The Dam Buster Rainhead
This amazing Australian designed and made rain head, is quite simply the best, highest performing rain head available anywhere in the world today. Period.
Providing effortless performance guaranteed to meet at least a 1:100 year storm event, the Dam Buster rain head is an incredibly easy to install, great looking, top quality product that actually works straight out of the box. It can be used with absolute confidence anywhere from tropical areas to deserts and everywhere in between.
Simply determine the 1:100 year ARI (1% AEP) flow rate for the roof being serviced, then select the correctly sized rain head and downpipe combination from the Design Tables in the Installation Manual which you can find here at Technical Downloads.
Product dimensions can be found HERE.
Dam Buster products are certified to meet all Australian code requirements including AS3500.3, HB39 and the National Construction Code - in fact Dam Buster currently makes the ONLY range of roof drainage products like these which even carry that certification in the whole of Australia. All of our certification critical information is easily downloadable from the Dam Buster website at Technical Downloads.
For Architects and Designers, Dam Buster rain heads will substantially minimise the visual impact of box gutters on the form of a building by making the rain head size as small as possible, while still ensuring 100% reliability when it matters and also providing an extremely good looking solution that will more than meet customer expectations.
The extremely high performance of all Dam Buster rain heads in the overflow condition provides enormous additional safety simply not offered by any other commercially available rain heads currently on the entire Australian market.
If you'd like to find out more about our award winning rain heads, please read our Further Information page.
Now recognized across the country and protected by various Australian and International Patents, Dam Buster rain heads won a coveted Australian Good Design Award in 2018, were finalists in the Victorian Premiers Design Awards 2023 and were also featured on Australia By Design Innovations (ABDI) Series 2, 10 Network Australia, 2018. You can watch the ABDI episode HERE.
Specifications
Sizes
Models are available to suit all box gutters from 200mm up to 600mm wide. Adjustment to intermediate sizes is easy and if needed can be done on site by the installing plumber - see our Installation Manual.
Physical product dimensions including maximum box gutter sizing for each model can be found HERE.
Flat back panel models delete the patented box gutter receiver and provide a "flat back" version (as the name suggests); this flat back design enables fitment to odd sized or shaped box gutters, and also to round PVC outlets. Flat back versions can also be fitted to eaves gutter installations whereby the eaves gutter is cut in on the side.
All of our Flat back Rain Heads can be supplied with an adjustable box gutter adapter device (extra cost) which allows the installer to easily fit them to any box gutter between 200mm and 600mm wide whilst still ensuring a 100% positive and compliant seal to the box gutter. There are three different sized adapters available depending on the application; please ask your supplier for more information.
Available variants:
Stretch series; a range of R-200-XXX and R-300-XXX series rain heads which have been stretched horizontally (only) to cover a range of incoming box gutter widths between 200mm and 600mm; this allows lower profile, high capacity rain heads to be fitted on larger box gutters which otherwise could not be accommodated by the standard R-200 and R-300 series rainheads.
Widened WR-200 and WR-300; can also be used to cover up gaps in the parapet wall around the box gutter exit penetration. More information on these variants can be found in our Product Technical Statement which you can download from HERE.
Mini series; a variant of our R-200 rain head, the MINI is 75mm lower in height than the standard R-200 and is suitable for tight locations with lower flow rates e.g small portico roofs.
Maxi series; a variant of the R-300 rain head, the MAXI is longer than the standard R-300 i.e sticks out further from the wall. This allows the downpipe to potentially be fully offset to account for a set back on the upper wall e.g where there is brick cladding on the lower wall and lightweight panels on the upper floor.
The dimensions for all of these versions can also be found HERE.
Dam Buster also now offers FLASHING KITS (either chased or pressure type) which fit precisely above the rainhead, and will cover any unsightly openings in the parapet which can't be covered up by the rainhead itself. Please ask your supplier for more information.
Material
Standard Range: Zincalume or Colorbond 0.55BMT are the standard materials in all sizes and products. Colorbond Matt is also available.
Custom Order: Stainless steel 304, stainless steel 316 marine, galvanized steel, Colorbond Ultra, Corten steel, copper etc. Almost any flat metal can be used to suit your personal project requirements - simply ask an authorised licencee for a quote - they can be found HERE.
Design
Contemporary, Traditional or Round Fronted ("Ned Kelly" type) designs are available to suit virtually any situation.
