By Evelyn Witterholt, RCS Reporter.

The MetalHead support system may be lightweight, but its extreme durability will surprise you! 

When it comes to supporting pipes, cable trays, and ductwork, which material do you think is more durable: rubber or metal? MetalHead from GREEN LINK Engineering is their latest support system that is designed to be stronger and more economical than rubber-based support systems. This lightweight system has an aluminum extrusion design and can be modified according to whatever it is supporting. 

MetalHead is made with lightweight aluminum walls that are 100-mil thick. But just because it’s lightweight doesn’t mean it isn’t strong! Thanks to the strength of the materials, its triangular base, and incorporated strut channel design, the system can support 10,000 pounds of vertical compression over a 50-square-inch footprint. And on the bottom of the MetalHead, there is an optional Green Link signature “safety yellow” urethane pad that protects the roof membrane from being damaged.  

The modular design of the MetalHead allows you to use it to support a variety of systems using easily snapped on attachments, including strut-compatible or adjustable clamps to support pipes of varying diameters, saving training and installation time. GREEN LINK even offers attachment options for elevating pipe systems, one of them up to 18’’above the roof surface. 

The MetalHead Support System is incredibly durable, resistant to UV degradation, oxidation, salt spray, and mild acids from ponding water. The support system can be reused and recycled as it does not contain any toxic material. And as an additional bonus, it comes with a 20-year material warranty! 

Learn more about GREEN LINK Engineering in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.greenlinkengineering.com. 

About GREEN LINK 

GREEN LINK is an innovative engineering company that develops and produces advanced architectural products for the construction industry. Original design, engineered from the from the ground up with the contractor in mind, is a feature of Green Link’s innovative technology, and all products are made in the U.S.A. For further information on Green Link’s Contractor-Driven product line, visit www.greenlinkengineering.com or for additional product information contact GREEN LINK. 

Dana from Green Link Engineering talks about the full line of roofing solutions the company has developed over the past two years. 

Editor's note: The following is the transcript of an interview with Sales and Business Development Coordinator Dana Castle from Green Link Engineering. You can read the interview below or watch the recorded livestream. 

Karen Edwards: Hello everybody. This is Karen Edwards and we are back at the RoofersCoffeeShop sound stage at the International Roofing Expo 2022, in New Orleans. Joining me is Dana from Green Link Engineering. Welcome. 

Dana Castle: Well, thank you, Karen. Thanks for having me. We're so excited to be here at the show. We missed the show in Las Vegas this last year, and we're really excited to be exhibiting again this year. We took this time in the last two years to develop some new products, but I wanted to start with the beginning of our company. 

Karen Edwards: Yes, let's talk about it because you've been on a roof, surely where you've seen HVAC equipment, other equipment sitting on top of rotting two by fours. 

Dana Castle: Right? 

Karen Edwards: Not very good- 

Dana Castle: Or four by fours. 

Karen Edwards: Or four by fours. 

Dana Castle: Sometimes tires. 

Karen Edwards: Yeah. 

Dana Castle: Sometimes a milk carton, or milk crate. Sometimes a milk jug. 

Karen Edwards: Yeah. 

Dana Castle: I mean, we have all kinds of interesting pictures in our hall of shame. 

Karen Edwards: Hall of shame is a good name for it. 

Dana Castle: It is the hall of shame, yes. 

Karen Edwards: Tell me about, well, first of all, I have to say that I've never seen one of these in person before, and I picked it up and I went, "Oh, oh my gosh, this is so light and easy to move around," but it can hold so much weight. 

Dana Castle: That is a fact. 

Karen Edwards: Tell us about that. 

Dana Castle: One of the reasons why is this product is made out of glass reinforced nylon. It's not made out of rubber, like a lot of our competitor's products and it's not made out of metal. It's glass reinforced nylon, but glass reinforced nylon has the same properties as aluminum. 

Dana Castle: They're very lightweight as you were shocked- 

Karen Edwards: I was surprised. 

Dana Castle: This was actually the first head that was developed when I was still part of Chem Link. When Phil Georgeau sold our company to SOPREMA at Chem Link, he kept this one little teeny piece that didn't look exactly like this. At that point, it was just black and it had a smaller base and he wanted to start another company. It's been exciting journey to be on with him the last five years. It's been really exciting. 

