If you own an industrial or commercial building you need to know about all the things that may potentially affect it. Particularly for properties with flat roofs, moisture is a dangerous threat. Understanding types of industrial and commercial roof moisture and how it exists and effects the integrity of your roof is extremely important.
In the winter months, particularly on clear nights, the temperature on the surface of a roof can drop to significantly lower than the ambient temperature. Where roof structures are made up of ‘single skin’ materials, specifically steel, tin, aluminium, asbestos or fibre cement, the temperature on the internal surface of the roof is virtually the same as the temperature on the external surface as there is no thermal resistance between them. Where this happens, any moisture in the internal atmosphere can condense on the colder surface leading to issues of condensation droplets forming.
The types of moisture that can affect your roof may be caused by elements that you’d least expect. Your roof is the first line of defence for your business and unforeseen problems can be devastating for profitability, if not dealt with in advance.
Construction moisture
Moisture can sometimes become trapped during construction, even before a building is occupied. Dry walling and painting as well as concrete curing can release moisture that had previously been trapped into the atmosphere. A professional industrial roofing company like us here at All Seasons Industrial Roofing can work to ensure that this does not occur.
Workforce moisture
Simply having people in your building can create moisture. The effects of your workforce simply going about their daily routines can in turn create different levels of moisture within the atmosphere:
Limited levels of moisture
As warm air drifts upwards, taking moisture with it, it can become trapped between the roof membrane and insulation. Ideally your building will have two layers of insulation as well as staggered joints. Where only one insulation layer is installed, cover boards may provide addition protection.
Higher levels of moisture
A build up of condensation can prove to be extremely harmful to your roof. It may particularly prevalent in buildings housing such things as a gym or swimming pool where low-slope roof moisture may occur. Other types of businesses that create a hot and maybe steamy environment may also be affected. During construction or modification, ventilation and air conditioning should have been installed to specifically take care of harmful moisture.
Heading off potential roof moisture could in the long term save your business a large outlay. Preventive maintenance of your building and premises can be as essential as an effective advertising campaign if it means that money is saved.
For further information on understanding types of industrial and commercial roof moisture, please contact us here: London Office or Midlands Office.
