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Changes to FM Global Data Sheets Related to Wind and Roofing

September 5, 2016

This article summarizes revisions
that have either recently
been made or are in the process
of being made to FM Global
Property Loss Prevention Data
Sheets (data sheets) related
to wind or roofing. As is the case with all
data sheets, significant changes are listed
in Section 1.0 of each document. Data
sheets are available free of charge at www.
fmglobaldatasheets.com. The revision cycle
varies depending on how dynamic the subject
matter is, but generally ranges from two
to five years. The website should be checked
periodically for updated data sheets.
DATA SHEET 1-28, “WIND DESIGN”
This document was revised and published
in October 2015. Significant changes
include the following:
1. Optional guidance was added for
tornado-resistant design. This information
can be found in Appendix
D and is provided for property
loss prevention purposes only.
Recommended design wind speeds
are noted for the United States.
Criteria for determining the wind
design pressure are included, and
the use of windborne debris-resistant
windows (among other things)
is recommended. Readers are
referred to the Federal Emergency
Management Association’s FEMA
P-320 and FEMA P-361 for guidance
regarding the design of tornado shelters.
2. An explanation of differences in the
design criteria between Data Sheet
1-28 (based on the American Society
of Civil Engineers’ ASCE 7-05 and
on allowable strength design or ASD)
and ASCE 7-10 (which is based
on ultimate wind speed design)
was added. This is discussed in
Sections 2.7 and
3.10, including an
example. Changes
were not made to
Data Sheet 1-28
to comply with
ASCE 7-10 at this
time, as additional
changes will
be made in ASCE
7-16, which is to
be published later
this year. Revisions
to Data Sheet 1-28
are planned in the
n o t – t o o – d i s t a n t
future to reflect
changes in ASCE
7-16. For example,
there will be significant
changes in
ASCE 7-16 related
to low-slope (≤7°),
gabled roofs, which
are commonly used
for a very significant
percentage
of large industrial
and commercial
buildings. The target
date for changes
to be made to
Data Sheet 1-28
is shortly after the
publication of the
2018 revision of the International
Building Code (IBC-2018).
3. Additional guidance was added in
Section 3.4 for less common roof
shapes, such as mono-slope (>3°);
2 0 • I n t e r f a c e S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 6
Figure 1 – Revisions to Data Sheet 1-28 discuss sawtooth
roofs and wind pressures. © FM Global. Reprinted with
permission.
sawtooth; steep-slope, multigabled,
arched roofs; and domes. Guidance
is based on the pressure coeffi cients
in ASCE 7, but is presented in a
simpler format. (See Figure 1.)
4. Additional guidance on topographic
factors (KZT) was added, with reference
to Data Sheet 1-8, “Antenna
Towers and Signs,” which covers
that subject in more detail. For
relatively fl at terrain (ground slope
<10°), KZT may be assumed to be
1.0, thus not increasing the design
wind pressure. Similar guidance as
it relates to the New Zealand wind
code was also expanded.
5. Additional wind speed information
was added for the islands of
Australia, and the wind map for
Western Mexico was updated.
6. The formula for estimating the travel
distance of potential small windborne
debris (roof aggregate) was
revised. This can be used to determine
the needed separation between
an existing source building and new
construction to determine where
protection is needed for exposed
windows, or to justify the removal
of existing roof aggregate from the
source building.
7. Guidance related to ground roughness
and roof overhangs was clarifi
ed. The use of ground roughness D
is now recommended in all coastal
areas, regardless of the design wind
speed. This is now consistent with
current guidance in ASCE 7 (2010
and 2016). Previously, the use of
ground roughness C was accepted
in coastal regions when the design
wind speed (V) was ≥120 mph (54
m/s).
8. The minimum elevation difference
recommended to treat abutting
buildings as separate buildings
(with regard to perimeter and corner
wind design enhancements) was
increased from 3 ft. (0.9 m) to 10 ft.
(3 m) for consistency with ASCE 7
(2010 and 2016).
9. Guidance for structural engineers
for the anchorage of roof-mounted
equipment was updated to refl ect
very recent test data that were not
available in time for consideration in
the ASCE 7-16 cycle.
10. Additional guidance was added
related to emergency power generating
systems.
DATA SHEET 1-29, “ROOF DECK
SECUREMENT AND ABOVE-DECK
ROOF COMPONENTS”
This document was revised in January
2016, and further editorial changes were
made in April 2016. Signifi cant changes
include the following:
1. The document was reformatted and
simplifi ed.
2. Several tables were added to facilitate
the determination of proper steel
deck spans for various wind design
pressures. Tables are now provided
for both uniformly applied wind
loads and concentrated wind loads.
Uniform wind loads include adhered
roof covers and mechanically fastened
roof covers (MFRC) where the
distances between rows of roof covers
are no more than half the deck
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span. Concentrated
wind loads include
MFRC where the distance
between rows
of roof cover fasteners
is greater than half
the deck span. The
steel deck span tables
cover the range of
steel deck thicknesses
normally found,
including 22-, 20-,
and 18-gauge. (See
Figure 2.)
3. Guidance for steel
deck securement was
modified.
4. Guidance regarding
preliminary insulation
or cover board
securement used with
MFRC was expanded
considerably, resulting
in reduced fastener
requirements
in some cases where
vapor retarders are
used.
DATA SHEET 1-28R/1-29R,
“ROOF SYSTEMS”
This data sheet is a reference
document that provides
supporting information for
Data Sheets 1-28 and 1-29,
and was revised in January
2016. Changes were mostly editorial in
nature, and updates were made to the table
listing mechanical properties of various
steel decks.
