Design Falls

When specifying a fall for a flat roof, the designer should take account of:

• Any potential deflection of the structural members and decking under dead and imposed loads (a particular problem with timber and metal deck roofs).
• Possible inaccuracies in construction.
• Type of weatherproofing material used.

Because the desired fall may be difficult to achieve in practice, the designer may need to adopt a design fall considerably steeper (often twice) than the recommended finished fall.

The building regulations encourage a minimum fall of 1:40.

Minimum finished fall required according to BS6229 is 1:80.

Recommendations for specific materials are as follows:

• Aluminium 1:60
• Copper 1:60
• Zinc 1:60
• Lead sheet 1:80
• Built-up bitumen sheet 1:80
• Mastic asphalt 1:80
• Single ply membranes 1:80
• Liquid waterproofing systems (hot- or cold-applied) 1:80
• Green roofs should have a fall of not less than 1:60 and be built in accordance with manufacturer’s details and British Board of Agrément certification.

The desired fall may be created in one of the following ways:

• Sloping decks

  The fall of the roof may be created in the structure itself by laying the supporting beams, or joists at a slope (giving a sloping soffit) or by installing tapered beams with horizontal soffits.

• Firrings

  It is normal practice for the joists of a flat roof to be set level thus creating a perfectly level ceiling. The required fall is then formed using strips of tapered shaped timbers known as firrings fixed along the tops of the joists before the deck is laid. These firrings should be the same width and length of the joists. The firrings may also provide the fall by each one decreasing in thickness along the slope of the roof.

  

  The firrings can be fixed at right angles to the joists instead of along the length of the joists, this will provide a better level of ventilation. However, when fixing in this manner it is essential that the firrings are of suitable structural strength to span between joists and should not be less than the following sizes.

  Size of Firrings
  Distance between Joists	Width of Firrings	Depth of Firrings
  400 / 450 mm	38 mm	38 mm
  600 mm	38 mm	50 mm

• Pre-formed insulation boards

  Proprietary preformed tapered insulation boards can provide drainage falls to a warm decked roof (manufacturers recommend falls not less than 1:60). The boards should be laid onto a vapour control layer and be covered with the waterproofing system.

• Concrete and Screeds

  Falls on a flat roof with a concrete deck are either provided within the structural concrete itself or created within the screed which is laid over the concrete deck (as for in-situ cast concrete slab).

Guttering

• Gutters and downpipes should be adequately sized to deal with storm conditions in accordance with BS EN 12056-3. Flat roofs should be designed to drain the roof to one or two edges towards gutters and outlets.
• There should be a smooth transition into the gutters which can often be lined using the roofing membrane to achieve a completely uniform finish (check the manufacturer's details).
• Internal gutters can be used but conventional eaves gutters are preferable.
• If unavoidable, internal outlets should be fitted with leaf and gravel guards.
• Welted drips should extend to the middle of the rainwater gutter, and there should be a minimum of 50mm turndown.
• To ensure the rainwater is directed towards the gutters, the sides of the roof surface (apart from the gutter edge) require a minimum of 50mm upstand verge provided using triangular pieces of timber called ‘tilt fillets’ nailed to the edges of the decking, not to the wall.
• All gutters and downpipes should be accessible for maintenance.