Safe, Smart Support for your RTU
We construct RTU frames and supports for all types of industries in Tampa and beyond. We have a professional team that has plenty of experience in working on existing builds while creating as little disruption to your business as possible.
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RTU support welding in and around Tampa, Florida
In Florida, RTUs or roof top units are common on top of just about any type of commercial building. Because of the heat and the almost constant need for air conditioning, RTUs are very common. We have installed RTUs in Tampa and as far north as Pensacola on buildings such as restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes, and schools.
RTU HVAC systems are popular for a number of reasons. They are easy to repair because all of the parts and equipment live in one area, they don't take up any floor space or indoor space because they using essentially dead space on a rooftop, and they can be designed and manufactured off site for optimal performance at a building which helps with efficiency and utility costs.
So where does
Tampa Welding come in? Well, these systems are large and can literally weigh a ton when built to cool and heat medium sized buildings. If that is the case, we may be called in to reinforce the structural steel roof. Nobody wants a hole in the top of their building, but you can bet that a massive hvac system creating that hole and smashing to the ground would leave any business owner with some serious problems and financial burdens. Even if steel girders have been used as the structural framing elements of your building, you may still require reinforcement to provide the necessary support needed for the HVAC unit. The weight in between the girders may require extra support.
Reinforcement for commercial roof top HVAC units
Another option is referred to as bar joist reinforcement. Depending on the style of the structural build, we likely need to add additional beams or pipes to certain areas that already contain bar joists. A bar joist is like a timber truss in a home, however it is created out of steel and comes in a variety of sizes. They can be made to hold lightweight aluminum roofs, all the way up to large industrial level bar joists that hold far more weight. The load or weight of the roof is transferred to the truss for better support however if the building wasn't specifically designed for a roof top AC unit, extra support may be needed. An extra bar joist is probably overkill in these situations and would require a huge amount of work so a better option is to weld extra reinforcements to the existing bar joists below where the RTU will sit. This helps carry the weight of the unit as well as bodies and extra equipment that need to visit the area periodically for maintenance and repairs. There are many elements at play here. The fix will vary according to the existing roof and structure and also the specs of the rtu being installed. The most demanding specifications will normally involve adding structural steel under the deck, in between the current bar joists.
A portable welding team with professional experience
For safety, the building owner, business owner or an engineer needs to understand the exact location, size and weight of the RTU. With this information, plus what the existing structure was designed to hold, a calculation can be made as to exactly what the best type of steel support system is to install underneath the deck. The frame needs to handle more weight than just that of the RTU AC unit to account of rain, wind and any additional weight that could arrive knowingly or unknowingly. As you can see, it takes a full team of experienced professionals to plan accordingly and determine the smartest and most cost effective route to take. We're proud to be part of this team that strengthens a roof to provide increased safety, resulting in better Florida rtu support for local businesses.
RTUs are almost always built onto a mechanical curb which is a like a platform that allows easy access to maintenance and building crews while also providing a piece that can be secured to the roof deck. The curbs also allow the duct work to run from the cooling unit into the building. It is underneath this curb where the steel angles are precisely needed. This is where the transfer of weight is most necessary to receive the load of the whole unit and spread it across the supportive steel girders or bar joists depending on how the building is designed.
We have an able team with experience in a variety of settings for rtu framing as well as many other types of work. Although we are headquartered in Tampa, we will consider traveling to North Florida or South Florida if the job is right. We can go as far south as Miami or as far north as Jacksonville or Pensacola for RTU supports. We offer plenty of related services too such as joist and deck work throughout Florida. We have crew members with years of knowledge and hands on work for various structural welding tasks. Whether it's installing an rtu curb support in Tampa or something that is barely related, we'd still like to hear about it and offer our assistance. We can't wait to hear from you.
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