How the KnuckleHead Began

By GREEN LINK Engineering. 

Learn the origins of the KnuckleHead that brings pipe, strut, solar and paver support to roofs everywhere.   

It became apparent at the turn of the century that old styles of rooftop support equipment, like woodblocks and bricks, were no longer suitable. This led to finding and creating alternative rooftop equipment that matched the evolving technology of the time. 

The first engineered support system was designed by Dr. Tibor Keller, a master machinist. This component was capable of lifting and holding light pipes such as conduit, gas pipes and plastic condensate drains. 

The head was adjustable to accommodate different elevations and to create angles for draining condensation lines running to roof drains. 

After its introduction, a roofer told us that the adjustable support looked like a “Knucklehead!” When asked what he meant, he said “You know, like the top of a 1941 Harley Davidson engine.”  The name stuck. 

Since that early stroke of insight, the first KnuckleHead proliferated into five distinct heads designed for several support and attachment requirements. 

KnuckleHead products available now: 

• Lite pipe support - Lite Pipe KnuckleHeads are engineered to support a single 1” pipe or two 1⁄2” pipes for such applications as electrical conduit and condensation pipes. 

• Heavy pipe support - Heavy Pipe Knuckleheads are engineered to support large pipes up to 3” in diameter for such applications as natural gas and water pipelines. 

• Strut support - Strut KnuckleHeads are engineered to accommodate steel or aluminum channel which can be configured to support all types of HVAC equipment such as air conditioning units and multiple conduit lines, or for installing solar arrays at proper angles. 

• Solar support - Solar KnuckleHeads are engineered to accept standard strut framing to create 15-degree angled structures for solar energy collection. 

• Paver support - Paver KnuckleHeads are engineered to support a wide range of applications such as range plaza decks, ballast, access flooring and walkways. 

Penetration free  

KnuckleHead Rooftop Supports can be bonded directly to the single ply roof membrane without the need for mechanical fasteners. GREEN LINK Adhesive/Sealant adheres to PVC, EPDM, Mod-Bit and primed TPO membranes as well as to the nylon base of the KnuckleHead. 

Learn more about GREEN LINK Engineering in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.greenlinkengineering.com.

Original article source: GREEN LINK Engineering