Single-ply roofing membranes are the fastest growing new and re-roofing products in the industry. Insurance carriers and law firms are faced with hail damage claims every day and need forensic engineers and structural/building materials experts to assess the facts. So here is a quick overview of what hail damage looks like in two of the most common types of single-ply roofing membranes:
Single-ply Roofing Membrane Material
There are two main types of single-ply roofing membrane material, plastic and rubber. ‘Thermoplastic’ and ‘thermoset’ are terms used to categorize much smaller sub-groups of specific membrane types by the materials and manufacturing process. Common thermoplastic products are thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). A common type of thermoset membrane is EPDM, which stands for Ethylene Paropylene Diene Monomer.
How to Recognize Hail Damage to Roofing Membranes
There are visually distinct damage characteristics in the various materials. Impact testing which correlates with hailstones indicates a concentric, circular fracture pattern or star-shaped fracture within the top ply of TPO and PVC membrane. EPDM damage is evidenced by indentations within the underlying insulation boards and small discrete tears within the membrane. While visual inspection can be performed as a start, EPDM fractures can be difficult to see with the naked eye.
To learn more about hail damage and forensic inspections of roofing materials, read the full article and take the quiz at PLRB – Hail Damage to Thermoset and Thermoplastic Roofing Membranes.
For more information on VERTEX’s Forensic Engineering services or to speak with an Engineering Expert, call 888.298.5162 or submit an inquiry.
The Author
Kevin Maxwell
PE, RRC, PMP
Senior Forensic Engineer, Forensics
Mr. Maxwell has over almost 25 years of experience in management, engineering, expert witness support, claims management, and risk assessment and is a Senior Forensic Engineer at VERTEX.