Roof-Pro provides supporting role at university film centre
Roof-Pro’s free-standing support system has been used to support rooftop services at the University of Reading’s state-of-the-art Film, Theatre & TV Department. The system enables roof-mounted services to be installed on a building without penetrating the roof build-up with upstands or steelwork — facilitating quick and simple installation of waterproofing without difficult roof detailing.
Consulting engineers DSSR specified the system to support six roof-mounted air-handling units and a chiller, each weighing 1.5 to 3.3 t. The double-stacked AHUs also required high-level access platforms to enable the upper fan sections to be reach for maintenance.
Roof-Pro’s solution included the design of pipe and cable-tray support with a high-level pipe ‘corridor’ running the length of the main AHU plant area to give unimpeded access to the tight plant area for maintenance.
The system’s inherent clearance provides access to the roof for repairs or maintenance. Building-services contractor LJJ of High Wycombe benefited from the system allowing the main roof to be waterproofed well ahead of the final M&E design.
Roof-Pro provided CAD drawings, base loads and global loadings to the project design team and structural engineer for approval.
Clive Owen of DSSR comments, ‘We looked at a number of systems, but were keen to specify Roof-Pro in this instance. Having worked with Roof-Pro successfully on other projects, we have found their systems present several advantages.’