inches
(mm).
ds = Depth of water on the undeflected roof up to the inlet of secondary drainage system when the primary drainage system is blocked (i.e., the static head),
in inches (mm).
R = Rain load on the undeflected roof, in psf (kN/m2). When the phrase "undeflected roof" is used, deflections from loads (including dead loads) shall not be
considered when determining the amount of rain on the roof.

The nominal rain load, R, is determined in accordance with this section. It represents the weight of accumulated rainwater, assuming a blockage of the
primary roof drainage system. The design of the roof drainage systems must be in accordance with Chapter 11 of the International Plumbing Code (IPC).
The primary roof drainage system can include roof drains, leaders, conductors and horizontal storm drains within the structure. Drainage system design is
based on a specified design rainfall intensity, as well as the roof area it drains. The criteria for sizing the components of the drainage system are provided in
Section 1106 of the IPC. Where the building is configured such that water will not collect on the roof there is no requirement for a secondary drainage
system [see Figure 1611.1(1)]. Likewise, there would be no rain load required in the design of the roof.
It is not uncommon to find that roof drains have become blocked by debris, leading to ponding of rainwater where the roof construction is conducive to
retaining water. While the objective of providing roof drainage is typically to prevent the accumulation of water, the code also recognizes controlled drainage
systems that are engineered to retain rainwater (see Section 1611.3). The important point is that wherever the potential exists for the accumulation of
rainwater on a roof, whether it is intentional or otherwise, the roof must be designed for this load. Furthermore, Section 1101.7 of the IPC requires the
maximum depth of water to be determined, assuming all primary roof drainage to be blocked. The water will rise above the primary roof drain until it reaches
the elevation of the roof edge, scuppers or another serviceable drain. At the design rainfall intensity, this depth will be based on the flow rate of the
secondary drainage system. This depth, referred to as the hydraulic head, can be determined from Figure 1611.1(2) for various types of drains and flow rates.
Its use is illustrated in the example on page 16-65. Section 1107 of the IPC specifically requires a secondary roof drainage system where the building
construction extends above the roof at the perimeter. This applies to parapet walls, stepped buildings or any other construction that would allow rainwater to
pond on the roof. The sizing of a secondary drainage system is identical to the process used for the primary system. Instead of using a "piped" secondary
system, designers may prefer to install scuppers to allow rainwater to overflow the roof. Examples of both types of secondary systems are shown in Figure

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1611.1(3). Also note that the IPC requires a secondary system to be completely separate and to discharge above grade. Since the secondary system serves as
an emergency backup, requiring it to discharge above grade provides a means of signaling that there is a blockage of the primary drainage system.
Some roof failures have been attributed to the increased loads from ponding water. This section requires the roof to be capable of resisting the maximum
water depth that can occur if the primary means of roof drainage becomes blocked. Blockages are typically caused by debris at the inlet to the primary roof
drains, but they can occur anywhere along the primary piping system, such as an under-slab pipe collapse. Computation of rain load, R, is in accordance with
Equation 16-35. The coefficient of that equation is merely the conversion of the unit weight of water to an equivalent unit load per inch of water depth as
Figure 1611.1(4) illustrates. Two variables are considered to determine rain load: the depth of the water on the undeflected roof, as measured from the low
point elevation to the inlet elevation of the secondary drain; and the additional depth of water at the secondary drainage flow, respectively referred to as
static head and hydraulic head. The sum of these depths is the design depth for computing rain load, R, as indicated in Equation 16-35. An example of the
computation of rain load is provided in the following example [also see Figure 1611.1(5)].
EXAMPLE
Rain Load on Roof with Overflow Scuppers
Given:
Primary roof drain and overflow scupper shown in Figure 1611.1(5).
Static head, ds

= 7 inches

Tributary area A
Rainfall rate, i

= 5,400 square feet

= 2.5 inches/hour
= 0.208333 feet/hour

Determine:
Hydraulic head, dh
Rain load, R
Calculate required flow rate, Q, at scupper in gallons per minute (gpm).
Q =
=
=
=

Ai = 5,400 square feet 0.2083 feet/hour

1125 cubic feet/hour
18.75 cubic feet/minute
140.25 gpm

Look up hydraulic head using Figure 1611.1(2).

