In recent years, the use of single-ply roofing in commercial and industrial buildings has continued to rise. New projects such as logistics and warehousing centers, light industrial plants, and shopping malls commonly utilize a combination of lightweight corrugated steel sheets and single-ply waterproofing systems. This not only allows for rapid construction and efficient insulation, but also reduces structural costs. However, with the diversification of functional requirements, an increasing number of equipment and systems are being installed directly on the roof. Roofing has long ceased to be just a "building cover" but has become a vital platform for production and management functions.
This trend presents a core challenge: how can new equipment be safely, stably, and economically secured to single-ply roofs without compromising the roof's waterproofing, safety, and durability? Mechanical anchoring technology has emerged in response to this challenge and is becoming a key solution for single-ply roof installations.
Mechanical anchoring: a technological breakthrough in mechanical reconstruction
Anchoring "takes root" and integrates with the main structure of the roof
Mechanical anchoring uses engineered structural components, bolts, or specialized fixtures to directly connect rooftop equipment (such as photovoltaic mounts, equipment in the machine room, and ventilation systems) to the building's primary load-bearing structure—typically corrugated steel sheets or purlins. Unlike anchoring only on the surface of the roof's waterproofing or insulation layer, mechanical anchoring extends the equipment's load from the "surface" to the "frame," integrating the load into the existing building structure.
The core of this connection method lies in "rooting." This "rooting connection" extends the contact surface and optimizes the load path, allowing various loads, such as uplift, downforce, and horizontal shear, to be transmitted along the original structural design path, forming a stable mechanical whole. Mechanical anchors transfer loads along the corrugated steel sheet, purlins, main beams, and finally steel columns, preventing localized stress concentrations within the waterproofing or insulation layers, thereby fundamentally protecting the integrity and long-term performance of the roof system.
Advantages Comparison - Mechanical Anchoring vs. Non-Mechanical Anchoring
A technological leap from risk compromise to precise carrying
A.Limitations of non-mechanical anchoring
• Chemical bonding (glue welding): This method uses adhesives, sealants, or hot air welding to bond the equipment base to the roof surface. This method is easy to install and does not require penetrating the roof. However, the bonding layer can age due to UV rays, temperature and humidity fluctuations, and stress. The bonding strength decreases significantly during use, resulting in insufficient load transfer stability and prone to failure in extreme weather conditions.
• Physical ballast (weight fixation): Adding ballast, such as concrete blocks or metal weights, can offset wind loads. However, this can significantly increase the static load on the roof, compressing the structure's bearing capacity. Localized pressure can also cause the waterproofing layer to sag, accumulate water, or even leak. Wind suction cannot be quantified and offset, posing a risk.
B.Breakthrough advantages of mechanical anchoring
• Quantifiable calculations: Compared with chemical connections and physical ballasting, the advantages of mechanical anchoring lie not only in the ease of construction but also in the scientific nature of its structural mechanics and its long-term stability. First, during the design phase before installation, the tensile properties of mechanical anchoring can be quantitatively analyzed and precisely designed using structural calculations and authoritative industry software. Designers can simulate various wind loads, snow loads, and other extreme external conditions in the model and compare the results directly with the building's structural safety factor.
• Stable tensile strength of support: Secondly, the force path of mechanical anchoring is clear and stable. Unlike ballasting or gluing methods, mechanical anchoring transfers the load directly to the load-bearing steel structure of the roof through metal connectors, forming a force system consistent with the original design. Whether it is vertical downward pressure or upward lifting force generated by wind suction, it can be stably unloaded along the path of corrugated steel plate-purlin-main beam-main frame, avoiding the formation of local concentrated stress in the waterproof layer or insulation layer, thereby preventing its premature failure due to long-term fatigue or deformation.
C.Advantages of mechanical anchor points
Structural integration: The load reaches the main load-bearing structure directly, forming a unified force system with the original building, rather than remaining on the surface.
Quantifiable Performance: All mechanical properties can be precisely calculated, designed, and verified, with clear safety margins.
Long-Term Stability: Utilizing corrosion-resistant metal materials, performance lasts the life of the building, eliminating the risk of aging degradation.
Lightweight and Highly Efficient: Avoiding the significant static loads associated with ballast optimizes the building's structural economics.
Complete Protection System: Professional waterproofing design ensures a secure seal at the anchor points without compromising the roof's overall waterproofing.
Weather-Relieving: Providing a stable and reliable connection even in extreme weather conditions such as typhoons and blizzards.
High Compatibility and Scalability: Suitable for all types of single-ply roof systems, with standard interfaces available for future equipment installation.
With the increasing integration of building functions, the significance of mechanical anchoring for single-ply roofs has long transcended mere fixing technology. It profoundly addresses the core demands of single-ply roof construction for safety, cost-effectiveness, and sustainable development, transforming the roof from a passive "protective layer" into an active "value-creation platform." It is foreseeable that with the improvement of industry standards and deepening market awareness, mechanical anchoring will become a standard feature of high-quality single-ply roof systems.