The standard product is the contemporary, rectangular design. Our optional top trim piece provides a more traditional appearance and is simply fixed over the top of the contemporary rain head during manufacture (NB the trim is not available for curved front models).
For maximum flexibility, Dam Buster rain heads can also be ordered in Flat Back versions to suit odd sized box gutter installations, PVC pipe inflows and also eaves gutter installations. These Flat Back models can also be combined with our nifty, fully adjustable Box Gutter Adapters to ensure an easy, fully compliant seal between the rainhead and the box gutter.
For a more traditional look
Don't end up like this home owner - a single non-conforming rainhead caused this massive mess.
Easy Compliance
DAM BUSTER rain heads easily meet or exceed the performance and overflow requirements of AS/NZS 3500.3, SA-HB39 and SA-HB114, along with all of the required Conformance, Performance and Suitability requirements of the National Construction Code (NCC), including Volume 3.
Compliance is achieved either as Deemed to Satisfy by Expert Judgement (based on Dam Buster's extensive technical information which can be downloaded HERE or else by means of a Performance Solution which also utilizes Dam Buster's unique technical information.
NOTE: Certification methods do vary according to the state or territory of installation, so all products should be installed by a licenced professional, always reflecting local regulator requirements.
Dam Buster's uniquely designed rain head has been tested to absolute extremes. It is a true world first piece of Australian innovation, which can also be installed very easily and with absolute confidence.
NONE OF THESE VERY COMMON RAIN HEADS ARE COMPLIANT WITH MANDATORY AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS - What about Yours??
FAQs
Are Dam Buster rainheads compliant?
Absolutely Yes. We've done the hard yards and all Dam Buster products achieve full conformance and compliance with the relevant NCC Performance Requirements via two methods, more details of which you can find here under Compliance.
Don't forget that "Performance Solution is also Compliance", so if a proposed installation is not (or may not be) considered Deemed to Satisfy, an appropriately prepared full Performance Solution is another fully permitted alternative pathway.
All Dam Buster products fully meet all of the roof plumbing standards and codes right across Australia including AS/NZS3500.3:2021 (and all previous versions). The method of compliance may however vary from state to state. For Victoria, the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) has specifically advised (Fact Sheet March 2023) in relation to Dam Buster products that: "The VBA does not endorse any specific plumbing products and is satisfied as long as the products are fit for the intended purpose & meet the relevant Performance Requirements of the NCC Volume Three."
All Dam Buster products 100% meet these performance requirements of the NCC Volume 3, PLUS they also meet all of the requirements for NCC in all other states and territories in Volumes 1 and 2.
Remember: fake copies of Dam Buster products don't meet any standards, are Non-Conforming Building Products under the NCC and an automatic fail for any plumbing audit. Fakes are complete junk, and if you buy them you have been ripped off, so just don't do it.
How do I calculate my rainhead size?
Go to our quick design guide HERE. Follow the steps from page 3 - 13, specifically following either Method A or B to calculate your 1% AEP, then on page 6 calculate your flow rate with your catchment area, finally size appropriately with the table on page 13.
This is a simplified version of the requirements set out in AS3500.3 which has been in force nationally since 1998. These aren't just requirements for Dam Buster products, these are calculations required for ALL roof drainage design as well as roof drainage products.
Please ensure to read all of the steps and fully understand what you are required to calculate, failure to do so will likely result in a non-compliant system.
Can Dam Buster rainheads be used with uncommon box gutter widths?
ABSOLUTELY!
Depending on your box gutter size, we have flat-back versions of our rainheads that accommodate up to 600mm wide as per the NCC requirements. We also have our stretch series rainheads that provide a lower profile rainhead for a much larger equivalent R-series rainhead.
Example. Box gutter width = 365mm wide.
Option A - R400 flat-back rainhead with box gutter adapter. (Total dimensions: 465x600x325)
Option B - R3-380 Stretch flat-back rainhead with box gutter adapter. (Total dimensions: 445x450x245)
Are Dam Buster rainheads the same to install as other rainheads?
Not necessarily, Dam Buster rainheads are usually simpler and faster to install compared to other rainheads. However installers should read our installation guide carefully to ensure a compliant installation.
An example of a common mistake is the box gutter protruding into the main part of the rainhead once installed. The box gutter should finish flush with the back panel of the rainhead.