Bituminous waterproofing

Bituminous waterproofing systems are designed to protect residential and commercial buildings. Bitumen (asphalt or coal-tar pitch) is a mixed substance made up of organic liquids that are highly sticky, viscous, and waterproof.[1] These systems are sometimes used to construct roofs, in the form of roofing felt or roll roofing products.

Roofing felt

Felt paper on a wall exposed by tornado damage in Oklahoma.

Roofing felt (similar to tar paper) is the base material used to make roof shingles and roll roofing. Used for decades as waterproof coverings in residential and commercial roofs, these bitumen compositional membranes incorporate two layers. The first underside polymer membrane is used as a solid background, often reinforced with glass fibers. Mineral granules make up the self-protective top layer, with a final bituminous mixture encapsulating them both.[2] Typical uses of felt paper are as an underlay(ment) (sarking) beneath other building materials, particularly roofing and siding materials, and is one type of membrane used in asphalt built up roofing (BUR) systems. The purposes are to "...separate the roof covering from the roof deck...shed water...[and] provide secondary weather protection..."[3] Also, the rapid application of roofing underlay protects the roof deck during construction until the roofing material is applied and is required for roofs required to meet Underwriters Laboratory (UL) fire ratings.[4] The separation of the roof covering from the roof deck protects the roof covering from resins in some sheathing materials and cushions unevenness and old nails and splinters in re-roofing applications. The underlayment also sheds water, which penetrates the roof covering from an ordinary leak, a leak from wind-driven rain or snow, wind damage to the roof covering, or ice dams. However, the application of underlays may increase the roof temperature, which is the leading cause of ageing of asphalt shingles and felt paper wrinkles when it gets wet, which (rarely) shows through asphalt shingles. Not installing an underlay may void the roof covering warranty.

Weights and grades

Felt paper is available in several grades, the most common being Type 1—commonly called 15-pound (15#) or No. 15 (#15)—and Type 2—commonly called 30-pound (30#) or No. 30 (#30). The weight designations originated with organic base felt weighing 15 or 30 pounds per 100 sq. ft. (6.8 kg or 14 kg per 9.3 m2). However, modern base felts are made of lighter-weight fibre, so the weight designations, though common colloquially, are no longer literally accurate.[5]

Another basic designation is organic or inorganic. Organic felt paper has a base material made with formerly living materials such as rag fibre, hessian (burlap), or cellulose fibres (wood, or jute). Organic felt papers are now considered obsolete, only comprising five percent of the market in 1987.[6] Inorganic base products are polyester, glass fibre developed in the 1950s, and historically, asbestos mat. Polyester mat is weaker and less chemically stable than fibreglass but because it is cheap is gaining market share. Polyester mat is primarily used with the more flexible modified-bitumen felt products. Asbestos mat was the first inorganic base material but was outlawed in the 1980s for health reasons but is still in use on some buildings. Inorganic felts are lighter, more tear-resistant, more fire-resistant, and do not absorb water. Another type of felt paper is perforated for use in built-up roofing and is not for use as a water-resistant underlay.

Heavier material is typically used for underlayment of longer-lived roof materials in order to match their longer life span, and on less sloped roofs, which are more susceptible to leaking. For example, two layers of No. 30 felt might be used under a slate or tile roof, whereas a single layer of No. 15 might be adequate for a steeply raked roof of 24-year asphalt shingles.[7]

Manufacturing process

Roofing felt is manufactured in roll format. Rolls of base felt are pulled on rollers through large tanks of bitumen mixes until they are saturated with the tar-like bitumen mixture, producing rolls of water-resistant but breathable material.

Modified bitumen is mixed with filler components such as limestone, sand, or polymers such as atactic polypropylene (APP) that gives rigidity and tear resistance or styrene-butadiene styrene (SBS), a rubber additive that gives more elastic benefits.[8]

Felt paper standards

The American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) standards that apply to felt paper are:

The Canadian Standards Association standards are:

Roll roofing components

Roll roofing is a bitumen product that is exposed to the weather. To protect the base from ultraviolet degradation mineral granules are added on top of the felt, also decreasing the product's fire vulnerability. Thin, transparent film is added to the base of the felt during manufacturing on all torch-on products. This stops the felt from sticking to itself when rolled up during the packaging process.

Composition

The complex chemical composition of bitumen makes it difficult to identify the specific component(s) responsible for adverse health effects observed in exposed workers. Known carcinogens have been found in bitumen fumes generated at work sites. Observations of acute irritation in workers from airborne and dermal exposures to fumes and aerosols and the potential for chronic health effects, including cancer, warrant continued diligence in the control of exposures.

