Mounting Rails and Thermal Expansion

dancour

My aluminium mounting rails are going to be 40 feet long.

Should I worry about thermal expansion?

If yes, what would be the best/cheapest way to allow for it?

Thanks

PS My rails stretch across a tilt-up structure, so their integrity is important. I don't want the rails to be able to be pulled apart.

drees

Re: Mounting Rails and Thermal Expansion

Use ProSolar RoofTrac rails with their rail splices which allow for thermal expansion/contraction when properly installed.

dancour

Re: Mounting Rails and Thermal Expansion

Thanks for the tip: I found the info at:
http://prosolar.com/PDFS/INSTALLpdf/ROOFTRAC_install.pdf

but this type of expansion joint might pull apart in my application. I was wondering about a long slotted hole for the bolt - something like I use in woodworking.

drees

Re: Mounting Rails and Thermal Expansion

Exactly how much movement do you expect in the rails in your application that they might separate?