Roof Wind Uplift Testing

The negative pressure test utilizes a five foot by five foot dome that is placed over the roofing membrane surface.

Roof wind uplift testing.

This creates an uplift form which is then measured. The test frame has the appropriate roof deck attached to supports. 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. 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.

Fm loss prevention data sheet 1 52 fm 1 52 field uplift tests provides for two methods of testing wind uplift resistance. The ul 1897 wind test is a continuation of ul 580 and is the standard for uplift tests for roof covering systems. The specific test that pertains to wind uplift utilizes a test apparatus designed by fm approvals. The negative pressure test and the bonded uplift test.

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. To ensure a correctly built metal roof there are a variety of wind uplift tests manufacturers use to test their metal panel systems. 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 video below is a demonstration of the wind uplift tests on the butler mr 24 roof.