Are Vinyl Roofs a Sustainable Choice?

The Debate
At a time when "Climate Change Chocolate" is sold at supermarket checkout stands and energy-efficient light bulbs are easier to find than the old-fashioned kind, consumers are constantly reminded how thoughtless choices can endanger the natural world. The environmental movement has both inspired and forced architects, specifiers, contractors and building owners to think almost exclusively "green". Building products are scrutinized. Sustainability is the name of the game and all things deemed unnatural draw controversy.

That is why classifying vinyl roofs as "sustainable" produces hot debate. Opponents will argue that the risks posed to communities and the environment by manufacturing vinyl begin with extracting and processing the raw materials and end with disposing the product after its use. Proponents can furbish scientific studies that disprove all points of these arguments. The debate gets particularly interesting when we consider how the roof's performance and longevity factor into the equation.

A Story of Durability and Long Life
In 1981, decision makers at Sperry & Rice, a rubber extrusion manufacturing plant, selected FiberTite to cover the roof of their 200,000 square foot facility in Killbuck, Ohio. The decision was a bit of a gamble. FiberTite, a thermoplastic, reflective, vinyl single ply membrane system, had just been introduced to the market in 1979. However, 28 years later, despite long exposure to Ohio's varying climate conditions where extreme temperatures, snow and ice, heavy rains and even tornados are common, the same roof is still sound.

"We've had this roof on our plant since 1981 and it has held up really well," commented Tim Morris, a 26-year veteran employee who has spent his career working in maintenance and production at Sperry & Rice. "The only thing we do to maintain it is make sure the gutters are clean. It is pretty much a 'hands off' product. It's still in good condition now."

A Carbon Footprint Offers Science to Answer the Question
What is the true definition of "sustainable"? What products merit this modern badge of honor? Debates will storm on. It's difficult to deny, however, that choosing a durable, low-maintenance and long-lasting roof, which is also reflective and promotes energy efficiency throughout its useful life, translates directly into low-impact living in the building industry.

A carbon footprint offers a more scientific measure of the impact that any product choice or business activity has on the environment. The carbon footprint of a product is a value placed on the greenhouse gas emissions (or carbon dioxide) produced from all activities directly or indirectly related to the existence and entire life cycle of that product. Calculating the carbon footprint of a roof requires assessing and measuring greenhouse gases emitted by all of the following activities related to the buying cycle: extracting and processing natural resources; transporting them; manufacturing the end product; distributing and installing it; using and maintaining it; and handling the product at the end of its life.

Less durable roofs are replaced more often, triggering the repetition of each of these activities. Some manufacturers who are currently marketing their roofs as "green" or "sustainable" would be hard pressed to produce evidence of a product track record that comes close to ten years. A longer lasting roof dilutes the cumulative energy required for each of the buying cycle activities throughout the roof's life. As in the story of Sperry & Rice Manufacturing, FiberTite's carbon footprint would be averaged over 28 years - and we're still counting.

FiberTite membranes were early qualifiers to the EPA's Energy Star label. Seaman Corporation is a Charter Member of the Cool Roof Rating Council, and FiberTite Roofing Systems meet the requirements of California's Title-24. FiberTite complies with credit requirements for Heat Island Reduction under the USGBC's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program. For more information on the environmental benefits of choosing FiberTite visit our web site at www.fibertite.com.

Still ambivalent about the environmental impact of vinyl roofs? Watch for the next issue of Smart Roofing Solutions to learn more.

Introducing the FiberTite Silver Roof Award

Recognizing the value of our longtime customers and their role in establishing the FiberTite Roofing Systems reputation for continuing performance without failure, Seaman Corporation has established the FiberTite Silver Roof Award. The award will be presented to those whose buildlings have benefited from at least 25 years of successful FiberTite protection. Owners as well as the roofing contractors and roofing consultants involved in the original projects will receive attractive recognition plaques. They will also be featured from time to time in FiberTite news materials.

If you would like to share a story about a 25 year old FiberTite roof, use this link.

FiberTite Roofing Membrane Withstands Extreme Conditions at Ft. Lauderdale Airport.

Situated in the heart of Broward County just minutes from the sandy beaches of Ft Lauderdale, the Fort Lauderdale airport is one of the fastest growing airports in the country, serving more than 21 million passengers each year.

So it's no surprise that when the airport needed a new roof all work needed to be completed with as little disruption to its travelers as possible. Working between 8 pm and 5 am, National Roofing of South Florida removed the airport’s existing modified bitumen roof and replaced it with a 410,000 sq. ft FiberTite roofing system.

Designed by CSA Architects of Miami, the mechanically fastened roofing system features a bright white 80 mil FiberTite membrane manufactured specifically to withstand Florida's blistering sun, jet fuel and the other chemicals associated with the airport's nearly 1,000 flights per day.

After also considering a modified bitumen system, the airport decided on FiberTite due to exceptionally better life cycle cost. Once the FiberTite system was installed, the airport received a $166,000 energy rebate from Florida Power and Light. Couple that with dramatically reduced maintenance costs and FiberTite costs 40 percent less over the life of the roofing system.

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