Cool metal roofing is primarily used to reduce cooling/heating loads on new construction and on retrofit roofing applications for steel buildings. The U.S. Environment Protection Agency has estimated that the use of cool metal roofing can save up to 40% cooling energy on homes and buildings.
The desirable attributes of cool metal roofing for steel buildings are:
· Durability. Metal roofs are resistant to wind, rain, hail, snow, and ice. This durability makes them superior to organic roofing materials that are easily degraded when exposed to changing weather conditions.
· Lightweight. Structural savings can be realized with metal roofing, when compared to other much heavier roofing options. For example, the weight of steel roofing panels ranges from 0.7 to 1.3 pounds per square foot, while that of asphalt shingles averages 2 to 2.5 pounds per square foot. This lightweight attribute is also an advantage specially for steel buildings located in earthquake prone areas.
· Fire Resistant. Metals don’t burn. Many metal roofs have been certified to meet Class A, B, and C fire ratings. In fact, many insurance companies offer reduced premiums due to the high fire resistance attribute of metal roofing.
· Aesthetics. Because they can be coated with various colors and patterns and they can be shaped into a wide variety of functional profiles, cool metal roofing products greatly enhance the appearance of steel buildings. They are a favorite of architects due to their design flexibility. The colors of painted metal roofing not only lengthen the life of the roofs but they can also be selected to match the exterior color schemes of the steel buildings.
· Wind Uplift Resistant. Cool metal roofing panels can be constructed to conform to the highest wind uplift rating from UL. In hurricane-prone areas, metal roofing is the product of choice, because they have demonstrated their ability to outperform other roofing products in severe wind conditions.