SPF Roofing stands up to hurricane winds
Below are links to the NIST (National Institute for Standards and
Technology, USA) reports on the
impacts on structures from hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The reports are very
favorable toward spray
foam roofing. See select quotes, summaries and the complete 270-page report
below.
Chapter 3.2 Roofing page 55
3.2.3 Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) Roofing Systems page 69
"A number of spray polyurethane foam (SPF) roofing systems were observed in
the Pascagoula, MS
area. Some of these roofs were estimated to be about 20 years old. With one
minor exception, all
were found to have sustained Hurricane Katrina extremely well without
blow-off of the SPF or damage
to flashings. In the case where damage was observed, the SPF had been
applied to a wood fiber
insulation that had been mechanically fastened to the metal deck with an
inadequate number of
fasteners. Failure likely occurred when the insulation board delaminated
from the deck. The area
of the failure was less than 1 percent of the total roof area."
Louisiana SuperDome Roof page 62-63
Chapter 6 - Key Findings and Observations
"Spray foam roofs were the only
type of roofing
system described as having performed ‘extremely well’."
6.2.2 Roofing page 176 -177
"A limited number of spray foam (SPF) roofing systems was observed in the
hurricane
Katrina damage zone. Such roofing was found, with minor exception, to have
sustained the winds
extremely well without blow-off of the (SPF) or damage to flashings."
Links to each report:
Complete NIST Report
NIST PowerPoint Comprehensive Briefing
NIST Executive Summary
NIST Q&A reconnaissance and assessment of Damage
NIST Public Affairs Release
