Many architectural copper systems depend on some basic details for their installation. These details are considered essential for the proper functioning of any well installed system and have become somewhat generic in the sheet metal industry. Once mastered, these details should be viewed as building blocks allowing very complicated and unique design options.
These basic details and techniques are presented here as a guide to the designer and engineer in order to highlight some of the architectural and structural requirements of various copper systems.
A very extensive and complete set of details for a variety of applications are included in the CDA's Copper in Architecture Design Handbook.
Basic Details - Diagram List
| Category | Diagrams |
|---|---|
| Rigid Seams | Lap Seam, Soldered Lap Seam, Riveted Flat Lock Seam, Soldered Lap Seam, Riveted and Soldered |
| Loose Seams | Lap Seam Flat Lock Seam Double Lock Seam, Cleated Single, Common Lock or Hook Seam |
| Additional Loose |
Narrow-Loose-Lock Transverse Seam, Steep Pitch Wide Loose-Lock Transverse Seam, Low Pitch Standing Seam Single Lock Standing Seam Batten Seam Pre-fabricated Standing Seam Standing Seam with Snap Lock Drive Cleat or Lock |
| Expansion Seams | Clevis Seam Slip Expansion Seam Loose Lock with Sealant |
| Corner Seams and Edges | Edge Strip- Detail 1 Edge Strip- Detail 2 Hemmed Edge Double Seam Corner Lock Single Seam Corner Lock |
| Copper Cleats | Typical Fixed Cleats (2 details) Typical Copper Cleat Installed |
| Typical Copper Hold-Downs | Hold-Down |
| Expansion Cleats | Typical Expansion Cleats Alternate Expansion Cleat |
| Lock Strips | Lock Strip Double Fold |