For 6 inches wide 6 inches high scupper, find 140 gpm.
dh = 4 inches
Determine rain load, R
Total head = (ds + dh) = 11 inches
R = 5.2 (ds + dh)
R = 57.2 psf

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Figure 1611.1(1) SECONDARY ROOF DRAINAGE NOT REQUIRED

For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm, 1 gallon per minute = 3.785 L/m.
Source: Factory Mutual Engineering Corp. Loss Prevention Data 1-54.
Figure 1611.1(2) FLOW RATE, IN GALLONS PER MINUTE, OF VARIOUS ROOF DRAINS AT VARIOUS WATER DEPTHS AT DRAIN
INLETS (INCHES)

Figure 1611.1(3) SEPARATE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY ROOF DRAINS

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For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm, 1 foot = 304.8 mm,

1 cubic foot = 0.02832 m2, 1 pound = 0.454 kg, 1 pound per square foot = 47.88 Pa.
Figure 1611.1(4) EQUATION 16-35 COEFFICIENT

For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm.

Figure 1611.1(5) RAIN LOAD EXAMPLE

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FIGURE 1611.1 100-YEAR, 1-HOUR RAINFALL (INCHES) EASTERN UNITED STATES [P]
For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm.
Source: National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Washington, DC.

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FIGURE 1611.1-continued-100-YEAR, 1-HOUR RAINFALL (INCHES) CENTRAL UNITED STATES [P]

For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm.
Source: National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Washington, DC.

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FIGURE 1611.1-continued-100-YEAR, 1-HOUR RAINFALL (INCHES) WESTERN UNITED STATES [P]

For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm.
Source: National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Washington, DC.

FIGURE 1611.1-continued-100-YEAR, 1-HOUR RAINFALL (INCHES) ALASKA [P]

For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm.
Source: National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Washington, DC.

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FIGURE 1611.1-continued-100-YEAR, 1-HOUR RAINFALL (INCHES) HAWAII [P]

For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm.
Source: National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Washington, DC.

Including these IPC maps in the code provides the structural designer with design criteria that are essential for determining the rain load. Figure 1611.1
consists of five maps for various regions of the country. This figure provides the rainfall rates for a storm of 1-hour duration that has a 100-year return
period. Rainfall rates indicate the maximum rate of rainfall within the given period of time occurring at the stated frequency. For example, the map indicates
a rainfall rate of 2.1 inches (53 mm) per hour for Burlington, Vermont. Thus, it is predicted that it will rain 2.1 inches (53 mm) within 1 hour once every 100
years. The rainfall rates are calculated by a statistical analysis of weather records. Because the statistics are based on previous or historical weather
conditions, it is conceivable to have two 100-year storms in one week's time. The probability of this occurring, however, is very low.

1611.2 Ponding instability. For roofs with a slope less than 1/4 inch per foot [1.19 degrees (0.0208 rad)], the design calculations shall include verification of
adequate stiffness to preclude progressive deflection in accordance with Section 8.4 of ASCE 7.

In roofs lacking sufficient framing stiffness, a condition known as "ponding instability" can occur where increasingly larger deflections caused by the
continued accumulation of rainwater are large enough to overload the structure and result in a roof collapse. This must be countered by providing adequate
stiffness in order to prevent increasingly larger deflections due to the buildup of rainwater. Another means to minimize the accumulation of rainwater is to
camber the roof framing. This section requires a check for ponding instability if the roof slope is less than 1/4 inch per foot (1 :48) [1.19 degrees (0.0208
rad)]. A ponding instability check is to be made assuming the primary roof drains are blocked. The determination of ponding instability is typically done by
an iterative structural analysis where the incremental deflection is determined and the resulting increased rain load from the deflection is added to the
original rain load.

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1611.3 Controlled drainage. Roofs equipped with hardware to control the rate of drainage shall be equipped with a secondary drainage system at a higher
elevation that limits accumulation of water on the roof above that elevation. Such roofs shall be designed to sustain the load of rainwater that will accumulate
on them to the elevation of the secondary drainage system plus the uniform load caused by water that rises above the inlet of the secondary drainage system
at its design flow determined from Section 1611.1. Such roofs shall also be checked for ponding instability in accordance with Section 1611.2.

Controlled drainage is the limitation of the drainage flow rate to a rate that is less than the rainfall rate such that the depth of the water intentionally builds up
on the roof during a design rainfall. Controlled flow roof drain systems must be designed in accordance with Section 1110 of the IPC. A secondary roof drain
system is needed to limit the buildup of water to a specific depth for roof design. The depth of water on the roof is also to include the depth of the water
above the inlet of the secondary drain when the design flow rate is reached. Consideration of the effect of the accumulated rainwater is identical to assuming
a blockage in the primary drainage system as discussed under Section 1611.1.
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