Every cargo container roof has slight deviations in the corrugated spacing, although for the most part, they are even. Our roof vent adapter was designed to accommodate minor deviations.

Determine adapter location on roof prior to installation. Check various locations to find the area that fits best.

Avoid seams and any sections that appear uneven due to dents or warping.

If it is clear that the adapter does not fit the roof corrugation, do not proceed. Contact us and we will advise you on the next steps.

Place the adapter in your selected location and carefully pencil an outline along the entire outside edge to mark the adapter location.

The adapter will conform to the container even if it does not seat perfectly. Make sure the corrugations are centered as best as possible. If it is not perfect, you can still proceed.

You will now use two screws to hold the adapter in place. Drill a hole in a middle corrugation and install a screw to hold the adapter in place.

On the opposite side of the installed screw, drill a hole and install a second screw to hold the adapter in place. Once the adapter is steady, drill all remaining holes. Then remove the two screws.

Move the adapter aside and take note of which way it is facing. When installing, the unit should face the same way to match the drilled holes (you can mark the roof and the adapter edges with pieces of tape to signify what direction the adapter is facing. This is important as the holes you drilled may not be in the exact same place side to side).

Using painters masking tape, mask approximately 1⁄4” outside of the pencil line.

With the supplied abrasive pad, thoroughly scuff the roof from the tape line to a minimum of 2” towards the center to prepare the roof to bond with the adhesive.

Make a new pencil outline for the hole you will cut. To do this, use the existing pencil outline you created as a guide. Measure inside approximately 2” from that pencil outline toward the center from all sides and mark.

Connect all pencil marks to create a 12” x 12” square inside the original pencil outline. This will be the hole that you will cut.

If the shipping container has been retrofitted with electricity or gas, make sure not to cut through the wires or pipes. Make sure no one is standing below the hole when cutting.

We highly recommend using a grinder with a maximum 1/8” thick cutting disc. Start your cuts in two corners. Then follow the pencil lines to cut the 12” x 12” hole.

If you do not have a grinder, you can also use a reciprocating saw.  You can use a drill and bit the same size as your reciprocating blade to start your corners. Then follow the pencil lines to cut the hole.

ONLY USE A PROFESSIONAL GRADE METAL ROOFING ADHESIVE. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for application.

Prep the area around all drilled screw holes by wiping down with alcohol to remove dust, debris or oils.

Apply a 3/8” bead on top of all drilled holes, and a second, parallel 3/8” bead just outside of the first bead.

It is important to use enough adhesive to make a good seal. There should not be any thin areas as water will find its way through. Adhesive should ooze from 100% of all side edges when the screws are tightened (Step 9). If you have some minor visible voids in adhesive, it is perfectly acceptable to backfill thoroughly with your sealant.

The roof adhesive can be cleaned up with isopropyl alcohol before it has fully dried. Do not attempt to clean off the adhesive with water, as this will cause it to cure. If you are in a very dry location, mist the adhesive with water to cure. Once fully dried it will be very difficult to remove.

Using care, center the roof vent by lining it up with the pencil outline and the previously marked holes, and ensure that the adapter is facing the same direction as you originally traced it.

With the screws provided in the installation kit, screw in the adapter by first loosely setting screws into holes.

Starting with the center corrugations, tighten the screws half way.

Tighten all of the screws alternating from one side to the next so that the flashing seats uniformly. If installed properly, there will be adhesive visible outside the flashing after the unit is screwed down to the roof. 

Use a putty knife or old credit card to scrape up the excess adhesive. Then wipe with isopropyl alcohol to remove any remaining adhesive. Do not attempt to clean off the adhesive with water, as this will cause the adhesive to cure before cleanup is complete.

The adapter will fit any vent (not included) with a 12-inch collar. You can use a Whirlybird turbine vent, solar vent, or static vent. We recommend purchasing a 12-inch galvanized steel internally-braced wind turbine from your local hardware store or online.

The screws provided with the installation kit are self-tapping and can be screwed directly through the turbine vent mounting holes into the curb adapter lip.