What makes a roofing material sustainable? It’s no single thing. It’s a combination of the product’s durability/longevity, recyclability, and impact on the building’s energy consumption. PVC roofing membrane checks all the boxes. It’s long-lasting, requiring fewer replacements per 75 years than other materials. It can significantly reduce a building’s energy bills. And, at the end of its service life, it can be recycled into other products – including more roofing material!
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WHAT MAKES PVC SO DUARABLE?
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Heat-welded seams form a permanent, watertight bond, a major advantage over commercial roofing systems that rely on adhesives, tapes, and caulks to seal the seams. The PVC polymer has inherent fire resistance making it difficult to ignite, burn very slowly, and not support combustion, tending to self-extinguish when the flame source is removed. It also meets or exceeds wind uplift requirements. Many have survived the onslaught of hurricanes. |
HOW DOES PVC LOWER ENERGY BILLS? |
Rising temperatures and prolonged heat waves are fast becoming the key challenges for cities. A white PVC commercial roof can reflect 80% or more of the sun’s rays and emit at least 70% of the solar radiation a building absorbs. That means less energy is required to keep the building cool, and a reduction in the overall temperature of the surrounding areas. |
WHY IS PVC IDEAL FOR RECYCLING? |
At the end of its lifecycle, PVC is recyclable and can be repurposed into new roofing material (and other products). The industry is making strides in increasing this recycled content in its products. Post-consumer recycling of PVC roofing began in 1999. Currently, roughly one million pounds are recycled each year. Estimates indicate more than 45 million pounds of vinyl roofing are currently available for recycling, based on the number of installed roofs and average lifecycle of the material. Our goal is to increase the amount recycled by approximately 1 million to 1.5 million pounds each year for the next five to 10 years. |
Chemical Fabrics and Film Association – Vinyl Roofing Division
1300 Sumner Ave. Cleveland, OH 44115
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