Wind Loads on Architectural Screens Surrounding Roof-Mounted Equipment
Architectural screens are commonly used to conceal roof-mounted equipment, but their presence can change wind flow and introduce additional wind-loading considerations. IBHS research, conducted in collaboration with ASHRAE and Western University, examines wind loads on architectural screens surrounding rooftop equipment, extending earlier IBHS research on wind loads for roof-mounted air-conditioning units.
Research
IBHS published research in collaboration with ASHRAE and Western University investigating wind loads on architectural screens used around roof-mounted equipment. The study uses wind tunnel testing to better understand how these screens experience wind loads and how those loads are influenced by screen configuration and location.
The research builds on previous IBHS work examining wind loads on roof-mounted air-conditioning units, which evaluated factors such as rooftop location and elevation. That work helped validate wind-load coefficients in ASCE 7.
Published in Science and Technology for the Built Environment, the research expands that work to architectural screens surrounding rooftop equipment, providing data to help engineers and designers better understand wind loads on rooftop screens and support more resilient design.
Access the Journal Publication: Experimental assessment of wind loads on architectural screens and associated shielding effects on roof-mounted equipment (2026)