So we've taken our product line and we've developed it into a full-blown product line of everything that can go on the roof. You can put on one of our supports. 

Karen Edwards: Wow. This has a really cool name. 

Dana Castle: Yeah. This is called the Knuckle Head. The reason why it's called the Knuckle Head is a very funny story. 

Karen Edwards: Okay. I'd like to hear it. 

Dana Castle: So that if you were just to look at the top of this without the cap, it looks like a Knuckle head, a converter off of a Harley Davidson motorcycle. That's where the name Knuckle Head came from. 

So our basic product line are called Knuckle Heads and during the years... I've been there now for five years, the company's almost six years old. We have taken this line and built into a full-service line, as I was saying, We've done a lot of things because we listen to contractors. We truly believe that we are a contractor driven company, and that's part of our tag is, "We are contractor driven." 

So at one point, this part I'm holding up right here, actually, didn't look like this, but we listened to contractors. They had no way to put a bolt through it and secure it correctly, so we changed it. The other interesting thing out our product, and maybe Karen, I could have you turn that for me. Or turn this- 

Karen Edwards: Oh, this one. 

Dana Castle: Show that they, our total Knuckle Head line is height adjustable. So when you're going across a flat roof, and we all know there is no such thing as a flat roof. 

Karen Edwards: A flat roof. 

Dana Castle: Every roof has some slow slope, and you can actually adjust up to an inch for slope going across the roof. 

Karen Edwards: Smart. 

Dana Castle: Yeah. 

Karen Edwards: Wow. 

Dana Castle: It's a pretty unique thing. So like I was saying, we've taken this one little piece. We have a full product line now, including really awesome mechanical support kits. We do products for duct work. I think our largest product with mechanical support kits was recently finished in Salt Lake City. There is a blog on our website about it, and we did 482 units on top of a multi-use commercial building in Salt Lake City. 

Karen Edwards: Wow, 482, wow. 

Dana Castle: 482 HVAC units. So on top of that, we do a lot of duct supports in the Chicagoland area. We're very excited and I would love for everybody to stop by our booth, but what I'm most excited about today is to introduce our newest product. 

Karen Edwards: I'm excited to see it. 

Dana Castle: Yeah, it's amazing. We patented this product. It is made out of, believe it or not aluminum, and Karen, I want you to feel, again, this is lightweight. Now this has a couple of pipe supports on it that I'm going to talk about as well. 

Karen Edwards: Oh my gosh. 

Dana Castle: Very lightweight. 

Karen Edwards: Very. 

Dana Castle: However, if you were to take this and put it on top of an Instron, which is a crushing machine, which we have one at the office, and we have a lady who specializes in using it. 

Karen Edwards: Testing. 

Dana Castle: She loves to do it. She took her over 20,000 pounds to push through this. Of course, you would never put 20,000 pounds on a rooftop. 

Karen Edwards: No, but wow. 

Dana Castle: It's pretty exciting. So what, this is an extruded aluminum that is mill finished, anodized and mill finished. In this particular instance, we have an integrated yellow urethane pad, but we also sell these without the pad. Here at IRE if you attend our booth, stop by to scan your badge, we'll follow up and give you 10% off of our whole metal headline, including the accessories. 

Karen Edwards: Nice. 

Dana Castle: On top of this, actually, a really neat accessory that I found from actually looking at somebody else who does this type of a block support. These are called snap and strut accessories. They're not a product of ours, but they are made in the USA as are all of our products. We've added these to our line as an optional accessory. They are also on the special as well. 

Karen Edwards: I love that you are contractor driven. 

Dana Castle: Yes. 

Karen Edwards: That you listen to what the contractor is looking for, and then you come up with a solution for it. 

Dana Castle: Yes, and that's where we pride ourselves in. We've also do custom manufacturing. I had a person call me two weeks ago that had a two 12 pitch, and they had an air conditioning unit that we is literally sliding off the roof. Sliding off the roof, and took pictures of it. Within four days, we were able to develop a new solution, and a new pad to support that, to install, and be able to support their unit. It happened to be a roofing company. A lot of times our business is sold in the HVAC market, but this was a roofing contractor who had seen us at a show, and had just gotten a note that we were going to be at IRE, and reached out and go, "Can you solve this problem?" So, that made me very excited to know. 

