How Does Siphonic Roof Drainage Work

Syphonic drainage systems are designed to flow partially full hs roofclad s syphonic gutters and drainage systems operate at full capacity meaning water is syphoned from the roof and then down into the drain at high speeds.

How does siphonic roof drainage work. Traffic free roof areas which are no larger than 150 m2 such as production buildings hangars or sports stadiums are suitable applications for siphonic drainage. A hydromax siphonic roof drainage system utilises the full height of the building to provide the energy to create a powerful siphonic action. Unlike traditional roof drainage which is designed to flow part full a syphonic system operates at full capacity when water is sucked or syphoned from the roof down into the drain at high velocity. By contrast a fully engineered siphonic roof drainage system contains an anti vortex plate that acts as a baffle and prevents air and debris from entering the piping system at full flow allowing the pipes to completely fill up with water.

Instead syphonic drainage technology employs the use of a gravity induced vacuum pump to remove water at high velocity from multiple roof drains at once. In principle syphonic drainage is a very simple process. This pump requires no external power as it is activated by rainfall filling the drain beyond its anti vortex plate at which point air flow to the pipe is cut off. The main principle is that water is sucked or siphoned through rooftop outlets where baffle plates restrict the inflow of air into the system and this allows the system to run at full capacity.

How does it work. Several of these drains tie into a horizontal collector that is routed to a convenient point where it transitions into a vertical downpipe. The water is sucked or siphoned from the roof down into the drain at high velocity. A siphonic roof drain has a special insert that acts as an air baffle and anti vortex vane such that only water is drawn off of the roof not air.

Hydromax siphonic drainage operates from natural hydraulics inducing a negative pressure in the piping system through the vertical displacement from roof to discharge position. Despite what its name may suggest the process of syphonic drainage does not actually involve the syphoning of water at all. When the siphonic drainage system works at full capacity the siphon effect is triggered resulting in a driving force that is proportionate to the height of the roof and the end of the circuit which is typically located at ground level.