By Emily Lorenz
IIBEC members asked, and IIBEC staff and members answered. After two years of balloting and multiple committee meetings, ASTM International has published ASTM E907-25, Standard Test Method for Field Testing of Uplift Resistance of Adhered Membrane Roofing Systems, also known as the “bubble” test. An active participant in the update of ASTM E907, IIBEC President Chris Dawkins, PE, stated, “This is an excellent moment for our professional community in that we now have a current standard for use of this diagnostic tool. Thanks to ASTM leadership and the industry team for making it happen.”
The scope of ASTM E907-25 states, “This test method covers the determination of the resistance of adhered roofing membranes to uplift pressure. It applies to adhered roof membranes with any substrate type, with or without mechanically fastened or adhered cover board, rigid board insulation, or base ply. The modes of failure detected by this test method include adhesive failure of bonding adhesive to underside of membrane, cohesive failure of bonding adhesive, adhesive failure of bonding adhesive to substrate, and cohesive failure of substrate.” The document can be purchased at ASTM International’s website.
Several IIBEC members participate on ASTM Committee D08 on roofing and waterproofing, and a few were key to achieving a compromise and a final standard by the end of 2025. In addition to Dawkins, special thanks go to Paul Buccellato, F-IIBEC, RWC, REWC, FASTM, AIA; Chris Giffin, F-IIBEC, RRC, AIA; Mark Renninger, RRC, RRO, PE; and Ted Sheridan, F-IIBEC, RBEC, PEng, who provided comments or guidance through the process.
Any IIBEC member who encounters topics, issues, or concerns in codes and standards is encouraged to email Emily Lorenz, PE, F-ACI, IIBEC’s codes and standards advisor, at elorenz@iibec.org.
