Buildings Magazine - December 2016

Weak roofing systems will fail in extreme weather; hailstones will pierce it, rainwater will get beneath it, strong winds will lift it, and extreme heat will expand and shift it.

The performance of a roof is linked to its design.

From the manufacturing of the products to the system installation, roof performance depends on the quality of its components.

Before a Polyglass modified bitumen membrane is manufactured, the product goes through rigorous testing to ensure it can withstand virtually every weather condition. Polyglass’ modified bitumen membranes are either reinforced with fiberglass to provide dimensional stability or polyester to improve puncture resistance. Membranes that feature patent-pending CURE Technology® incorporate ceramic microspheres, proprietary resins and UV stabilizers to the surface to enhance reflectivity, granule adhesion and stain resistance.

In the event of a severe hailstorm, which can drop grapefruit size hailstones, a Polyglass modified bitumen roof system with CURE Technology can manage the impact of the hail because it is resilient and durable. Building owners and facility managers cannot afford to install any roof system besides a modified bitumen multi-ply roof system.

CONSIDER THE COST OF A
COMPROMISED ROOF SYSTEM

The cost of a failed roofing system during a severe
weather event can be catastrophic. When calculating
their roofing risk, building owners and facility manag-
ers should not only look at the cost of roof repairs
and replacement, but they should also keep in mind
the cost associated with the disruption of business
operations and potential loss of inventory. It’s criti-
cal to consider the big picture and long view when
selecting a roof system. Some of the most common
types of commercial roof systems are:

Single-ply membranes are factory-manufactured membranes. They generally are categorized as either thermoset (EDPM) or thermoplastic (TPO or PVC). Single-ply membranes are produced using one of three manufacturing processes: calendering, extruding or spread coating. The membranes may contain reinforcement layers. Common reinforcements for single-ply membranes include polyester fabrics or scrims, glass fiber, or a felt or fleece backing.

Built-up Roof (BUR) are commonly referred to as “tar and gravel” roofs and asphalt BUR is the most common type. BUR systems generally are composed of alternating layers of bitumen and reinforcing fabrics that create a finished membrane. It is made up of multiple layers of reinforcing plies and asphalt forming a redundancy of waterproofing layers.

Modified Bitumen Membranes (Mod Bit) are composed of reinforcing fabrics that serve as carriers for the hot polymer-modified bitumen as it is manufactured into a roll material. Mod Bit roof systems are composed of multiple layers and are thicker (up to 300 mils) than single-ply membranes (up to 90 mils). Mod Bit roof systems typically are installed as a multi-ply system, a minimum of two waterproof sheets.

Polyfresko® G Cap Sheet

This 168 mils cap sheet is manufactured with Cure Technology, a thin film technology that makes membranes more durable. Polyfresko G is the first line of defense against punctures, heat, ultraviolet light and foot traffic.

Elastoflex® SA V Base Sheet Manufactured using patented ADESO® dual-compound self-adhesive technology, Elastoflex SA V membrane provides high performance reinforced fiberglass mat to ensure excellent dimensional stability. The base ply thickness is 80 mils.