Building Damage Prevention in Unprecedented Years

Taking smart preventative steps to ward off damage, defect and deterioration in buildings has always been within the purview of property owners, managers and insurers.

The year 2020 was one of the most extraordinary years in modern history. As the pandemic continues into 2021, the buildings in which we live, learn and work have seen an incredible change in how they are used and occupied, as well as in the level of physical care and maintenance they receive.

Impact of COVID-19

The impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic on our private, public and professional behaviors in addition to the risks these changes pose to the buildings we inhabit has been unprecedented. Additional significant damage occurred due to increased natural disasters such as hail, floods and wildfires in 2020.  According to Swiss Re, “In the US, a record number of severe convective storms caused devastation throughout the year, likely leading to record annual losses in the country for this peril. Australia and Canada suffered significant losses from hail damage in 2020. Canada experienced its costliest-ever hail event in Calgary in June, which led to losses of USD 1 Billion¹ .”

Changing Behaviors

Because of the widespread restrictions brought on by COVID-19, people are now spending much more time at home as they adapt to remote work arrangements and are simply going out less often to conduct day-to-day activities like shopping and socializing. Even as restrictions start to ease, many employers are allowing employees to continue work-from-home or hybrid arrangements.

For residential buildings, this has translated into a massive increase in load demand on building structures, finishes, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical services. Concurrently, more use requires more care, maintenance, and repairs.  Such continuous use can, for instance, very often result in increased temperature and humidity levels within a building, which not only increases potential health hazards, such as mold, but can also promote a more rapid deterioration of the building structure.  Increased human presence also adds to the chances of accidental fires being caused by activities like cooking or smoking.

Unused Buildings

Because of the pandemic, many non-residential buildings have been experiencing much less human occupancy than usual, with some of them being virtually unoccupied. However, being unused does not mean they need less care.

Buildings are exposed to natural hazards such as wind, snow, rain, freezing or high temperatures. and water flooding, regardless of their occupancy. In fact, fluctuations in temperature and humidity in non-occupied spaces are different than during normal occupancy periods and require specific programs of maintenance and care.

During cold winter months, there is a higher risk of water damage due to pipe bursts caused by sub-freezing temperatures. Large snow accumulations may be expected on the roofs of buildings that are unoccupied and either unheated or nominally heated. In such cases, roof drains may not operate as intended and cause excessive ponding that can lead to excessive loads, roof leaks, and related issues.

During warmer spring and summer months, storm season can bring periods of heavy rainfall. Roofs and gutters should be kept free of leaves and debris which could also clog drains or gutters. Interiors should be climate-controlled to prevent damage to finishes during very hot days in southern latitudes.

Damage Prevention Complications

Without a doubt, the pandemic has created a raft of complications around damage prevention, monitoring and inspection for unoccupied or partially occupied buildings.

One of the biggest increased risks with such buildings is fire. With reduced on-site security, monitoring and inspection, the likelihood of fires being caused by potential trespassers, deteriorated wiring, faulty fire detection systems and sprinklers turned off, damaged, and/or not maintained is much greater than usual.

Making matters worse is that public health restrictions and lockdowns put strain on the emergency services and supply chains, which affected how building operators protect and preserve their properties following climatic events and other damage-causing incidents.

The key saving grace through all this is that such building component failures as described above can be avoided, or damage mitigated, if key warning signs are observed and recognized, and adequate action taken in a timely manner.

Early Warning Signs

Consideration should always be given to any change in a building’s use, particularly if it is expected to occur over a prolonged period of time. The property owner should put in place adequate measures to look out for early warning signs of potential issues. This will reduce the risk of an incident occurring that results in immediate damage, as well as avoiding the potential of additional damage and costly remedial actions over time if the condition remains unnoticed and unattended.

Considering how the widespread impact of the coronavirus pandemic has continued into 2021, it is incumbent upon building property owners to take every preventative step possible to preserve the upkeep of their physical properties, both to protect their investment and to ensure that the structures and the environments they envelope are ready to welcome the world back in when the time is right.

As the famous philosopher Desiderius Erasmus once said, “Prevention is better than cure.”  We have been reminded of this more than ever in order to protect our health. Same applies to our buildings.

