A Rooftop Fire Test Has a Lesson for Every Fastener

A recent rooftop evaluation offers a simple reminder for the fastening industry:

A fastener should be selected according to the connection, not simply the product name.

For rooftop PV applications, a connection may involve roofing materials, mounting structures, insulation layers, sealing components and other parts.

When these elements change, the requirements of the fastening point can change as well.

Look Beyond the Specification

Material, size, head design, drilling capability and washer configuration are important when selecting a fastener.

But these specifications are only part of the picture.

The more important question is:

What does the connection actually require?

Understanding the roof material, mounting structure and installation method first can help determine the appropriate fastener structure and material.

Where Bimetal Fits In

For some metal-roof PV applications, both drilling capability and stainless steel characteristics may be required.

A carbon steel + stainless steel bimetal fastener is one possible approach.

The carbon steel section is designed for the drilling function, while the stainless steel section forms the main body of the fastener.

This provides another option when different material characteristics are needed within one fastening product.

The Takeaway

Fastener selection does not always start with a screw.

It can start with the connection itself.

Understand the application first. Then choose the fastener.

A fastener may be a small component, but the connection it creates is what gives it purpose.