Maximizing the performance of roofing solutions based on coil coated steel sheet: Fid-Bau Portal

Maximizing the performance of roofing solutions based on coil coated steel sheet

Ranta-Eskola, Arto / Hautala, Mika / Sipilä, Risto

Coil coated steel has several features making it a very attractive material for roofing systems: it enables light weight construction, is available in many colours, has a good price/performance ratio, steel sheet panels are fast to erect and are completely recyclable. Coil coated sheet roofing has a good long-term durability and is easy to maintain provided the paint systems are properly designed. However, it is important to select the right system for each geographical area and application. When proper selection guidelines and high quality products are used, coil coated sheet roofs have an aesthetic lifetime of several decades, which can be further substantially extended by proper maintenance. There are a multitude of components forming the complete roofing system. In addition to the properties of the coil coated sheet panels, the material specification and quality of these components are decisive as regards the functioning of the roof in the long term. The components concerned include underlay, fasteners, flashings and various penetrations. A complete roofing package or solution also contains rainwater systems and roof safety products like ladders and catwalks plus special components like skylights. The R&D knowledge of the coil coaters and their paint suppliers is very well suited to the quality assurance of these components. The experience regarding mechanical, uy humidity and corrosion testing of the products, and the understanding of the degradation mechanisms of paints is indispensable in this work. Thus, a total roofing solution provider can guarantee a maximum long term performance of the roofing package. This also greatly benefits the customers as they can rely on the high quality of the products.