Broken or deteriorating downspouts and downspout connections can have significant adverse effects on commercial buildings. The volume of water a roof generates varies based on geography and building size but it is not uncommon for commercial buildings in the United States to generate tens of thousands of gallons of roof runoff during a single large rain event. With such a large volume of water being conveyed from the roof to the downstream stormwater system, any damage or failures of the building drainage components, including the exterior downspouts, can be highly problematic.

Since downspouts extend to the ground on the exterior of the building, they are especially prone to damage resulting from incidental impacts or normal wear and tear. This is also a critical point in the building drainage system where roof runoff is diverted into the downstream stormwater system near the foundation of the building, making successful drainage all the more critical.

 

 

Many downspout connections are simply not designed to endure years of wear and tear associated with conveying large amounts of water on the outside of a building. Poorly designed and inadequate materials that are commonly used to tie the downspout boots into the site drainage system can experience rapid deterioration. In addition, commercial downspouts will likely be subject to repeated impacts over time due primarily to site maintenance and pedestrian activity.

Among the more common maintenance activities that cause damage to downspouts is landscaping and lawn care services such as mowing and string trimming. Light duty downspouts and downspout connections made from PVC material or thin gauge metal do not stand a chance against the impact of a commercial lawnmower. String trimming, or weed eating, may also cause breakage or accelerated deterioration of the downspout material.

Athletic fields present an especially challenging environment for downspouts. A typical downspout made of light gauge aluminum is easily dented in or broken in the highly active environment of sports fields and athletic complexes. As a result, many architectural specifications for athletic buildings require a downspout boot that extends a minimum 60” to 80” above grade. From rowdy fans and children at play to groundskeeping vehicles and landscaping activities, unprotected downspouts cannot withstand the high impact environment of athletic facilities.

 

Once a downspout has been broken, severely dented or dislodged from its connection to the downstream system, a variety of drainage issues may occur resulting in significant adverse effects on the building.

The construction costs associated with installing cast iron downspout boots on commercial buildings are far lower than the variety of negative impacts that may result from inadequate downspout protection over time. From drainage and concrete repairs to devalued appearance and pedestrian hazards, the effects of downspout damage can pose a wide range of problems to building owners in the long term.

Cast iron is a highly durable material known for its compressive strength, hardness and wear resistance, making it among the most widely specified cast metals for construction and industrial applications. J.R. Hoe cast iron downspout boots are manufactured in the USA from ASTM A48 Class 30B cast iron, providing unparalleled downspout protection for commercial drainage systems.