ROOFING FUTUREPROOFING ROOFING
BMJ investigates ways of ensuring that flat roofs can be adapted to a range of uses during their lifetime.
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or some buildings, a roof is ‘just’ a roof, and always will be. Increasingly, however, a roof installed today may become a green space, a roof terrace, a surface below a solar power installation or the base for an air handling unit. And if it’s going to perform across any of the multiple additional requirements that may arise during its service life, it had better be robust.
That’s according to Philip Moors, UK & Ireland managing director of Firestone Building Products, who explains that, for builders and roofing contractors who are after a roofing membrane for a new build or refurbishment project, the right product that will deliver long- term performance and prevent snagging or call back issues is essential. “For builder’s merchants, that means advising customers on solutions that will offer improved resilience and ensure finished roofs and not only robust, but also more versatile, sustainable and cost effective throughout their service life,” he says. Firestone Building Products has developed the 1.5mm RubberCover™ EPDM membrane for use on domestic roofs that may be modified for additional uses. Moors says: “EDPM roofing systems can offer an ideal solution, with a low environmental impact, an extended service life and durable weatherproofing, capable of withstanding additional load and varied uses. It’s important, however, to match the membrane to the project’s present and future requirements.”
A future we don’t yet know He adds that futureproofing can be a tricky upsell when customers have a limited budget and their client’s future requirements are not part of the project remit, however, the case for preparing for change has never been more compelling.
“In urban areas, space is at a premium and the luxury of a garden, or even a back yard, is increasingly part of the UK’s architectural heritage, rather than its future. The roof, therefore provides the ideal and obvious location for seating, outdoor dining, greenery and even recreation. To build sufficient flexibility into a roof installation or refurbishment to allow these facilities to be added immediately or at some point in the future, a roofing system is required that will be robust enough to tolerate footfall associated with periodic maintenance
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activities, but also the subsequent installation of a variety of surface finishes as diverse as planted areas, timber decking, tiles, pavers, and pebbles.”
A key trend, he adds, is the escalating need to embed renewable energy into how we design and operate buildings.
“Current Part L building regulations contain no mandatory guidance on the installation of renewable energy technologies for new build or refurbishment projects, but this could become a compliance requirement in the not too distant future. Meanwhile, the escalating costs of energy is bringing increased vigour to homeowners’ willingness to invest in renewable energy, to help reduce their bills, as well as save the planet.”
Moors says that solar PV panels are an obvious solution and a typical installation could be expected to deliver around 80% of a home’s energy consumption over 20-25 years. “Panels are easy to replace should they fail, but what happens if the roof covering fails after the solar panels have been installed, or when it simply comes to the end of its service life? Our 1.5mm RubberCover™ EPDM has excellent resistance to heat aging and is proven to perform under PV panels, lasting last much longer than the investment horizon of the PV system. Moreover, the solar installation will not compromise the product warranty because it has been designed to enable such modifications”. He adds that it is important to stress these benefits as part of the sales process, enabling the customer to understand the value of selecting a more robust system, both for their business and their customer.
More robust, less impact Aside from the obvious lifecycle cost and reduced disruption benefits of selecting a roof covering that is robust and long-wearing, this approach to futureproofing also reduces waste
and environmental impact by avoiding the need for strip out and roof refurbishment should additions be made to the roof for either lifestyle facilities or renewable energy. Sustainability is increasingly important to end users and a useful upsell for both builders and roofing contractors, and builder’s merchants.
Moors says: “Of course, it’s important to avoid unnecessary over-specification, and rooftop additions are not a consideration for every roof. Small roof sections that are unlikely to be utilised for any other purpose do not demand such a considered approach to contemplating the potential future needs of the building or its occupants, and should, therefore, be specified to reflect only the performance requirements at build. However, on some projects, it may be useful to adjust the specification for different roof areas to reflect the locations where there is potential for future changes to be required.” He adds that part of the builder’s merchant’s role is to help the customer ensure they understand their client’s requirements from the outset and to stress the importance of understanding that some roofing systems limit their client’s future choices. “At Firestone Building Products, our technical team can provide valuable support to help articulate the benefits of selecting RubberCover 1.5mm for projects where additions to the roof need to be considered. “Ultimately, making the right choices now will protect the customer in the future and ensure that any call backs or issues with the warranty can be avoided.” BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net July 2022
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