Construction Profiles
Skylights are constructed using aluminum extrusions. We employ two basic extrusion profiles in the manufacture of skylights: T-bar and Pressure Plate. The choice will depend on your particular application.
T-bar System | Pressure Plate System
The T-bar system in skylight construction allows for simple construction, utilizing inexpensive flashing details and allowing for maximum free-spans of 8' to 9'. The T rafters are spaced at approximately 24"to 30" centers. For wider spacing and longer spans, please review the pressure plate method.
T-bar skylights are designed on a rain screen principle: they have integrated condensation and drainage tracks.
T-bar sections can have either a thermally broken profile for insulated sealed units, (shown in the illustration above) or non-thermally broken profiles for single glazed applications.
Pressure Plate
The pressure plate system is designed for maximum span capabilities with little or no substructure requirements. Pressure plate systems are available as a basis skin system profile through to various lengths of hollow rafters. Using pressure plate makes it possible to design skylights with lower sight-line profiles than those of T-bar systems.
Positive control of air and water has been achieved through the use of interior condensation gutters, drainage channels, gasketed glazing splines, and exterior gasketed pressure caps.