We are often asked to provide our equipment for buildings with standing-seam roofs. In the past, this request would make even our most knowledgeable designers cringe, but alas, we have engineered a solution.
What is a Standing Seam Roof?
A standing seam roof consists of a series of sheet metal panels that are connected “above” the panels (creating a “standing seam”) in a manner that does not penetrate them.
These are some examples of connections:
Pro-Bel is an official distributor of S-5!® clamps (as shown in the picture below), which connect panels by tightening the seams.
Structural Requirements
The big obstacle with our equipment on a standing-seam roof is that the panels will not support the applied load or force our equipment is engineered to withstand.
CAN/CSA-Z271, Section 6.3.2 – “Strength Requirement” asks that all “anchoring systems shall be designed to resist a force” of five thousand (5,000) pounds. This load/force is indirectly applied to the structure of the roof as well, which is where the problem arises.
The Ridge Cap Flashing
Usually, with a sloped roof, there is a gap at the peak between the panels. This is usually covered by a ridge cap flashing, which does penetrate the flashing and panel in a strategic manner. As seen in the picture below, the Z-bar connection penetrates the flashing and connects it to the panel.
As long as the penetration is “above” and “away” from the envelope (the area inside the flashing), there is no concern for water damage. If the Z bar is installed incorrectly, water could potentially enter the envelope and travel toward the unprotected roof material and structure.
The flashing runs along the peak of a sloped roof with a large number of fasteners (nails or screws) along each side.
Our Solution
Our engineers agreed that these connections make the flashing the strongest component of a standing seam roof and, therefore, the ideal location to install our equipment.
We designed a large galvanized rectangular plate with ninety-degree angle pieces welded to it. Our standard stainless steel U-bar is centred on the plate, and the angles are screwed into the flashing (where the Z bar would typically be installed), rather than penetrating the roof envelope or panel.
We hope to build on this application, as this solution will revolutionize fall protection systems for standing seam roofs.