Product Advice: Rooftop Support Systems

Here at Armaflo, we’re more than a supplier of fixings and support solutions: we’re experts in all things ancillary. In our latest advice blog, we’re sharing our expertise in a special feature highlighting the many benefits of rooftop support systems. From guidance on what to consider with rooftop installations right through to tips on selecting the right product, you can read all about it below. Check it out and thank us later!

We’ve been working with electricians, mechanical engineers and other contractors long enough to understand that rooftop installations can be challenging.  With tight deadlines and customer expectations to manage, who needs the hassle?

Understanding the Challenges Behind Rooftop Installations

Before we start sharing our advice, let’s look at some of the difficulties faced by contractors when carrying out rooftop installations:

• • ◾Roof damage: No contractor ever wants to be in a situation where they’re explaining a damaged roof to their customer. However, this is always a risk when working with weathering and waterproofing layers, which can be easily damaged by equipment that requires penetrative installation. 
  •  ◾Troublesome leaks: Aside from the risk of causing major damage to a roof, even the slightest misstep can lead to highly problematic drips and leaks – issues which will likely lead to costly repair work. 
  •  ◾Lost warranties: Whether you’re carrying out a major installation or a minor one, even the slightest disturbance to the integrity of a roofing system will likely lose any manufacturer’s warranties. 

So – how can any installation be carried out without running into any of these problems? Whilst your choice of product is crucial, we’ve got five questions that you should consider before getting to work. 

Rooftop Installations: What to Consider Before Starting the Job

With something as problematic and potentially expensive to fix as a roof, it’s worth asking yourself the five questions below first:

• •  ◾What is the roof membrane made of & how much pressure can it take?

This one is a no-brainer. You need a system that can spread the load effectively instead of concentrating the weight on one area!

• •  ◾How do the supports need to be installed to allow full access to the roof?

Don’t forget: when the job is done, people must be able to get full access to the roof. Before you get to work, decide on this question carefully as problems can quickly arise when it’s time for maintenance/repair.

• •  ◾How hard/easy is it to install?

This is a key consideration as some rooftop support installations can demand high labour costs. Where time constraints are tight, you’ll need something that can be assembled rapidly.

• •  ◾How’s the weather on installation day?

Before you start your rooftop installation task, always conduct a rain check. High wind levels affect the stability of installation, as well as add to general health & safety risks on the job.

• •  ◾Are you working with a flat or pitched roof?

Last but not least, you’ll need to know for certain what kind of roof you’re working with flat or pitched. If you’re working with a pitched roof, you need to adjust the product according to pitch. Otherwise, your product’s stability is at risk!

The Advantages of Non-Penetrative Rooftop Supports

Once you’ve taken those five key questions into account, it’s time to choose a support product that maintains weathering & waterproofing warranties whilst providing that strong, sturdy support that’s needed. The key to ticking both of these boxes is using a non-penetrative rooftop support such as a Flexi Foot or a Flexi H-Frame. Here are just a few of the benefits you can expect from these non-intrusive products:

• •  ◾Maintain Warranties: Protect the warranty of your roofing by ensuring that it isn’t affected by penetrative components.
  •  ◾Impressive Work Load: Our range of non-penetrative solutions have a safe load from 50kg per foot up to 700kg depending on which option you choose. 
  •  ◾Ease of Installation: Flat packed and ready for installation, these non-penetrative rooftop support solutions save on time and hassle. 

Choosing the right product can prevent many of the costly issues associated with rooftop installations. Indeed, our Flexi Foot and Flexi H-Frame could be the answer to all of your problems:

• •  ◾Flexi Foot: Due to the dense nature of these systems, Flexi-Foot is suitable for several lighter applications such as pipework, ducting and cable tray runs, as well as heavy-duty installations. The environmentally friendly support systems are made of durable recycled rubber.  This offers built-in anti-vibration properties and makes it very economical.
  •  ◾Flexi H-Frame: The H-Frame Set offers support to small or large ducting, pipework and cable trays. They are suitable for use on flat roofs or any other surface that requires weight to be evenly distributed. All of the components come complete in a box for you to add your lengths of unistrut to your requirements.

That concludes our advice on avoiding rooftop installation issues using non-penetrative support products. For more advice on cutting the hassle out of your day-to-day work, visit our blog. 

It’s Time to Discover the Armaflo Experience

From support systems and cable management products to pipe supports and site equipment, we’re passionate about supplying our customers with the products they need. To find the perfect product to suit your requirements, get in touch with a member of our expert team today.

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