Hail vs Your Roof:
Understanding Potential Causes of Hail Related Roof Failures Will Help You Weather These Storms

Hail causes over $1 billion in property and crop damage in the U.S. each year and makes many roofing manufacturers run for cover. Understanding the nature of hail along with the potential causes of hail-impact related roof failures will help you navigate your way to making the best choice about roofing products that can weather these storms.

Many factors can affect a roof's performance during a hailstorm. But whether or not a particular hail event will damage a roof system depends on: 1) the impact (kinetic) energy of the stones; and, 2) the impact resistance of the roof membrane/system.

The impact energy increases exponentially as the size, weight and terminal velocity of the hailstones increase. For example, a one-inch diameter hailstone has a terminal velocity of 73 feet per second (50 mph) and an impact energy of less than one foot per pound. By comparison, a three-inch diameter hailstone has a terminal velocity of 130 feet per second (88 mph) and imparts an impact energy of 120 feet per pound.

In the single-ply, thermoplastic segment of the commercial roofing market, test results have demonstrated that the following are significant factors that affect a membrane or roof system's resistance to hail impact:

• All membranes are unique. Distinct differences exist among manufacturers in the design of the reinforcements, polymer selection, compounding technology and plasticizer stability.
• The geographic location of the building will impact the aging of its roof. Heat and UV rays accelerate aging.
• Dense or harder substrates directly beneath the membranes improve the general impact resistance of the "system" by deflecting the energy as opposed to softer insulation substrates that absorb and deform under impact.

Be prepared. No region in the U.S. is free from the occasional hailstorm. While catastrophic hail always involves a gamble, more often hailstorms are moderate and predictable weather events.

FiberTite vs Hail:
Third-Party Test Results Prove That FiberTite Will Help You Prepare For The Worst

FiberTite®’s unique and highly reinforced KEE membrane can assist you in preparing for the worst.  To prove it, in 2002 we submitted our nominal 36-mil FiberTite for simulated hail impact testing according to the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) Series No. 23 Ice Ball Method. Simply put, spheres of frozen water (cast pure ice), beginning at one-inch in diameter and increasing progressively by quarter inch increments, are used as projectiles and propelled at the FiberTite membrane from a hail gun at velocities listed by NBS Series No. 23. At the same time, water at 40° Farenheit is cascaded over the membrane to condition it as would a real storm.

The result? See for yourself. View the test video now that highlights the effects of catastrophic hail, starting at three-inches in diameter, on FiberTite.

Even after being bombarded by 3-1/2 inch simulated hailstones, the FiberTite membrane remains unharmed.

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