Thermoplastic Olefin Roofing

Epdm an example of thermoset roofing membranes.

Thermoplastic olefin roofing.

An example of thermoset membranes includes ethylene propylene diene monomer epdm one of the most widely used roofing systems. Heat welded seams provide superior strength. Tpo is touted to have the benefits of two of its direct competitors epdm and pvc roofs but without the drawbacks and extra costs. 60 mil mechanically attached tpo over hd isocyanurate square footage.

Tpo based products have been available since the 1980s. Tpo s long term heat uv and natural fungal resistance plus flexibility without need for plasticizers also make tpo a reliable low slope roofing system. The first sheets for membrane roofing were introduced in 1989. The result was a new 60 mil mechanically attached tpo roof all installed during the plant shutdown.

Comparing thermoplastic polyolefin roofing with epdm. Synthetic rubber and thermoplastics serve as two of the most widely used materials for low slope roofing applications. Centimark stepped in to replace the roof within the time schedule completing over 100 000 square feet in less than 30 days. Epdm ballasted roof after.

Outdoor applications such as roofing frequently contain tpo because it does not degrade under solar uv radiation a common problem with nylons. Short for thermoplastic polyolefin tpo is a single ply roofing membrane that offers excellent performance at a cost effective price. In the building trades the acronym tpo stands for thermoplastic polyolefin a material originally developed for pond liners and used extensively for roofing since 1989 it s a single ply membrane made from a polymerized combination of polypropylene and ethylene propylene rubber that can be attached to a roof with adhesive or with mechanical fasteners. Thermoplastic olefin thermoplastic polyolefin tpo or olefinic thermoplastic elastomers refer to polymer filler blends usually consisting of some fraction of a thermoplastic an elastomer or rubber and usually a filler.

Astm d6878 standard specification for thermoplastic polyolefin based sheet roofing warranties when purchasing a new roof system there will be two warranties to consider. To understand why tpo membranes are the fastest growing segment of the membrane market a little background is in order. It gives roof surfaces a weather resistant coating that looks and feels much like rubber. First there will be the manufacturer s warranty.

While the rubbery coating is durable it isn t the most stylish feature for a property. By 1993 the earlier non reinforced membranes were replaced by fabric reinforced sheets the version available today. This means that a tpo roof is as uv resistant and as heat resistant as epdm and as heat weldable. In general these warranties cover defects in the manufacture of the roof membrane.