Hail protection for HVAC equipment and skylights
Hail damages equipment and your business
Hail storms can damage your roof top
equipment and skylights. This damage can
cause loss of heating and cooling, water
damage and loss of use of the facility.
HVAC systems are very vulnerable to hail
damage; hail impact on the fins of the coil
assemblies causes the fins to become
compressed. When the fins are compressed,
the heat transfer function of the HVAC unit is
diminished and the system does not function
properly. In addition to the physical damage
to the equipment, you will have interruptions
to the heating and cooling of the building. If
you have processes that require cooling, then
ongoing operations may be compromised.
Be aware that hail damage can have a
cumulative effect on your system. Repeated
damage may result in replacement of the
unit. The downtime needed to make changes
or repairs to the roof, ductwork and controls
may make replacement a significant project.
Protection of your systems may be the best
risk management choice.
Hail guards
Hail guards offer some protection for your
HVAC systems. These guards provide a
degree of protection from hail and other
flying debris, though the size and velocity of
hail can impact the performance of any hail
guard. Most systems are designed around
hail stones sized at 1 ½” in diameter or less.
If your local area has experienced larger
hailstones, you should discuss with the
designer of the hail protection system. They
may change the materials, mounting and
frame systems to compensate for heavier hail
stones and higher impact forces.
The best solution is to purchase HVAC
equipment with factory installed hail guards.
These hail guards are engineered to provide
the correct airflow through the system and to
maintain the operating efficiency of the unit.
They can be color matched to the factory finish
for seamless appearance.
Frequently, this option is not specified for the
HVAC units. What can you do now?
The first alternative is to contact the original
equipment manufacturer and see if they can
supply hail guards. This helps ensure that the
guards are properly engineered and will not
compromise system performance.
The second alternative is to find a third party
provider who can manufacture a protective
system for your units. We recommend you
consider the following points when making
this choice.
- A simple panel of expanded metal over the coils seems like an easy choice to protect the coils. But what is the impact on airflow through the unit? Changing the airflow through the coils can change the efficiency and capacity of the system. You should consult with the manufacturer’s representative or a system designer to be sure the changes you are making will not impair system operations.
- Adding a system of louvers around the coils may be a solution. These can be engineered to maintain proper airflow and still deflect the hail from the coils. Proper mounting with the ability to remove the guard to service the unit are considerations.
- Systems that combine filtration and hail protection are also available. These systems use a tightly stretched filter media over a rigid frame. The frame is offset from the coils to allow the hail to bounce off of the filter surface. This system would keep the coils cleaner and improve system performance. The addition of the filter media means that routine cleaning is more important, but the external filter can be easily cleaned and the need to pressure wash coils is reduced.
- Consider the attachment of the system. Attaching a heavy guard to lightweight sheet metal may not provide the rigidity you require. How easy are the guards to remove for coil cleaning and system maintenance?
- If you need to build a framework to hold the hail guards, how will that frame be attached for wind resistance? Attaching to the building roof surface will require coordination with a roofer to maintain a waterproof surface.
Our research indicated that retrofit systems may be in the range of $25-$30 dollar per square foot; a unit with two six foot square fan coil surfaces could cost over $2,000. The cost factors for the louver system and the filter based system are comparable. Estimating costs is difficult due to labor and material fluctuations.
Skylights
Skylights are another exposure to consider. The
impact resistance of the glazing material in a skylight
may not be equal to the impact energy of
large hail stones. Adding a protective cover over
the skylight may be the solution. Polycarbonate and
acrylic materials may offer good impact resistance,
but may not offer the best UV stability or scratch
resistance. You need to balance the need for
optical clarity with impact resistance. The costs for
this protection will vary based on materials used,
mounting method and accessibility of the skylight
for installation. Costs may start at $25 a square
foot for these covers.
Window films may offer some resistance to hail.
They may not keep the glass from breaking, but
the film can hold the glass in place. These films can
be clear, tinted and may offer some UV filtering.
To learn more about Hanover Risk Solutions, visit hanoverrisksolutions.com
The recommendation(s), advice and contents of this material are provided for informational purposes only and do not purport to address every possible legal obligation, hazard, code violation, loss potential or exception to good practice. The Hanover Insurance Company and its affiliates and subsidiaries ("The Hanover") specifically disclaim any warranty or representation that acceptance of any recommendations or advice contained herein will make any premises, property or operation safe or in compliance with any law or regulation. Under no circumstances should this material or your acceptance of any recommendations or advice contained herein be construed as establishing the existence or availability of any insurance coverage with The Hanover. By providing this information to you, The Hanover does not assume (and specifically disclaims) any duty, undertaking or responsibility to you. The decision to accept or implement any recommendation(s) or advice contained in this material must be made by you.
LC JAN 2019 12-148
171-0859 (01/14)