In buildingconstruction,topping out (also referred to astopping off orroofing ceremony) is abuilders' rite traditionally held when the last beam (or its equivalent) is placed at the top of a structure during its construction. Nowadays, the ceremony is often parlayed into amedia event for public relations purposes.[1] It has since come to mean more generally finishing the structure of the building, whether there is a ceremony or not. It is also commonly used to determine the amount of wind on the top of the structure.
The practice of "topping out" a new building can be traced to the ancientScandinavian religious rite of placing a tree atop a new building to appease the tree-dwelling spirits displaced in its construction.[2] Long an important component oftimber frame building,[3] it migrated initially to England and Northern Europe, then to the Americas.
A tree or leafy branch is placed on the topmost wood or iron beam, often with flags and streamers tied to it. A toast is usually drunk and sometimes workers are treated to a meal. In religious context, it is a nod to the completion of construction for Noah’s Ark. Inmasonry construction the rite celebrates the bedding of the last block or brick.[citation needed]
In some cases a topping out event is held at an intermediate point, such as when the roof is dried-in, which means the roof can provide at least semi-permanent protection from the elements.[4]
The practice remains common in theUnited Kingdom and assortedCommonwealth countries such as Australia[5] and Canada,[6] as well asGermany,Austria,Slovenia,Iceland,Chile,Czech Republic,Slovakia,Poland,Hungary and theBaltic States. In theUnited States the last beam of askyscraper is often painted white and signed by all the workers involved.[5] In New Zealand, completion of the roof to a water-proof state is celebrated through a "roof shout", where workers are treated to cake and beer.[7]
The tradition of "pannenbier" (literally "(roof) tile beer" inDutch) is popular in theNetherlands andFlanders, where a national, regional or city flag is hung once the highest point of a building is reached. It stays in place until the building's owner provides free beer to the workers, after which it is lowered.[8] Since the workers are treated to free beer as long as the flag is raised, the workers are considered greedy if they fly the flag for more than a few days.[citation needed]
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