Are Gutters Required By Code

Plumbing codes typically use the vertically projected roof.

Are gutters required by code.

Downspouts and gutters are sized in relation to rainfall on this basis. They are generally not required by law on a sloping roof and many modern homes omit them even in instances where they are beneficial. Local codes may require that drainage systems only be designed for the latter. Chapter 8 code of miami dade county requires that roof slope drains gutters crickets and overflow scupper calculations appear on the framing plans.

Gutters and downspouts are not required in dry b climates as shown in the iecc climate zone map 2009 iecc figure 301 1 and table 301 1. 2 if the home has a footing and foundation wall not a thickened edge concrete slab foundation like most newer homes and is in an area that has expansive clay or collapsible soils. In order to decide for yourself whether rain gutters are necessary for your home it is best to first weigh the facts. From my cursory knowledge of building code gutters are never explicitly required although r 801 3 requires some controlled method of drainage 5 ft from the foundation walls or to an approved drainage system.

On the other hand section r405 1 does require foundation drainage and provides fairly elaborate direction due to the importance of keeping basements dry. Gutters are not required by the international residential code irc or the residential edition of the florida building code fbc with two exceptions. Do southern california homes need rain gutters. 1 if the roof overhang eave is less than 6 inches.

It takes 96 15 square feet 8 93 square meters of surface with 1 inch per hour 25 mm hr of water to correspond with 1 gpm 0 063 l s flow rate. Section r903 4 prescribes drainage requirements only for those roofs that do not drain over roof edges traditional pitched roofs do not need gutters and downspouts to satisfy code. International energy conservation code iecc climate regions.