1. “Swiss Re Institute estimates USD 83 billion global insured catastrophe losses in 2020, the fifth-costliest on record”, Swiss Re Group. 15 Dec 2020. https://www.swissre.com/media/news-releases/nr-20201215-sigma-full-year-2020-preliminary-natcat-loss-estimates.html

Sasa Dzekic, M.Eng., P.Eng., is the Practice Lead, Civil/Structural Engineering for Haag Canada. Mr. Dzekic has over 30 years of professional experience in structural engineering involving a wide range of building projects. He specializes in investigation and assessment of failures of buildings and structural systems, and/or their components, and evaluation of structural damage. Mr. Dzekic has conducted structural forensic investigation and assessment, preparation of reports, and expert testimony. He has performed planning and on-site advice with respect to unsafe building conditions and demolition, including temporary measures for structural securing of the buildings. He has conducted structural analysis and design of concrete, steel, wood and masonry structures, review of drawings for building permit purposes, and field review during construction.

For more information on Mr. Dzekic or Haag Canada’s areas of expertise, please visit haagcanada.ca.

Any opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of Haag Canada, Haag Engineering Co., Haag Construction Consulting, Haag Education, or parent company, Haag Global, Inc.

HURRICANE LAURA DAMAGE TO WOOD-FRAMED RESIDENCES

By Tim Marshall, P.E., Principal Engineer, Meteorologist

On August 27, 2020, Hurricane Laura struck southwest Louisiana and extreme southeast Texas.  Emeritus Engineer and Meteorologist experienced the hurricane firsthand in Lake Charles, LA then spent three days conducting a damage survey. The primary purpose of the damage survey was to evaluate the performance of various structures that experienced strong winds. This blog will focus on wind damage to residences.

Hurricane Laura made landfall at Cameron, LA around 0600 Universal Time Code (UTC) on August 27, 2020.  According to the Lake Charles National Weather Service (NWS), Laura was the strongest hurricane to strike southwest Louisiana since records began in 1851. The hurricane moved due north toward Lake Charles at about 4.5 m/s (10 mph) weakening slowly.  The NWS in Lake Charles recorded the highest wind gust of 116 kt (133 mph) out of the east at 0732 UTC before the wind equipment failed.  However, the Florida Coastal Monitoring Program (FCMP) erected a portable tower at Chennault International Airport on the east side of Lake Charles and had obtained a continuous wind record with peak wind gust of 115 kt (132 mph) out the east at 10 m (33 ft).  A second FCMP site in Sulphur, LA recorded a peak wind gust of 96 kt (110 mph) from the east also on a 10 m (33 ft) tower.

There was widespread wind damage to residences in the Lake Charles area particularly to roof coverings.  In some cases, homes experienced structural damage when conventional toenailed roof structures failed aided by broken windows or doors on the windward sides of buildings which increased internal wind pressures.  In addition, trees fell on many homes causing structural damage.  Commonly observed problems were improper attachment of roof coverings especially when asphalt shingles were nailed too high above the sealant strips.  Some fasteners were overdriven tearing through the shingles.  Shingles typically were fastened with four nails per shingle instead of the required six nails for hurricane prone areas.  The combination of high nailing, overdriven fasteners, and fewer fasteners than required resulted in less than half the required number of fasteners in the shingles to resist wind uplift.  As a result, there was widespread wind damage to asphalt shingle roofs particularly on windward slopes.  Wind damage included combinations of flipped, creased, torn, and removed shingles.  Asphalt shingle roofs that were nailed correctly sustained far less wind damage than those roofs that were not installed correctly. Loss of roof coverings and underlayment allowed water ingress which greatly increased the amount of interior damage to residences.  Refer to Figure 1.

The vast majority of residences had Degrees of Damage (DoDs) of 4 or less on the Enhanced Fujita or EF-scale with damage limited to roof coverings and cladding items.  A small percentage of homes experienced DoD 6 damage where they had windward windows or garage doors fail allowing internal pressures to help lift and remove the roofs.  Refer to Figure 2.  Expected failure wind speeds for DoD 4 damage is around 43 m/s (97 mph) where expected failure wind speeds for DoD 6 is around 55 m/s (122 mph).  Thus, we found the wind speeds listed in the EF-scale agreed well with the DoDs and locally measured wind speeds.   See Table 1.