Karen Edwards: That's fun.  Now you mentioned stopping by the booth, getting 10% off. 

Dana Castle: 10% off all metal head and metal head accessories. This is a show special. We'd love to start getting these out on a lot more roofs. We have sold probably 10, 15 roofs in the last week that are just using the metalhead support, which is very exciting. 

Karen Edwards: It is. What booth number are you in? 

Dana Castle: We are in booth... I'm going to have to look again, I'm sorry about that. 

Karen Edwards: That's okay. 

Dana Castle: 2954. 

Karen Edwards: 2954. 

Dana Castle: It's a walk from here. 

Karen Edwards: It is. I was just looking we're down here in booth 249. So yeah, that's all the way over on the other side. The show floor is- 

Dana Castle: If you see the Durolast booth, we're about straight back from it. 

Karen Edwards: All right. Our friends at Durolast. Yeah. Look for the hanging signs. 

Dana Castle: Yeah. 

Karen Edwards: Yeah. It's been a good show. It's been busy. Have you guys had a lot of traffic? 

Dana Castle: We've had... you know, surprisingly, this is a horrible story, but yesterday our crate was at the wrong spot. So I set up the booth, and there wasn't any number on the floor. They didn't have the placards up yet. I got a Fran to call from our office saying, you guys are in the wrong on booth, but it happens to be that the nice people here at Freeman helped me move the booth. I had to slide it across the curtain. So we have a lovely council that is on the other side of us. It's the Hispanic Council. 

Karen Edwards: Oh, nice. 

Dana Castle: I think that's their first time this year, and I know that the IRE is doing big push in the Latino industry this year, and it's really pleasant. We've had a lot of traffic because of their booth next to us. 

Karen Edwards: Oh, that's good to see them here. 

Dana Castle: Yeah. 

Karen Edwards: We'll have to get by and say hello. 

Dana Castle: Yeah. 

Karen Edwards: And yeah, wow. Lots to see and do here. If someone is not able to be at the show and visit the Green Link booth, you can learn more about them on the roof, their RoofersCoffeeShop directory. 

Dana Castle: Yes. 

Karen Edwards: Everything you need to know is there. Links to their website, how to contact the company, if you have questions. So we want to make it easy for you. If you are here or maybe you're planning to come tomorrow, and you're just checking our videos out today to see what's going on, be sure to visit Dana. 

Dana Castle: Yep. 

Karen Edwards: I'm serious, you need to feel how easy and lightweight, and these are just game changers. 

Dana Castle: Yes, and there isn't anybody in the market that makes things out of glass reinforced nylon. It has metal like properties, it's an excellent product. We also have accessory pads that go under these, and we do work with a lot of the major roofing manufacturers as well. So, please stop, take a look at our stuff. We're very fortunate this year, to be joined by our engineer, Andre. He's at the booth he has. If you have any question, or a special need, or a special project, he would love to address it for you. 

Karen Edwards: Problem solvers. Give me a challenge. 

Dana Castle: Problem solvers. 

Karen Edwards: I'll give you a solution. We love it. Well, Dana, thank you for coming by. 

Dana Castle: Well thank you for having me. I'm so excited to be here. 

Karen Edwards: Yes. 

Dana Castle: As you know, we truly appreciate your support throughout the years as well. 

Karen Edwards: Thank you. It's wonderful to see you, and that being said, we'll be back again. Subscribe to our YouTube channel, ring the bell. So you get those notifications, you know when we're going live! 

Learn more about GreenLink Engineering in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.greenlinkengineering.com.

By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter.  

IRE promises to be one of the biggest events of the year, check out who will be at the expo! 

This year’s International Roofing Expo (IRE) promises many exciting events, products, classes and more. The expo will take place February 1-3 in New Orleans at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.  

