

In cases involving copper roofing, brass clamps should be used with stainless-steel hardware. Dissimilar metals in electrolytic contact will induce galvanic corrosion of the less noble metal. These metals are compatible with virtually anything found on a metal roof, except copper (with which there are dissimilar metallurgy issues). Seam clamps allow even cumbersome ancillary items to be attached to metal roofs without penetrating the rooftop.Ĭlamps should be made only of noncorrosive metals-typically, aluminum with stainless-steel mounting hardware. Using seam clamps when possible for ancillary mounting will eliminate unwanted holes and other potential problems. Seam clamps can provide holding strength of up to several thousand pounds on some profiles and gauges, last the life of the roof and preserve thermal-cycling characteristics. Mechanicals can be safely and cost-effectively secured to these seam clamps, leaving the roof membrane penetration free. The seam area creates a beam-like structure that can provide convenient anchorage for walkways, solar arrays, condensing units and gas piping without harming the roof’s weathering characteristics. Unlike many other types of roofing, metal is a rigid, high-tensile material. In terms of mounting ancillaries, metal roofing can use special seam-clamping hardware that grips the standing seam without puncturing the membrane. Fortunately, scores of items and equipment can be securely mounted to metal rooftops without any penetration whatsoever, actually making metal roofing more user-friendly than other roof types.

Such a point of attachment will fatigue and fail from forces of thermal expansion within a short time. When this happens, it not only threatens weather integrity, but can also violate the membrane’s thermal-cycling behavior by inadvertently pinning the panel to the structure. The norm for attaching things seems to involve anchoring the item to the structure through the roof.

While this may seem obvious, the tenet is often violated with standing-seam metal. Penetration-free AttachmentĪ good “first rule” about any rooftop mounting is to avoid penetrating the membrane whenever possible. To help achieve relatively trouble-free roofs, this segment provides some basic understanding of the dos and don’ts in situations where rooftop equipment mounting is requisite. The list of rooftop mountings also may include plumbing vents, satellite dishes, lightning protection, snow retention systems, solar collectors, advertising signage and fall-protection systems to maintain all the foregoing.

However, such a perfect roof continues to elude us, as it becomes necessary or convenient to mount HVAC equipment, screens to hide it, piping to fuel it, scuttles to access it and walkways to service it. Seam clamps have made metal roofing a preferred roof type for mounting photovoltaic solar arrays.Regardless of the roof type involved, consultants generally agree that the best way to prevent roof-related problems is to clear the rooftop of everything possible and just let it function as a roof-not a mechanical equipment platform. Metal roofing can make use of special seam-clamping hardware that grips the standing seam without puncturing the membrane.
