Sight lines
For most buildings, the line of sight is from the ground. A horizontal-blade equipment screen with an inverted standard blade profile blocks all sight-through from below — you see continuous blade, no equipment.
If the rooftop is visible from other angles — adjacent buildings, parking structures, hilly sites — you need a sight-proof blade profile (V4YH horizontal, V4YV vertical). These obscure equipment from any viewing angle, at a small cost in free area.
Wind loading
A solid screen takes the full wind load. A louvered screen lets air pass through, dramatically reducing the structural force on framing — and lowering the cost of the framing members. Higher free area means lower wind force.
Our V6JN inverted narrow blade goes up to 73% free area: choose it when wind loading or framing cost is dictating the design.
Three mounting strategies
1. Standard mount to structural framing by others. Use our published structural framing guidelines and detail your supports to suit the building.
2. Sturdistruct® prefab framing. Our all-aluminum framing kit, designed specifically for our standard-mount screens, with engineered penetrations through the roof membrane.
3. Direct mount to the air handler. V2KSD and V4JSD include a heavy-duty structural frame that attaches directly to the AHU — eliminating roof penetrations entirely. Hinged louvered doors give service access.
Sizing
Equipment screens ship in segments up to 120" wide, each with mounting clips. Once installed, they read as a continuous line. Sections are designed to handle ~100 mph winds (30 lbs/sq ft) with minimal deflection; higher wind ratings are available on request.