RoofersCoffeeShop® will be on the beat, sharing information and broadcasting live on YouTube. Additionally, you will find President Heidi J. Ellsworth moderating a panel on how to work with young people who are interested in roofing. The session takes place Tuesday at 7:45 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. CT 

The Coffee Shop will join many great manufacturers, distributors and associations as they share new ideas with roofing contractors. Make sure you stop by our booth, number 249, and visit our RoofersCoffeeShop partners too:  

• ABC Supply Co., Inc. - Booth 1301 

• Angi - Booth 1455 

• A.C.T. Metal Deck Supply - Booth 3037 

• AccuLynx - Booth 637 

• Art Unlimited - Booth 3425 

• ATAS International, Inc. - Booth 3036 

• Beacon Building Products - Booth 231, 325 

• Bitec - Booth 2519 

• Breakthrough Academy - Booth 954 

• Castagra - Booth 2754 

• Cotney Attorneys & Consultants - Booth 2131 

• CertainTeed - Booth 2244 

• Chem Link, Inc. - Booth 2411 

• Duro-Last Roofing, Inc. - Booth 2837 

• DaVinci Roofscapes - Booth 1737 

• DECRA Metal Roofing - Booth 2019 

• Equipter - Booth 1801 

• Estimating Edge - Booth 3505 

• FlashCo - Booth 1845 

• Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (FRSA) - Booth 3429 

• FiberTite Roofing Systems - Booth 2001  

• GREEN LINK  - Booth 2954 

• Hunter Panels - Booth 1601 

• HOVER - Booth 2719 

• ICP Building Solutions Group / APOC - Booth 1627 

• IB Roof Systems, Inc. - Booth 1325 

• IKO Manufacturing  - Booth 1909 

• Ingage - Booth 755 

• Jobba Trade Technologies - Booth 719 

• JobNimbus - Booth 1319 

• Johns Manville - Booth 1119 

• Karnak - Booth 1113 

• Leister - Booth 1133 

• Leap - Booth 337 

• Malarkey Roofing Products - Booth 2319 

• Metal Roofing Alliance - Booth 3055 

• MARCO Industries - Booth 2647 

• Midwest Roofing Contractors Association - Booth 1360 

• MFM Building Products - Booth 2613 

• National Roofing Contractors Association - Booth 1359, 2119 

• NRCA ROOFPAC - Booth 2119 

• National Women in Roofing - Booth 3523 

• New Tech Machinery - Booth 2901 

• Owens Corning® - Booth 1619 

• OneClick Code - Booth 848 

• PABCO Roofing Products - Booth 2031 

• Polyglass - Booth 1413, 1419 

• Podium - Booth 1655 

• Quarrix Building Products - Booth 1037 

• Roofmaster - Booth 1331 

• Roof Hugger - Booth TBD 

• Roofing Alliance - Booth 2119 

• SOPREMA - Booth 2209 

• SRS Distribution, Inc. - Booth 2437, 2761  

• SkyMeasure™ by CoreLogic® - Booth 636 

• S-5! - Booth 2527 

• SIKA Corporation  - Booth 2401 

• Sherwin-Williams -Booth 1831 

• Sales Transformation Group, Inc. - Booth 746 

• Sashco Inc. - Booth 850 

• TAMKO® Building Products - Booth 3129 

• Titebond/Franklin International - Booth 2748 

• Topps Products - Booth 3439 

• Watts Removal Products  - Booth 1831 

• 4C's Spray Equipment  - Booth 1260 

Don’t miss out, register today for IRE 2022!

These custom-engineered caps and straps increase the stability of pipes and other types of mechanical equipment.

GREEN LINK has changed the composition of its straps and caps from urethane to injection molded glass-reinforced nylon, still retaining the striking “safety yellow” color. Straps are designed for Heavy Pipe while a cap design was developed for Lite Pipe Supports. 

The Heavy Pipe KnuckleHead strap secures a 2½-inch nominal pipe. The Lite Pipe Support cap is designed to secure a single 1-inch nominal pipe or two ½-inch nominal pipes. Pipe supports straps and caps are attached with standard stainless-steel screws, which are supplied with the heads.

“We custom engineered these products to fit the unique shape of our head designs,” said Lisa Mulder, vice president and technical liaison. “There is growing interest in securing rooftop mechanical installations in the face of today’s climatic weather events. These straps increase the stability of pipes, conduit, channel and related mechanical equipment. Additionally, they satisfy local code requirements.”

About GREEN LINK

GREEN LINK is an innovative engineering company that develops and produces polymeric architectural products for the construction industry. Original Design, engineered from the from the ground up with the Contractor in mind, featuring innovative Green Link technology. All made in the U.S.A. For further information on Green Link’s Contractor Driven! product line, visit www.greenlinkengineering.com or for additional product information contact GREEN LINK.