Where roof failures occurred, there was no evidence of metal straps or clips used to attach rafters to wall top plates.  Roof failures initiated where rafters were toenailed to wall top plates.  Nails were simply pulled out of the wood.  No doubt such roof failures would have been prevented had steel straps been installed properly as these connections can exceed 1000 lbs. whereas toenailed connections with 16d nails have an average pull out strength of about 300 lbs.   The vast majority of homes that were better built (continuous load paths that were well anchored) were able to survive a major hurricane.

Figure 1. Typical wind damage to asphalt shingle roof coverings on residences.  The inset image shows high nailing (yellow circles) with nails missing the top laps in the overlying shingles (red circles).  

Figure 2.  House in Vivian, LA which lost the entire roof structure.  The front side of house faced north and was windward to the strongest winds.  Failure of the front doors and windows allowed internal pressure to help lift the roof.  Inset image (A) shows upside down roof in the backyard with “birdsmouth” cut outs in rafters (circled) and close-up of broken toenailed connection (B) where two parallel rust stains indicated where nails had been.

Table 1.  DoDs for residences from the EF-scale document.

By Tim Marshall, P.E., Meteorologist, Haag Principal Engineer

Tim Marshall is a structural engineer and meteorologist.  He has served as a Haag Engineer since 1983, assessing damage to thousands of structures (particularly damage caused by wind and other weather phenomena). He has written numerous articles, presented countless lectures, and appeared on dozens of television programs in order to share his extensive knowledge re: storms and the resultant damage.  He is a primary author of many Haag Education materials, including the Haag Certified Inspector-Wind Damage course.  He is also a pioneering storm chaser and was editor of Storm Track magazine.  See his profile here.

Any opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of Haag Engineering Co., Haag Construction Consulting, Haag Education, or parent company, Haag Global, Inc.

The Insurance Industry’s First-Ever Inside Adjuster Certification – NEW from Haag Education

Haag Education is once again setting the bar for science-based damage training in the insurance industry with an all-new, first-of-its-kind certification designed especially for inside reviewers/desk adjusters, underwriters, or anyone who works or estimates claims from behind a desk!  Introducing the Haag Certified Reviewer (HCR) program!

Haag certification is the most sought-after adjuster/industry training for adjusters, roofing consultants, contractors, and engineers—professionals who assess damage in the field.  Haag certification training has set the standard for roof and building envelope damage assessment since its introduction in 2007, with over 20,000 certifications earned by industry professionals.

Recent trends in the US and Canadian markets are fewer and fewer licensed adjusters in the field. Inspections are often being done by third-party inspection companies who document the damage and provide reports from the field to decision-making adjusters working inside, behind a desk.   Carriers and independent adjusters have emphasized there is a great need for specialized training geared towards adjusters who may not have the benefit or ability to see the claim firsthand in the field. Haag Education has answered the call and is excited to deliver this one-of-a-kind certification training backed by Haag’s reputation and nearly 100 years of damage assessment expertise.

The Haag Certified Reviewer – Residential program was rolled out in March 2021, and has received stellar reviews already.

HCR will allow any student to complete up to 4 levels of certification and requires NO EXPERIENCE in construction or claims or damage assessment!  Every HCR course within the curriculum is taught from the perspective of an inside reviewer/adjuster.  HCR is delivered 100% on-demand so you can complete each level on your schedule!  The introductory price of only $349 per certification level makes this an affordable option to help further your knowledge and career.

What are the 4 levels of HCR-Residential certification?

• Level I – Weather, Basic Residential Construction, Residential Roof Installation Basics *NOW AVAILABLE
• Level II – Damage Assessment *NOW AVAILABLE!
• Level III – Estimating Basics, Interior & Exterior estimate writing & review (Xactimate & Symbility optional tracks) – * Available Summer 2021
• Level IV – Advanced (made up of advanced level courses that the student may choose from) – *Available Summer 2021

Each HCR-R level takes about 12-18 hours to complete.  The first three levels culminate with an online, proctored, open-book exam, which attendees must pass with a score of 80%+.  A Certified Reviewer earns their Level IV certification once they’ve completed a 12+ hours of advanced-level courses and passed the necessary course exams.  We are currently applying for continuing education credit for HCR courses.  Stay tuned for more details!

