For more than a century, the commercial roofing industry has
used a variety of fastening techniques and methods to secure roof
coverings and insulation to decks. Materials historically were
affixed to building substrates with hot coal-tar or asphalt-based
materials or held in place with pavers or stone ballast.
Driven by FM Global, mechanical fastening began to evolve during
the early 1980s as an approved method for attaching insulation and
single-ply or low-slope roof coverings because of asphalt-based
products' contribution to fire. Although not always the best option
for all deck types, mechanical fastening remains the dominant
method for securing insulation and roof membranes to steel and wood
decks. However, adhesive fastening offers roofing contractors,
designers and building owners an alternative when it comes to
installing insulation on various deck and building types.
Often, mechanical fasteners are not the best option for
attaching insulation to concrete, gypsum or cementitious wood fiber
roof decks. Most concrete—lightweight and
structural—and gypsum decks must be pre-drilled to accept
most roofing fasteners. Pre-drilling is time-consuming and
labor-intensive, requiring roofing workers to spend a larger
percentage of their time...
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