Roofing

Flat Roofing
What Specifiers Want in Flat Roofing
Specifiers may see things differently. John Albon, a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, and Head
of Approvals at the BBA, discusses why independent assessments add value.
Specifiers may see things differently. John Albon, a Fellow of the Institute of
Materials, and Head of Approvals at the BBA, discusses why independent
assessments add value.
When considering a flat roofing material, what are the key aspects of
performance that a specifier needs to consider? Of course, it needs to keep the
building dry, that much is obvious, but how does the specifier ensure that the
product will perform, and what else do they need to take into account?
Often, the specifier will seek additional third party reassurance, such as
independent certification from an organisation such as the BBA, or look for
CE marking of the product. Both of these will provide data and enable a more
informed decision to be made.
In the case of plastic and rubber membranes, for example, these products are
covered by harmonised European Standard BS EN 13956: 2012 Flexible sheet
for waterproofing – Plastic and rubber sheets for roof waterproofing –
Definitions and characteristics. This Standard sets out a
wide range of product characteristics, giving test methods
for properties such as watertightness, joint strength,
tensile strength etc and allows the manufacturer to present
their test results in a clear manner, that will be consistent
for all products placed on the market within the EU. This
creates a level playing field for manufacturers and allows
specifiers to make a valid judgment of the relative
performance of competing materials on the basis of these
manufacturer declarations.
So, armed with this information, the specifier is now able
to make an informed choice on the right material for their
project. However, it may be that designers are uncertain
about the significance of the results or require further
Enquiry 3
Image courtesy of ICOPAL Ltd
Page 28 Roofing Today