PalmSHIELD – Planning Guide For Selecting Mechanical Equipment Screening

Mechanical equipment may include any device in the support of heating, cooling waste management and water supply. It may be considered for chillers, compactors, containers, breakers, meters, compressors, HVAC, generators, condensers and like-kind equipment. Trash dumpsters may or may not fall under this category, as many communities have very specific location and screening requirements for trash equipment.

All mechanical equipment screening will require a building permit and—oftentimes—community design approval. Please check with your city planning or local building inspector for approval process specifications. Usually, a building permit is accompanied with an architect-prepared set of design drawings in compliance with the community’s mechanical equipment screening requirements.

Most communities have very strict guidelines in regards to mechanical equipment screening. These guidelines will address overall design, public view considerations and selection of materials compatible with the surrounding building. They will utilize a line-of-sight approach to the location, height of screening and coverage. Of course, this “how to” guide and selection assistance should not supersede these community requirements. American Fence Company’s architectural screening division, PalmSHIELD, dominates the market as the nation’s top contractor for louvered screening.

Mechanical equipment screening is typically respective of two types of installation: Roof and building mounted, and ground mounted.

For roof or building-mounted screening, consider the following:

1. Building scale, materials, and color. The screening must be compatible with the building structure. If the roof lines are visible and vertical, the designer should consider vertical louvers or slats in their screening to keep an ongoing pattern.
2. Line of sight. The designer should plan their screening while considering all possible views of the equipment. If the building happens to be adjacent to a raised road, the designer may have to consider a fully-enclosed screen system with a roof. If the building is several stories tall, the rooftop equipment may not be viewed from any vantage point, thus not requiring screening. Please consult your local code.
3. Mechanical equipment. It may not be practical to screen all equipment due to proper ventilation, space, height, etc. In that event, the equipment itself may need to be painted to match the surrounding building surfaces. Some stacks must be tall enough to achieve a proper draft. These can be framed-out with like-kind building materials.

Before we continue: PalmSHIELD also specializes in mechanical equipment screening with custom infill. For example, our LED Backlit Laser Cut screens use internal lights, material sheets, and pristinely cut infill designs to create spectacular displays. Great for concealing equipment and attracting customers at the same time!

For ground-mounted mechanical equipment screen, consider the following:

1. 

   Standalone systems. These systems are the most challenging. Though the choice of screen is more expansive; blending the screening into the surroundings is quite a challenge. Designers should consider the use of greenscapes and hardscapes to complement the system and soften its appearance. Screening colors may be more representative of softer greens and browns to blend in with these softscapes.
2. Public view. Ground mounted mechanical equipment is generally visible by the public on at least three sides. Designers should assure that the equipment is fully enclosed, in case of any future development of the property.
3. Safety and security. Ground mounted mechanical equipment screening should be designed to provide total security, preventing the public from accessing the equipment either accidentally or intentionally. Be sure the mechanical equipment screening is tight up against the building, removing any openings for pedestrians. The equipment screening should include a padlock-free locking system, to keep thieves from simply cutting the lock and removing any valuable materials (such as copper). The screening should be tall enough to prevent any line of sight views to remove any temptation for theft.
4. Steam, exhaust, and heat. Designers should consider the sizing of the screening not only for proper ventilation but to assure public safety from burns and fumes.
5. Softscapes. It is common for landscape architects and designers to plan for softscapes around mechanical equipment. These softscapes may serve as the screening itself or to soften existing mechanical equipment screening. Year-round plantings and climate changes should also be taken into account. If the plantings drop their leaves in the fall, you may be left with an unsightly view of the mechanical equipment or screening. You also need to think the continued growth of the plantings and space to maintain them. As some of this equipment will generate heat, steam or exhaust, designers should consider resilient plants that can survive even a slight change in conditions. Reflective sunlight from the equipment and screening can also be harsh on some plantings.