By GREEN LINK Engineering. 

Knucklehead Heavy Pipe Supports are made to hold the heaviest pipes. 

KnuckleHead Heavy Pipe Supports are the lightweight roof support solution to distribute the load of the heaviest equipment. Designed for natural gas to water pipelines, as well as pipes up to 2.5” nominal pipe size, Knuckleheads can support upwards of 600 pounds. Because these supports do little to add to the roof load, they prevent low points where water can pond and ice can build up.  Additional features are: 

• Supports up to 3” outside diameter pipes 

• 2.5” to 3.5” adjustable height from base to support point 

• Molded from GREEN LINK Type 1 glass-reinforced nylon resin. Strong, tough, weatherproof, impervious to freeze-thaw cycles 

• Matte-finish nylon allows bonding with adhesive 

• Base designed for adhesive attachment or mechanical fastening for seismic/wind uplift specification 

Important points about The KnuckleHead Support System 

KnuckleHeads will prevent damage caused by ponding water, wind, ice, flying debris or seismic events and protect the integrity of the roofing system including roof-mounted structures and equipment. They are engineered with a Universal Base. A range of head designs are available depending on the particular support application needed. 

KnuckleHeads can be attached directly to the roof substrate either mechanically combined with GREEN LINK Adhesive/Sealant, or with GREEN LINK Adhesive/Sealant alone. 

The Universal Base is designed with four holes at its center for accepting mechanical fasteners. Before penetrating the roof membrane, the contractor should consult with the manufacturer to ensure that the warranty is not voided. 

Securing the installation  

The KnuckleHead Heavy Pipe Support comes with a custom-engineered KnuckleStrap. Molded from tough, weatherproof urethane and tinted safety yellow, the strap is screwed onto the head to ensure the pipe is secure even in the harshest conditions such as high winds and seismic events. An optional slip-resistant KnucklePad can be added to the base to reduce movement and protect the roof membrane. 

GREEN LINK Adhesive/Sealant by itself is sufficient to create a strong bond with more than 275 psi shear strength. This prevents movement of the supports caused by equipment vibration, high wind or seismic events. When mechanical fasteners are used, GREEN LINK Adhesive/Sealant should be applied around the perimeter of the base and on each screw head to prevent roof leaks caused by penetration. 

The base features 16 holes, allowing adhesive to squeeze out as the base is pressed onto the roof surface. This creates “adhesive rivets” which strengthen the bond. KnuckleHead installations have been performing in the field for more than 15 years, with constant exposure to high temperatures, freeze-thaw cycles, UV exposure and stress, and they have shown no signs of deterioration. 

GREEN LINK Adhesive/Sealant is environmentally safe and presents no toxic risk to contractors or building occupants. It is solvent-free, isocyanate-free, nonflammable and odorless. 

Learn more about GREEN LINK Engineering in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.greenlinkengineering.com. 

Original article source: GREEN LINK Engineering

By GreenLink Engineering. 

These engineered mechanical support systems are designed for extremely secure installation to support roof accessories during high wind events.  

GreenLink Engineering presents a support system solution mechanically engineered for mounting a variety of HVAC equipment including AC units, mini splits, heat pumps, condensers and associated pipelines and conduits. The system creates a secure seal during installation that works to support the structure in all cases, but especially for high winds and seismic events. The system is available now as a kit including the necessary components for constructing a 3’ x 4’ support frame on the roofs or ground. 

The kit consists of four vertical Unistrut-type stanchions 3’ in height with one end featuring a molded structural urethane element which bolts into the KnuckleHead base; four bases; two 4’ cross members which insert into the stanchion slots to form the basic frame; two moveable rails that slide horizontally over the frame to the desired width depending on the dimensions of the equipment being mounted; and all necessary hardware. Height can be adjusted by moving the horizontal channel into the desired stanchion slot and bolting in place. The standard vertical range for mounting equipment is 12”-24” off the surface, but lower profiles can be achieved. The system can be free standing or attached.    

