Miami-Dade County Building Code Compliance Office

1. Miami-Dade CountyBuilding Code Compliance Office ROOFING FORUM Fire Ratings and Listings Instructor: Michael L. Goolsby, RRC

2. The Building Code Compliance Office Major code concerns for roof coverings Fire Resistance Wind Resistance Weather Resistance

3. The Building Code Compliance Office Why is the code concerned with fire resistance of roof coverings? Fundamentally any code must provide for the public safety, health and general welfare of the public. (Section 101.3.1) Fire represents a life safety as well as a property loss concern. A fire resistant roof cover provides a degree of safety from the fire safety negligence of a neighbor.

4. The Building Code Compliance Office FBC requirements for fire resistant roof coverings. Provide safety to life and property from fire. (Section 101.3.1) Provide fire resistant roof covers on all structures. (Section 1516.2) All roof assemblies must be tested to confirm compliance with the fire classification. (1515.1.3) Maximum roof slope is dependent on the fire classification of the roof assembly. (Section 1515.2.2.2) Roof assemblies must be tested per UL 790 or ASTM E 108 for external fire resistance. Class A, B, or C are the three classifications. (Section 1516.1)

5. The Building Code Compliance Office Who can perform fire testing of roof assemblies? Miami-Dade County Approved Testing Laboratory Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Factory Mutual (FM) Warnock Hersey

6. The Building Code Compliance Office What are the three basic categories of fire tests for roof assemblies? External fire exposure. (UL 790 /ASTM E 108) Developed to address the great urban fires. Internal fire exposure. (UL 1256/Calorimeter) Developed as a reaction to the Livonia, MI fire. Contribution to an under-deck fire. Internal fire resistance (UL 263/ASTM E 119) A fire endurance test developed to establish a minimum amount of time to permit evacuation. Potential for collapse.

7. The Building Code Compliance Office What are some external fire exposure threats? Adjacent burning buildings Forest or brush fires Sparks from roof-top equipment Fireworks

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9. The Building Code Compliance Office What are the three fire classifications for external fire resistance? Class A: Effective against severe fire exposure. Provides a fairly high degree of fire protection. Class B: Effective against moderate fire exposure. Provides a moderate degree of fire protection. Class C: Effective against light fire exposure. Provides a measurable degree of fire protection.

10. The Building Code Compliance Office How do you know if a Class A, B,or C fire rating is required for the roof covering of a particular building? Class A 0 to 20 feet measured horizontally or an occupancy of 300 persons or more (1516.2.1) Class B All other structures, except as noted above (1516.2.2) Class C Structures not occupied by humans (1516.2.3)

11. The Building Code Compliance Office How are external fire exposure ratings determined and systems classified? UL 790 ASTM E 108 Burning Brand Test (burn through) Spread of Flame Test (surface burning) Intermittent Flame Test (burn through)

12. The Building Code Compliance Office Burning brand test. Required for combustible decks. (sheathing boards or plywood) Construction and size of brands. Air current. Test continues until all flame, glow and smoke disappears or failure occurs. Failure occurs if there is sustained flaming on the underside of the deck, glowing brands produced, displacement of test sample or a falling away of the test sample or exposure of the test deck.

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21. The Building Code Compliance Office Intermittent flame test. Required for combustible decks. Flame temperature of 14000 for Class A and B; 13000 for Class C. Apply flame 2 minutes on and 2 minutes off for 15 cycles for a Class A and 8 cycles for a Class B. 1 minute on and 2 minutes off for 3 cycles for Class C. Air current is maintained. Failure occurs if there is sustained flaming on the underside of the deck, glowing brands produced, displacement of test sample or a falling away of the test sample or exposure of the test deck.

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23. The Building Code Compliance Office Spread of flame test. Required for all decks including non-combustible. (steel, concrete and gypsum) Length of test deck: 8� for Class A ; 9� for Class B ; 13� for Class C. Air current is maintained. Flame is maintained for 10 minutes for Class A and B, and 4 minutes for Class C. Fails if flame spreads beyond 6� for Class A; 8� for Class B and 13� for Class C. No flaming brands , displacement or falling away of the test sample.

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28. The Building Code Compliance Office How does roof slope affect the fire rating? Severity of the test exposure increases as the slope increases. Up to a 5 in./ 12 pitch. Prepared roof coverings are tested at a 5 in./ 12 pitch unless otherwise noted. Other roof assemblies are tested at the slope selected by the manufacturer.

29. The Building Code Compliance Office Does the external fire exposure testing of roof systems demonstrate how a roof covering will perform under actual fire conditions? No. Not a means for assessing performance under actual fire conditions. Measures response of systems to heat and flame. Under factory conditions. Allows for comparisons of products.

30. The Building Code Compliance Office Are you required to submit a �fire directory listing� for all roofing permit applications? Yes, according to 1512.3.4 What about tile, shingles, wood shakes, and metal roof systems?

31. The Building Code Compliance Office Do you think a metal roof system achieves a Class A fire rating? No. Typically cannot achieve either Class A or B Metal conducts heat sufficiently to ignite the underlying wood deck. A fire barrier above the deck and below the metal roof system is generally required. Fire rating procedures are covered in the metal roofing NOA.

