30-Year EPDM Systems - Resilient by Design

One of the major themes in commercial construction is resilient design, which helps to keep buildings functional during and after severe weather events. Resilient design is becoming a greater focus within various levels of government and private industry in an effort to strengthen our infrastructure to protect people, assets, and critical facilities.

An emphasis has been placed on the use of ‘durable components’ and a ‘robust design’. More information on the industry’s effort in resilient design can be found in “Building Resilience: The Roofing Perspective”, which was released by the EPDM Roofing Association (ERA) in their 2018 Annual Report.

Carlisle's 30-year EPDM roofing specification is the definition of resilient design, featuring numerous system/component upgrades, including thicker membrane, wider splices, double-wrapped flashings, higher-density cover boards or insulation, increased fastening density, and engineered metal edgings.

EPDM membrane has an excellent track record performing in a wide range of climates. Physical samples from 30-year-old roofs have shown that the 30-year-old membrane is still very pliable and flexible and hasn't lost its ability to expand and contract with building movement or large temperature changes. Another important attribute is the membrane continues to be very repairable, meaning it can still be spliced to with primers and pressure-sensitive flashings to extend the life of the roof or repair accidental punctures without the need for electricity.

Sustainability and long-term service life are also very important, and Sure-Seal® 90-mil black EPDM comes with an available 40-year ELITE non-prorated material warranty.

EPDM is the product of choice on our own new facilities, including Carlisle's Technical Education Center and Research and Innovation Center.

The EPDM Roofing Association's Annual Report "Building Resilience: The Roofing Perspective" can be found here.

For more information on EPDM in 30-year applications, visit the Carlisle SynTec website here.

Contact Ron Goodman at [email protected] with questions.