Development of the HCR-Commercial program is scheduled to begin in late 2021, with rollout scheduled for late 2022.   The HCR-Commercial certification will focus on commercial building construction types, damage assessment, and estimating damage basics with Symbility and Xactimate.

For more information on the Haag Certified Reviewer program including details and descriptions of each level, please visit our HCR website.

Ryan Holdhusen oversees the management and strategic growth of Haag Education. He manages Haag’s line of seminars, certification programs, and products/tools. He assess product concept, development, marketing, sales and operations. Ryan has been with Haag since May 2002.

Any opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of Haag Engineering Co., Haag Construction Consulting, Haag Education, or parent company, Haag Global, Inc.

Haag’s Hurricane Geoportal– Keep An Eye on the Data for the Eye of the Storm

The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active and the seventh costliest Atlantic hurricane season on record, causing just under $47 billion in damage. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), “...the 2020 season produced 30 named storms (top winds of 74 mph or greater), including six major hurricanes (top winds of 111 mph or greater). This is the most storms on record, surpassing the 28 from 2005, and the second-highest number of hurricanes on record.” This historic hurricane season also saw record water levels in several locations, including the Gulf Coast where Hurricane Sally brought the highest observed water levels since Hurricane Katrina. Additionally, one of the most alarming statistics is that the 2020 season was the fifth consecutive above average Atlantic hurricane season from 2016 onward. Based on past weather patterns, we can expect future hurricane seasons to be just as active, if not more so, in the coming years.

If the expectation is that we are going to continue to see active hurricane seasons, it is imperative for insurance companies to have quick and reliable access to key data points as they are assessing damages, processing claims, and answering important questions such as:

• What were the maximum sustained wind speeds at a particular location?
• What was the predicted storm surge and how did that measure up to recorded high-water marks?
• What does before and after aerial imagery show for affected areas?
• How does the path of one storm compare to the paths of previous storms?
• Was there overlapping damage and if so, which storm caused which damage?

These questions are just a few examples of what needs to be answered quickly after a storm occurs. While there are a number of trusted and valuable resources that provide this data to the public (National Hurricane Center, National Centers for Environmental Information, NOAA’s Emergency Response Imagery), it can be very time-consuming and often confusing trying to locate and aggregate data from multiple websites. Then when a relevant data point is found, it can be difficult to visualize that data against other datasets you have for the project. Haag Technical Services (HTS) saw an imperative need to streamline how these datasets are accessed and viewed, which is why we created the Haag Hurricane Geoportal.

The Haag Hurricane Geoportal overlays multiple datasets compiled from several trusted and useful hurricane-related sources into one web mapping application. Users can see the track of a hurricane, what the predicted wind swaths were, and how those compare to satellite and radar imagery. They can also access valuable Local Climatological Data (LCD) weather reports from airport and other local weather stations. These reports are significant because they provide key data points related to a storm such as hourly precipitation, wind speeds, direction, gusts, and much more. If a user needs to see before and after imagery of a storm, the Haag Hurricane Geoportal has a slider tool that allows for impactful visualizations of imagery obtained by NOAA’s Remote Sensing Division. Users can also see how different hurricane tracks from earlier in the season (or from a previous season, if needed) overlap with current storms and which areas were most affected. Additionally, forecasts from future storms can be added to show where a hurricane is predicted to make landfall.

Perhaps the most useful tool within the Haag Hurricane Geoportal is the ability for users to see their own project-specific data as it relates to storm data. Imagine being able to view client locations and where possible claims could occur in relation to a storm’s track and wind swath in near real time. Then after the storm dissipates, imagine having access to LCD reports, high water marks compared to storm surge, and aerial imagery all within just a few days of when the storm occurred. This type of information is invaluable when deciding where to dispatch teams to review damages so that claims can be processed quickly and efficiently.

Haag Technical Services believes that there is no such thing as too much data as long as the data is organized, relevant, and easy to access. The Haag Hurricane Geoportal checks these boxes and so much more. It gives power to the user to view multiple datasets and decide which information they need for their project in order to efficiently complete their tasks. While we can’t stop severe weather from happening, we can create tools to help make proactive planning and recovery much easier.

