by United Roofing MN | Jul 25, 2011
High Wind- and Impact-Resistant Asphalt Roofing Shingles Between 1991 and 1995, wind and hail resulted in an average of $8 billion in insurance payouts each year, and wind and hail damage to roofs comprises a significant portion of this cost. Hail damage to asphalt shingles may include severe granule loss, material loss at shingle edges, and penetration. Wind can also create serious roof damage-it is documented that roof material failure was the most widespread type of damage from Hurricane Hugo (Manning, Billy R. and Gary G. Nichols. 1991. “Hugo Lessons Learned.” In Hurricane Hugo One Year Later, Benjamin A. Sill and Peter R. Sparks, Editors. New York: American Society of Civil Engineers). Designed to Resist Damage From Impact and High Winds New shingle products are designed to resist damage from impact and high winds. They meet the most stringent standards for impact resistance (Class 4) set by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and wind resistance set by UL and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International). Several manufacturers offer asphalt shingles designed to resist the effects of severe weather such as wind and impact from flying debris or hail. Different proprietary methods are used to keep granules attached to the shingle, to prevent shingle breaking during impact, and to keep shingles attached to the sheathing during high winds. UL 2218 classifies the resistance of roofing products to impact damage. In the test, steel balls are directed at roof samples, and damage is observed. Products that receive a Class 4 rating from UL 2218 are the most resistive to hail damage. Some major insurance companies are offering homeowner premium discounts...
by United Roofing MN | Jul 5, 2011
Minnesota Roofing Minneapolis MN Between 1991 and 1995, wind and hail resulted in an average of $8 billion in insurance payouts each year, and wind and hail damage to roofs comprises a significant portion of this cost. Hail damage to asphalt shingles may include severe granule loss, material loss at shingle edges, and penetration. Wind can also create serious roof damage-it is documented that roof material failure was the most widespread type of damage from Hurricane Hugo (Manning, Billy R. and Gary G. Nichols. 1991. “Hugo Lessons Learned.” In Hurricane Hugo One Year Later, Benjamin A. Sill and Peter R. Sparks, Editors. New York: American Society of Civil Engineers). High Wind- and Impact-Resistant Asphalt Roofing Shingles New shingle products are designed to resist damage from impact and high winds. They meet the most stringent standards for impact resistance (Class 4) set by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and wind resistance set by UL and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International). Several manufacturers offer asphalt shingles designed to resist the effects of severe weather such as wind and impact from flying debris or hail. Different proprietary methods are used to keep granules attached to the shingle, to prevent shingle breaking during impact, and to keep shingles attached to the sheathing during high winds. UL 2218 classifies the resistance of roofing products to impact damage. In the test, steel balls are directed at roof samples, and damage is observed. Products that receive a Class 4 rating from UL 2218 are the most resistive to hail damage. Some major insurance companies are offering homeowner premium discounts for the use of roofing...
by United Roofing MN | Jun 29, 2011
First to pass ASTM D3161 Class F (110 mph) and ASTM D7158 Class H (150 mph) wind ratings on every manufactured shingle (per UL public listing) GAF Materials Corporation, North America’s largest roofing manufacturer, today confirms that every shingle it manufactures now passes the two toughest wind tests in the roofing industry: ASTM D3161 Class F 110 mph and ASTM D7158 Class H 150 mph. Roofing contractors in the U.S. can now install any GAF shingle in any area without concern about whether they comply with national or local wind speed requirements. To its knowledge, GAF may be the only shingle manufacturer that can make this claim. GAF Shingles Now Pass Two Toughest ASTM Wind Test In order to pass these arduous ASTM tests, the shingles were first subjected to 110 mph winds using ASTM’s testing protocol. Not only did the GAF shingles pass, but they exceeded the test requirements by enduring the test conditions for a full two hours, showing no damage. They were then tested using the 150 mph wind test protocol, and passed again, thanks to GAF’s DuraGrip® adhesive’s tight seal. In case some contractors think that wind may not be a major concern outside of obvious coastal areas, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers (who develop wind guidelines for construction in the U.S.), the lowest wind speed that home designers should plan for is 85 miles per hour. In fact, for about 110 million people in the United States from Maine to Texas, codes require 110 mph or greater ASTM classifications. Further, high winds are not just a concern for coastal regions, as...