TPO on Top: Why the roofing material continues to shine

by Mike Mendoza
As building codes and environmental trends continue to evolve, so too does the diversity of roofing material options. These factors, along with others, make construction specifiers’ roofing installation and selection prowess of utmost importance.

Among the available choices is thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO). Despite the fact this technology is fairly new in the scheme of roof materials, it makes up one of the fastest-growing sectors of the commercial roofing industry. That growth brings with it constant improvements to the chemical composition of the membrane to achieve greater durability and longevity.

Nevertheless, representatives for the Single Ply Roofing Industry (SPRI) still point to early 1990s TPO installations that continue to perform thanks to proper installation and maintenance. SPRI data indicates about 371.6 million m² (4 billion sf) of TPO was installed in North America between 2005 and 2010, with nearly the entirety still performing without issue.¹

“We at SPRI are confident TPO roofing systems will continue to provide quality and value for many years to come,” said the association’s technical director, Mike Ennis.

Indeed, a 2013 study that used ASTM D6878, Standard Specification for Thermoplastic Polyolefin-based Sheet Roofing (revised to address concerns of prolonged exposure in extreme heat climates) shows the material’s durability.²

“The heat aging exposure at (116 C [240 F]) was extended from 670 hours to 5400 hours (32 weeks),” the study states. “To meet these new requirements, it is critical for TPO roofing formulations to contain high-quality resins combined with tailored stabilization, flame retardants, and membrane design.”

Results showed TPO roofing membranes produced using the right polymer formation and stabilization can perform in some of the most extreme climate conditions: “Depending on the climate zone, 1.5-mm (60-mil) membranes may last up to 25 years or more.”

Beyond durability, TPO single-ply roofing membranes offer several other performance and installation advantages. These assemblies can provide resistance to ultraviolet (UV) rays, ozone, and chemical exposure. Further, the reflective surface meets the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Energy Star requirements, and is both recyclable and composed of recycled content.

Knowing the options
Settling on the ideal TPO roofing system relies on identifying and analyzing the characteristics surrounding climate and condition of a commercial building’s existing roof surface. Factors include:
? potential for tears and abrasions;
? area wind speeds;
? UV exposure; and
? various surfaces (e.g. vertical parapet walls) and slopes.

When it comes to color choice, white is among the most popular option for reasons discussed later in this article. However, it is not the sole TPO variety to consider, particularly if another hue better suits a rooftop. In addition to white, TPO membranes often come in gray and tan.

Since TPO membranes are installed fully-adhered, ballasted, or mechanically fastened, they work with a range of building envelope designs, offering architects flexibility. Architects most commonly select TPO roofing for flat or low-slope installations because of its cost-effectiveness, easy installation, and heat-welded seams that prevent moisture penetration.

Keeping cool
A specific driving factor for choosing TPO is within the realm of cool roofing. The Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) was created in 1998 to “develop accurate and credible methods for evaluating and labeling the solar reflectance and thermal emittance of roofing products,” according to the nonprofit organization’s history and bylaws. In the 15 years or so since, a lot of roofing products now come in what can be considered ‘cool’ varieties.³ Field-applied coatings, single-plies, tiles, and others fit this bill, which the council defines as a surface that reflects and emits the sun’s heat back into the sky rather than transferring it to a building.

A roof’s solar reflectivity and thermal emittance (the ability to release absorbed heat), are both measurable factors, according to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The Green Building Alliance, a chapter serving the Greater Pittsburgh, Laurel Highlands, and Northwest Pennsylvania branches, says as many as 90 percent of roofs in the United States are, “poorly designed and built with dark, non-reflective heat-absorbing materials,” causing rooftop temperatures to hover as many as 50 C (90 F) above that of the air.

The more reflective a TPO surface, the more likely it will comply with increasingly stringent building codes. Therefore, white TPO membranes—the most reflective—can be a suitable choice for those striving for maximum energy savings and environmental benefits.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) touches on this concept in its 2010 study entitled, “Guidelines for Selecting Cool Roofs,” stating a conventional dark-colored surface reflects about 20 percent of incoming sunlight while a “cool” light-colored one (white being the lightest) reflects as much as 80 percent.⁴

EPA goes one step further in its “Reducing Urban Heat Islands: Compendium of Strategies” focusing on cool roofs. The report uses a diagram from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) to compare the solar reflectance of black, metal, and white roofs.⁵

On a hot, sunny summer day, a black roof that reflects five percent of the sun’s energy and emits more than 90 percent of the heat it absorbs can reach 82 C (180 F). A metal roof will reflect most of the sun’s energy while releasing about a fourth of the heat it absorbs; it can warm to 70 C (160 F). A cool roof will reflect and emit the majority of the sun’s energy and reach a peak temperature of 48 C (120 F).

CRRC lists white, tan, and gray TPO roofs among its ‘environmentally friendly’ options, and white and tan are compliant with California’s Title 24 Energy Efficiency Building Standards. Cool roof requirements have been adopted in several U.S. building energy codes, and an increasing percentage of electric utilities have begun offering rebates for cool roofing materials, including TPO, that help conserve energy and reduce buildings’ environmental impacts.

According to USGBC, TPO and other cool roof options yield the following benefits:
? utility rebate opportunities;
? lower indoor temperatures;
? reduced maintenance costs (partially due to the material’s longer lifespans);
? improved air quality resulting from a reduction of emissions such as mono-nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxides in the atmosphere;
? mitigated heat island indexes (i.e. less heat creation in dense, urban areas); and
? reduced energy bills because less air-conditioning is needed during the summer.

Conclusion
Not unlike other roofing product manufacturers, those offering TPO will recommend consulting a design professional to ensure proper roofing system selection, conformance to building codes, and insurance requirements. Such customizations further emphasize evaluating a roof’s current condition is paramount when determining how best to repair or replace it. Further with ever-changing code and material options available, it is important for construction professionals to remain educated about the changing commercial building products landscape.

Of course, amidst the increasingly popular cool roofing and TPO possibilities, it is crucial to be cognizant of the fact roofing materials are not the sole remedy to increase overall building performance. It takes a holistic approach to have a building perform at peak efficiency.

This fact emphasizes the importance of building products manufacturers working closely with architects and construction specifiers—as well as consultants, contractors, facility operators, and building owners—who share similar goals of increasing overall building performance.

Together, these professionals should consider the entire building envelope to continue revolutionizing the commercial building industry, yielding an impact that reaches far beyond their individual buildings, cities, and immediate populations.

Notes
¹ Visit www.spri.org/pdf/spri_responds_to_pro_roofing_article_on_tpo.pdf. (back to article)
² Visit msdssearch.dow.com/PublishedLiteratureDOWCOM/dh_08e0/0901b803808e057f.pdf. (back to article)
³ See the council’s “Reducing Urban Heat Islands: Compendium of Strategies” by visiting www.epa.gov/hiri/resources/pdf/CoolRoofsCompendium.pdf. (back to article)
⁴ The DOE study can be found at www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/pdfs/coolroofguide.pdf. (back to article)
⁵ See S.L. Konopacki et al’s 1998 report, “Demonstration of Energy Savings of Cool Roofs,” also known as LBNL-40673. (back to article)

Mike Mendoza is the thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) product manager for Firestone Building Products. He is responsible for researching market trends and directing the planning and development of thermoplastic products. Mendoza previously spent 13 years at Owens Corning where he served in various roles including as a southwest region sales manager for roofing, strategic product planning manager for asphalt, and director of global sourcing for insulation. He can be reached at mendozamichael@fsdp.com.