If you would like to learn more about the Haag Hurricane Geoportal, please contact Marcie Deffenbaugh (mdeffenbaugh@haagglobal.com) for more information.

Marcie Deffenbaugh is the Manager of GIS Services for Haag Technical Services, a division of Haag Global, Inc.  In this role, Ms. Deffenbaugh oversees initiatives related to GIS planning, system design, and system administration. She also manages a staff of GIS technicians, analysts, cartographers, and project administrative assistants who provide data validation and project management services for oil and gas clients. As the primary liaison between the client management teams and Haag Technical Services personnel, Ms. Deffenbaugh provides technical consulting services on a regular basis.

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Any opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of Haag Technical Services, Haag Engineering Co., Haag Education, or parent company, Haag Global, Inc.

Assessing and Removing Mold

Mold spores are located everywhere! They are in the air we breathe, on the surfaces we touch, and help to contribute to a healthy ecology. Molds are organisms that play an important role in breaking down and digesting organic material. The two primary contributing factors that support mold growth in an indoor environment are moisture and the presence of organic materials. Since many materials found in today’s homes are organic based materials, the easiest way to prevent mold growth is to prevent uncontrolled moisture from entering the environment.

The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification, IICRC, is a non-profit organization that provides certification and written standards for the restoration industry. IICRC has developed and published written standards for mold remediation. They have defined 3 levels, or conditions, to describe environmental mold in indoor environments.

• Condition 1 is an indoor environment that is considered a normal fungal ecology. There may be settled spores, fungal fragments, or traces of actual growth reflective of a normal fungal ecology for a similar indoor environment.
• Condition 2 is an indoor environment that has become contaminated with settled spores or fungal fragments from a condition 3 environment. This condition may also have traces of actual growth.
• Condition 3 is an indoor environment contaminated with actual mold growth. Actual mold growth can be active or dormant, visible, or hidden.

When mold has contaminated an indoor environment, the source of moisture should first be identified and eliminated, then any materials contaminated with mold should be removed or properly cleaned. It is recommended that finish materials, such as drywall be removed and disposed of, while more permanent materials, such as framing, be cleaned in place if possible. Removal of contaminated materials must be done in a controlled manner to limit the possibility of cross contamination. Airborne mold spores can travel to unaffected areas of the home causing a Condition 2 environment in previously unaffected areas if the proper precautions are not taken. Containment of the affected area and the use of air scrubbers to create negative air pressure in the affected area are important steps in the remediation process. It is also important to note that the IICRC has stated that “attempts to kill, encapsulate or inhibit mold instead of proper source removal generally are not adequate.”

If the HVAC system is known to be or suspected of being contaminated, the air handler unit and all duct work should be inspected, and if necessary, cleaned and encapsulated or remediated by a qualified HVAC technician following the protocol developed by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association, NADCA.

A certified, experienced mold remediator can develop a preliminary determination about potential or suspected mold growth. They can also determine the need for the assistance of an Indoor Environmental Professional, IEP, to perform necessary services beyond the expertise of the remediator. Any time a remediator is unable to determine that condition 1, 2, or 3 exists, an IEP should be consulted. An IEP should also be engaged any time health issues are identified and appear to be related to the mold contamination. The IICRC has also provided guidance for the development of work plans, protocols, and specifications. It is important that the remediator develop a proper work plan to ensure a positive result while working in a safe, controlled environment.

In summary, while mold plays an important role in maintaining a balanced ecology, an over-abundance of mold could quickly become a concern, or even a possible health hazard. Each mold remediation project must be evaluated by a qualified person based on its’ own set of unique circumstances and may require the assistance of a specialized expert. All available information should then be utilized to develop an appropriate plan of action which should then be followed with proper environmental controls in place to ensure a safe work environment and a positive outcome.

