Industrial Downspout

The Industrial Downspout belongs to Metal-Era's Seal-Tite family and carries roof water from a gutter down the face of a building. It is a rectangular metal downspout made in 12-foot lengths. Each length comes with three attachment straps, and the hangers are included with the product. Standard sizes are offered, and the downspout can also be custom-fabricated to meet specific job requirements.

This page covers both versions as one product: the Closed Face version and the Open Face version. They share the same sizing logic, strap styles, cover materials, finish options and outlet connection. They differ in the face of the downspout, in the sizes offered and in one extra part, the downspout spacer, which belongs to the open face version.

Downspouts of this kind sit at the end of a gutter run and are part of the drainage side of a roof. They connect to the gutter through an outlet and change direction through elbows. The gutter and drainage systems they serve are covered separately, and Metal-Era lists the downspout under its gutter and water control products.

The closed face version is a fully enclosed rectangular section. The open face version has an open face designed for debris removal. Its seam is not the same either: the closed version has a double seam lock on the downspout section, while the open version has a snap lock seam on the downspout.

Closed face sizes, as nominal width by depth in inches:

• 3 x 3, 3 x 4, 4 x 4, 4 x 5 and 4 x 6
• 5 x 5, 5 x 6 and 6 x 6
• 6 x 7, 7 x 7, 7 x 8 and 8 x 8
• 8 x 9, 9 x 9, 9 x 10 and 10 x 10

Open face sizes are a shorter list of seven:

• 3 x 3, 3 x 4, 4 x 4, 4 x 5
• 5 x 5, 5 x 6 and 6 x 6

The largest open face size is therefore 6 x 6, while the closed face version continues up to 10 x 10. Both versions are ordered by size, cover material and quantity.

Each downspout length has a large end and a small end, so that lengths nest into one another down the run. The large end carries the full nominal size. The small end is measured to be identified: on a 4 x 6 downspout, the large end is 4 x 6 and the small end is 3/8 x 5/8.

The design allows the covers to be manufactured from five materials:

• 24-gauge galvanized steel
• 22-gauge galvanized steel
• .040-in. aluminum
• .050-in. aluminum
• .063-in. aluminum

Colors are chosen from the Metal-Era color chart. Coil-coated standard colors are finished with Kynar 500 and include a 30-year Kynar 500 finish warranty. Custom post-coated Kynar 500 colors include a 10-year Kynar 500 finish warranty, and a 20-year Kynar 500 finish warranty is available on request.

Anodized finishes are also available and come with a 5-year warranty. Coil anodized finishing has no warranty. Post-coat Class 1 batch anodized finishing carries a 5-year warranty, with an option to increase it to 10 years for an upcharge. Pricing for anodized finishes is handled by Metal-Era Technical Services.

Each 12-foot length is supported by three 2-in.-wide downspout straps. Two strap styles are offered, and the style is selected on the print approval. When no style is selected, Style 2 is provided.

• Style 1 straps are mounted in the rear of the downspout.
• Style 2 straps are mounted in the front of the downspout.

The open face version adds a 2-in.-wide downspout spacer, three per 12-foot length, and a 2-in. notch is provided in its small end. The closed face version uses the straps only.

The connection to the gutter is made through an aluminum Kynar outlet. Outlet locations are determined first, and the hole in the gutter is field cut. The outlet is inserted, fastened with two rivets in each flange and sealed with non-curing sealant. The connection is made on an IG-B gutter. Print approvals count outlets as a separate quantity from the lineal feet of 12-foot lengths.

Direction changes are made with standard elbows, which are riveted to the downspout at their large end. A standard elbow is made in two styles, Style A and Style B, and the angle of a standard elbow is always 90 degrees or less. The print approval records the number of elbows of each style. An offset elbow has its own print approval, and a set of downspout elbow details accompanies the product.

A separate downspout transition connects the rectangular downspout to an existing downspout or to PVC pipe. The transition is made with either a welded seam or a quicklock seam, and it can be made in 24-gauge galvanized steel or in .040-in., .050-in. or .063-in. aluminum. Its outside diameter is specified on the print approval and must be smaller than the inside diameter of the existing downspout or PVC pipe.

Factory-fabricated accessories give a cleaner appearance and remove the need for field fabrication.

The installation instructions come in four versions: closed face with Style 1 straps, closed face with Style 2 straps, open face with Style 1 straps and open face with Style 2 straps. The two open face sheets also carry a Spanish translation. All four use the same starting procedure at the gutter:

• Determine the outlet locations and field cut the hole in a neat workmanlike manner.
• Insert the aluminum Kynar outlet.
• Fasten the outlet with two rivets in each flange.
• Seal with non-curing sealant.

From the outlet, the standard elbow (Style A is drawn) connects to the first 12-foot downspout length, and further lengths follow with the small end of one length meeting the large end of the next. Three straps per 12-foot length hold the downspout to the wall, mounted at the rear for Style 1 and at the front for Style 2. On the open face version, the three downspout spacers sit with the straps.

Fabrication of each order proceeds only after Metal-Era receives a signed print approval, which records the project, material, color, finish and quantities.

A 5-Year Workmanship Warranty is available on all Metal-Era products, including the Industrial Downspout in both versions. For Industrial Downspout, the warranty covers replacement or repair of products that are defective in material or workmanship.

The finish warranties described under cover materials and finishes are separate and run for 30 years on coil-coated standard colors, 10 or 20 years on custom post-coated Kynar 500 colors, and 5 or 10 years on batch anodized finishes.