Parapet Wall Coping Detail Design and Construction

A well-designed parapet wall coping detail is crucial for preventing water intrusion and ensuring the structural integrity of a building. The coping detail is typically the uppermost portion of the parapet wall.

For effective water management, the coping detail should be sloped to allow water to run off freely, with a minimum slope of 1:12. This ensures that water does not accumulate on the coping and seep into the wall.

A common coping detail design is the "sloping coping" method, which features a sloping surface that allows water to run off. This method is often used for buildings with a flat roof.

A well-constructed parapet wall coping detail requires careful planning and execution to prevent water damage and ensure the structural integrity of the building.

A parapet is a raised barrier at the edge of a roof, often an extension of the main wall.

Parapet walls serve as a barricade or railing on the roof, providing a crucial safety feature. They can be found on many flat roofs in Massachusetts.

Parapets often have built-in drainage systems called scuppers, which are especially important in areas with high year-round precipitation.

In a city like Boston, MA, proper drainage is a key consideration when it comes to flat roof design and construction.

When designing a parapet, the height of the wall is a crucial consideration. The height can vary depending on the specific requirements of the project.

Construction of a parapet can be broken down into two categories: design elements and features. Design elements include how high the walls should be and what they're created from.

A parapet's features, such as drains, coping, and drip edge, are just as important as its design elements. Drains, for example, can be installed to prevent water from accumulating behind the wall.

The materials used for a parapet can also impact its overall design and functionality.

The height of a parapet wall is a crucial aspect of its construction. According to the International Building Code, the minimum height of a parapet wall is 30 inches above the point where the roof surface and the wall intersect.

This minimum height is a requirement to ensure safety and prevent falls. Measured in feet, this is equivalent to about 2 ½ feet.

In some cases, the parapet wall may need to extend higher to match the height of the roof, especially if the roof slopes towards it at a steep angle. This ensures that the wall provides adequate protection against falls and other hazards.

Dales Fabrications provides exclusive collection of detail drawings of their wall capping systems.

These drawings are designed to spark design discussions and inspire innovative and yet robust wall copings to suit your bespoke projects.

Each download includes preliminary detail drawing files in dwg and pdf formats.

Detailed NBS specifications for powder-coated finishes and anodized specifications are also included to streamline the integration of their aluminium wall copings into your project.

Dales Project Managers are graduate qualified in suitable design disciplines, including architecture, construction or engineering.

They hold full Professional Indemnity Insurance for all products that they design, manufacture and supply.

You can contact their knowledgeable Project Managers in the Technical Department on 0115 930 1521 to explore how their coping system detail designs can be tailored and optimized to align with your projects.

When designing a parapet wall, it's essential to consider the height of the walls, which can vary depending on the specific needs of the project.

The materials used for the parapet walls are also crucial, as they need to be durable and weather-resistant to withstand the elements.

Design elements are the first category of parapet wall construction, and they set the foundation for the entire project.

The features of a parapet wall, such as drains, coping, and drip edge, are just as important as the design elements.

Drains are a must-have feature in parapet walls, especially in areas with heavy rainfall or water runoff.

Coping is the top layer of a parapet wall, and it serves as a protective barrier against the elements.

The drip edge is a feature that helps to prevent water from seeping behind the parapet wall and causing damage.

A parapet wall coping detail is a critical component of a parapet wall's design, serving as the first line of defense against the elements. It's a sloping or stepped wall that protects the building's edge.

The 3 Lines of Defence principle highlights three distinct areas of focus in a parapet wall construction: the Raking Coping/Capping, Raking Horizontal DPC, and Stepped Cavity Tray. These components work together to ensure the parapet wall is weather-tight and secure.

A correctly installed Raking Coping/Capping is essential, with robust weatherproof connections to prevent water ingress. This is where the Raking Coping/Capping's weathered upper surface, projection, and drainage function come into play.

Here are some key considerations for a parapet wall coping detail:

These components work together to ensure the parapet wall is secure and weather-tight, and it's essential to get them right to prevent water ingress and structural damage.

A parapet wall coping detail is essentially a protective edge or cap that's placed on top of a parapet wall. It's designed to prevent water from seeping behind the wall.

The purpose of a parapet wall coping detail is to divert rainwater and other liquids away from the wall, which helps to prevent erosion and damage.

A parapet wall coping detail typically consists of a concrete or stone slab that's placed on top of the wall, with a slight overhang to allow water to run off.

Stepped parapet walls can be found on both flat rooftops and pitched roofs. They're similar to sloped parapets in that they follow the exact slope of the roof, but with a key difference: stepped parapets have "steps" instead of a straight-lined slope design.

On a pitched roof, stepped parapets are built to follow the slope of the roof, making them a common feature in many buildings. However, on a flat roof, the parapet's base remains flat, but the wall is built up in steps to an apex at the top.

The stepped design can give a building a grandiose appearance, which is why you'll see them on older churches and government buildings. It's a classic architectural feature that adds character to a building.

Here are some key facts to consider when designing a stepped parapet wall:

Terrace Guarding and Balustrade Systems are crucial components of parapet wall construction. They must be carefully designed and installed to ensure the weather tightness of the parapet construction is protected.

The penetrations created by structural connections and fixings into and through the parapet wall carry significant risks of water penetration, so the design for the guarding must be identified at an early stage and appraised.

Any guarding should ideally be mounted to the sides of the parapets, either internally or externally via face fixings into the parapet wall and not through the coping. This prevents creating weak spots for water ingress.

The copings weathered upper surface, projection, and drainage function must be uninterrupted and unhindered by guarding provisions. Glazing channels recessed into and dividing coping provisions should be avoided.

Where guarding over a coping arrangement is in continuous contact, the free drainage of the coping should not be impeded. In such instances, coping arrangements must incorporate a fall away from the obstruction to any outside edge.

Here are some key considerations for guarding over a coping arrangement:

The '3 Lines of Defence' principle is a crucial aspect of parapet wall coping detail. It's a three-part system designed to protect the structure from water penetration.

The first line of defence is the coping or capping, which should be installed with robust weatherproof connections. A correctly installed coping or capping is essential to prevent water from entering the parapet wall.

The second line of defence is the horizontal DPC, which must be positioned directly below the coping provision. It's formed via a single length of DPC as far as practicable, with a minimum 150mm lap (300mm lap is preferable) at corners.

A horizontal DPC must be fully supported across any cavity in the structure below, for the continuous length of parapet. It should be appropriately sealed at overlaps in the material, typically with solvent contact adhesive or butyl rubber tapes.

The third line of defence is the cavity tray, which should be installed correctly with sealed joints at laps, complete with weep holes. A stepped cavity tray is used in raking parapet walls, where the parapet wall is constructed to a slope.

Here's a summary of the three lines of defence:

In both horizontal and raking parapet walls, the '3 Lines of Defence' principle must be incorporated into parapet design. By following these guidelines, you can ensure your parapet wall coping detail is effective in protecting the structure from water penetration.