Same Dome Benefits, Greater Aesthetic Appeal
Often a low-profile roof is chosen for aesthetic reasons, but customers still reap the benefits of a dome. The ratio of height to diameter can be as slight as 1:8 based on project requirements, and a low-profile roof is made possible by a post-tensioned ring beam located at the base of the dome shell at the top of the vertical wall. In this model high strength tendons that are post-tensioned are used in the ring beam construction. A post-tensioned dome also requires less dome-shell thickness, so fewer construction materials are required.
A dome’s natural strength is a result of its geometry. Nature’s perfectly strong shape is the dome, which can support high loads and impact as the stress is distributed across the shell. Using this concept, our team designs low-profile domes, ones with a subtle curve and more style.
Because the dome is a self-supporting freespan, the column-free interior is a naturally open space. This available square footage allows communities or schools to utilize the structure for alternate daily use. In the case of FEMA-funded shelters, the primary use is safety from storms, and the secondary use is often a gym, auditorium, or convention center. These are true multi-purpose centers at their finest.
One complementary feature for a low-profile roof is an integrated parapet gutter system that manages water on the roof and diverts it away from the building’s foundation. This system also captures snow and ice to prevent it from falling off in dangerous sheets.