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33. The Building Code Compliance Office What are the two basic categories that roof-covering material is separated into, in the UL �Roofing Materials and Systems� directory? Roof Systems Prepared Roof Coverings

34. The Building Code Compliance Office UL Directory Roof Systems Sections Asphalt Felt Systems Coal Tar Felt Systems Single Ply Systems Cold Application Systems Combination Hot and Cold Systems Fluid Applied Systems Maintenance and Repair Systems Spray Applied and Others

35. The Building Code Compliance Office In the UL Directory, where would you find a listing for a BUR with glass plies and a surfacing of aluminum coating? Combination hot and cold system listings.

36. The Building Code Compliance Office In the UL Directory, where would you find a listing for a Modified Bitumen heat fused system surfaced with aluminum coating? Single ply membrane system listings.

37. The Building Code Compliance Office In the UL Directory, where would you find a listing for a multi-ply BUR installed with cold adhesive and surfaced with an emulsion coating? Cold Application Systems

38. The Building Code Compliance Office In the UL Directory, where would you find a listing for a recover system using a modified bitumen heat fused system surfaced with an aluminum coating?  Maintenance and Repair Systems

39. The Building Code Compliance Office What if you were unable to find the system you needed under the �Maintenance and Repair� section, do you have any alternatives? See Non-Combustible and Combustible Deck Construction Substitutions at the beginning of �Roof Systems� listings

40. The Building Code Compliance Office GAF UL Directory 3. Deck: NC Incline: 2 Insulation (Optional) Ply Sheet: Two or more layers Type G-1, �Gafglas Ply 4�, or �Gafglas Ply 6�. Cap Sheet: One Layer Type G-3 �Gafglas Mineral Surfaced Cap Sheet.� layer Type G3 "GAFGLAS Mineral Surfaced Cap Sheet".

41. The Building Code Compliance Office GAF UL Directory 2. Deck: C-15/32 Incline: 2 Insulation (Optional) Ply Sheet: Three or more Layers G-1�Gafglas Ply 4�, �Gafglas Ply 6�.: Cap Sheet: One Layer Type G-3 �Gafglas Mineral Surfaced Cap Sheet.� layer Type C C

42. The Building Code Compliance Office In the fire directory listing what do the letters �C� and �NC� refer to? C = Combustible deck. #/4� sheathing boards or plywood. NC = Non-combustible deck. Steel, concrete or poured gypsum.

43. The Building Code Compliance Office Is there a way that a Combustible (�C�) deck can be used with a Non-Combustible deck Roof System listing? Check individual manufacturers substitution listings. �� thick (min) gypsum board or 1/4 in. thick (min) G-P Gypsum Dens-Deck� may be used in any existing noncombustible deck Classification, the resulting roofing system is acceptable for use over combustible (15/32 in. min) roof decks.

44. The Building Code Compliance Office What do the UL directory terms G-1, G-2 and G-3 refer to? G-1 = Coated base/ply sheet. G-2 = Coated cap/base ply. G-3 = Mineral surfaced base/cap sheet.

45. The Building Code Compliance Office If 15/32� plywood is listed, can 19/32� be used? How about 3/8�? Only thicker plywood could be used.

46. The Building Code Compliance Office Can OSB, particle board or wafer board decks be used in fire rated assemblies? Roof systems - Minimum 7/16� APA rated OSB, particleboard, composite or wafer board are suitable alternates for minimum 15/32� plywood. Prepared roof coverings - 3/8� is suitable alternate to �� plywood when a classified underlayment is used.

47. The Building Code Compliance Office Is a cementititious wood fiber (Tectum) deck considered �C� or �NC�? Referred to in UL as �Structural Cement Fiber Units�. It may be listed instead of C or NC. It may be shown under the substitutions for a specific manufacturer.

48. The Building Code Compliance Office GAF Directory Substitutions Structural cement fiber building units are considered suitable to be included as a deck in the following Class A, B or C systems listed over C-15/32 or NC.

49. The Building Code Compliance Office What is meant by the UL directory terms �No Limitation� and �Unlimited� in regard to slope? Roof systems that were tested at a slope of 5/12. Severity of fire tests increase as slope increases up to a 5/12 slope. Prepared roof covering are typically tested at a slope of 5/12. Roof systems are tested at the slope desired by the manufacturer.

50. The Building Code Compliance Office Do you know of any roof systems that achieve an �unlimited� rating? Foil surfaced modifieds. Systems with cementititious coatings. Some single ply membranes over a fire barrier.

51. The Building Code Compliance Office UL Directory 42. Deck: 15/32 Incline: Unlimited Base Sheet: One or more plies Type G-2 mechanically fastened. Ply Sheet: Type G-1 or G-2 Membrane: �Ruberoid� UltraClad

52. The Building Code Compliance Office UL Directory 29. Deck: NC Incline: No limitation applied to min 1/2 in.

53. The Building Code Compliance Office How must the bottom ply or base sheet be installed in a fire rated system? Check the manufacturers substitution listings. Could be solid mopped, spot mopped or mechanically fastened.

54. The Building Code Compliance Office Is it acceptable to make substitutions of materials or use alternate materials in a fire-tested assembly? Yes, if shown in the Roof System alternates/substitutions or in the specific listings alternates/substitutions.