What is TPO membrane: description, specifications and reviews

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Serial production of TPO membranes began in the 90s. last century. The basis for the production today are thermoplastic polyolefins. The composition of the material contains special additives to improve fire-fighting properties, antioxidants and various stabilizers. All this helps to increase the durability of products and their resistance to external conditions. TPO membranes are reinforced with polyester film, but there are also varieties without reinforcement. The membrane can be installed in a variety of ways.

Description

The TPO membrane is based on a carbon chain and a sulfur compound, which helps to strengthen. The synthetic method makes it possible to achieve a reverse carbon sequence. This combines ethylene and propylene. The first is spent in the amount from 50 to 70%, the second - in the range from 30 to 50%. This provides the necessary chain strength.

TPO membranes are recommended for use on roofs that have a complex configuration. This should includebuildings for cultural, social and industrial purposes, namely:

• administrative buildings;
• recreation centers;
• sport facilities;
• cafe;
• hotels;
• restaurants;
• various businesses.

The described material is the most technologically advanced, modern and reliable. This high-tech roofing and waterproofing material is widely used in construction for the reconstruction of bridges, tunnels, water tanks, roofs and foundations. Compared to PVC membrane, TPO is more reliable, requires highly skilled roofers, and has excellent mechanical strength.

TPO-membranes are laid by the method of laying and further welding of seams with hot air. This requires automatic equipment. The seam is high quality and durable. Roofing work can be carried out on roofs of any slope.

Why choose a membrane

You can use the membrane in a variety of regions, for example, in countries with a humid or hot climate, as well as in the conditions of the North. This material has several colors. The use of white material is very beneficial due to the energy savings in summer when air conditioning of buildings is required. TPO membranes have excellent quality characteristics, these are:

• elasticity;
• sustainable;
• tensile strength;
• shatter resistance;
• durability;
• UV resistant.

Technicalspecifications

The characteristics of the membrane can be seen on the example of FLAGON ER/PR. The thickness of the material can vary from 1.2 to 2.5 mm. The weight is 1.1 to 2.27kg/m2. The tensile strength is greater than 1100 N/5cm. These values along and across differ from each other. In the first case, the minimum value is 1286, in the second - 1195 N/5cm.

TPO roofing membrane has elongation to break. Along this parameter is 25%, as well as across. The tests were carried out on a rectangular sample. Breaking resistance is greater than 300 N. Puncture resistance ranges from 400 to 1650 mm. Flexibility at low temperature is less - 35 ˚С.

Additional Features

Looking at the characteristics of the TPO membrane, you can also highlight the resistance to hydrostatic pressure at 2 bar for 24 hours. The material is waterproof. The relative change in linear dimensions at 80 ˚С after 6 hours is less than 0.5%. The material does not crack during artificial weathering, which means it is resistant to negative factors. Roots do not grow under the material. Hail resistance on a rigid base is limited to 17 to 25 m/s.

Features and benefits reviews

The material, according to buyers, is elastic, has high strength and is resistant to deformation at low temperatures. Elasticity is maintained up to - 60 ˚С. Consumers also like lowwater absorption, the material has vapor barrier qualities. It is durable to atmospheric phenomena and is able to undergo temperature fluctuations. Even under such conditions, the service life reaches 50 years. With the help of the membrane, it is possible to equip single-layer roofs with various slopes, as well as ways of fastening to the surface.

TPO and PVC membranes are also good because they contain fillers and polymers, but they are two times less than in rubber counterparts. The coating is resistant to aggressive manifestations of the external environment. It does not contain volatile plasticizers that could cause cracking, chemical degradation and physical aging of the product.

Installation recommendations

Buyers emphasize that during installation there is no need to expose the material to an open flame. The composition contains fire-fighting chemical components. Production involves the use of antifungal components. The composition does not contain oils and other substances that could promote the growth of the fungus. Although the color scheme is limited to white, the consumer has the opportunity to order a membrane of other shades at will.

Varieties of the Firestone membrane according to the laying method. Features

Considering the characteristics of Firestone TPO membrane, it can be noted that the material is classified by type of installation. Mechanical fixed roofing systems are commercially available. Canvases up to 2.44 m wide are suitable for this. The width and mounting option are selected taking into account wind loads. Valueoverlap of adjacent canvases is not less than 150 mm. The connection is carried out with an overlap using mounting plates and parts. They are located with a deviation from the edge of 50 mm.

