Roof parapet: what is it and how is it arranged?

During the construction of any building, special attention is paid to its roof and all that is on it. An integral part of the roof is the parapet. What it is and how it works is not all know, but it is this detail that makes a person's stay at the height safe.

More recently, parapets on buildings performed a single function — aesthetic. Now these devices are mandatory attributes of the roof, and this rule is spelled out in the relevant State Standards.

The main objective of each type of fencing is to protect the person on the roof from falling. The secondary function is to protect the building from precipitation and any climatic influences. But the continuous improvement of design solutions allowed the low wall, which runs along the perimeter of the edge of the roof, to fulfill the role of decoration of architectural structures.

Parapets are arranged on both pitched and flat roofs. In the first case, the construction is erected above the eaves and from below (from the ground) is clearly visible from all sides. In the second case, a low barrier completely covers the roof from the gaze of a person.

So that the parapet does not destroy the strong wind and atmospheric precipitations that are unfavorable for building materials, this elevation is covered with a special apron made of galvanized or copper sheet metal, equipped with droppers, thanks to which water that has fallen onto the building is easily diverted. Kapelnik also exclude the possibility of water entering the protected areas of the parapet.

Properly assembled fencing protects the roof from gusty winds, the force of which can deform and tear the facing covering. No less important is the decorative use of the parapet. It refines the roof of high-rise buildings, hiding the blocks of air conditioning systems and other communications.

To understand which version of the parapet to install on the roof, you need to find out all the possibilities of this design.

In addition to the listed functions, the following points are relevant.

• The parapet is used as a fire protection system to prevent the fire from making roof materials.
• Evenly distributes the air flow around the perimeter of the roof, respectively, and distributed pressure on it. The parapet does not allow strong winds to lift its edges.
• It does not allow various debris, branches and everything that may lie on the roof to fall down.
• It hides from the eyes of people equipment and appliances that are on the roof, which can disfigure the appearance of the roof.

All parapets, without exception, have one structure:

• shelf - the main part;
• overhangs - perpendicular to the shelf;
• kapelniki (placed on the sides of the parapet) - responsible for the removal of rain and melt water.

To create parapets, a variety of materials are used: metal, reinforced concrete blocks, bricks and solid concrete. In order to avoid the damaging effects of precipitation, the structure is closed with galvanized metal profiles or concrete slabs. The profile surface can be horizontal, single-slope or dual-slope.

Modern construction provides two types of parapets:

• metal parapet grilles and hubcaps;
• brick fencing.

The configuration of the facade affects the appearance of parapets.The latter can be straight, figured, radial or combined.

Protective panels (aprons) for the parapet are made from metal sheets with a thickness of 0.3-0.7 mm. They may differ in design and mounting options.

These signs distinguish such parapets:

• figured;
• simple;
• complex;
• flat;
• in the form of a skate.

Figured product looks like a railing. Differs in complex lines and bends. A simple option is a combination of two stingrays with a regular rectangular drip. In the complex version of the droplets are under the visor and bent inward, they are the most reliable and durable.

Kapelnik in flat models are also from different sides. The last version of the parapet has a covered visor.

As with any building construction, there are also some requirements for the parapet. If the height of the building is more than ten meters, then the presence of a protective structure on the roof is mandatory.

The fact of installing fencing on the roof does not guarantee the absolute protection of people and the roof itself. A slight inaccuracy in the connection of the parapet system with the roof can cause a loosening of the structure, and the material chosen at random cannot withstand corrosion processes. Therefore, it is important to be confident in your abilities or to entrust the parapet device to the masters of their craft, who will accurately make all calculations of the roof area, find out the average annual rainfall rate and calculate the water load on the building surface.

Fence on the roof, made of brick, as a rule, is a continuation of the brick wall of an architectural structure, which is created after the installation of all the ceilings. At the design stage, it is necessary to determine the required height of the brick "rim" so that during installation you can make a special groove,necessary to perform the junction of the roof to the parapet.

To increase the life of the parapets on the roof is covered with metal caps, aprons. They are made of various corrosion-resistant raw materials: aluminum, galvanized metal, copper sheet (the most expensive options are patinated or oxidized).

After heat treatment, the fences for the roof become resistant to temperature changes of the environment, endure any negative effects of precipitation, their service life increases. The advantage of these systems can also be called the fact that the color of the coating can be any, so the caps can both stand out against the general background of the building, and vice versa: merge with it in a single color design.

Metal parapets are very popular due to the ease of installationwhile they perfectly perform their functions. With precisely cut metal cuts, the parapet is sheathed, and all the connections are folded into the seam locks. Thus, the maximum tightness of the structure is ensured,There is not a single hole or gap.

With the help of modern equipment, covers are made on parapets of any shape. You can purchase a flat parapet, with ramps or non-standard configuration. The price of the finished parapet depends on the material of its execution, as well as the complexity of the form.

Sometimes there is a need to repair protective structures. Such cases are not unique, especially if the building has been in operation for decades, or the parapets were not initially protected by aprons. In this case, repair is a sure way to return the former functionality and appearance to the protective system.

According to the SNiP, the parapet is installed on a roof of a house with a height of more than 10 m with a ramp slope reaching 12%. If the slope of the roof is more than 12%, then the fence can be installed on the roof of the building with a height of less than 10 m.

The minimum height of the parapet is 45 cm. The maximum value is also regulated by the SNiP and is regulated by the figure of 1.2 m, not more.

Operated roof often becomes a place for arranging viewing platforms, summer cafes and various recreation areas. Therefore, the protection of people on the roof from accidental fall is necessary. The height of the parapet in this case should not be less than 1.2 m.

On different types of roofs junction points will be different. When making a parapet-type roof, the entire lateral surface of the fence, 45 cm high, must be completely covered with waterproofing material. So that it is well fixed in place, apply mastic with bitumen at the base.

If the barrier element has a height of more than 50 cm, the groove should be made at a distance of 25 cm from the surface of the roof base. In this case, waterproofing insulation is settled down to the groove, in which the insulation edges are inserted. The node adjoining the roof to the parapet is made with mastic of bitumen.

The junction on a soft roof needs arrangement of a reinforced waterproofing carpet. The built-up roof, namely it is a soft-type construction, provides for the establishment of roll roofing with an overlap on the vertical surface of the parapet.

It should be remembered that if the roofing material is put without the use of a support, then a cavity is formed in the interface area of ​​the planes. As a result, the risk of mechanical damage to the soft roof will increase, its tightness will be broken.

If ruberoid was chosen as a waterproofing carpet, it is fixed with a roofing base, a side and a wall of fencing with hot mastic on a bitumen base. After the first layer of waterproofing cools down, the next ones are applied.

The junction of the roof to the parapet is as follows: The upper edges of the flat insulating material are superimposed on top of the structure or inserted into a specially equipped groove, fixed with a pressure plate made of galvanized iron, which is nailed with dowels. The joints are filled with sealant and after it dries, they are painted. After these manipulations, a steel apron is attached to the bar.

In the modern domestic market one of the most successful companies offering products for construction is the trade mark "TekhnoNIKOL".The brand was one of the first manufacturers to pay attention to the training of master builders in new technologies and features of the use of improved materials and technologies. High quality products have allowed the company to gain the trust of customers in many foreign countries.

How to make an adjunction to the parapet using PVC metal, see the following video.