Why You Need Aluminum Equipment Screens Planned During Preconstruction

Also known as louvered screens, mechanical equipment screens enhance facility longevity and aesthetics by concealing HVAC units and protecting expensive equipment from harsh weather. When made from aluminum, equipment screens offer superior durability. They resist rust and perform well in all conditions with minimal upkeep, unlike wood or steel.

While essential in commercial and industrial construction, these screens are often an afterthought. Integrating aluminum equipment screens during preconstruction is vital to prevent significant budget, schedule and design issues.

The Importance of Early Planning for Equipment Screens

Including equipment screens as part of the initial design process helps you avoid various issues:

Redesigns and Change Orders

Treating an equipment screen as a late-stage addition typically leads to costly redesigns, change orders and other administrative hurdles, inflating costs and interrupting workflows. With preconstruction planning, screen integration is a straightforward line item.

Lack of Structural Support

A significant physical challenge of last-minute additions is structural, as the building may not have been designed with aluminum equipment screen mounting requirements in mind. This typically results in expensive and complex retrofitting, as well as delays.

When planned early, the necessary structural support is integrated into the original design, and roof penetrations are incorporated from the outset. This helps prevent unnecessary complexities and costs while supporting timely project completion.

Compromised Building Envelopes

Rushing screen installation post-construction can compromise the building envelope. Issues such as drainage disruption, improper sealing and a lack of manufacturer approval risk voiding valuable roofing warranties.

During the planning and design phase, screen support posts are integrated into the roof plan before the installation of the membrane. As part of the installation, certified roofers can then correctly flash and seal these penetrations. This way, the posts are part of the roofing system and covered by warranty.

A Timeline for Team Coordination

Here’s a breakdown of the planning process by project phase, giving you a clear action plan:

1. Schematic Design

During this phase, establish the general location, approximate size and aesthetic goals for the screen to ensure alignment with the overall building design. Architects should develop detailed drawings and structural requirements, coordinating with mechanical equipment layouts to support integration.

For unique dimensions or tailored solutions, custom aluminum louvered screens offer design flexibility. For easy aluminum screen installation and cost-effectiveness, consider prefabricated units.

2. Design Development

Next, engineers define structural loads and attachment strategies. They must verify the building’s capacity to support the screen against wind and seismic forces. This stage involves designing connections to the primary structure, coordinating placement to avoid conflicts and ensuring the entire system is properly engineered to prevent issues like roof leaks or structural damage.

3. Construction Documents

This phase finalizes all details for a smooth construction process, including documentation of:

• Specific materials: Detail everything from the aluminum type and finish warranty to performance requirements like wind load ratings.
• Fastener types: Specify exact attachment methods, including types and sizes, as well as the spacing of anchors, bolts, and welds.
• Waterproofing interfaces: Document the integration of screen attachment points with roofing and flashing through step-by-step drawings, helping to achieve a watertight, manufacturer-approved seal.

Key Technical Integration Points

Effectively integrating aluminum equipment screens also requires precise technical coordination with other major building components. Understanding these requirements in the preconstruction stage is essential for efficient project execution and preventing costly complications.

Structural Support and Load Paths

One of the most critical aluminum equipment screen roof requirements is calculating design wind pressures and a clear load path from the screen to the building structure. You must carefully plan attachment methods with structural engineers to ensure integrity. Anchors, brackets and support systems must be compatible with the base structure.

Two primary support systems are footer posts and continuous steel tubes. Footer posts are an all-aluminum system that attaches to flat roofs with penetrations. They support aluminum louvered panels, offering easy assembly and preventing the corrosion that typically occurs when combining dissimilar materials.

In comparison, continuous steel tubes are heavy structural steel members welded directly to the building below the roofline. This provides superior strength and rigidity, allowing for extremely tall screens without the need for additional bracing. While the support is made of steel, the screen panels can be made of aluminum.

Roofing and Waterproofing Integrity

Integrating aluminum louvered screen supports with the roof membrane is critical for waterproofing. Choosing between penetrating and non-penetrating mounting solutions involves trade-offs.

Non-penetrating systems use clamps or ballasts. This eliminates the need to drill holes and preserves roofing integrity and warranties. These systems also avoid structural anchoring. However, they can add significant weight to the roof and require maintenance to ensure stability and proper weight distribution.

Penetrating systems anchor directly into the structure, offering superior stability for high wind and snow loads. These systems are also more lightweight. That said, penetrating systems involve drilling holes into the roof’s membrane, so they create potential leak points, and there’s a higher risk of voiding warranties. As a result, installation requires expertise in structural analysis and specialized labor, as well as meticulous waterproofing, which can be costly.

If ballast is manageable, nonpenetrating solutions are typically preferred for maintaining roof integrity. If your project requires maximum stability due to a location with high winds or other extreme weather conditions, a penetrating system is best, provided it’s professionally engineered. Regardless of the solution used, always coordinate the aluminum equipment screen in preconstruction with the roofing manufacturer to protect the warranty.

MEP and Safety Compliance

Mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) coordination is another one of the most crucial aluminum equipment screen requirements. It ensures HVAC, plumbing, electrical and fire safety systems integrate efficiently without conflicts. For example, the screen’s design must allow for adequate airflow to help protect mechanical equipment from overheating.

Stakeholders must agree on final positions for both equipment and louvered screens during preconstruction to ensure maintenance access and proper function. This is often achieved through the use of building information modeling to avoid clashes with pipes and vents.

Compliance with OSHA safety standards is paramount — screens must not block exit routes or restrict access for emergency responders. Building codes also dictate fire separation distances. According to the International Building Code, equipment screens aren’t required to comply with fire-resistance rating requirements when the fire separation distance exceeds 5 feet.

Partner With Sharchs Corporation

With over 25 years of experience, Sharchs Corporation is your trusted partner for aluminum equipment screen solutions. We help general contractors, architects and other construction professionals navigate preconstruction planning complexities. For post-construction needs, we also offer aluminum wall screen solutions.

You can expect high-quality products and excellent service. In addition to our standard offerings, we custom-manufacture mechanical screen systems tailored to meet your specific needs. With BIM-ready details and lead times of six to eight weeks, we expedite both planning and execution.

Request a quote today to integrate aluminum equipment screens into your next project’s design from the outset, ensuring you stay on schedule and on budget.