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roofing, cladding, insulation & structural systems JR228
Damage from weather All roofs are designed to protect the building from environmental factors; however, the presence of PV panels changes how the roof will perform when subjected to wind uplift. When wind blows parallel to a building’s roof, it creates an area of low pressure above the roof surface. This negative pressure contrasts with the positive air pressure below the roof and creates suction that tries to lift the roof, or any equipment attached to it, such as solar panels. Therefore, the design of a commercial PV panel roof needs to be
resilient enough to resist wind uplift, no matter what the weather. Failure to do so could lead to costly damage to the roof and its PV systems with associated financial consequences for the business. Another consideration is hail, as this can weaken certain roof
materials such as flexible membranes. While this might not seem much of a concern in the UK, hailstorms are becoming more frequent, and hail itself is becoming bigger. On July 21, hail the size of golf balls fell in Leicestershire3, so any roof must be designed to withstand the damage. Increase roof resiliency with roof cover boards Despite these risks, architects and specifiers should not be deterred from designing solar PV commercial flat roofs. These risks can all be mitigated with the addition of enhanced gypsum core cover boards to the roof build-up. Cover boards serve as a smooth, robust and sturdy substrate that
provides an extra layer of weight to the roof. This can help reduce surface deflection caused by heavy loads, stress on the waterproof layer and insulation compression. The boards also provide added puncture resistance for the waterproofing, reducing the risk of damage from foot traffic. Choosing a cover board with a gypsum core that has a non-
combustible, Euroclass A1 reaction to fire classification can help to improve the fire performance of the whole roof build-up. As well as reducing potential fire spread across the surface of the waterproofing layer, it will increase fire resistance and reduce the rate of fire penetration.
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If boards are mechanically fixed through to the structural deck, the fixings can also increase the overall wind uplift resistance and robustness of the roof. There are also roof assemblies that have been tested and proven to provide resistance to hail strikes. These assemblies often include a flat roof cover board under the waterproofing to help provide additional support to the waterproof layer when it is subject to hail strikes. As PV panel roofs become more common, understanding and
addressing the associated risks from increased structural loads, foot traffic, fire and weather is crucial. High-performance enhanced gypsum core cover boards provide architects and specifiers with an effective strategy to enhance roof resilience and ensure the roof’s longevity.
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