What are Mechanical Equipment Screens?

Learn about the importance of mechanical equipment screens in today’s architectural landscape

The architectural industry has dramatically changed in the last twenty-some years, and it has become incumbent upon architects, property managers, and building owners to remain up to date on the latest industry trends and regulations. Some of these more recent rules concern fixtures that must be installed at strategic points on or near your infrastructure. In today’s architectural landscape, many progressive communities have focused on aesthetics and safety and have passed laws requiring property owners to screen out mechanical equipment that, on the one hand, is paramount to a building’s internal operations (air conditioning, power, etc.) but on the other makes for an eyesore. Some of these items also present safety hazards to passersby, and for commercial outlets this is a major concern.

For all these reasons, mechanical equipment screens have exploded on the market. Available in a broad spectrum of styles (louvered, semi-private, solid, LED-backlit, etc.), these elegantly constructed, easy-to-assemble panels are a must. PalmSHIELD has been a boundary-pusher in this field ever since our inception; for that reason we wanted to explain why the equipment screen is so important and why you need it for your building project.

Why must mechanical equipment be closed off from view and restricted to the public?

Sealing off equipment is not only aesthetically pleasing but, in this day and age — in many communities — lawfully required. As mentioned before, an increasing number of progressive cities and neighborhoods have passed laws insisting certain fixtures be hidden from view. (And, to incentivize building owners, they fine violators!) It is in your best interest — and the interest of your budget — to invest in equipment screens from the start rather than pay hefty fines down the road.

There are many ground, platform, and rooftop-mounted items that require screening. These include:

• HVAC units
• Cooling towers
• Solar panels
• Generators
• Dumpsters

All of these items are fundamental to daily operations at your facility. So why must be they be screened out?

• Whether you run a store, a restaurant, or a factory, you need power, basic maintenance, etc., and the equipment that makes this possible must be installed somewhere on your property — usually on rooftops, at the ground, or on some platform. However, items such as these — bulky, massive, covered with vents and protrusions — aren’t appealing to the eye, often clashing visually with the infrastructure around them.
• Exposed equipment presents potential hazards to unauthorized personnel. For instance, you don’t want children climbing your HVAC units or touching exposed mechanical parts. This can result in serious injury or worse! (Briefly: this is a big reason why mechanical equipment screens are essential for schools, amusement parks, and other environments frequently visited by children and their parents.) Screening these items eliminates what’s known as an attractive hazard and seals off access. Even if children know something large and exciting resides on the opposite side of the screening, they cannot reach it.
• Leaving equipment in the open and accessible to everyone means leaving them accessible to vandals. Imagine the damage to your budget if you’re constantly repairing or replacing equipment throughout the year. A secondary function of equipment screening is to provide a protective enclosing barrier, sealing off access to vandals and wild animals. Yes, that’s something to consider, too. Dumpsters are very attractive to raccoons, stray cats, and other scavengers, as they offer a smorgasbord of easy meals. You don’t want to deal with the mess they inevitably leave behind.

In summary: HVACs and other complex equipment must be screened out for 1) aesthetic purposes, 2) security purposes, and 3) financial reasons. Investing in these protective barriers will save you money and help avoid on-site accidents.

Ready to talk about your project? Contact our sales team today!

Find the right mechanical equipment screen style for you!

While all screening styles share the same basic functions, they don’t necessarily all match the aesthetics of each building. Obviously, you don’t want solid gray louvers on or around old-fashioned brick-and-mortar; the different colors and materials will clash horrifically and distractingly. The same solid gray color similarly wouldn’t work on a backdrop of different colored infrastructure. No two projects are identical; for that reason, PalmSHIELD offers a variety of equipment scree styles, with new ones constantly appearing on the horizon. These include:

