BUILDING FABRIC 55
THE CHANGING FACE OF ROOFING
Stephen Makin of Mayan Roofi ng Systems discusses the changes at the forefront of roofi ng development which are helping specifi ers drive building performance
D
espite advancements in technology and construction materials, the methods and practices of
pitched roofi ng have remained relatively unchanged over the years, as traditional techniques and materials have proven to be effective and reliable.
Over the years many changes have involved the imposition of regulations to set quality standards, such as wind uplift for membranes, the quality of roofi ng battens and the introduction of that regulates dry fi x verge and ridge systems. However, considerable recent changes to regulations will dramatically change the face of pitched roofi ng moving forward. he signifi cant increase in the conservation of fuel and power regula- tions (Part L) as well as the new Building Safety Act 2022 (in light of Grenfell) are set to bring about the most dramatic changes to the way roofs are installed in the future. Since June 2022 all new homes now
must reduce CO2
emissions by 31%. This
dramatic increase in effi ciency can only be met through substantial design changes such as passive style details and the use of built-up structures (to eliminate thermal bridges) or by using products such as SIPs or ICF.
Alternatively, ineffi ciencies can be offset by using products with a lower carbon footprint or by installing solar energy systems. These changes, alongside the energy crisis, have re-ignited the solar PV market. Without consideration to future changes, few doubt that solar PV is set to be an integral part of the roofi ng industry. The further increases in the require- ment for insulation will provide an even greater need to properly ventilate the home, and in particular the roof space. Breather membranes have a limited capability to ventilate; established and shown in their Moisture Vapour Transfer Rate (MVTR) on their Declaration of Performance (DoP). ‘Free air ventilation’ provides the best method of releasing
moist air that is trapped in the roof space. High level, ‘free air’ ridge systems have been shown to perform dramatically better than low cost woven polyester systems to provide suffi cient ventilation for modern homes.
TESTING HIGH LEVEL VENTILATION CAPACITY OF DRY RIDGE SYSTEMS Introduced in July 2021, the Building Safety Act 2022 became law in April 2023 in conjunction with The Fire Safety Regulations 2022 that became law in January 2023. This legislation will introduce duties and responsibilities that a ‘Responsible Person’ (landlord, manager, specifi er, designer etc must ensure that a building is constructed using the appropriate materials and properly assessed for fi re safety. his responsible person must establish a ‘Golden Thread’ of data and information about the building that will be permanently stored electronically for the life of the building. The consequences of failure to comply
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