The importance of a wind load calculation for flat roofs
Wind exerts a lot of force on the roof. And if the wind is hitting your roof structure, you want to be sure that everything is properly secured and stays in place. A wind load calculation guarantees that the correct number of fasteners per square meter are used in an optimal pattern.
The force the wind exerts on a building depends on its height and location, among other things. In open areas and on the coast, the wind has more power than in the city between high-rise buildings. With a wind load calculation, you can be sure that your roof structure can withstand the maximum wind forces exerted on that roof at that location.
Considering that fasteners account for 2% of the total roof cost and at the same time have such a large influence on the quality of a roof. Then a wind load calculation is a 'no brainer'.
The strength of your roof is determined by its weakest link
From a sustainability and cost perspective, the quality and associated lifespan of a roof are of great importance. When there is a strong wind, force is exerted on the entire roof structure: the roof membrane, fastener, insulation and subsurface. The weakest part of that roof structure determines the strength of the roof. By making a wind load calculation in advance, you know exactly where that weakest link is and what wind forces your roof can withstand.
What does a wind load calculation say about my roof?
A wind load calculation produces the calculation values, or the design strength that your roof must meet. This considers the wind forces exerted on the roof, based on the weakest link.
For this, we use the dimensions and heights of the roof, calculate the CPI and CPE values and take the terrain roughness of your location into account, so that we know how much wind the building will have to endure at most. In addition, we consider the strength of the subsurface. And of course we take into account the materials to be used, including (the number of) fasteners, roofing membrane and insulation.
Based on the wind load calculation, in which all these calculation values are included, a roof plan is created in which the various roof zones with the required fasteners are recorded.
FM Approved
Roofs increasingly need to comply with specific regulations for which certification is necessary. In Europe, for example, we have the EN-1991-1-4 norm standard and FM Approval certification. A wind load calculation is a requirement for this, which states that the roof structure performs as expected, even under the most extreme weather conditions.