Two KnuckleHead bases are available. The standard universal base is 7” in diameter and features four holes in its center to allow mechanical fastening to the deck of the roof. The other option is GreenLink’s newly introduced big base which features the universal base overmolded into a larger urethane component 12” in diameter. The big base can be attached in the same way, but in most cases, attachment is unnecessary because the larger surface area provides sufficient stability. Both bases support 600 lbs. each and are composed of military-grade reinforced nylon impervious to changing weather conditions. GreenLink’s proprietary adhesive/sealant can be applied to the base bottoms to create a bond that improves the strength and stability of the installation. 

The new kits are designed for mounting single HVAC units but can be modified to build banks of equipment when multiple units are to be installed. 

Learn more about GreenLink Engineering in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.greenlinkengineering.com.

Original article source: GreenLink Engineering

By GREEN LINK Engineering.  

Did you know using treated lumber supports on rooftops can create environmental and structural risks?   

The use of wooden blocks as rooftop supports for pipes, HVAC equipment and other items is quickly becoming a thing of the past. This is mainly due to their organic makeup that biodegrades or rots over time, which creates a host of problems and shortens the life of the roof. When these lumber sleepers deteriorate, they cause pipe sag which unbalances any HVAC equipment already in place in the roof. 

But there are other issues—critical ones—for moving toward other types of support. 

Toxic chemicals

Another problem with wood sleepers is that most are filled with pressure-treated biocides. These chemicals are water-borne and over time will leach out of the wood into ponding water. At one time, CCA—chromium/copper/arsenic—were common chemicals in treated wood, although arsenic has been phased out and sleepers rely more on higher copper content. While older installations may contain arsenic, the more current arsenic-free lumber still presents hazards. Even though treated lumber has fixative agents, over time toxic biocides can still leach out.  Water carrying such leached agents eventually flows to the ground, presenting toxic risks. 

Structural risks

Additionally, there are dangerous structural issues. High copper-treated lumber is very corrosive to metal fasteners including nails and screws. Numerous deck collapses—some resulting in fatalities—have been reported because of corrosion. Hot-dipped galvanized fasteners, or even better, stainless steel, are the right choice but oftentimes the composition of the fastener can’t be determined simply by sight. Staining around fasteners is an early indicator of corrosion. 

The KnuckleHead solution

All of these risks can be eliminated by converting to KnuckleHeads. High-strength, glass-reinforced nylon is waterproof and presents no toxic risk. It is compatible with any type of mechanical fastener and remains stable throughout the life of the installation. In fact, KnuckleHeads should outlast the roof, and likely the life of the building where they are installed. 

Learn more about GREEN LINK Engineering in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.greenlinkengineering.com.

Original article source: GREEN LINK Engineering

By GREEN LINK Engineering. 

Mini-splits are becoming increasingly popular on commercial buildings, but have a greater risk of falling in windy conditions. 

In recent years, mini-splits have grown in popularity for both commercial and residential properties. Typically, a mini split can be mounted to a variety of support systems, but the taller and narrower models are quite vulnerable in windy conditions. Additionally, the greater surface area of a taller mini split creates a higher level of vulnerability as they act like sails on a boat.  

The best approach to securing taller mini-splits is a mechanical support system that can be attached to the roof. To be effective, such a system requires certain features:  

• It must provide an extremely secure installation.  

• It has to be adjustable in terms of height.   

• In terms of the types of the equipment it will be supporting, meaning that while it is effective with mini-splits, it is also effective with AC units, condensers, etc.  

• Finally, given the competitive bid environment that contractors face on every job, it must be reasonably priced and easy to install.  

Green Link Engineering has designed a proprietary elevated mechanical support assembly which provides the type of security needed when taller mini-splits, as well as other wind-sensitive types of HVAC equipment, are mounted on the roof. The elevated mechanical support assembly meets all the requirements to be effective.  

First, it is attachable. The universal KnuckleHead base features four holes at the center for driving fasteners directly into the roof deck. This provides an extremely solid foundation for the support assembly. GreenLink Adhesive/Sealant can be used to both seal around the base to prevent leaks, as well as adding bond strength to the installation. The system can also be installed without attachment by using the Big Base, which provides a larger diameter and footprint.  

Next, stanchion supports consisting of channel molded into a tough polyurethane component are engineered to rotate onto the center bolt of the universal base to form a solid connection. Four support rails can then be horizontally positioned onto the vertical stanchion supports allowing for easy height adjustability. The support rails bolt into place and can be finely adjusted to achieve exact height and leveling.  

