(Hover over a diagram to see the attachment type. Click an image to expand a larger view.)
Attachment types (from left, clockwise): vertical HSS member (tube steel), steel stud framing, horizontal HSS member (tube steel), aluminum curtain wall system, concrete wall, brick veneer lintel, brick veneer over CMU block, structural steel wide flange (WF) at column line, wood framing
Design and strategies to effectively attach an aluminum sunshade to a building.
Because aluminum sunshades are made entirely out of aluminum, they expand and contract at different rate than your building. Most building substructures are made from steel, masonry, or wood. Thermal expansion design is a necessity to ensure your shade does not self-destruct. Thermal expansion will also cause damage to your building.
Every sunshade manufactured by H&H Metals, incorporates a specific design for the clips to combat thermal expansion. Our connection at each shade section that allows 1/8″± total movement. This literally lets the shade “float”, inducing no lateral load on the connection clip.
Examples of incorrect deign of sunshade attachment brackets, with no thermal expansion room.
Because the sunshade is aluminum, and the sunshade clips are steel, there must be a buffer to separate the dissimilar materials. This prevents galvanic corrosion. If aluminum comes in direct contact with steel, the material will degrade over time. This leaves the shade vulnerable to reduced loading characteristics.
Every shade manufactured by H&H Metals includes a specially designed fastener made of stainless steel to prevent this corrosive action. Stainless steel will not degrade due to the elements, and inhibits galvanic corrosion. This makes your steel sunshade easy to fabricate. The clips attach easily via weld to the steel substructure. Our design also allows separation of dissimilar metals via the stainless steel fasteners that are included with every H&H sunshade.
