SPRI, the association representing sheet membrane and component suppliers to the commercial roofing industry, announced that three of its roofing standards have been approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

WALTHAM, Mass. – SPRI, the association representing sheet membrane and component suppliers to the commercial roofing industry, announced that three of its roofing standards have been approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

The three key standards approved by ANSI include:

ANSI/SPRI RP-14 2010 Wind Design Standard for Vegetative Roofing Systems – produced in partnership with Green Roofs for Healthy Cities; ANSI/SPRI/FM 4435-ES-1 2010 Wind Design Standard for Edge Systems Used with Low Slope Roofing Systems ; and, ANSI/SPRI IA-1 2010 Standard Field Test Procedure for Determining the Mechanical Uplift Resistance of Insulation Adhesives over Various Substrates. All three standards will be posted on SPRI’s website (www.spri.org) and may be downloaded free of charge.

ANSI/SPRI RP-14 2010 Wind Design Standard for Vegetative Roofing Systems provides design guidelines associated with wind uplift and stone scour; defines items such as set backs from the edges of roofs in areas with high winds, use of wind erosion mats, as well as edging details. There is also a discussion of the various types of materials and their behavior under varying wind conditions. ANSI/SPRI/FM 4435-ES-1 2010 Wind Design Standard for Edge Systems Used with Low Slope Roofing Systems provides the basic requirements for wind-load resistance testing and design for roof-edge securement, flashing systems and nailers. It also provides minimum fascia thicknesses that lead to satisfactory flatness, and designs to minimize corrosion. It is intended for use with the specifications and requirements of the manufacturers of the specific roofing materials and the edge systems used in the roofing assembly, excluding gutters. The latest revision to ES-1 combines the performance requirements included in the current version of ES-1, and has been expanded to include requirements addressed in FM4435.

ANSI/SPRI IA-1 2010 Standard Field Test Procedure for Determining the Mechanical Uplift Resistance of Insulation Adhesives over Various Substrates was developed to provide a uniform field testing procedure for determining the suitability of using an insulation adhesive for insulation or cover board attachment to a substrate. This standard is intended primarily for situations when an existing roofing system is being replaced or recovered and the general condition of the substrate is in doubt.

This procedure, however, is also applicable to new construction. The uplift data obtained provides the roof system manufacturer, adhesive manufacturer and design professional with pull resistance values that will assist in verifying the suitability of the intended design. The standard was first approved as an American National Standard in 2005. It has been revised and has been re-approved by ANSI. For more information, visit www.spri.org.