Firestone TPO Roofing Membrane can also be a fully bonded system. For this, a contact adhesive is used. Adjacent canvases are connected with an overlap of 75 mm. Welding with each other is carried out by a thermal method. Waterproofing of the edge and through elements is carried out according to the company's specifications.

Ballast method

Roofing system can also be ballast. It fits without fixing to the base. The overlap remains the same, welding is carried out thermally. After completion of laying, the membrane is fixed by backfilling with gravel. The relative elongation of the membrane from the manufacturer "Firestone" is more than 20%.

The static load resistance is greater than 25kg. The impact resistance of the soft base is more than 2000 mm. On a solid basis, the impact resistance is somewhat lower and amounts to 800 mm. The wear resistance in this case is 400 N.

Characteristics and cost of the TechnoNIKOL membrane

TPO-membrane "TechnoNIKOL", the price of which is 687 rubles. per square meter, has a water absorption by weight less than 0.11%. Suitable material for unexploited roofing. The tensile strength of the welded seam after installation is more than 600 N/50 mm. Straightness 10m less than 30mm.

Under the influence of artificial climatic factors onsurface does not crack. When heated for 6 hours to 80 ˚С, the change in linear dimensions occurs by 2% or less. Static bursting resistance greater than or equal to 20 kg. The TPO membrane, the price of which was mentioned above, belongs to the 4th flammability group.

Carlisle reinforced membrane reviews

This versatile material is a modern roofing polymeric membrane made in the USA. The fabric is available in three thicknesses. The minimum value is 1.14mm, the maximum is 32.3mm. Film width varies from 2.44 to 3.66 mm. Roll length is 30.5mm.

Reinforced TPO membrane is available in three colors: white, gray, beige. On request, it is possible to supply a membrane with a different color scheme. Customers love that the material is waterproof, fairly tear-resistant, and highly resistant to abrasion.

The coating is smooth, has excellent reflectivity and is resistant to solar and thermal radiation. The membrane is not harmful to the natural environment, it is 100% recyclable, it can be used in harsh climatic zones, it is versatile, and it can be installed in different ways. Consumers also like a fairly long service life, which reaches 50 years.

Mounting Features

The TPO membrane can be installed in one of several ways. Among others, it should be notedballast roof. This technology is used to repair old bituminous roofs and new ones, which have a concrete base. In this case, the membrane is attached around the perimeter and at the joints. On the surface of the base, the material is held by ballast, it can be: pebbles, concrete blocks, gravel. The construction of such a roof is carried out using high quality waterproofing, since repairs are complicated by the dismantling of the ballast.

Mounting can be mechanical. It is recommended in cases where the above method cannot be used. For fixing to the profile sheet, a plastic sleeve with a self-tapping screw is used. If the base is concrete, then a dowel-nail and a sleeve are used. This method of installation is standard and closed. The latter is relevant if it is necessary to distribute the mount on the plane as evenly as possible. This is also justified under high wind loads, as well as in the case when the roll must be fastened in the direction along the profiled sheet.

The standard method of mechanical fastening involves welding the edges with hot air to form a wide homogeneous seam. This method is fast and cost-effective, making it ideal for prefabricated buildings such as warehouses, hypermarkets and other commercial buildings.

The system can be completely glued. This method involves the installation of membrane sheets with fastening to the base with special glue. This technology can be used for roofs with an impressiveslope, for example, at the attic floor or dome. The adhesive system can also be used when there is a threat of wind loads.

The membrane is also laid on the rail system in the seam. In this case, the sheets are fastened mechanically with the help of rails that are placed in the middle of the seams. They are adjacent to each other. With this method, the thermal insulation boards are attached to the base separately from the membrane, as is the case when the mechanically fastened system method is used. In this case, a traditional or reinforced membrane can be used. This system is relevant for a roof with a non-standard configuration and for those cases where there are high wind loads.

The use of thermal insulation is provided for the inversion method. Thermal protection should not absorb moisture. This method is one of the options for a ballast system, well suited for parking equipment or a sports ground, as well as for green roofing. The mount can also be vacuum. It is based on creating a vacuum between the roof space. This is done using aerators with valves, while the membrane is mechanically attached along the parapets. This system is applicable for old bituminous roofs.