Bituminous waterproofing

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Bituminous waterproofing
Bituminous waterproofing systems are designed to protect residential and commercial buildings. Bitumen (asphalt)
is a mixed substance made up of organic liquids that are highly sticky and viscous, and are waterproof.
Roofing felt
Felt paper on the wall exposed by tornado
damage in Oklahoma.
Roofing felt (felt paper, asphalt felt paper) is a sheet material
impregnated with bitumen (asphalt), similar to tar paper, used in
building construction. The term felt comes from historical method of
making the base material, felt is an unwoven fabric that is produced by
matting fibres under pressure.
[1]
The fibres form the structure of the
fabric.
Roofing felt (formerly tar paper) is the base material used to make
shingles and roll roofing. Typical uses of felt paper are as an
underlay(ment) (sarking) beneath other building materials, particularly
roofing and siding materials, and is one type of membrane used in
asphalt built up roofing (BUR) systems. The purposes are to "...separate the roof covering from the roof deck...shed
water...[and] provide secondary weather protection..."
[2]
Also, the rapid application of roofing underlay protects the
roof deck during construction until the roofing material is applied and is required for roofs required to meet
Underwriters Laboratory (UL) fire ratings.
[3]
The separation of the roof covering from the roof deck protects the roof
covering from resins in some sheathing materials and cushions unevenness and old nails and splinters in re-roofing
applications. The underlayment also sheds water which penetrates the roof covering from an ordinary leak, a leak
from wind driven rain or snow, wind damage to the roof covering, or ice dams. However, the application of
underlays may increase the roof temperature which is the leading cause of ageing of asphalt shingles and felt paper
wrinkles when it gets wet which (rarely) shows through asphalt shingles. Not installing an underlay may void the
roof covering warranty.
Felt paper is available in several types. The two common grades of felt paper are called type 1 (number 15) and type
2 (number 30) felt. The "15" and "30" designations originated with organic base felt which weighs 6.8 kilograms
(15lb) or 14 kilograms (30lb) per square (9.3 square-metre or 100 sq. ft.). Now they may still colloquially be called
fifteen or thirty pound felt but are technically called number fifteen or number thirty and the fibreglass and polyester
base felts are lighter weight. Another basic designation is organic or inorganic. Organic felt paper has a base
material made with formerly living materials such as rag fibre (hessian), or cellulose fibres (wood, or jute). Organic
felt papers are now considered obsolete only comprising five percent of the market in 1987.
[4]
Inorganic base
products are polyester, fibre glass developed in the 1950s and historically asbestos mat. Polyester mat is stronger
than fibreglass and is gaining market share. Polyester mat is primarily used with the more flexible modified-bitumen
felt products. Asbestos mat was the first inorganic base material but was outlawed in the 1980s for health reasons but
is still in use on some buildings. Inorganic felts are lighter, more tear resistant, more fire resistant, and do not absorb
water. Another type of felt paper is perforated for use in built up roofing and are not for use as a water-resistant
underlay.
These products are bought in roll format and are pulled through the bitumen mixes on huge rollers. The base product
becomes saturated in huge tanks by the tar-like bitumen substance, creating rolls of water resistant but breathable
material.
The choice of which quality of underlay relates to the durability of the roofing material, such as using a double-layer
of #30 felt or modified bitumen under slate or tile roofing or on low slope roofs where leakage may be more likely
where a steep slope application of twenty-five year asphalt shingles a single layer #15 felt is adequate.
[5]
Bituminous waterproofing
2
Modified bitumen is mixed with filler components such as limestone, sand or polymers such as atactic polypropylene
(APP) that gives rigidity and tear resistance, or styrene-butadiene styrene (SBS) a rubber additive that gives more
elastic benefits.
[6]
The American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) standards which apply to felt paper are:
ASTM D226 / D226M - 09 Standard Specification for Asphalt-Saturated Organic Felt Used in Roofing and
Waterproofing
Type I - #15 or 15lb. perforated or non-perforated
Type II - #30 or 30lb. perforated or non-perforated
ASTM D4869 / D4869M - Standard Specification for Asphalt-Saturated Organic Felt Underlay Used in Steep
Slope Roofing. ASTM 4869-03 now includes the non-perforated felt referred to in ASTM D226-97a which will
be phased out. ASTM 4869-03 includes a liquid-water transmission test (shower test) and dimensional stability
limits (wrinkling) which ASTM D226-97a does not include.
Type 1 - #8. Formerly ASTM D4869-93 Type I
Type 2 - #13. Formerly ASTM D226-97a Type I (No. 15)
Type 3 - #20. Formerly ASTM D4869-93 Type II
Type 4 - #26. Formerly ASTM D226-97a Type II (No. 30)
ASTM D2178/D2178M-13a Standard Specification for Asphalt Glass Felt Used in Roofing and Waterproofing.
Type IV has a 44 pound breaking strength
Type VI has a 66 pound breaking strength
ASTM D6757 - 07(2013) Standard Specification for Underlay Felt Containing Inorganic Fibres Used in
Steep-Slope Roofing.
