Single-Ply Membrane Roofing

Building enclosures include all sides of a building including the roof. Of course, in some creatively shaped structures, it is sometimes hard to discern where the facade ends and the roofing begins from a design standpoint. In terms of performance, they should both provide equal protection and create the appropriate barriers for thermal, weather, and air infiltration. While there are many well-known roofing systems available, one is garnering some increased attention even though it has been around for more than 35 years with greater than 99 percent of the installations still performing quite well. It is based on a single-ply membrane made from Ketone Ethylene Ester or simply abbreviated as KEE.

KEE roofing membranes are appealing for several high-performance reasons. First, they are made from the roofing industry’s heaviest base fabric offering superior puncture and tear resistance. Second, the KEE content allows the roofing membranes to maintain excellent flexibility, as well as chemical and UV resistance. Finally, their quality can be ascertained by meeting or exceeding the requirements of ASTM D6754-02 “Standard Specification for Ketone Ethylene Ester Based Sheet Roofing.” Beyond roofing, they are also well suited as a waterproofing membrane for below grade facade applications.

Photos courtesy of Fiber Tite Roofing Systems/Gensler

KEE single-ply membrane roofing can be incorporated into buildings with non-traditional shapes to create high-performance protection that can also contribute to green and sustainable building criteria.

From a sustainability standpoint, KEE membranes have several other desirable attributes which may contribute to LEED points and credits. Available in white reflective colors, it allows the roof surface to reflect solar and ambient heat, which can significantly reduce air conditioning costs in the building where it is installed. It can also help prevent heat island effects often caused by dark-colored surfaces. As an environmentally friendly product, it contains no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and works well with green roof systems. Since it is compatible with asphalt, it allows re-roofing over built-up roofing systems, thus eliminating the need to tear off and dispose of existing roofing materials. Finally, it possesses a long life cycle as a durable material with high resistance to chemicals, air conditioning coolants, jet fuels, restaurant grease, UV light, airborne bacteria, acid rain, and industrial pollutants.