panel seams Archives

Using Wind Clamps to Improve Wind Uplift on Standing Seam Metal Roofs

Posted on May 16, 2016 by Jason Allen

Among the most important factors to account for when specifying a standing seam metal roof are wind control and wind uplift. It is imperative to take the necessary measures to ensure the safety and efficacy of the metal roof. The wind clamp—an extruded piece of aluminum that is placed on the panel seams at clip locations—is one accessory that can be used to improve wind uplift characteristics on metal roofs, delivering substantial time and cost savings as these devices help mitigate risk of wind uplift and improve overall wind design.

Standing Seam Panel Deflection as a Result of Wind Uplift

Why Use a Wind Clamp

A typical failure mode of a standing seam metal roof panel is the clip top pulling out of the panel seam when the panels are subjected to high winds. With a standard install of a standing seam panel, the seams just fold into each other. With enough pressure, wind will force seams to come apart—be it a vertical failure, horizontal movement of the seam or from clip disengagement. The clip top can then pull out of the panel seam.

The wind clamp resists the panel seam being opened, allowing for higher uplift loads. The purpose of wind clamps, in fact, is to prevent failures at the seam openings due to any deflection of the panel. The wind clamps provide more strength, thereby dramatically improving wind uplift performance.

The clamp is installed over the panel seam at clip locations, in the edge and corner zones of the roof. This allows the roof to resist the higher wind pressures in these zones, usually eliminating the need for additional purlins or joists. On large roofs, the savings can be substantial.

Another benefit is shorter installation time. Since additional purlins or joists are typically not required at the edge or corner zones of the roof, the building can be erected faster.

Choosing Wind Clamps

When choosing the type of wind clamp, it is important to consider the type of panel and the special features of the clamps. MBCI, for example, uses S-5!’s patented wind clamps, which work for two panel types—Ultra-Dek® and Double-Lok®. The S-5! wind clamps do not penetrate the steel, thereby eliminating the risks of corrosion and water leakage that can be introduced by a hole in the steel. Since the screws are hidden from the weather elements, it helps to maintain waterproofing.

Quantitative Difference with Wind Clamps

One of the biggest benefits of using wind clamps in the edge and corner zones is that usage minimizes the quantity of purlins needed, resulting in substantial cost savings. For example, let’s look at a comparison using MBCI’s Double-Lok 24” – 24 ga. panels with and without wind clamps.

In this example:

The use of wind clamps in the edge and corner zones eliminated 3,800 linear feet of purlins.
Assuming 8” x 2-1/2” Zee 14 ga. purlins were used, there would be a cost savings of $10,400.

Conclusion

Utilizing wind clamps to protect the investment of a standing seam metal roof can increase strength, make installation faster and lower overall cost.

Snow and Metal Panel Roofs: Part 2

Posted on March 3, 2016 by kbuchinger

In part I of this blog, we discussed what to consider when deciding the roof material and roof slope to build with in snowy conditions. If you have decided to design a roof with metal panels, it is important to use the correct panel seams, evaluate the roof layout and consider long-term weatherproofing, and ensure your roof design fits the needs and function of the building.

Weathertight Panel Seams

For metal panel roofs less than 3:12 (i.e., low-slope roofs), the panel seams should be watertight. A watertight seam resists water intrusion, so snow on a roof should not become a leakage issue. For metal panel roofs with slope greater than 3:12, the steeper slope means liquid water (e.g., rain) drains very quickly off the roof. Because of this, many seams used for steep-slope metal panels are not watertight. Non-watertight seams can be problematic where snow stays on a roof. Architects should consider using watertight seams (e.g., double lock) and highly water-resistant underlayments in snow areas for all roof slopes.

Roof Layout

A designer should also consider the layout of the roof. Valleys collect snow. Valleys in which one roof area is significantly larger than the other (e.g., a dormer extending from a large roof area) are vulnerable to unbalanced sliding snow. A large snow slide can move across the valley and literally tear open the standing seams and displace panels.

Drifting snow can occur behind HVAC units, at perimeter walls and behind rooftop solar thermal and PV panels. Where a roof transitions from a lower low-slope roof area to an upper steep-slope roof area, snow will collect. Consider the potential snow load and entrapped moisture at these locations; the transition detail becomes critical to long-term weatherproofing. And, depending on the orientation (e.g., north facing), areas with drifted snow may not see much sunlight, so snow is more likely to stay on the roof for a longer time.