Once you have evaluated your mechanical equipment, consider design and material selection for the equipment screening

1. Structural. Not all mechanical equipment screening is designed to be standalone or to be located on a rooftop. Engineers and architects should calculate the wind loading on the screening of their site conditions. Select only screening that is engineered to meet the latest UBC and IBC codes based on your site conditions. You should request this engineering or request that the system be engineered to your site, receiving a set of stamped drawings, calculations and performance data.
2. Visibility. Louvered mechanical screening can be modified to any degree of visibility that you select. Most louvered mechanical equipment screening is either 100% or 80%. A 80% openness will allow about a ½” visible opening between the 4” tall louvers when looking straight-on.
3. Openness. The direct visual screening percentage is directly related to the percentage of openness. The percentage of openness is the actual opening between the louvers over a specific area. The smallest opening between two louvers is the greatest factor impacting the percentage of openness. A 100% direct visual screening 4” tall louver with a ½” overlap will have a 2 ¼” opening. In other words, with 4” tall louvers spaced 3 ½” on center results in a 2 ¼” opening.  Boiled down, every 3 ½” of travel, there is a 2 ¼” opening. This ultimately translates into approximately a 64% free area. The free area determines the volume of air that can be exchanged between the louvers. Designers should check their equipment requirements for the percentage of free area.
4. Design. This includes the general design of the screening and the infill material installed in the frame and placed between the posts. Consult codes in your area for general design requirements. Most codes will require that the infill material best closely match adjoining building materials.  The most widely selected designs are:
5. Louvers. The most widely used mechanical equipment screening, louvers are available in vertical, horizontal and diagonal styles. Louvers may be spaced to allow more or less visibility between the louvers and openness.
6. Perforated metal. This perforated sheet steel is available in varying patterns, hole sizes and staggering of holes. Several different types of perforations are available that include circles, squares, hexagons, stars, etc. All of these factors will influence the amount of openness and visibility. One popular consideration is using offset sheets so as to maintain openness but to eliminate any visibility. This design is also popular with varying colors of sheets.
7. Expanded metal. This punched metal sheet provides real security but allows considerable visibility and openness. The openings can vary in both width and height. Expanded metal is available in flat and raised sheets.
8. Slats. Tubular or solid slats are another popular mechanical equipment screen. Slats may be installed diagonally, vertically and horizontally. The width and thickness of slats and the spacing between the slats may vary to provide more or less openness or visibility. Slats may also be installed in a shadow box pattern that allows almost no visibility but considerable openness.
9. Other. Mechanical equipment screening options include solid sheet and wire mesh.

If you have determined type, height, location, and selection of materials, designers will now need to finalize their design in regards to the configuration of their mechanical equipment screening. The configuration not only takes into consideration line of sight but also several other crucial factors:

1. Clearance. Most mechanical equipment manufacturers will clearly state an unobstructed area to be maintained around the equipment and the degree of openness in any screening. Please consult the equipment manufacturer maintenance and installation documents. Even if the manufacturer does state a minimum clearance around equipment, designers will also need to consult local codes for this same requirement and plan for the greater of the two.

2. 

   Access. Consult local codes for access requirements in regards to mechanical equipment enclosures. Typically, a code specified door or access portal is placed on the control side of the equipment. Doors will almost always open out, so plan accordingly.
3. Individual vs. continuous screens. Some local codes may specify a single continuous screen in some applications versus multiple individual screens. Please check your local codes for requirements.
4. Openings. Engineers and architects should identify any electrical wiring, vents, piping and ducts that may be accessing the equipment and design screening around these perforations. The location of these items and size should be accurately communicated to screen fabricators so that they may create appropriate framed openings for these items.
5. Parapet walls. If there are any existing parapet walls around the rim of the building, designers may want to use this wall to raise and limit the amount of screening needed. After checking local equipment enclosure codes, designers will want to identify all lines of sight respective of any parapet walls.

If you have checked-off all of the above items on our user-friendly “how to” guide for selecting mechanical equipment screening, you are now ready to contact your equipment screening manufacturer. Provide them with all of the above information and allow them the opportunity to assist you in your final design, layout and material selection. You should expect your designers to provide you with a full set of layout fabrication drawings, elevation views, engineering and product details specific to your project. Use these drawings in support of your permit and approval by community planning authorities.

Hopefully, our how to guide and check-off list for selecting your mechanical equipment screening has been of some assistance. As a proud and reputable equipment screening manufacturer, we are happy to further support you with one of our many PalmSHIELD equipment screening options. Please visit our PalmSHIELD website at www.palmshieldlouvers.com to explore our options or to contact us.

Let’s start the conversation today! For a quote on your mechanical equipment screening project, get in touch with our sales team at PalmSHIELD!