WYANDOTTE, MICH. (Aug. 23, 3:30 p.m. ET) — BASF Corp. is partnering with Carlisle SynTec to jointly market a high-performance roofing system that incorporates both companies' technologies.
BASF brings its spray foam polyurethane insulation to the venture. Carlisle SynTec, a division of Carlisle Cos. Inc., is a major manufacturer of membrane roofing material for commercial applications. The companies said recently that they would enter a partnership in which they will encourage roofers to combine the two technologies.
The new system involves contractors first applying a coating of BASF spray polyurethane foam insulation to a commercial low-pitch or flat roof. The roofing contractors then follow up by attaching, with adhesives, Carlisle SynTec's Sure-White EPDM FleeceBACK single-ply membrane on top.
The EPDM membrane is the primary rubber material used in roofing.
“You've got the best of both worlds—a very, very tough membrane coating and a very good spray foam underneath it acting as the insulation, air sealer and flashing product,” said Michael Sievers, BASF's spray polyurethane systems business manager.
Wyandotte-based BASF's spray polyurethane foam can replace boardstock insulation, which often is used under Carlisle's EPDM roofing material. Using spray foam insulation instead of boardstock eliminates the need for mechanical fasteners, which can transfer heat in and out of a building, Sievers said.
“You've got your best insulation with the spray foam,” Sievers said. “You've got the highest R-value out there per inch.”
In addition, the spray foam insulation has a higher compressive strength than boardstock, supporting between 45 pounds and 55 pounds per square inch. And Carlisle's Sure-White EPDM FleeceBACK membrane provides a longer-lasting roofing surface than the liquid-applied elastomeric coating that often is used on top of BASF's spray polyurethane foam insulation, the companies said.
Carlisle, headquartered in Carlisle, Pa., will offer warranties ranging from 10 to 30 years for customers who select the new roofing system that marries BASF's and Carlisle's technologies, according to the companies.
The length of the warranty will be dictated by factors including the type and amount of spray polyurethane foam applied under the Carlisle Sure-White EPDM FleeceBACK membrane.
The new roofing system is on the higher end of the cost spectrum for commercial roofing systems, according to Sievers.
However, the firms hope it appeals to companies in food processing, pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing, and data processing, where it is imperative to avoid roof leaks.
The waterproof nature of BASF spray polyurethane foam provides a second layer of defense against roof leaks, in addition to Carlisle's EPDM single-ply membrane.
“We've really got a nice belt- and suspenders-type approach,” said Ron Goodman, Carlisle's product manager for the FleeceBACK roofing system. He said target customers will include businesses that cannot afford to have even a small roof leak.
“We've had a very good reception from roofing contractors,” Goodman said. “They're excited to have something unique and different to sell that has some real value to the end user. It seems we're off to a good start.”
Both BASF and Carlisle will market the new roofing system.