Everything about Parapet totally explained
A
parapet is a wall-like barrier at the edge of a
roof or
structure. It may serve to prevent unwanted falls over the edge or it may be a defensive, constructional or stylistic feature.
Building parapets
The word comes ultimately from the
Italian parapetto (
parare = to cover/defend and
petto =breast). The
German term
Brustwehr has the same significance.
Parapets may be plain,
embattled, perforated or panelled, which are not mutually exclusive terms.
- Plain parapets are upward extenions of the wall, sometimes with a coping at the top and corbel below.
- Embattled parapets may be panelled, but are pierced, if not purely as stylistic device, for the discharge of defensive projectiles.
- Perforated parapets are pierced in various designs such as circles, trefoils, quatrefoils.
- Panelled parapets are ornamented by a series of panels, either oblong or square, and more or less enriched, but not perforated. These are common in the Decorated and Perpendicular periods.
Parapet roofs
Parapets surrounding roofs are extremely common in
London. This dates from the
Building Act of 1707 which banned projecting wooden eaves in the cities of
Westminster and
London as a fire risk. Instead an 18-inch brick parapet was required, with the roof set behind. This was continued in many
Georgian houses, as it gave the appearance of a flat roof which accorded with the desire for classical proportions.
Bridge parapets
Parapets on bridges and other
highway structures (such as
retaining walls) prevent users from falling off where there's a drop. They may also be meant to restrict views, to prevent rubbish passing below, and to act as
noise barriers.
Bridge parapets may be made from any material, but
structural steel,
aluminium,
timber and
reinforced concrete are common. They may be of solid or framed construction.
In
European standards, parapets are defined as a sub-category of "vehicle restraint systems" or "pedestrian restraint systems".
Further Information
Get more info on 'Parapet'.
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