Wind deflector L2200

The wind deflector, also called a windbreaker, is the panel mounted at the back of the rows of tilted modules on flat roofs. Its role is aerodynamic: it closes the space between the module and the roof surface, so that the air does not slip underneath. A panel with wind getting under it behaves like a wing and tends to be lifted, whereas with a deflector fitted the assembly becomes a closed body, and the vertical uplift forces drop substantially.

The practical consequence is direct: you need less weight on the roof to stabilise the structure, which matters a great deal on flat roofs with limited load-bearing capacity, and fewer mechanical anchors, therefore fewer penetrations of the waterproofing. The nominal length of 2200 mm is correlated with the size of the modules served and with the pitch of the structure, and the panels are fitted overlapping or end to end. The material is steel sheet with an anti-corrosion coating or aluminium, both with low weight, so the deflector does not add a significant load to the roof. It is the usual complement to triangular flat-roof systems, when the alternative would be increasing the amount of ballast.

Wind deflector made of steel sheet with an anti-corrosion coating, of the zinc-magnesium ZM type or galvanising, or of aluminium, with a nominal length of 2200 mm, mounted at the back of the rows of tilted modules. The panels are fitted overlapping or end to end, fixed to the system supports with stainless steel fasteners. The choice and arrangement of the deflectors must comply with the system supplier's aerodynamic calculation report, in correlation with SR EN 1991-1-4.

Who it suits

Suitable for ballasted systems on south-facing flat roofs, especially on roofs with a small load-bearing reserve or in areas with a high reference wind pressure.

Terms explained

• Uplift force: The force with which the wind pulls the panel upwards when it slips underneath it.
• Ballast: The weights, usually concrete slabs, that hold the structure in place without the need for holes in the roof.
• Zinc-magnesium (ZM): A protective coating applied to the sheet metal, which protects it from rust in outdoor conditions.

Technical specifications

Recommended applications

• Ballasted systems on flat roofs, facing south
• Flat roofs with limited load-bearing capacity, where the ballast must be minimised
• Wind-exposed industrial roofs, in areas with a high reference pressure
• Completing triangular flat-roof mounting systems

Technical details

Generic product — standard specifications

The wind deflector, also called a windbreaker, is the panel mounted at the back of the rows of tilted modules on flat roofs. Its role is aerodynamic: it closes the space between the module and the roof surface and prevents the air flow from getting under the module, where it would generate a significant uplift pressure.

By fitting the deflector, the system behaves as a closed aerodynamic body, and the vertical uplift forces drop substantially. The practical consequence is a reduction in the amount of ballast needed to stabilise the structure, which matters directly on roofs with limited load-bearing capacity, and a reduction in the number of mechanical anchors, therefore of the penetrations of the waterproofing.

The deflectors are made of steel sheet with an anti-corrosion coating (zinc-magnesium of the ZM type or galvanising) or of aluminium, both materials being chosen for their outdoor corrosion resistance and for their low weight. The nominal length of 2200 mm is correlated with the size of the modules served and with the pitch of the structure; the panels are fitted overlapping or end to end, fixed to the system supports with stainless steel fasteners. The choice and arrangement of the deflectors must comply with the system supplier's aerodynamic calculation report, in correlation with SR EN 1991-1-4.