Pre-manufactured Aluminum Canopies
How far can you extend the canopy before posts are needed?
A common question we receive when discussing wall-supported canopies with general contractors and architects is, “How far can this canopy stick off the wall without posts?”
The quick answer is, “It depends.” Generally, the answer depends on several key factors, including overhead versus outrigger-supported design, wall support, and location.
Let’s go through each of these to help explain which approach is the best.
Overhead vs. Outrigger Supported
PCG has two main extruded aluminum canopy designs, and the primary difference between the two is how they are attached to and supported at the wall. The first of these and the most common is the over-head supported design.
Overhead-Supported Canopy Design
This design includes an upper wall bracket support (#10 above), a horizontal compression tube (#8), and a diagonal brace (#7). Generally speaking, having a taller wall connection helps increase projection, but there is a point where the diagonal brace can become too long and does not add additional strength. Other factors include the quantity and spacing of these braces as well as the size and thickness of both the diagonal brace and compression member.
Besides the overhead-supported canopy design, our other primary extruded aluminum canopy type is the outrigger-supported.
Outrigger-Supported Canopy Design
This design is used in applications where a low profile is required (due to the windows above) or desired for aesthetic reasons. This design is supported from below by an outrigger support (typically a 4” x 4” aluminum tube, #3 in the above detail) with a wall plate attached to the exterior of the building. The spacing of these tubes is again a factor in the overall strength of the design, as well as the allowable projection of the system itself.
Wall Support
What you attach to matters. Especially when it comes to securing a canopy to a wall. Working on a wide range of architectural metal projects and buildings, PCG has designed its canopy systems with the flexibility to attach to various exterior surfaces. For distribution centers, we attach to tilt-wall concrete with wedge anchors or use through-bolts to attach through insulated precast walls.
Other buildings have brick or stucco, which means we need to have wood blocking coordinated and installed at our attachment locations. In this case, we provide a blocking layout plan and will, most of the time, meet onsite to ensure coordination of this work ahead of time. We use a Type F self-threading bolt on other buildings that have steel tubes or beams at the canopy locations. All of these connections are designed and stamped by registered engineers in the project-specific location to ensure they meet the required loads.
Location
Speaking of locations, the location of the building is often the most significant factor in designing a canopy. When working in coastal environments, the wind loads and hurricane resistance play a considerable role in canopy design. In other locations further north, snow loads are more important. The good news is that, regardless of your project's location, we have the experience and engineering team to design your canopy project.
So, back to the original question on canopy projection. As you can see, there are too many variables to give a blanket answer. That being said, overhead-supported canopies can "normally" project up to a max of 8', while outrigger canopies "normally" cap out around a 6' projection.
Would you like to know where your canopy falls on this scale or discuss your options? Contact us and let one of our experienced project managers help guide you through this process. Do you have a canopy that needs a larger projection? Let PCG help design a post-supported canopy for your building.