Roof walkways are extremely convenient features of industrial and commercial structures. They allow for fast transportation, elevated oversight, and access to rooftop features like pipes and AC units. However, you must design METALWALK® according to certain specifications before you have one installed.
Failure to make these considerations, or hire experts to plan rooftop METALWALK® specifications in Salt Lake City, UT, can result in an accident at worst, and an unreliable feature that is a waste of money at best.
Here are the considerations you need to make before you purchase a rooftop walkway. The specifications of the roof must be adjusted according to the following.
The Slope of the Roof
Flat and gabled roofs each hold and tolerate support differently. This means that a walkway that is designed for a flat roof will not work on one that inclines at 30 degrees, nor will the latter be functional on a roof that inclines at 45 degrees. Failure to consider the slope of the roof can result in roof collapse. Also, factors like the direction of wind over the roof, pressure distribution, and ease of foot traffic through the walkway all depend on a walkway that is adequate for the roof on which it is to be installed. Good calculations are essential for success.
Load Capacity
Good roof METALWALK® design also depends on considering who or what will travel over the walkway. How many individuals will stand or walk on it at once? Will machinery or other heavy loads be transported across the walkway? Should it be built to handle more pressure that what is expected under ordinary circumstances? To prevent accidents, work with experts to design according to the proper load capacity.
Environmental Considerations
Because rooftop METALWALK® are designed to sit on a roof, they must be built to resist deterioration due to local climate conditions. It is one thing to design a METALWALK® with sun-safe, water-resistant, and wind-resistant materials, but does yours also need to be built to resist fierce winds, strong rain, the possibility of lightning strikes, or even snow and ice? The materials, design, base attachments, and adhesive materials all need to be carefully planned.
Ease of Access
Good rooftop METALWALK® design needs to take human traffic into consideration. How will the METALWALK® itself be accessible? Will you need stairs or a lift in order to access the METALWALK®? What will the typical flow of traffic be? Does the railing need to be non-obstructive for clear eyesight, transparency, and access to rooftop systems like air conditioning units? Simply put, a METALWALK® needs to be designed to be safe for those who will use it.
While designing according to the above specifications is complex, you can trust experts to design and construct according to specific rooftop METALWALK® specifications in Salt Lake City, UT. Careful consideration of the above factors is necessary for a long-lasting, safe, and practical METALWALK®.