How Louvered Screening Protects Your Work Site
As we all know, louvered mechanical equipment screening provides necessary airflow for mechanical equipment and significantly improves an industrial area’s aesthetics. But something it also does is provide protection from the elements. PalmSHIELD’s louvered mechanical equipment screens have been engineered to meet IBC and ASCE 7-16 codes for wind loads.
FEMA’s report on rooftop equipment in high-wind regions states: “Observations after the 2017 hurricanes have once again shown that rooftop equipment is often damaged during high winds. Damaged equipment can impair the operation of the facility, and the equipment can detach and become damaging wind-borne debris. In addition, water can enter the facility where equipment was displaced or damaged.” Also, in a recent study by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety and the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers it was found that “fully enclosed screen wall configurations do lower wind loads on the equipment it protects”.
Mechanical equipment screening that meets wind load codes set forth by the IBC and ASCE7-16 helps protect expensive mechanical equipment and has the potential to spare businesses unexpected expenses and difficulties associated with the loss of mechanical equipment. Associated costs with an unusable building due to damaged equipment include:
- Revenue lost due to the closure
- Fixed expenses, such as rent and utility costs for the unusable location
- Expenses of operating from a temporary location
- Advertising to announce a new temporary location
- Interruption in production
So, when designing, architects need to be assured that the architectural screening can withstand a region’s wind load. We suggest not using non-engineered systems and instead go with PalmSHIELD’s louvered rooftop mechanical equipment screen!
PalmSHIELD has free specifications, engineering documents, and CAD drawings available on our website to make designing your next project easier. Contact us today for a free quote on your louvered mechanical equipment screen!