Avoiding Added Wear and Tęar to Roofing
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Hoffmann Architects Second Issue 1992 Volume l0 Number2 Avoiding Added Wear and Têar to Roofing ln these situations, roof damage occurs Richard P. Kadlubowski when: A hnorgh,today's roofing systems r Roofìng equipment is improperly are highly durable and well-designed installed directly on the roofìng for their pri mary weatherproofìng membrane, without adequate function, they are not usually ìntended securement to the supportive or manufactured to support weìght- su bstructure. bearing loads of either equìpment or foot trafiìc, r Routine maintenance and emer- gency repairs require foot tr affìc All too often, however, the roofìng across inadequately protected system is asked to do justthat, These roof surlaces. secondary uses can play a leading role in shortening a roof 's lifespan and I Accessed and terraced roofs have creating unnecessary maintenance and insuffrcient drainage systems and repair problems, But there are ways to wall<way proteclion, avoid the pitlalls and still reap the added benefìts a roofcan offer beyond Here's a closer lool< at each of these simple protection from the elements, potential problem areas and some recommended solutions for avoiding ln many cases, the roof is the most roof damage, convenient locatìon for HVAC equip- ment, water towers, window washing Rooftop Equipment rigs, and other accessories, such as Whether new construction or retrofìt, satellite dishes and communication proper planning of equipment installa- equipment. Rooß are also used for tion is the fìrst step in minimizing the maintenance access or as terraced potential for long-term roof damage, settings fortenant and public use, Before installing or replacing any equipment, the following questìons should be asl<ed: As Prqect Monoger for Hoffmonn Architects, Mr. Kodlubowski investþctes What are the current and antici Rooftop uses can go well beyond simply ond desþns the correction ofdeteriorotion pated future equipment needs of providing a weter-tight building cover, as ond woter inftltrotion problems within the burlding's tenants? lf the shown here in this open-air jogging tracl< roofs, focodes, plozos, ond structurol building is a muiti-tenant space, at Yale University's Paine Whitney systems of extsttng foolrties He is o/so equipment needs may vary widely Gymnasium. responsib/e for quolity control of the over time, For example, satellite f t r m's d rofti n g d ep o rtm e nt. dishes and other communication Copyright Hoflmann Architects | 992 Hoffmann Architects / Journal ln Pursuit of Positive Drainage A moilure that is allowed to collect on ", top of the roofìng membrane is a leak waiting ment? Will equipment needs to happen Even the smallest opening in the '*,r*lç change as tenancy changes? How roofìng system can lead majol water to will replacement af[ecl the erisLing damage if a source of moistur e is readily at ' a-lt-" roofing system? When ìt's time to hand. replace the equipment will the The solution: Remove the water. existing suppoft be suffìcient? The strategy: Ensure positive slope to the roof drainage system 3. ls the roof adequately protected The variety of roofìng systems available today with wall<ways to equipment for also means a variety of methods for achieving regular and emergency mainLenance positive slope. The lollowing examines some and repair? ofthese situations. Proper flashing is critical, particularly Exposed Membrone Roofs where cooling towers introduce additional The Damage Potential These rooing systems offerthe easiesl path moisture to the rooftop; note vegetative Rooftop equipment can affect roof to successful drainage. A proper roof slope is growth at the tower base. created by using tapered fìll, tapered rntegrity in several ways, The equip- insulation, or sloped deck and sur{ace drains ment exerts pressure on the mem- to remove the water at the roofs low points. equipment are becoming increas- brane and can compress the insulation. Once prcper pitch is achieved, water will not ingly popular for tenant use. Rather Typical insulation matedds have collect on the unobstructed inclined plane. than installing a new dish for every compressive strengths of 25 psi or less, Eollosted Membrone Roofs tenant who comes and goes, which will not withstand much loading Water removal becomes a more diffrcuh, but consìder if communal use of a single without appreciable damage, This not impossible, task for ballasted and dish is feasible. compression creates a shear plane that protected membrzne syfems. Roof slope is, worl<s as a l<nife edge trying to cut again, the major contributor to positive 2, Where will the equipment be drainage, While ballast won't prevent water through the membrane, creating a new placed? ls this placement optimal runofl ìt can slow it down. The best choice is source for water entry, a loose lone and masonry ballast with over the long term for both drainage channels that allow water to flow maintenance and future replace- As an additional concern, compression down the slope and either under or around the ballasl to the drains In lieu of drainage channels for masonry ballast systems, a pedestal sylem can be used. The pedestals elevate the masonry units and allow water to flow beneath the ballast. Drains then remove the water at the membr¿ne level. Various promenade or bilevel drzins can be used in this type of roof installation. (continued) I 2 3 2 Standing water - a sure sign of insuffìcient A basic, step-by-step guide to proper flashing techniques. Vulnerable corners must be slope for proper drainage. wrapped to ensure water-tight barriers. 