DATA SHEET 1-31,
“PANEL ROOF SYSTEMS”
This document was revised and published
in July 2016. Significant changes
include the following:
1. The title was changed from “Metal
Roof Systems” to “Panel Roof
Systems” to include the wind design
of FM Approved plastic panels and
composite panels, such as insulated
roof panels with a metal bottom
facer and a thermoplastic roof cover
on top of the insulation core. These
systems are tested and FM Approved
in accordance with FM 4471.
2. Guidance was added regarding the
use of external seam clamps (ESCs)
to increase the wind resistance of
standing-seam metal roofs (SSRs).
Prescriptive alternatives for perimeter
and corner enhancements were
revised to recommend the use of
ESC in corner areas (where the fieldof-
roof design wind pressures are
>90 psf) and in the perimeter and
corner areas (where the field-of-roof
design wind pressures are >135 psf).
The importance of using ESCs that
properly fit the particular SSR seam
was emphasized. Also discussed
were methods to install ESC without
restricting the normal accommodation
for thermal expansion that is
provided with SSR.
DATA SHEET 1-34, “HAIL DAMAGE”
This document was revised in October
2014. Significant changes include the following:
1. A Very Severe Hail (VSH) region was
added to the hail map for the United
States. This region includes North
Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas.
Counties considered to be in North
Texas for design and analysis purposes
are shown in a table. FM
4470 is being revised to address
VSH region testing for single-ply and
multi-ply roof covers, and new listings
are expected in the near future.
2. Information on hail test standards
was added.
3. Emphasis was put on the use of FM
Approved products that are properly
hail-rated for the region in which
they are located.
DATA SHEET 1-49,
“PERIMETER FLASHING”
This document is currently being revised,
with publication planned for October 2016.
Significant changes include the following:
1. Guidance will be added to facilitate
the selection of FM Approved flash-
2 2 • I n t e r f a c e S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 6
Figure 2 – Revisions to Data Sheet I-29 include proper deck spans for various wind design pressures.
ing systems.
2. Prescriptive guidance for the design
and installation of perimeter fl ashing
systems will be deleted.
3. Guidance for the securement
of perimeter wood nailers will be
expanded and will include installations
where the fi eld-of-roof wind
design pressure exceeds 90 psf.
DATA SHEET 1-26,
“STEEP-SLOPE ROOFS”
This is a new data sheet that is currently
being developed, with publication planned
for April 2017. It will address roofs that are
typically used with slopes ≥10°. This document
will provide the following information:
1. Wind-related guidance for asphalt
shingles, concrete and clay tile, and
slate. These products are (or can be)
FM Approved in accordance with FM
4475. The wind component of that
standard is based on ASTM D3161.
Unlike other wind tests and ratings,
which are based on wind pressure,
these tests and listings are based
on wind speed. Wind maps only
refl ect conditions at roof heights
of 33 ft. (10 m) and open terrains
(ground roughness C). Roof height
and ground roughness exposure will
also be considered in tables that
simplify the selection of the properly
wind-rated shingles or tiles.
2. Guidance will be given on how to
select the appropriate steep-slope
roofi ng material with the needed hail
rating.
DATA SHEET 1-33,
“SAFEGUARDING TORCH-APPLIED
ROOF INSTALLATIONS”
This document is currently being
revised, with publication planned for sometime
in 2017. The revision is intended to
update training requirements for torchapplied
roof installers.
REFERENCES
FM Global Property Loss Prevention
Data Sheets
1-8, “Antenna Towers and Signs.” July
2011.
1-28, “Wind Design.” October 2015.
1-29, “Roof Deck Securement and Above-
Deck Roof Components.” April 2016.
1-28R/1-29R, “Roof Systems.” January
2016.
1-33, “Safeguarding Torch-Applied Roof
Installations.” January 2000.
1-34, “Hail Damage.” October 2014.
1-49, “Perimeter Flashing.” October 2016.
FM Approval Standards
FM 4470, “Single-Ply, Polymer-Modifi ed
Bitumen Sheet, Built-Up Roof
(BUR) and Liquid Applied Roof
Assemblies for Use in Class 1
and Noncombustible Roof Deck
Construction.” June 2012.
FM 4471, “Class 1 Panel Roofs.” March
2010.
FM 4473, “Specifi cation Test Standard
for Impact Resistance Testing of
Rigid Roofi ng Materials by Impacting
with Freezer Ice Balls.” July 2005.
FM 4475, “Approval Standard for Class
1 Steep-Slope Roofs.” August 2015.
American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI)
AISI S100, North American Specifi cation
for the Cold Formed Steel Structural
Members. 2012.
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING
AND MATERIALS (ASTM)
ASTM D3161, Standard Test Method
for Wind Resistance of Steep-Slope
Roofing Products (Fan-Induced
Method).
FEMA P-320, “Taking Shelter from the
Storm: Building a Safe Room for
Your Home or Small Business.”
FEMA P-361, “Design and Construction
Guidance for Community Safe
Rooms.”
Richard Davis is a
senior engineering
technical specialist
with FM Global’s
Engineering Standards
Division in
Norwood, MA, for
which he has
worked for 42
years. He earned a
bachelor’s degree
from Lowell Technological
Institute
and a master’s
from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Davis is
a past president and a fellow of the Society
of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE), and also
past president of its New England Chapter.
He is a member of the International Code
Council and is active with the National Fire
Protection Association.
Richard Davis,
PE, FSFPE
800-771-1711
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