Nonconventional Roof Systems for In-House Installation at Air Force Bases
Abstract
Until 20 years ago, almost all nonresidential roofing in the United States was either built-up or corrugated metal. New roofing materials and processes developed during World War II did not significantly affect the market. However, the Arab oil embargo in the 1970's drove up the price of bituminous roofing products, providing a new incentive to find alternate roofing materials. These new materials are now being used to replace damaged or failed low slope roofs. Most Air Force buildings have low slope, or built up roof (BUR) systems. Although repairs are generally completed by in-house crews, roof replacement is usually completed by contractors because most Air Force bases no longer have the asphalt kettle equipment needed to install or resurface BURs. However, for some conditions other than economical, managers at Air Force bases should consider in-house installation of nonconventional systems as a practical alternative for low slope roof replacement. This report discusses the role of industry participants, sources of roofing information, and the factors to evaluate when considering reroofing, and lists procedural steps for the roof engineer and roof technician. Based on the demonstration installations, in-house reroofing using nonconventional systems is a feasible option for Air Force bases. The installations were successful in that problems were easily resolved and the completed roofs did not leak. However, planning and support services were not adequate. It is recommended that extra planning effort be dedicated to each project and that training include system performance, detailed reference material, and hands-on experience.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA212676
Entities
People
- David M. Bailey
- William B. Rose
Organizations
- Construction Engineering Research Laboratory