Asphalt BUR Survives a Tornado in North Carolina May 15, 2008 Spring 2008 will be remembered for its relentless onslaught of severe weather. Strong storms pounded Midwestern states with hail, heavy rains, flooding, and tornados. Four teenagers were killed and 40 people were injured by a tornado at an Iowa Boy Scout camp. On June 27, 50-plus-mile-per-hour winds ripped through Omaha, Nebraska, on the eve of […] Read More
Protecting Roofs From Nature’s Fury Using FM Global’s Data Sheets May 15, 2008 As more and more of the world’s population moves into windstorm- prone areas, the frequency and severity of windrelated catastrophes are on the rise. When property owners put themselves in the path of Mother Nature, they want to feel confident that their facilities are built soundly, with robust materials that meet or exceed codes derived […] Read More
Wet Sealing May 15, 2008 What is a wet seal? An Australian-based clothing company or a drenched sea mammal? A “wet seal” as it relates to the building envelope industry is generally referred to as the application of an elastomeric, gun-grade joint sealant at the interface of a glass unit and the adjoining frame and/or gasket of an existing window […] Read More
New Roofing System Helps Preserve Historic New Mexico Building May 15, 2008 After serving primarily as an unoccupied storage facility for nearly 15 years, the historic Lister Building in Lovington, NM, began its road to renovation in 2007. The cornerstone of the project was a new roofing system specified to replace an aged, badly damaged, and leaking built-up roofing (BUR) system. Built in 1931 by I.W. Lister, […] Read More
Avoiding the Landfill: The Recycling of Vinyl Roof Membranes May 15, 2008 With its European counterparts blazing the trail, the North American vinyl (PVC) roofing industry has entered a new phase in its commitment to environmental sustainability through recycling. Because thermoplastic single-ply vinyl membrane can be heated and re-formed repeatedly over its lifespan, it has long been an industry best practice to recover production trimmings and scrap […] Read More
Fasteners Corrosion in ACQ and Other “Next Generation” Treated Lumber A New Analysis May 15, 2008 PROBLEM DEFINITION Building materials, including roofing products, accessory attachments, and gutters, are often connected to pressure-treated lumber by metallic fasteners such as nails or screws. Like most metal-based components, these connectors and fasteners are susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion is a time- and environmentdependent process. Unfortunately, corrosion is also an extremely complex process. It is common […] Read More
Integrating Photovoltaics Onto Building Envelope Surfaces May 15, 2008 INTRODUCTION Over much of the past 30 years, the standard for solar technology installed on buildings has been rack-mounted, silicon crystalline-based solar panels. Today, a new type of technology called thin-film photovoltaics is ready to change the way solar collectors are installed on buildings. This paper gives a broad overview of both the old and […] Read More
