Roof & Wall Build-Ups

VMZINC must not only be installed according to our recommendations but also designed to them as well.

Basic requirements

VMZINC can be installed on non-vented warm roof build-ups as well as on vented cold roof build-ups. For standing seam build-ups a roof would have a slope of no more than 70º; above this slope it should be considered wall cladding. All wall cladding should be ventilated. VMZINC will only give a warranty for recommended build-ups and details. The minimum slope for zinc roofs is 3 degrees as built. 

Definition of warm roof in the UK

Warm non-ventilated and cold ventilated roofs are two terms which do not always denote the same ideas to all building professionals. In order to put the warm non-ventilated roof system into context, we will refer to it as a roof where there is absolutely no vented space within the roof build-up and furthermore the entire roof structure is on the warm side of the insulation. In the UK this means that the roof structure is entirely below the insulation.

Warm Roof: Continuous layer of insulation covering a fully supported vapour barrier.

Fundamental elements of the system:

  • VMZINC PLUS must be used on all warm roof build-ups.
  • VMZINC Membrane must be used (breather membrane).
  • The substrate must be continuous and even and the correct fixing clips must be used.
  • A fully supported continuous vapour barrier, Aludex Max,  must be installed (bitumen-backed aluminium foil). Polythene films are not acceptable.
  • For humidity class 5 (swimming pools) the Compact roof with Foamglas must be used. This build-up, as with the Structural roof, carries a BBA certificate.

Definition of cold roof in the UK

In order to put the cold ventilated roof system into context, we will refer to it as a roof where there is a continuous air space of at least 50mm between the substrate supporting the zinc and the insulation. This air space must be a vented space with openings generally at the eaves and the ridge.

Hybrid roofs are not recommended by VMZINC and can result in the whole roof including the zinc failing. 

Cold Roof: Air inlets and outlets are generally linear (at least 10mm open) but can be individual.  The ventilation must correspondto BS: S250: 2002.

Fundamental elements of the system:

  • VMZINC PlUS must be used on plywood whereas VMZINC is acceptable on open-gap softwood boards.
  • VMZINC Membrane can be used to protect the insulation.
  • The substrate must be continuous and even, and the correct fixing clips must be used.

Linear air vents must be at least 10mm open and are commonly protected by insect mesh. It is always good practice to include a vapour control layer in the build up and this should be installed on the warm side of the insulation. The system is covered by the Code of Practice 143-5: 1964. 

Fixing clips

All standing seam panels must have a fixed area of at least 5 one-piece fixing clips which do not allow any thermal expansion or contraction. It should be noted that when items such as PV panels or snow retention systems are being fitted directly to the zinc roof a calculation of shear load must be carried out. 

Fixed Clip

Sliding Clip

This will determine whether by increasing the number of fixed clips will be sufficient or not to deal with the possible shear loads. Maximum clip spacing is 330mm with this reducing to 200mm along the edges of the roof (at least 1100mm or 1/8 of the projected roof) and 150mm where two edges meet.


Panel size

Standing seam roof panels can be up to 600mm wide, with 530mm and 430mm wide panels also being standard, narrower panels should be used in exposed locations. The maximum standard length for roofing panels is 13m. Roof panels are generally 0.7mm thick, however, for long panels or exposed sites 0.8mm thick zinc can be considered. Please consult us concerning panel sizes for façade systems.


Noise

As zinc is a relatively soft metal, impact noise is rarely an issue. However, if the building owner does have concerns the use of a warm roof build-up would reduce not only impact noise but also possible noise created by pressure differences in a vented air space which is a prerequisite of a vented roof.


Façade Systems

A wide range of VMZINC façade systems exists. The majority follow the rainscreen principle where the panels are fixed to rails on a vertical wall incorporating a 38mm vented space. Standing seam and flat lock panels are fixed to a continuous support and can be considered as wall cladding for slopes above 70º. As all the systems are vented it may be necessary to include fire breaks which can involve compartmentalising the façade using flashings or compatible intumescent fire stops.


VMZINC and VMZINC PLUS

Zinc is a metal that has been used to clad the exterior of buildings for many years and as such is resistant to water. However, this is only the case in the presence of carbon dioxide (which is present in air). If zinc is installed on a substrate that limits the amount of air that can be in contact with its back surface it is possible that this will induce the formation of white rust. It is for this reason that VMZINC (no backside coating) can only be used on roofing when vented open gap softwood boarding is used as a substrate. VMZINC is also acceptable on vented rainscreen facades. For all other roof build-ups VMZINC PLUS must be used.

VMZINC PLUS consists of VMZINC (in all finishes) having a 60μm coating applied to the underside thus allowing a more varied amount of substrates to be used and eliminating the risk of the formation of white rust on the underside of the zinc standing seam panels. VMZINC PLUS resists to an abrasion of 40 litres when tested in accordance with ASTM D 968.

Life Cycle

A Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) is a standardised tool used to assess the environmental characteristics of building products.