What should a consultant do if a primary drain is clogged?

• A. Ignore and continue.
• B. Document the condition, advise the owner of risk, recommend evaluation and correction, and flag potential structural concerns.
• C. Immediately replace the drain without assessment.
• D. Notify the city building department.

Answer: (B)

When a primary drain is clogged, the priority is to manage risk to the roof system and surrounding structure. The best course for a consultant is to document the condition in detail, inform the owner of the risks of continued drainage failure (such as ponding, water intrusion, and potential damage to roofing materials and underlying structures), and recommend a formal evaluation and corrective action while flagging any potential structural concerns that moisture could affect. This leads to a coordinated plan for assessment by the appropriate professionals to identify the blockage, inspect for damage, and outline remediation to restore proper drainage. Ignoring the issue or replacing the drain without assessment could miss hidden problems, and notifying the city building department is not typically required unless a code or safety trigger exists.