The Need for Louvered Rooftop Equipment Screening

Louvered mechanical screen fencing equipment provides necessary airflow for mechanical equipment and significantly improves an industrial area’s aesthetics. But, did you know louvered mechanical screen fencing equipment also provides protection from the elements? PalmSHIELD’s louvered mechanical equipment screens are engineered to meet IBC and ASCE 7-16 codes for wind loads on structures. Often, rooftop louvered mechanical screen fencing equipment is required to meet these codes, especially near the coasts. Here’s why:

An excerpt from FEMA’s report on rooftop equipment in high-wind regions states: “Observations after the 2017 hurricanes have once again shown that rooftop equipment is often damaged during high winds. Damaged equipment can impair the operation of the facility, and the equipment can detach and become damaging wind-borne debris. In addition, water can enter the facility where equipment was displaced or damaged.” So, how does an architect or engineer ensure that high winds do not impose a threat to expensive rooftop equipment? In a recent study by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety and the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers it was found that “fully enclosed screen wall configurations do lower wind loads on the equipment it protects”.

A mechanical equipment screen engineered to meet the wind load codes set forth by the IBC and ASCE7-16 helps to protect expensive mechanical equipment and can save a business from unexpected expenses and difficulties associated with the loss of mechanical equipment. A building can be rendered completely unusable by the loss of mechanical equipment. Associated costs with an unusable building include:

• Revenue lost due to the closure

• Fixed expenses, such as rent and utility costs for the unusable location

• Expenses of operating from a temporary location

• Advertising to announce a new temporary location

• Interruption in production

When designing a project an architect needs to be assured that the architectural screen fencing and wall used will be able to withstand a region’s wind load. Avoid using non-engineered systems and choose PalmSHIELD for your louvered rooftop mechanical equipment screen! We have free specifications, engineering documents, and CAD drawings available on our website to make designing your next project easier. Contact us today for a free quote on your louvered mechanical equipment screen!