Most people have been given the impression that all single-ply membranes are alike and nothing can be further from the truth. Just because they are called single-ply membranes does not mean that they will perform the same. For example, not all automobiles perform the same but they all fall under the category of automobiles..
Single-Ply roofing membranes have been installed on roofing projects for over 25 years. Some have performed well while others are doing poorly or are non-existent today, while others have recently come into the marketplace.
In designing performance characteristics in a single-ply membrane or single-ply system you have to keep in mind what elements the material is going to be subjected to. Roofing membranes need to perform 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without resting periods. Roofing membranes are exposed to UV Rays, rain, snow, hail, standing water, micro organisms, chemical pollutants, vast temperature changes, wind and dynamic flexing, etc.
The expectations of single-ply membranes should be that the membrane:
- is a waterproofing sheet
- must remain waterproof throughout its warranty life
- must be non-flammable
- must comply with building codes
- must be easy to work with and repair
- be pliable at different temperatures (especially extreme cold)
In the past, a wide range of Thermoplastics and Thermosets have been used for roofing materials e.g. CPE, EPDM, Hypalon, TPO, PVC & CPA are just a few.
The single-ply roofing market today is dominated by TPO, PVC & CPA (co-polymer alloy). At this time PVC and CPA's are more dominant with a trend going towards engineered CPA's because of their customizable nature. Being able to engineer different membrane alloys to reach desired performance requirements for various applications is extremely important and helpful for the consumer.
TPO's, however, are relatively new and do not have adequate performance history to make a concise judgment. There has been some confusion in the market place regarding TPO's. TPO's, as a roofing product, have only been around in the United States since 1993 and "As yet, little is known about their durability." Ralph M. Paroli, Technical advisor report Feb/Mar 2000. Recently GAF recalled its' TPO2 product. According to a newsletter article from the NRCA dated 6/8/01 "GAF Materials Corp. (GAFMC) has announced that it will discontinue production of its new EverGuard® TPO² Plus product… According to GAFMC, TPO² required greater care during installation, which meant it did not meet the company's requirement for being "contractor-friendly." The TPO² product, according to GAFMC, proved to be more sensitive to temperatures, weld speeds and cleaning procedures and, therefore, "created hassles for experienced contractors." These and other reasons are due cause to still be a little skeptical of TPO roofing materials.
On the other hand PVC & CPA's roofing membranes have been around for over 25 years with an incredible documented track record.
Below is a table comparison of the leading typical properties of TPO, PVC & CPA
| Property |
PVC |
CPA |
TPO |
| Seaming |
Hot air or Solvent weld |
Hot air or Solvent weld |
Hot air |
| Flexibility |
Excellent, Pliable |
Excellent, Pliable |
Fair, Boardy |
| Repair |
Hot air or Solvent |
Hot air or Solvent |
Hot air if prepared correctly |
| Colorability |
Standard or Custom Colors Possible |
Standard or Custom Colors Possible |
Few Colors Only |
| Hydrocarbon/Oil Resistance |
Fair |
Excellent |
Poor |
| Chemical Resistance |
Good |
Excellent |
Good |
| Weatherability |
Good |
Excellent |
Excellent |
| Low Temperature Flex |
Good |
Good |
Excellent |
| Scuff Resistance |
Excellent |
Good |
Poor |
| Base Resin |
PVC |
PVC +NBR, KEE etc. |
PP or PO-PP |
| Plasticizer |
Phthalates Phosphates |
NBR, KEE Phthalates |
EPR or EPDM |
| Flame Retardant |
Small amount needed Inorganic |
Small amount needed Inorganic |
High amount needed Combination |
| Stabilizer |
Only Process:Very Stable |
Only Process:Very Stable |
UV unstable: needs two stabilizers |
| Manufacture |
Reactor |
Reactor |
Reactor/Extruder |
| Operation |
Controlled |
Controlled |
Open |
| Recycling |
Yes |
Yes |
Possible |
Comparison of Thermoplastic Single-Ply Membranes
IB Roof Systems has had roofs installed for over 30 years without one material failure. Not many manufacturers can say that about their products. The secret to IB Roof Systems success is their CPA formulation. With this type of formulation IB Roof Systems has been able to engineer the perfect blend of polymers and elastomers to give you a roofing product that has already proven to withstand some of the harshest environments from Alaska to Hawaii. This means that IB Roof Systems CPA membrane will keep your building dryer longer, save you money in damage and repairs and give you the longest lasting roofing system available today.
All IB Roof Systems roofing and decking membranes are engineered to exceed ASTM Standards in which all formulations are tested for aging, chemical degradation, fire-resistance and microbiological resistance, etc., using "state - of - the - art" analytical instruments.
Most of IB Roof Systems competitors will not offer any kind of residential warranty and only 20 years maximum on a commercial building. IB Roof Systems offers up to a 25-year warranty on commercial buildings and a lifetime warranty on all residential projects.
All accessories, flashings, vents, the roofing membrane, even the screws and plates that attach the roof, are covered under the longest comprehensive warranties offered in the roofing industry.
To find out what other members of the construction trade (building owners, architects, maintenance supervisors and roofing contractors) have said about IB Roof Systems incredible CPA roofing membrane,
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