Roof Wind Uplift Testing

The test is performed on a 10 square foot section of the roof.
Roof wind uplift testing. To ensure a correctly built metal roof there are a variety of wind uplift tests manufacturers use to test their metal panel systems. The purpose of this test is to gain uplift resistance data for the panel assembly and evaluate the attachment of the roof covering systems to the roof decks. The negative pressure test utilizes a five foot by five foot dome that is placed over the roofing membrane surface. The video below is a demonstration of the wind uplift tests on the butler mr 24 roof.
It starts by evacuating the air on the top side of the roof and then lets the atmospheric pressure push on the bottom side. In laboratory testing wind uplift forces are applied and carefully measured in pounds per square foot psf gradually increasing the psf force until roof system failure occurs. The specific test that pertains to wind uplift utilizes a test apparatus designed by fm approvals. Design and performance requirements there are three tests ul 580 ul 1897 and astm e1592 that are used to determine a metal roof s uplift rating.
The test frame has the appropriate roof deck attached to supports. This creates an uplift form which is then measured. The negative pressure test and the bonded uplift test. For mechanically attached single ply roofing systems the test involves building a roof assembly on a test frame that measures 12 feet by 24 feet.
Fm loss prevention data sheet 1 52 fm 1 52 field uplift tests provides for two methods of testing wind uplift resistance.