Roof corner wind loads and parapet configurations

Abstract The paper examines the influence of parapet configurations on wind-induced suctions on flat roofs. The study is experimental and has been carried out in a boundary layer wind tunnel. The results show that parapets on one side of the roof, such as billboards appearing in commercial buildings, induce higher mean and peak local suctions on roof edges and corners in comparison to those imposed by perimetrical parapets. High corner suctions induced by some parapets can be significantly alleviated by modifying the parapet configuration through cuts or slots.