Complete Story
09/28/2023
MRCA T&R Teams Up with WJE for Hail Impact and OSB Sheathing Research
The Midwest Roofing Contractors Association (MRCA) and Wiss Janney Elstner and Associates (WJE) are teaming up again on two new roofing research projects to be presented at the MRCA Conference and EXPO scheduled for October 18-20 in Omaha, NE.
Over the past few years, weather trends in the US have moved toward more frequent severe storm situations in the form of high winds/tornados and hailstorms.
The first project is hail impact testing of granular surface modified bitumen membranes. There have been a significant number of studies conducted on hail impact testing, but MRCA and WJE are approaching the issue in a different form. The problem statement for this study is to determine how does hail impact affects granular surfaced, modified bitumen membranes of various ages. The objective of this test program is to determine the extent of damage caused by hail impact to granular surfaced, modified bitumen membrane (one manufacturer/brand) of various ages through physical testing and laboratory review and analysis.
The second project, which will be performed during winter 2023-2024, involves the issue of how multiple replacements of asphalt shingle roofing on the same structure affect the strength and performance of 1/2 inch and 5/8-inch OSB sheathing on sloped wood roof framing members spaced at 24 oc. Due to numerous occurrences of high winds/tornados in some regions of the country, roofs have been replaced up to five times within the expected life span of a single roof application. The objective of this test program is to identify and compare the structural changes in sheathing substrate conditions and extent of strength loss in 1/2-inch and 5/8-inch OSB sheathing resulting from multiple roof replacements (i.e., five shingle applications with new underlayment and asphalt shingles), as measured by fastener withdrawal and concentrated load strength testing compared to an initial baseline and their standard performance requirements.
Come to the MRCA Convention and EXPO and hear the latest on these two projects and what it means to Roofing Contractors when evaluating roof damage in both of these instances.
