A concrete parapet wall is one of the most durable ways to form a raised edge around a roof, terrace, balcony or other elevated building area. It can provide a robust architectural edge, conceal roof build-ups and services, support edge protection systems and create a defined transition between the roof and façade. But concrete alone […]

A parapet thermal bridge is one of the easiest details to overlook when designing a highly insulated building envelope. The roof may have continuous insulation. The external wall may have excellent thermal performance. Windows may use thermally broken frames. Yet heat can still escape through the junction where the roof, wall and parapet meet. This […]

A parapet expansion joint is a deliberate separation or movement-accommodating connection used where a parapet or roof-edge construction needs to accommodate structural, thermal, shrinkage or differential movement. It is easy to underestimate this detail. A parapet may look like a simple vertical wall at the edge of a flat roof, but it is connected to […]

A parapet is often associated with waterproofing, roof drainage and fall protection, but on many buildings it also plays an important role in parapet fire protection. At the roof edge, fire can spread beyond a compartment through the external wall, roof construction or façade. A correctly designed parapet or roof-edge protection system can help limit […]