2 Volume l0 Number 2 d ln Pursuit of Positive Drainage (cont¡ These collect the bulk of the water at the membrane level and surface runoff at the ballast level, while providing a clean profìle at the same height of the masonry ballast. Terroced Roofs :-.- r'€. Terr¿ced roofs present the greatest challenges to water drainage. Here, many of the walking surfaces are mortar-setting beds fìnished with quarry tile, with the bed typically laid directly over the membrane When probed, these setting beds have often been found to be saturated. Neitherthe tile nor the mortar are waterproof thus allowing water to collect within the matnx of the bed, ln order for the sylem to drain and dry out, the moilure must leach through the depth ofthe settrng bed to reach the roof-level drains a long, slow process. One way to speed -up the process and minimize water satur¿tion problems is the installation of specially designed drainage materials between the roof membmne and the beds. These drainage matenals combine a fìttering fabric Poured concrete support pads are improperly placed directly on stone ballast. adhered to a porous fìller. The fabric allows water to drain fom the setting bed to the rooftop, while the fìller maintains adequate of the lnsulation will also lessen its Wìndow washing rigs olfer their own space for water to flow through to the insulating value, leading to increased set of problems, These include drainage system. heating and cooling costs, excess¡ve loading, added maintenance Bilevel drains handle water flow fìom both traffìc, and the potential for hydraulic the tile level and membrane level, reducing lYechanical vibrations caused by fluid leal<s onto the roof membrane. water satumtìon. Make surc there is suflìcient rooftop equipment can act as a further (Please see the related story on page capacity drainage at the membr¿ne level and destructive force to the membrane. 5 lor an overview of rig types and inl¡tute a regular cleaning program to avoid When the equipment is placed on top installation methods ) clogged drains. Otherr¡¡ise, the pr.oblems of of stone ballast, for example, each standing water, including those related to freeze-thaw cycles, wrll remaìn. stone becomes a point load worl<ing The location of rooftop accessories is away at the membrane. Couple this just as critical as proper equipment (Editor's note: for oddittonol informotion on with typical equipment vibration, and selection and installation procedures. design ond mointenonce rssues for tenoced roofs pleose refertoJournol, Fint/ssue i 99l, the stones act as miniature jacl<ham- By planning and anticipating now for Volume 9, Number /) I mers forcing their way through the the future, unnecessary intrusions into membrane. the roofìng membrane can be avoided and the risl< of a patchworl< roof Coolìng and water towers introduce a minimized. resident source of moisture and water treatment chemicals, both of which can Proper lnstallation Methods furlher hasten membrane deterioration. Another vital step in preserving roof Exhaust fans and other ventilation integrity is, of course, installing and equipment can also introduce poten- securing equipment to provide suÊ tially damaging contaminants. ln fìcient support withou L compromising addition, improperly leveled equipment the roof s weather-protective qualities. that fails to account for the required drainage slope can cause condensation ldeally, all equipment supports should Detail of bilevel drain shows how water is to drain into the ducts, ratherthan be directly supporled by the building removed from the roof/terrace and how system components are integrated. onto the rooftop, structure - not by the roof mem- 3 Hoffmann Architects / Journal Flashing and terminations are the next Accessed and Terraced Roofs line of defense in creating watertight lf the roof is usable space, it can transitions between the roof and technically be considered part of a equipment and other accessories. waterproofìng system, rather than While proper fìashing techniques are simply a component of the building worthy of a separate article, two basic envelope, as a non-accessed roof principles are worth noting here: would be. This is a key consideration when it comes to manufacturers' Layering uses various flashing materials warranties, lYost manufacturers will that are bonded together to prevent not warranty their roofìng product if water entry, This technique creates it is used as a waterproofìng system.