| Fire Safety and Protection | | | | have been chemically treated for fire retardancy. |
| Fire safety is a particularly important consideration, | | | | Wind Resistance |
| since the roof is vulnerable to fire from overhead or | | | | UL also tests shingle performance against high winds. |
| airborne sources.The fire resistance of roofing | | | | To qualify for the UL wind-resistant label, shingles |
| materials is tested by the | | | | must withstand continuous test winds of at least 60 |
| Underwriters’Laboratories, Inc. (UL), an | | | | miles per hour for two hours without a shingle tab |
| independent, not-for-profit public safety testing | | | | lifting. Wind-resistant shingles demonstrated their |
| laboratory. UL established the standard for the | | | | effectiveness under hurricane conditions during the |
| testing of roofing materials with the assistance of | | | | winds brought to Florida in 1992 by Hurricane |
| nationally recognized fireauthorities. | | | | Andrew, which at the time was the worst hurricane |
| Manufacturers voluntarily submit materials for testing. | | | | ever recorded in the United States. |
| The materialsthen are classified and labeled according | | | | Self-sealing asphalt shingles that bear the UL |
| to the classes below. The American Society for | | | | wind-resistant label are manufactured with a |
| Testing and Materials (ASTM) is a voluntary | | | | factory-applied adhesive. Once the shingles are |
| organization concerned with the development of | | | | applied, the sun activates the preapplied thermoplastic |
| consensus standards,testing procedures, and | | | | sealant and each shingle is bonded to the one below |
| specifications. | | | | it. Although self-sealers originally were developed |
| Class A. The highest fire-resistance rating for roofing | | | | specifically for high-wind areas, they are standard in |
| as per ASTM E-108. This class rating indicates that | | | | most parts of the country today. |
| the roofing material is able to withstand severe | | | | Estimating Life Expectancy |
| exposure to fire that originates from sources outside | | | | In addition to fire and wind ratings, roof coverings |
| the building. | | | | have a life expectancy. Manufacturers offer a |
| Class B. This fire-resistance rating indicates that the | | | | guarantee or warranty for their products. For |
| roofing material is able to withstand moderate | | | | example, most of today’s asphalt shingles are |
| exposure to fire that originates from sources outside | | | | designed to provide satisfactory service for 15 to 25 |
| the building. | | | | years. |
| Class C. This fire-resistance rating indicates that the | | | | Generally, the longer the life expectancy, the more |
| roofing material is able to withstand light exposure to | | | | expensive the shingle material. You might find, |
| fire that originates from sources outside the building. | | | | however, that a more expensive shingle is the most |
| Many communities require new roof coverings to | | | | economical in the long run because the cost of |
| meet at least theUL Class C standard. This | | | | materials and labor is amortized over a longer period |
| requirement has the backing of nationally recognized | | | | of time. Keep in mind that while the labor cost to |
| authorities such as the National Fire Protection | | | | apply the shingles varies with the product, it is the |
| Association and the International Association of Fire | | | | same whether the life expectancy of the shingle is 15 |
| Chiefs. Some roofing materials, such as slate and clay | | | | or 25 years. |
| tile, offer natural fire protection. Asphalt shingles are | | | | Estimate the probable annual cost of a new roof by |
| manufactured to meet the Class C standard or | | | | adding the cost of labor and materials and then |
| better. Readily combustible materials, such as wooden | | | | dividing the total by the shingle’s design life. |
| shingles, do not meet the UL standard unless they | | | | |