When performing roofing work and repairing the roof, waterproofing material is laid or bitumen-based mastics are melted. For drying and heating materials, a portable device such as a gas roofing burner is used.
In addition, burners are used in other works, including such operations as:
- Heating to high temperatures of any products or workpieces;
- Drying surfaces;
- Soldering or cutting metals;
- Burning old paint and other work that requires heating to high temperatures.
What is this equipment?
As a rule, a roofing burner is a metal cup equipped with a nozzle and supplemented with a wooden or plastic handle attached to the body. The burner cup is designed in such a way that it can protect the flame from being blown out by the wind.
The gas enters the housing through a gas supply hose, typically pressurized propane. The burner is equipped with a valve, with which it is easy to adjust the amount of gas supplied. In addition, it is possible to adjust the length of the flame.
To save propane consumption, roof gas burners are equipped with a special gearbox that controls fuel consumption. Almost all types of burners provide air suction from the atmosphere. Matches or a lighter are used to start the burner.
The burner is provided with a device that helps to regulate the operating modes. So, for example, many models have a standby mode so that during breaks in work they do not waste gas in vain.
During operation, the gas roofing burner heats up to high temperatures, so only high-strength materials are used for its production.
The length of the handle for which the master holds the burner is no more than one meter. At the same time, the burner itself is very light, its weight is 1-1.5 kilograms.
To protect against burns, a holder is made of high-strength wood or heat-resistant plastic on the handle of the burners.
In addition to the gas-air burners described, a liquid-fuel version of this equipment is also used in construction.
Such burners operate using fuel oil or diesel fuel, their device is somewhat different from that described above.
In an oil burner, fuel is fed into a high-pressure chamber where the liquid is atomized in the form of tiny particles. The fuel atomized in the air is ignited at the outlet and chamber with the formation of a stable flame.
It should be noted that a diesel burner has an advantage over a gas burner in that it can be operated at low temperatures.
Stages of work when laying material using a roofing burner
When using roofing felt as a waterproofing material, as well as when laying modern materials for built-up roofing, equipment such as a gas roofing burner is required.
All work can be divided into several stages:
- Preparation of the base for laying the material. To do this, it is cleaned of debris, and, if necessary, leveled with a concrete screed.
- Roll material is rolled out over the entire area of the roof so that adjacent sheets form an overlap of 85-90 mm wide. After leveling and marking, the rolls are rolled up again, strengthening them at the base of the roof with a burner.
- By heating the base of the roof and the lower part of the roll with the flame of the burner, the material is slowly rolled out, pressing it to the base.
- A hand roller is carried out along the reinforced canvas, trying to prevent the formation of air bubbles and folds.
- At the last stage, a roofing gas burner is used to heat the seams of the overlapped material. After that, the seams are additionally rolled using a hand roller.
Advice! Carrying out work using gas burners is possible only if the air temperature outside is not lower than 15 degrees below zero. If necessary, make repairs to roof at lower temperatures, an oil burner must be used.
Provided that a good quality gas burner is used in the work, it is possible to lay 500-600 meters of roofing material in a working day.
A high-quality burner must not only ensure the stability of the flame, but also be reliably protected from wind blowing, since the work takes place in the open.
Roof burner models
To perform roofing work, burners of various models are used. Among them:
- GG-2 is a propane torch for roofing, which has an optimal ratio of quality and price. This model is suitable for home craftsmen who carry out roof repairs.
- GG-2u - a model with similar characteristics, differs from the shortened gas supply tube described above, suitable for working in places with difficult access, gluing joints and junctions.
- GG-2S - a model related to the professional series. This rooftop propane burner can work even under high wind load. The design of the burner consists of two housings and two valves, which allows you to more accurately control the operating modes.
- GGK1 is a model that is distinguished by a heavier and more durable glass.
- GRG-1 - burner on the very roofoperating on liquid fuel.
- GGS1-1.7 is a universal model, which is characterized by low weight and high performance.
- GV-550 and GV-900 are convenient models that differ from each other in the maximum length of the torch. The GV-900 model forms a long torch (900 mm), so when using this model, you can work at full height. The GV-550 burner is designed to operate at roof junctions.
Safety rules for working with gas burners for roofing
Equipment such as a propane roof burner must be operated in compliance with a number of safety rules.
- Carry out roofing work on the roof You can only wear overalls and shoes with non-slip soles. In addition, it is necessary to use additional devices - a belt, navigation bridges, etc.
- Before starting work, make sure by visual inspection that the roof burners, as well as gas cylinders and connecting hoses, are in good condition.
- When using a burner, a single gas bottle must be available at the work site. During operation, make sure that the hose connections to the cylinder and the reducer are tight.
- When igniting the burner, do not stand in front of the nozzle.
- During operation, the flame of the burner must be directed so that it cannot touch people, the gas cylinder and the connecting hoses.
- When working with welded materials, they must not be allowed to overheat and ignite.
- When heating the material, it is necessary to achieve melting of only the lower part of the web, avoiding softening of the entire thickness of the material.
- It is forbidden to ignite the burner from accidentally ignited objects, use matches or a lighter.
- When igniting a propane burner, open the valve half a turn and, after a few seconds of purge, ignite the mixture. After that, you can begin to adjust the height of the flame.
- If a lit roof burner is in the hands, the worker should not leave the workplace and climb the scaffolding.
- The extinguishing of the burner is carried out in two stages. First, the gas supply is shut off, then the locking lever is lowered.
- During a break in operation, the burner must be extinguished, and if the break is long, then the gas supply to the cylinder should be shut off.
- If the inlet channels of the mouthpieces are clogged at the burner, work is prohibited, as there is a high risk of kickback and pops.
- In the event of a kickback or overheating of the burner, work must be stopped immediately, the gas on the cylinder is shut off, and the burner itself is cooled in a container with water.
conclusions
Roofing equipment, such as a gas or oil burner, is a tool that allows you to significantly increase productivity in the installation of waterproofing and the construction of built-up roofing.
But, since this equipment is potentially dangerous, when working with it, you must strictly follow the instructions given by the manufacturer, and be sure to comply with all safety requirements when working with gas equipment.
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