Building Function

As the roof designer, design the building and site to account for the roof’s function. Many designers turn to snow retention devices to keep snow on roofs, especially above pedestrian areas, such as entrances and outdoor seating areas, or adjacent buildings. Some of these devices rely on adhesive attachment to the panel, which means they rely on the adhesion of the paint to the metal. But physical attachment—e.g., snow fences clamped to the standing seams—is always a more confident, long-term approach than adhesive attachment when it comes to resisting shear/sliding loads. Using.multiple rows of snow fences, sometimes double in height, may be needed in areas that get large and prolonged amounts of snow (e.g., ski resorts), or where the eave to valley length is long, or where the slope is very steep. Each increases the shear loads.

Designing a Snow Retention System

Snow retention systems need to be engineered, not guesstimated! Use online models to assist with designing snow retention devices. Input your snow load, roof slope, panel width, roof length (measured horizontally), overall width of the roof area, and the manufacturer and panel type. These inputs are needed to adequately engineer a snow fence assembly. And remember, the snow loads are transferred from the fence to the panel seams, then to the panel clips and to the deck/structure. The entire load path needs to be designed to handle the snow load. Here is one model: http://www.s-5.com/calculator/index.cfm

For more tips on designing a snow retention system, read “The Art of Properly Specifying Snow Retention Systems.”

Designing a metal roof for snow is a mix of logic, experience and engineering. We can design roofs in snow because of our everyday observations of roofs with snow on them. Stay observant; design well.

Best Applications for Water Barrier Standing Seam Metal Roof Panels

Posted on July 14, 2015 by Amy Crenan

We discussed water shedding standing seam metal roofs in my last post, and the fact that despite their water shedding properties, you still really must guard against water infiltration. Today I’ll discuss water barrier roof systems, which are structural standing seam roofing systems. These panels can withstand temporary water immersion over the panel seams and end laps. They normally have factory applied mastic in the seams to insure weather integrity. End laps, when needed, are installed using high quality tape and/or bead sealant supplied by the manufacturer. The trim designs used with these systems are much more water resistant as well.

The advantage these water barrier SSRS systems offer:

They require no deck. This is a tremendous savings on the in-place roof cost.
Many systems can be installed on roof slopes as low as ¼:12. This allows greater design flexibility and can also save on the in-place roof cost.
Because they are the only thing between the interior of a building and the weather, these are the most tested metal roof systems available. Manufacturers spend a lot of time and money testing these systems for air and water intrusion, dead load, wind uplift and fire.

Water barrier SSRSs can be further divided by seam type—trapezoidal or vertical rib.

Trapezoidal systems usually have a rib height of 3 inches. The most common panel width is 24 inches, although some manufacturers offer them in other widths as well. Trapezoidal systems are traditionally thought of as commercial or industrial standing seam systems. They are used on warehouses, factories and buildings where the roof is not meant to be seen from the ground. However, some designers have taken these systems and incorporated them into architectural applications with stunning results.

But be careful. Trapezoidal rib systems are much harder to seal at hips and valleys than vertical rib systems. The outside closures at the hip must be cut on a compound bevel with a trapezoidal system. At a valley, the panels are harder to seal because they require an inside closure; the vertical rib panels do not.

Vertical rib systems have traditionally been thought of as non-structural. However, there are now many vertical rib systems available that can span purlins or joists. These systems are available in a wide variety of panel widths, ranging from as little as 10 inches to as much as 18 inches wide. Rib heights vary from 1 foot to 3 feet.

Vertical rib systems are usually easier to install than the trapezoidals. There are fewer parts to the typical vertical seam system, which makes for a simpler, quicker installation. Because there are no inside closures, valleys are much easier to seal and quicker to install. Hips are easier to seal because the outside closures can be cut quickly and simply from a stock length of zee closure.

For these reasons, the vertical rib systems are often a better choice for applications on high-end architectural roofs. Ask just about any metal roof installer, and he will tell you that he prefers the vertical rib system over the trapezoidal system in this application.

Bottom line, when selecting a roof system, choose function first, then aesthetics. When you use the wrong roof system for a given function, the installation process becomes complicated, and results less than ideal. With so many great metal roof options, don’t make life more complicated and uncertain than it need be.

And to make things simple, safe and sound, choose from MBCI’s array of metal roofing system products. Find out more.