Synhonic Systems - General Principles
Syphonic Rainwater Drainage Systems utilise special rainwater outlets and airtight pipework to promote full bore flow during heavy rainfall. These systems are now becoming popular especially for larger projects due to the cost and design benefits available compared to conventional roof drainage. These benefits can include any or all of the following:
- Downpipes are considerably smaller and / or fewer.
- Piping networks are generally smaller and can be laid level requiring less headroom and assisting with services co-ordination
- Roof outlet numbers can be reduced and placed more conveniently
- In-ground pipework can often be minimised (especially below the building) normally giving considerable savings in cost and time.
- Systems are designed to be self-cleansing and if maintained correctly and on a regular basis are normally trouble free.
Syphonic Roof Drainage
New roofing materials and modern building technology has given consultants more freedom to design larger and more complex roof areas and impose greater demands on the roof drainage system. Furthermore contractors are relentlessly searching for more and more cost effective ways of meeting specification whilst simultaneously reducing time in the construction program.
Substantial benefits can be gained when using Syphonic roof drainage systems:
- Reduction in the number of downpipes required.
- Elimination of underground drainage and associated groundworks.
- Elimination of underfloor drainage.
- Reduce water build up on the roof surface, thus minimising the risk of ingress in to the building and potential maintenance problems.
- For ultimate integrity roof outlets can be prefabricated into gutters and flat roofs without bolting.
- Very long buildings can be drained with discharge points only at the end of the building
- Use of smaller pipe sizes, typically half the diameter of the equivalent gravity drainage systems
- Less space taken up. Collector pipes are installed horizontally requiring no fall.
- Time savings can be achieved in the construction program.
- The system is self-cleansing even in storms below the design value.
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