D6222 Standard Specification for Atactic Polypropylene (APP) Modified Bituminous Sheet Materials Using
Polyester Reinforcements
Type 1
Type 2
Grade G, surface coated granules
Grade S, smooth surface (uncoated)
The Canadian Standards Association standards are:
CSA A123.3 Asphalt Saturated Organic Roofing Felt
Bituminous waterproofing
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Roll roofing components
Roll roofing is a bitumen product which is exposed to the weather. To protect the base from ultraviolet degradation
mineral granules are added on top of the felt, also decreasing the products fire vulnerability. Thin, transparent
film is added to the base of the felt during manufacturing on all torch-on products. This stops the felt from sticking
to itself when rolled up during the packaging process.
A flat roof under construction. Note the opening left for the eventual connection of drainage
piping.
Composition
The complex chemical composition of bitumen makes it difficult to identify the specific component(s) responsible
for adverse health effects observed in exposed workers. Known carcinogens have been found in bitumen fumes
generated at work sites. Observations of acute irritation in workers from airborne and dermal exposures to fumes and
aerosols and the potential for chronic health effects, including cancer, warrant continued diligence in the control of
exposures.
Reasons to use a roofing underlayment
It protects the roof deck from rain before the roofing is installed.
It provides an extra weather barrier in case of blowoffs or water penetration through the roofing or flashings.
It protects the roofing from any resins that bleed out of the sheathing.
It helps prevent unevenness in the roof sheathing from telegraphing through the shingles.
It is usually required for the UL fire rating to apply (since shingles are usually tested with underlayment)."
Bituminous waterproofing
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Negative aspects
Bitumen is mostly produced from crude oil and is not regarded as a sustainable building product
Bitumen is combustible
Exposure to extreme heat and UV radiation decreases the lifespan drastically
The fumes that are produced during hot application of asphalt or tar can cause dermal and respiratory problems
Malthoid
From 1905 to 1988 The Paraffine Paint Co. of San Francisco had Malthoid as a trademark for waterproof and
weatherproof building and roofing materials made of paper and felt in whole or in part. However, it had become well
known before that. About 1913 Paraffine promoted its Malthoid roofing materials with a 16 page booklet. In 1941
the Duroid Company began making Malthoid in Onehunga, New Zealand.
Malthoid was once common enough to be used as a generic description of flat roofing material in New Zealand and
South Africa (item 26). A description of a New Zealand house built about 1914 says it was, "built of timber
framework. covered by sheets of asbestos. The roof was closely timbered, then covered by strips of Malthoid paper.
This was then painted with tar and topped off with a sprinkling of sand."
[7]
Railway vehicles in Australia were
roofed with Malthoid. Malthoid is still available for flat roofs and damp courses.
References
[1] Whitney, William Dwight. "Felt" def. 1-2. The Century dictionary; an encyclopedic lexicon of the English language,. vol. 3. New York: The
Century Co., 188991. 132. Print.
[2] "Is Roofing Felt Underlayment Needed Under Roof Shingles, Tiles, Slate, Wood Shingles or Shakes?". Inspectapedia http:/ / inspectapedia.
com/ roof/ Roofing_Underlayment.htm accessed 3/11/2014 quoting "The Uses and Performance Requirements of Steep-Slope Roof
Underlays in North America and the United Kingdom", Robert J. Booth, Keith Roberts, Proceedings of the North American Conference on
Roofing Technology, p. 112-118
[3] http:/ / inspectapedia.com/ roof/ Roofing_Underlayment. htm#reviewers accessed 3/11/2014
[4] William Cullen, "Transitions in Roofing Technology" National Roofing Contractors' Association http:/ / docserver. nrca. net/ pdfs/ technical/
468. pdf accessed 3/11/2014
[5] Joan P. Crowe, "Underlayment considerations: Steep-slope roof systems require different underlay installations". Professional Roofing
Magazine May 2005 http:/ / www. texasinspector. com/ files/ Underlayment-NRCA. pdf accessed 3/11/2014
[6] Anink, David, and John Mak. Handbook of sustainable building: an environmental preference method for selection of materials for use in
construction and refurbishment. Rev. ed. London: James & James, 2004. 62. Print.
[7] [7] Off the Sheep's Back: Bill Richards Lindon Pub., 1986 ISBN 0864700148, 9780864700148
External links
Bituminous Membranes Article (http:/ / irc. nrc-cnrc. gc. ca/ pubs/ cbd/ cbd074_e. html)
Article Sources and Contributors
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Article Sources and Contributors
Bituminous waterproofing Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=613463820 Contributors: Angeldanosa, Auragen, Carriearchdale, Gillyweed, Gobonobo, Hartz, JaGa, Jim
Derby, Johnragla, KVDP, Laterno, Malcolma, Mathewholland1, Niaga artha, Ost316, Phil Bridger, RJFJR, Reboelje, Rich Farmbrough, Yowanvista, 21 anonymous edits
Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors
File:FEMA - 44312 - Tornado Damage in Oklahoma.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:FEMA_-_44312_-_Tornado_Damage_in_Oklahoma.jpg License: Public
Domain Contributors: Jim Derby
Image:Flat_roof_roofing.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flat_roof_roofing.JPG License: Public Domain Contributors: KVDP
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