Finally, two equipment rails are designed to slide along the horizontal channel sections to precisely fit the dimensions of the mini-split. These features fulfill the challenge of securely mounting the taller mini-split unit.  

One last feature: The mechanical support assembly is available in kit form so that all components are on hand to assemble, whether on the roof or the ground. With a little practice, a contractor should be able to build the unit in about 15 minutes. 

Learn more about GREEN LINK Engineering in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.greenlinkengineering.com.

Original article source: GREEN LINK Engineering

By GREEN LINK Engineering. 

Learn the origins of the KnuckleHead that brings pipe, strut, solar and paver support to roofs everywhere.   

It became apparent at the turn of the century that old styles of rooftop support equipment, like woodblocks and bricks, were no longer suitable. This led to finding and creating alternative rooftop equipment that matched the evolving technology of the time. 

The first engineered support system was designed by Dr. Tibor Keller, a master machinist. This component was capable of lifting and holding light pipes such as conduit, gas pipes and plastic condensate drains. 

The head was adjustable to accommodate different elevations and to create angles for draining condensation lines running to roof drains. 

After its introduction, a roofer told us that the adjustable support looked like a “Knucklehead!” When asked what he meant, he said “You know, like the top of a 1941 Harley Davidson engine.”  The name stuck. 

Since that early stroke of insight, the first KnuckleHead proliferated into five distinct heads designed for several support and attachment requirements. 

KnuckleHead products available now: 

• Lite pipe support - Lite Pipe KnuckleHeads are engineered to support a single 1” pipe or two 1⁄2” pipes for such applications as electrical conduit and condensation pipes. 

• Heavy pipe support - Heavy Pipe Knuckleheads are engineered to support large pipes up to 3” in diameter for such applications as natural gas and water pipelines. 

• Strut support - Strut KnuckleHeads are engineered to accommodate steel or aluminum channel which can be configured to support all types of HVAC equipment such as air conditioning units and multiple conduit lines, or for installing solar arrays at proper angles. 

• Solar support - Solar KnuckleHeads are engineered to accept standard strut framing to create 15-degree angled structures for solar energy collection. 

• Paver support - Paver KnuckleHeads are engineered to support a wide range of applications such as range plaza decks, ballast, access flooring and walkways. 

Penetration free  

KnuckleHead Rooftop Supports can be bonded directly to the single ply roof membrane without the need for mechanical fasteners. GREEN LINK Adhesive/Sealant adheres to PVC, EPDM, Mod-Bit and primed TPO membranes as well as to the nylon base of the KnuckleHead. 

Learn more about GREEN LINK Engineering in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.greenlinkengineering.com.

Original article source: GREEN LINK Engineering

Knucklehead Stanchions and new Mechanical Support Products are the solution when equipment is required to be elevated off rooftops.

When local building codes require that equipment such as air conditioning units and compressors be elevated off rooftops to allow snow and water accumulation to flow underneath, GREEN LINK Engineering's Knucklehead Stanchions and new Mechanical Support Products are the solution.

The Stanchions feature a vertical slotted channel with an over-molded urethane footing, which is threaded and designed to mate to the center bolt of GREEN LINK's Knucklehead Bases. Support rails can be set into the slots and secured with brackets to form a structural frame. Installed, the stanchion allows equipment to be elevated from 6" to 24" off the roof or ground surface. Once the height is set, the channel slots allow support rails to be moderately adjusted so equipment can be optimally leveled. 

"Some codes require the equipment like AC units, compressors, mini-splits and such need to be elevated because of snow, ice and water accumulation," said GREEN LINK Technical Director Lisa Mulder. "We designed the stanchion to provide maximum stability and support. Each stanchion delivers compression load of up to 2,250 pounds with tensile strength up to 1,200 pounds."

The Stanchions are sold separately or as part of the Elevated Mechanical Support Assembly kit offered by GREEN LINK. The kit includes KnuckleHead Stanchions, support rails, equipment rails and necessary hardware for constructing 3'X4' or 4'X4' support frames. Custom lengths are available upon request.

About GREEN LINK

GREEN LINK is an innovative engineering company that develops and produces polymeric architectural products for the construction industry. All products are produced in the U.S.A. for additional product information contact GREEN LINK.