Thomas Culver, CPAU, IICRC- MRS, WRT, FSRT is an experienced Senior Construction Consultant, with more than 20 years in the construction and insurance restoration industries. Mr. Culver has obtained the IICRC Mold Removal Specialist (MRS) certification, which is the highest level of certification that IICRC offers for mold. With that certification, Mr. Culver and Haag Construction Consulting offers expert witness services for mold related cases, written report of findings after a review of mold protocols or assessments, and comparative estimates for mold remediation services based on on-site inspections, provided written protocol (hygienist report), and desk review of photos (limited). He will review and assess of mold remediation estimates or proposals based on industry standards, and review and discuss information provided to assist in developing a line of questioning for depositions.

Mr. Culver is proficient in Matterport, Xactimate, Moisture Mapper, T&M Plus II and Xactanalysis Claims Management. His areas of expertise includes construction, restoration, mitigation, remediation, clerk of works, and litigation support. TCulver@HaagGlobal.com

Any opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of Haag Engineering Co., Haag Construction Consulting, Haag Education, or parent company, Haag Global, Inc.

Stay sharp with Haag’s new training programs for field and NEW certification for desk-based professionals! 

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 has forced individuals and companies deal with and adjust to once-in-a-lifetime challenges, with very little warning, and with no predictable end in sight.  We have all had to change the way we interact with customers, co-workers, and even our own friends and family.

Hopefully during this time, you’ve been able to invest some of your time and attention into professional advancement and training in an effort to sharpen your skill sets and make yourself an even more invaluable asset to your employer and to the customers you serve.

Since the COVID-19 related cancellation of Haag Education’s “in person” classes through the end of 2020 (at least), Haag Education has re-focused efforts and resources to bulk up our already robust on-demand damage assessment training library.  Haag’s library of on-demand courses consists of courses available to you, on your schedule.  Earn continuing education hours for your license renewal, earn that Haag Certification you’ve been waiting to get, or just sharpen your field damage assessment skills before your hurricane deployment, all from the safety and comfort of your own home or office.

If safe, no-contact, live training suits your learning style better than pre-recorded training, Haag has a great option for you too!  Haag now offers LIVE webinars of some of our more popular training courses, including our Haag Certified Inspector (HCI) program.  Please visit HaagEducation.com for live webinar dates coming up through the end of 2020!

Haag Education’s biggest news in the last number of years is now out of the bag!  Haag is very excited to introduce our all new Haag Certified Reviewer (HCR) certification before the end of 2020!  This new certification is Haag’s first dedicated training program for inside adjusters, estimate reviewers, internal QC and underwriters.  Unlike Haag’s Certified Inspector program, the HCR program will require no pre-requisite experience, and will fill a much-needed demand for desk adjusters and others who review or write estimates or make policy decisions from behind their desk!  The HCR program will consist of two tracks HCR-Residential and HCR-Commercial.  Each HCR track will consist of 4 levels of curriculum: General Construction, Damage Assessment, Estimating, and Advanced. While the roll-out date has not yet been announced, we expect a roll out of Level I and II of HCR-Residential, by the end of 2020, followed by the roll out of HCR-R (Level III & IV) by Q2 2021.  HCR-Commercial levels will be rolled out sometime late in 2021. Be on the lookout for more information coming very soon!

If your organization is looking for specific types of damage assessment training from Haag, we are now licensing our courses to be hosted on internal client Learning Management Systems  (LMS).  For more information on licensing Haag training for your staff, please contact me directly at rholdhusen@haagglobal.com.

Ryan Holdhusen oversees the management and strategic growth of Haag Education. He manages Haag’s line of seminars, certification programs, and products/tools. He assess product concept, development, marketing, sales and operations. Ryan has been with Haag since May 2002.

Any opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of Haag Engineering Co., Haag Construction Consulting, Haag Education, or parent company, Haag Global, Inc.

Ventilation Miscues – Why More Isn’t Always Better 

By Scott Balot, RRO, Senior Consultant, Haag Construction Consulting, and Jonathan S. Goode, Ph.D., P.E., Associate Vice President/Senior Engineer, Haag Engineering

According to Owens Corning, sloped roof systems are installed with ventilation to “address excess heat and moisture that can otherwise wreak havoc on your home.”  Improper ventilation systems can also affect the roof covering itself, typically asphalt composition shingles.  Various factors should be considered in the selection of ventilation systems including attic size/shape, roof type, roof dimensions including ridge lengths, roof pitch, and intake options.  Potential harmful effects on the roof shingles include blisters, premature granule loss, thermal cracking/crazing, and curling.