• Architectural louvers. Unquestionably the industry’s most popular choice, architectural louvers are stylish, visually appealing, and permit a healthy degree of ventilation that’s essential for mechanical equipment. Most equipment types feature vents that emit fumes and moisture. If you have a solid screening system, the above mentioned debris will remain contained, resulting in compounded heat as well as decreased air quality (which can be bad for maintenance workers when they perform routine inspections and/or repairs). PalmSHIELD’s architectural louvers are tautly packed to create 100% direct visual screening, but there’s enough space between the slats to permit air to move freely.
• Semi-private. In situations where total visual screening isn’t essential but physical security remains important, semi-private is the ideal choice. The spacing between the slats is greater than in architectural louvers, permitting a greater degree of visibility and ventilation.
• Solid. Of course, not all equipment and fixtures require airflow. Solid screens blend smoothly into solid background infrastructure. Whether installed at ground level or as rooftop screening, these panels help create a wholesome, uniform appearance for your building. Solid screening also helps prevent the flow of odors, which can help deter the interest of wild animals.
• Brick & Stone. We mentioned earlier that solid gray louvers clash with traditional masonry. So your mechanical equipment screens should have a masonry aesthetic. Obviously, actual bricks and concrete — heavy, impossible to move, unable to be hinged to a screening fence — won’t function in this situation. This is where PalmSHIELD’s Brick & Stone collection comes into play. We have partnered with the manufacturer Texture Plus® to achieve this solution. These panels feature our signature Picture Frame design, but the infill consists of lightweight polymer that’s been crafted and colored to imitate the appearance of bricks, concrete, and stones.
• Artistic Laser Cut. Did you know that mechanical equipment screens can not only match your building infrastructure but even improve it? Even help draw potential clients to your establishment? PalmSHIELD recognizes there’s a sizable market here, and so we dived head-first into satisfying this market with our Artistic Laser Cut screens. Put together using cutting-edge laser-cut technology, these panels feature any design of your choice. Send our designers your logo, symbol, text, patterns, and we’ll cut that into the panels. Some of these options feature a colored interior acrylic sheet for extra pizazz. Want to go even more extravagant? Look no further than our LED Backlit Laser Cut option. The lights are bright (though their brightness can be controlled) and can feature alternating colors!
• Trellis. Mechanical equipment screening is needed even in areas that might seem unlikely, such as gardens and greenhouses. Our trellis option is designed to host and support live, lush vegetation to match the surroundings.

Don’t neglect the need for rooftop screens!

As mentioned before, mechanical equipment — and the panels used to conceal and safeguard them — can be found throughout a building; this means on mid-level platforms as well as rooftops. In point of fact, rooftop screens are some of the most important barriers to include in modernizing your infrastructure. There are many reasons for this:

• Rooftop equipment must also be screened from public view. Even though cooling towers, solar panels, etc. are normally out of reach of civilians, in many cases they remain visible from the street. Progressive communities in many cases won’t allow this, so you must visually obscure them. If you opt for architectural louvers, we’ll install the louvers at the necessary angle so that when someone looks up at your rooftop from ground level they still cannot see the equipment on the other side.
• Rooftop screens are designed to withstand wind and, thus, prevent equipment from being dislodged and pushed over the edge. You don’t want to create a situation wherein equipment gets torn loose and falls onto people and property on the ground.

Contact PalmSHIELD for your mechanical equipment screens

Having been in the industry twenty-plus years, PalmSHIELD continues to dominate the screening industry — with our boundary-pushing designs, broad variety of styles, state of the art fabrication technology, and team of trained professionals. Our signature Picture Frame Design — unavailable from any other screening contractor in the United States — provide structural integrity, picturesque aesthetics, and easy assembly. Our Gorilla Hinges are the best on the market, without a single failure reported to date. (Not once have we received a complaint about a gate that’s fallen off!) We also stand out through our custom building process. Each project is tailored to the specific needs of the client. When you contact us, we:

1. Provide a free quote. Tell us your screening needs and installation site measurements, and we’ll provide an estimate at no charge to you.
2. Custom design the screens. Everything is drawn up so that all items are hidden at the necessary angles and the proper degree of ventilation is achieved. Fabrication does not begin until you receive CAD drawings on the project and give us the green light.
3. Custom fabrication in our state-of-the-art facility. We use the best welding technology and cutting-edge equipment such as our plasma table.
4. Continued communication. You remain informed about the current status of your project.
5. Transportation. PalmSHIELD works with reputable transportation firms throughout the country. We also remain in contact with the transport team until your shipment is delivered.

PalmSHIELD’s sales team is standing by to discuss your project with you. They can help pick the right mechanical equipment screen style for your project and provide a free quote. Contact us today!