Protect Your Roof with Pipe Hangers and Supports

Large, heavy equipment like HVAC units, plumbing, and gas pipes are housed on top of most commercial buildings because rooftop environments keep these important and expensive assets out of harm's way. This unique location also reduces noise pollution and maximizes internal square-footage—both of which are vital for hospitals, hotels, office buildings, and other establishments. However, the advantages of rooftop equipment are moot without a proper support system in place. Despite having excellent protective qualities, roofs are surprisingly fragile. Even something as simple as foot traffic can harm a roof’s protective outer membrane. Factor in a five-ton HVAC unit with sprawling ductwork and piping—the stakes grow exponentially higher. To preserve a building’s infrastructure and ensure the lifespan of assets, all rooftop equipment requires specialized reinforcement to evenly distribute weight, including pipe hangers and supports.

Pain Points for Commercial Roofs

Maintaining commercial rooftop pipelines present several unique challenges for building owners. In addition to precipitation and wind, pipes can fluctuate depending on changes in temperature, which means the type of support system you choose and how that system is installed are significant determinants of success. The most common commercial rooftop support issues include:

Leaking
High Winds
Seismic Activity
Thermal Shock
Warranty Protection
Safety & Liability

Any penetration to a roof’s protective membrane creates a weak point that even sealants and flashing can’t fully protect from consistent exposure to UV rays, water, snow, and ice. If water-damaged areas go undetected, the spread of mold and mildew can quickly turn into a health problem or structural damage. Leaks can also permeate interior walls, corrode electrical wiring, and result in unplanned downtime, irreparable damage to equipment, or even fires.

Exposure to wind is unavoidable on a rooftop. However, consistently high winds that batter improperly supported equipment can cause wind buffeting, a noisy and potentially damaging issue for equipment, pipes, and rooftop surfaces.

For commercial buildings in seismic zones, the threat of infrastructure damage is a constant worry. Much of the attention gets paid to a building’s foundation, but the vibrations created by an earthquake can also transfer from pipelines down into a roof’s structure, causing damage from the top down.

Pipelines will expand and contract as internal and external temperatures change, resulting in subtle movement. Without the right support system, these fluctuations can cause abrasions, instability, and even surface erosion.

If equipment loads are not properly distributed, supports can penetrate the roof—or worse—equipment can come crashing down. Commercial roof repairs or replacements are costly and, unfortunately, if the installation of the support system involved directly penetrates the roof’s surface, there’s a good chance the roof warranty is void, leaving the building owner with the full financial burden.

A rooftop is already a perilous work environment for technicians. Risks associated with unstable equipment or structural damage underfoot dramatically elevate the level of danger they face. In fact, rooftop falls account for 17 percent of all work-related fatalities. According to the latest data, that equates to about 887 workers who lose their lives each year because of unstable rooftop environments.

Avoid the trouble. Schedule a rooftop support evaluation today!

Applications

Most pipe networks found on larger commercial rooftops are for plumbing, gas, or HVAC units, including:

Gas pipes
Chilled water pipes
Hot water pipes
Refrigeration lines
Condensate drain line

There are numerous types of support systems available for routing, anchoring, and distributing the weight of these sprawling pipe networks. However, not all solutions are created equal.

Traditional Roof Support Systems

Traditional roof support systems involve directly penetrating the roof’s protective outer membrane to install supports.

As discussed, direct penetration may void roof warranties and can also cause serious collateral damage. Albeit a necessary investment, commercial building owners are essentially paying for added risks.

PHP Systems/Design developed the world’s first and most advanced solution to this costly problem—a zero-penetration roof support system. Our system implements a proven method for managing the dead weight of your rooftop equipment without penetrating the roof’s surface. Beyond preserving the integrity of your roof, a zero-penetration support system is designed to handle changes in load distribution and thermal expansion without affecting the pipe, roof surface, supports, or weld joints.

Our pipe hangers and support systems are:

Completely customizable
Suitable for single or multiple pipes of all sizes
Compatible with all types of roofing materials
Constructed from the highest quality materials
Built to outlast industry standards.

Maintenance and Prevention

Investing in a rooftop support system isn’t enough. The most experienced architects and building owners understand that quality and design are paramount. So the saying goes, you get what you pay for—especially when it comes to pipe hangers and supports for rooftop equipment.

Selecting the Right Product

In older commercial buildings, support systems are commonly constructed of wood, metal, plastic, and rubber. These materials do not account for thermal expansion, nor do they stand up to years of exposure to UV light, wind, and precipitation. If an OSHA roofing inspector were to make an unexpected visit, these types of roof support systems could result in a fistful of costly violations.

Zero-penetration supports are constructed from carbon steel components for unsurmountable strength. All steel is hot-dipped galvanized to deliver a level of durability that even the most severe weather conditions cannot deteriorate. Each base is injection molded and specifically designed to handle the precise dead weight of pipes and equipment while allowing for variations in load distribution. By eliminating penetrations in your roof’s protective membrane and building a product that is specifically designed to outlast industry standards, we preserve rooftop warranties and reduce your total cost of ownership.

Roof support systems are not a one-size-fits-all product. Every system is customized according to the exact specifications of your roof environment and calculated using engineering tables to verify pipe-support and roof-load requirements. The most important part of the design process is making sure that the system is designed according to the building structure’s allowable load. Finally, braces and supports are selected depending on the type and size of the pipe.

Product Breakdown

Pipe hangers and supports are designed for large and small gas pipes, electrical conduit and condensate drain lines, and refrigeration lines. Choose from adjustable and non-adjustable assemblies for high- or low-profile applications, and high-wind assemblies for extreme conditions.

Pipe Hangers & Supports are compatible with flat and sloped roofs
from 2–12” and are available for both seismic and high-wind applications.

Pipe Supports

Adjustable

SS-8-R for pipe sizes up to 2½ “ OD
SS-8-C for pipe sizes up to 2½ “ OD
PP10 with Channel for pipe sizes up to 3½ “ OD
PP10 with Roller for pipe sizes up to 3½ “ OD
PSL for Multiple Pipe Support for pipe sizes 2-1/2″ and larger
RB-18 Pipe Roller Support for gas lines 3″ to 5″ in diameter

Non-Adjustable

For pipe sizes up to 2½ “ OD

Set Height: 3¼” from surface

Pipe Hangers