Building codes such as the International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC) require minimum ventilation requirements based on square footage of the ventilated areas.  In the IBC, Section 12.2.1 states, “The net free ventilating area shall be not less than 1/150 of the area of the space ventilated.”  Reduction in the requirements can be reduced if ventilators, such as power vent fans, are located in the upper portion of the attic or rafter space.  The IBC states, “Upper ventilators shall be located not more than 3 feet below the ridge or highest point of the space, measured vertically, with the balance of the ventilation provided by eave or cornice vents.”

Competing Ventilation

One of the more common causes of improper ventilation is the installation of multiple types of exhaust components in the same attic area.  There are two basic types of exhaust ventilation: active and passive.  Active ventilation equipment uses mechanical components to move air (such as a powered fan), whereas passive ventilation equipment relies on natural occurring forces, such as wind and/or temperature to promote air movement.  When used independently, both types can provide proper air movement through attic spaces.  However, when combining both types, the active vent can draw air from the passive exhaust vent instead of the lower intake (soffit) vents at the bottom of the attic, essentially short-circuiting the airflow.  For example, in Figure 1 there is a powered fan (active) installed alongside multiple static vents (passive).  When the power fan is activated, air pulled through the static vents instead of the soffit vents, thereby only circulating air in the uppermost part of the attic.  It is the equivalent of punching a hole in the side of a drinking straw and trying to take a sip.

Too Much Ventilation 

While having plenty of intake is not an issue, not having a balanced system by having too much exhaust can be problematic.  A balanced system requires equal intake to outtake, and when that does not exist, the exhaust components look to draw their air from other sources.  For example, in Figure 2 there are two different types of passive ventilation components (ridge vent and static vent).  Similar to combining active and passive vents, ridge vents can pull air through the static vents directly below instead of having air flow from the intake vents along the soffits, thereby interrupting proper air movement throughout the entire attic area.

Too Little Ventilation

Perhaps the most damaging ventilation miscue is when an attic space does not have enough intake and/or exhaust to provide a minimum of 1/150 net free area for air movement.  For example, in Figure 3 there is only one exhaust vent installed to service a large area of attic space.  Because there are not enough openings for air to exhaust properly, higher air temperatures and elevated moisture will stay inside the attic for longer periods of time.  This can be devastating for the lifespan of the roof covering, as well as cause adverse effects to the wood framing and substrate.

About the Authors–

Jonathan S. Goode, Ph.D., P.E., serves as Associate Vice President for Haag Engineering Co. and is a Senior Engineer.  Dr. Goode provides engineering consulting and expert witness services.  He has provided expert testimony in cases involving roof and building envelope performance/damage.  Dr. Goode has presented at various conferences and claims association meeting, as well as chapters of the American Society of Civil Engineers.  Dr. Goode holds B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Agricultural and Civil Engineering from the University of Georgia, the University of Colorado at Boulder, and Colorado State University.  He is a licensed professional engineer in 17 states and was an Assistant Professor at Oklahoma State University prior to coming to Haag Engineering in 2010.  Dr. Goode has published papers in several peer-reviewed scientific journals.  Dr. Goode is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and serves on the Committee on Forensic Practices in the Forensic Engineering Division.

Scott Balot is a Senior Construction Consultant with Haag Construction Consulting with 20+ years’ experience in the construction and insurance industries. Mr. Balot expertise includes knowledge of wind and hail-related evaluations to a wide variety of commercial and residential roof systems and exteriors. These roof systems include installations on multi-family complexes, industrial facilities, restaurants, hotels, shopping centers, commercial facilities, government operations, residences, and many others. Scott has experience in damage assessment, consulting, estimating, negotiation, and project management.

Any opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of Haag Engineering Co., Haag Construction Consulting, Haag Education, or parent company, Haag Global, Inc.

Fast Fires and Hot Fires

Fast Fires–

Hot Fires–

Impact Resistant Shingles

In May 2019, Haag Research & Testing Co. (HRT) published the blog for the Haag Global newsletter which discussed the history of simulated hail testing performed by Haag over the years. We also explained our current ice ball launching platform (the IBL-7) and mentioned two impact testing protocols used to classify the impact-resistance of roofing products. (The blog can be viewed here.)

