Roofs are the largest building envelope component. Due to this fact, they have the potential to provide significant energy-efficient savings. Roof systems have an impact on energy efficiency through thermal capacity, reflectivity and emissivity. The largest energy efficiency savings can be realized through the use of thermal insulation. The design requirements of thermal insulation on low-slope roof systems have changed within the last decade due to new regulations and code changes. The primary changes are related to securement to the deck, to prevent wind uplift and thermal value requirements—all for energy efficiency. Although these are separate regulations, together they have an impact on the energy efficiency of the roof system.
Perhaps the biggest change in low-slope roof construction in the past decade has been the attachment methods and materials used for the attachment of the system components; insulation to deck, insulation to insulation, and insulation to membrane. Since the late 1990s, there has been a steady increase in the use of adhesives as primary attachment materials for insulation and membrane. These changes were predicated by the rapidly decreasing use of hot bitumen’s (asphalt and coal-tar) and advancements in adhesive technology.