Reasons to use a roofing underlayment

Negative aspects

Malthoid

From 1905 to 1988 The Paraffine Paint Co. of San Francisco had Malthoid as a trademark for waterproof and weatherproof building and roofing materials made of paper and felt in whole or in part.[16] However, it had become well known before that.[17] About 1913 Paraffine promoted its Malthoid roofing materials with a 16 page booklet.[18] In 1941 the Duroid Company began making Malthoid in Onehunga, New Zealand.[19]

Malthoid was once common enough to be used as a generic description of flat roofing material in New Zealand and South Africa (item 26). A description of a New Zealand house built about 1914 says it was, "built of timber framework. covered by sheets of asbestos. The roof was closely timbered, then covered by strips of Malthoid paper. This was then painted with tar and topped off with a sprinkling of sand."[20] Railway vehicles in Australia were roofed with Malthoid.[21] Malthoid is still available for flat roofs and damp courses.[22]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "B Glossary Page". Roof Online. Retrieved 2016-08-10.
  2. ↑ Bourbigot, Serge; Cerin, Oriane; Duquesne, Sophie; Clavel, Norbert (1 March 2013). "Flame Retardancy of Bitumen: A Calorimetry Study". Journal of Fire Sciences. 31 (2): 126. ISSN 0734-9041. doi:10.1177/0734904112458240.
  3. ↑ "Is Roofing Felt Underlayment Needed Under Roof Shingles, Tiles, Slate, Wood Shingles or Shakes?". Inspectapedia http://inspectapedia.com/roof/Roofing_Underlayment.htm accessed 3/11/2014 quoting "The Uses and Performance Requirements of Steep-Slope Roof Underlays in North America and the United Kingdom", Robert J. Booth, Keith Roberts, Proceedings of the North American Conference on Roofing Technology, p. 112-118
  4. ↑ http://inspectapedia.com/roof/Roofing_Underlayment.htm#reviewers accessed 3/11/2014
  5. ↑ Brown, AB; Sparks, JW. "Composition and Rheology of Roofing Asphalt". Symposium on Bituminous Waterproofing and Roofing Materials: 3–17. doi:10.1520/stp38450s.
  6. ↑ William Cullen, "Transitions in Roofing Technology" National Roofing Contractors' Association "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-05-18. Retrieved 2014-03-11. accessed 3/11/2014
  7. ↑ Joan P. Crowe, "Underlayment considerations: Steep-slope roof systems require different underlay installations". Professional Roofing Magazine May 2005 http://www.texasinspector.com/files/Underlayment-NRCA.pdf accessed 3/11/2014
  8. ↑ Anink, David, and John Mak. Handbook of sustainable building: an environmental preference method for selection of materials for use in construction and refurbishment. Rev. ed. London: James & James, 2004. 62. Print.
  9. ↑ ASTM D226 / D226M. "09: Specification for Asphalt-Saturated Organic Felt Used in Roofing and Waterproofing". The American Society for Testing and Materials International. West Conshohocken, PA. doi:10.1520/d0226_d0226m-09.
  10. ↑ ASTM D4869 / D4869M. "Specification for Asphalt-Saturated Organic Felt Underlayment Used in Steep Slope Roofing". The American Society for Testing and Materials International. West Conshohocken, PA. doi:10.1520/d4869_d4869m-16a.
  11. ↑ ASTM D2178 / D2178M-15a. "Specification for Asphalt Glass Felt Used in Roofing and Waterproofing". The American Society for Testing and Materials International. West Conshohocken, PA. doi:10.1520/d2178_d2178m-15a.
  12. ↑ ASTM D6757 / D6757M-16a. "Specification for Underlayment Felt Containing Inorganic Fibers Used in Steep-Slope Roofing". The American Society for Testing and Materials International. West Conshohocken, PA. doi:10.1520/d6757_d6757m-16a.
  13. ↑ ASTM D6222 / D6222M-16. "Specification for Atactic Polypropylene (APP) Modified Bituminous Sheet Materials Using Polyester Reinforcements". The American Society for Testing and Materials International. West Conshohocken, PA. doi:10.1520/d6222_d6222m-16.
  14. ↑ "Roof Underlayment Requirements & Recommendations - is roofing felt necessary?". Inspectapedia.com. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  15. ↑ Perry, Pat. Health and Safety Questions and Answers a Practical Approach. London: Thomas Telford, 2003. 101. Print.
  16. ↑ "LegalForce information on trademark". Legalforce.com. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  17. ↑ "Manawatu Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7998, 21 June 1904". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 1904-06-21. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  18. ↑ Powerhouse Museum. "93/281/1 Brochure, 'Malthoid Bungalows', paper, The Paraffine Paint Company, USA, c. 1913". Powerhouse Museum, Australia. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  19. ↑ "Scie Construction Ltd history of flat roofing materials". Scieroofing.com. 2010-02-11. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  20. ↑ Off the Sheep's Back: Bill Richards Lindon Pub., 1986 ISBN 0864700148, 9780864700148
  21. ↑ "photo and some history of Malthoid on Australian heritage railways". Railpage.com.au. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  22. ↑ "Tremco technical specs" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-02-13. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
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