Since then, HRT conducted a research project to put several impact-resistant roofing products to the test. Five asphalt shingle designs from four different manufacturers were tested against their published impact ratings to determine if they would perform as advertised. Although two of the five shingles performed consistent with their ratings, the study revealed an important shortcoming in the impact testing standards. Test standards UL 2218 (steel ball drop test) and ANSI/FM 4473 (propelled ice ball test) specify visual examination of the tested roofing products after testing to determine if the products were compromised by the impacts. These test standards do not currently evaluate the reinforcements within asphalt shingles or other bituminous roofing types. Consequently, reinforcements can be fractured or strained during impact testing, yet go unnoticed by laboratory personnel performing the tests.

HRT not only tested the impact-resistant shingles according to both testing protocols, but also extracted the shingle reinforcements using hot solvent, a process called “desaturation testing”, after the impact testing was completed. The desaturation process not only revealed impact-caused fractures in all five of the tested shingle designs at their published class ratings, but also found fractures in their reinforcements from impacts at lower class ratings, including Class 1, which is the lowest rating. Class 1 tests involve steel balls or ice balls that impact test specimens at energies similar to the free-fall energy of hailstones measuring 1-1/4 inches in diameter. It is important to understand, the kinetic energy of a hailstone increases exponentially with size. The table below summarizes the kinetic energy of free-falling hailstones and includes the kinetic energies of Classes 1, 2, 3, and 4 outlined in UL 2218 and ANSI/FM 4473 test standards.

Four of the five shingle designs had an additional reinforcement layer, strategically placed on the back sides of the shingles which should increase the tensile strength of the shingles. The reinforcement backing, however, obstructed the view of fractures in many cases during the study, causing the visual examinations described in the tests to fall short of ascertaining the true performance of the shingles.

Desaturation testing is described in ASTM D3746 (Standard Test Method for Impact Resistance of Bituminous Roofing Systems), which is a long-standing test procedure for determining the impact resistance of asphalt built-up roofing (ABUR).  HRT performs desaturation testing during forensic examinations of roofing involved in insurance claims or legal disputes and has done so for decades. HRT is accredited by the International Accreditation Service (IAS) to perform desaturation testing and both UL 2218 and ANSI/FM 4473 impact testing protocols. HRT has the capability to propel ice balls ranging from 1/2 inch up to 4 inches in diameter, providing useful information outside the range of the ANSI/FM 4473 ice ball testing protocol. Impact testing with simulated hailstones and utilization of desaturation procedures are often performed together to gain an accurate understanding of the impact resistance of roofing products, surface conditions caused by hail, and whether or not bituminous roofing samples taken from roofs for forensic evaluations have sustained hail-caused fractures or strains in their reinforcements. Bituminous products suitable for this type of testing include asphalt shingles, ABUR, modified bitumen membrane roofing, and coal tar built-up roofing.

 The study of impact-resistant shingles performed by HRT has been peer-reviewed, and was published in the May 2020 edition of Interface Magazine (Source: https://iibec.org/). The article can also be viewed here.

Read Haag’s White Paper: Impact Testing of Impact Resistant Shingles here. 

 Steve R. Smith, P.E., Director of Research & Testing and Principal Engineer

Steve R. Smith, P.E., completed nuclear power training with the United States Navy in 1994. He was honorably discharged in 1998 and went to work for Haag Engineering Co. as Senior Laboratory Technician. Steve has performed hundreds of hail impact tests on a variety of products including roofing, siding, and automobiles.  He graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2005 with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Society of Automotive Engineers, and the National Association of Fire Investigators. Steve has inspected and assessed damage to a number of roof systems, including single-ply systems, composition shingles, cedar shake and shingles, concrete tiles, slates, and built-up roofing. As Director of Research & Testing, Mr. Smith oversees all testing projects, protocols and manages Haag’s accreditation. Mr. Smith is based at Haag’s national headquarters in Flower Mound, TX.

Any opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of Haag Engineering Co., Haag Construction Consulting, Haag Education, or parent company, Haag Global, Inc.