THE ONLY SOURCE FOR PROFESSIONAL ICI ROOFING CONTRACTORS IN ONTARIO ORN 8  ONTARIO ROOFING NEWS – WINTER 2017 Professional Roofing Polyiso Storage Guidelines Guidelines vary among manufacturers, and further clarity is needed By Mark S. Graham The following article is reprinted with permission from Professional Roofing magazine, the official publication of the National Roofing Contractors Association in the U.S. WhilethefollowingarticlewaswrittenforaU.S.reader,itscontentmaybeofinteresttoCanadianroofingprofessionals. I n November 2017, the Poly- isocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA) issued an updated bul- letin addressing job-site storage of polyisocyanurate insulation. Suppliers and users of polyiso- cyanurate roof insulation should be aware of this bulletin, as well as manufacturers’ instructions and NRCA’s guidelines. PIMA Bulletin PIMA Technical Bulletin #109, “Storage and Handling Recommendations For Polyi- so Roof Insulation,” provides some guidance about job site storage of polyisocyanurate roof insulation. The bulletin indicates poly- isocyanurate insulation typi- cally is shipped protected by a plastic wrap, plastic bag or both. The factory packaging is intended for handling in the manufacturing plant and dur- ing transit. You should not rely on factory packaging as protection at job sites or other outdoor storage locations un- less otherwise specified by the manufacturer. The bulletin also indicates insulation bundles should be stored flat above the ground using included feet (dunnage) or on raised pallets. If possible, bundles should be placed on a finished surface such as gravel, pavement or concrete rather than on dirt or grass. Unless otherwise specified by the man- ufacturer, cover bundles and pallets with a waterproof cover- ing and secure to prevent wind displacement. The bulletin notes polyisocy- anurate insulation is fully cured and fit for installation upon delivery. No additional storage time is required. Manufacturers’ Instructions Review of polyisocyanurate insulation manufacturers’ stor- age guidelines reveals some differences from PIMA recom- mendations. For example, GAF’s installa- tion instructions indicate facto- ry-installed plastic wrap should be removed, and breathable- type coverings, such as tarpau- lins, should be used to allow venting and protection from weather and moisture. Hunter Panels indicates original shipment packaging is adequate for outdoor storage without tarpaulins for up to two weeks provided the bundles arrive with packaging intact. Outdoor storage is permitted from two weeks up to 90 days provided the four sides of the shipment packaging are slit and the bundles are completely cov- ered with a breathable tarpaulin. For outdoor storage in excess of 90 days, additional precautions or alternative storage locations may be needed. Johns Manville’s criteria re- garding insulation packaging is similar to Hunter Panels’ except slitting the plastic shipment packaging and covering insula- tion bundles with a breathable tarpaulin are appropriate for outdoor storage for two weeks to one month. For storage longer than one month, indoor storage in a well-ventilated warehouse is recommended. In humid climates, Johns Manville recommends slitting or completely removing plastic shipment packaging before cov- ering insulation bundles with a breathable tarpaulin. NRCA Guidelines NRCA recommends all rigid board insulation materials be protected from weather during storage. When moisture-sen- sitive insulation materials are stored outdoors, they should be placed on pallets or plat- forms raised off the ground or roof surface and covered with water-resistant coverings that are secured. NRCA considers manufac- turers’ factory-applied, poly- wrap insulation packaging to be an appropriate water-resistant covering for short-term outdoor storage provided it is intact. When separate water-resistant coverings are used, NRCA pre- fers “breathable” coverings, such as water-resistant tarpaulins. Closing Thoughts Comparing the storage guide- lines in PIMA Technical Bulle- tin #109 with polyisocyanurate insulation manufacturers’ in- structions reveals inconsisten- cies and conflicts, which create a lack of clear understanding and confusion for users of polyiso- cyanurate insulation. Polyisocyanurate insulation manufacturers need to make their product storage instruc- tions, including any additional product covering instructions, more readily available to dis- tributors, suppliers and roofing contractors. The manufactur- ers’ installation instructions and bulletins I reviewed were locat- ed many clicks into the manu- facturers’ websites. Clearly, this information is not readily acces- sible to distributors’ and sup- pliers’ shipment and warehouse personnel or roofing contrac- tors’ field personnel. I encourage polyisocyanurate insulation manufacturers to consider printing product stor- age instructions, including any additional product covering in- structions, on factory shipment packaging. This not only would make storage instruction more accessible, but it also would likely improve product protec- tion during job site storage. Mark S. Graham is NRCA’s vice president of technical services. To provide Canadian context to Mr. Graham’s article we have add- ed storage and handling guidelines from the four Canadian manufac- turers of polyiso roof insulation. Atlas Roofing Corporation, Etobicoke, Ontario Factory applied packag- ing is intended only for pro- tection during transit. When stored outdoors or on the job site, the insulation should be stacked on pallets at least three inches above ground level and completely covered with a weatherproof covering such as a tarpaulin. The temporary fac- tory-applied packaging should be slit or removed to prevent accumulation of condensation. Roof insulation which has be- come wet or damaged should be removed and replaced with solid, dry insulation, of the same type. IKO Industries Ltd., Brampton, Ontario Storage Polyisocyanurate (Polyiso) insulation is shipped to the job site protected by a plastic stretch wrap. This factory pack- aging is intended for handling the polyiso in the manufac- turing plant during transit; it should not be relied upon as job site protection from ele- ments. IKO recommends slit- ting the wrapping on site prior to application to expel any moisture or condensation that may accumulate during transit and storage on the job site. The polyiso must be protected by a waterproof, breathable cover- ing such as a canvas tarpaulin and placed on raised pallets or platforms during storage. Handling Exercise care during han- dling and application of poly- iso insulation to prevent break- ing or crushing of the square edges and surfaces. Wet, cupped or bowed in- sulation boards should not be installed and must be discard- ed and removed from the site. Cupping or bowing may result from the wetting of certain fac- er materials. Although it is oc- casionally done, the cutting or scoring of these board facers to alleviate board cupping is not recommended by IKO Indus- tries Ltd. (IKO). Johns Manville Canada Inc., Cornwall, Ontario (see article) Soprema Inc., Woodbridge, Ontario The SOPRA-ISO TAPERED thermal insulation boards are covered with a waterproof pack- aging for handling the panels in the manufacturing plant and during transit only. SOPRA-ISO TAPERED thermal insulation boards must be stored on a flat substrate and sheltered from inclement weath- er. In addition, the temporary SOPREMA applied packaging must be removed to prevent ac- cumulation of condensation. When short-term outdoor storage is necessary, SOPRA- ISO TAPERED thermal insula- tion boards must be stacked on skids at least 75-mm (3-in) above the ground, stored flat and cov- ered with a waterproof cover such as a canvas tarpaulin.