Development of a pullout test method for adhesive applied roofing systems

Abstract

A review of literature and standards revealed no standardized process exists for the evaluation or characterization of wind uplift resistance of Adhesive Applied Roofing Systems (AARS). It was determined that a pullout test method -- a test in which the adhered components of roofing samples were subjected to tensile loading until failure -- could be used to quantify wind uplift performance. From the literature study, critical variables were extracted. Among these were the pullout rate, the specimen size and the specimen attachment condition. After conducting a series of extensive pullout tests, data showed that the optimum pullout rate was 6.35mm/min. Additional tests showed that a specimen size of 300 mm x 450 mm with all flutes fastened provided the experimentally consistent data. Based on the investigation outlined above, the present study drafted a standard test method for the determination of the pullout resistance of adhesively applied roofing components. This contribution is being presented to the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) for adoption of a standardized test method. The present study also implemented the standardized test procedure to characterize the pullout behaviour of a variety of different configurations. Over 400 specimens were constructed varying the deck type (steel & concrete), insulation facer (paper and acrylic facer) and coverboard (fiberboard and asphalt core board). Experimental results showed that the use of steel deck, paper faced polyisocyanurate, and asphalt core board yielded optimum pullout resistance. Alternative adhesion patterns were also tested and showed a maximum reduction of 60% from the optimized adhesion pattern.