Protecting Yourself from Heat Illness

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1 A TECHNICAL ROOFING PUBLICATION BY CARLISLE SYNTEC SYSTEMS SUMMER 2014 In This Issue Protecting Yourself from Heat Illness Protecting Yourself from Heat Illness Summer Guidelines for Working with Low-VOC Bonding Adhesive Featured Product: Sure-Weld SAT TPO Membrane SAT TPO: Quick Tips Q&A from the Field Did You Know? Trivia Question Trivia Question How many square feet of TPO has Carlisle sold? Answer will appear in the next issue of TecTopics. Summer is the height of the roofi ng season, and roofi ng professionals across the country are trying to get as much work completed as quickly as possible. However, when working in the summer heat, you must always be on the lookout for signs of heat-related illness. Here are some heat illness facts and prevention tips from OSHA to help contractors work safely in the summertime. For more safety tips and full OSHA guidelines for working in the heat, visit www. osha.gov. Risk factors for heat illness: High temperature and humidity, direct sun exposure, no breeze or wind Low liquid intake Heavy physical labor Waterproof clothing No recent exposure to hot workplaces. Symptoms of heat exhaustion: Headache, dizziness, or fainting Weakness and wet skin Irritability or confusion Thirst, nausea or vomiting. Symptoms of heat stroke: Confusion, inability to think clearly, passing out, collapse or seizures High body temperature Loss of coordination Hot, dry skin or profuse sweating Throbbing headache. If someone on your crew has symptoms: Tell the supervisor right away and ask for medical help Move the person to the shade to cool off Keep the person cool: cool the skin with a wet cloth or a spray mist Loosen the person s clothing Have the person drink cool water slowly (only if he or she is conscious and not vomiting) Do not leave the person alone. How you can protect yourself and others: Know the signs and symptoms of heat illnesses; monitor yourself and use a buddy system Block out direct sun and other heat sources when possible Drink plenty of fl uids BEFORE you get thirsty, and drink often (every 15 minutes) Avoid beverages containing alcohol or caffeine Wear lightweight, light-colored, loosefi tting clothes.

2 Summer Guidelines for Working with Low-VOC Bonding Adhesive The roofi ng season is here, and jobs are in full swing. Many roofi ng professionals will be working on projects that use Carlisle s Low-VOC Bonding Adhesive this summer. Here are some tips for successful Low-VOC installations in the summertime and year-round. Membranes must be allowed to relax. Membranes should be placed into position a minimum of 30 minutes prior to the application of adhesive. This will allow the sheet to warm up, reducing the amount of expansion after installation. If the membrane is not allowed to relax, blisters may appear after installation due to membrane expansion. Low-VOC Bonding Adhesive must be properly mixed. The adhesive must be thoroughly mixed so that it is a consistent yellow color. When properly mixed, there should be no white, bright yellow or dark areas in the adhesive. This is easiest to achieve using a mechanical mixer; however, mixing by hand is also an option. The amount of time it takes to mix the adhesive will vary based on the mixing method. Low-VOC Bonding Adhesive MUST be applied at a coverage rate of 60 square feet per gallon. Regardless of the substrate or application method, the 60-square-feet-per-gallon coverage rate must be achieved. In order to perform as intended, the adhesive must not be applied at more than 300 square feet (fi nished surface) per 5-gallon pail. If a mechanical dispenser (such as the Better Spreader) is used, the adhesive must be back-rolled to ensure coverage is even and the proper coverage rate has been achieved. Flash-off time must be closely monitored. Low-VOC Bonding Adhesive can fl ash off in as little as 5 minutes when applied at the specifi ed coverage rate of 60 square feet per gallon. The fl ash-off time is dependent upon the ambient conditions (amount of sun, humidity, clouds, etc.), and the actual time will vary. Carlisle requires that applicators use the tack test method to check the adhesive, which is performed by placing a clean, dry fi nger on the adhesive. The adhesive must not string or transfer to a dry fi nger touch, while still remaining tacky. The membrane must be installed as soon as the adhesive passes the tack test. Do not allow individual areas to over-dry; if over-drying should occur, re-apply the adhesive to those areas at half the coverage rate and allow to fl ash off properly. Some substrates may require two coats of adhesive to obtain optimal results. This is accomplished by placing a primer coat on the substrate and allowing it to properly fl ash off, then applying a second coat of adhesive. It is essential that the second coat is applied at 60 square feet per gallon. This method is especially valuable in wall applications; on walls, use a neoprene-type hand roller to ensure maximum contact. Featured Product and Detail: Sure-Weld SAT TPO Membrane Carlisle s Sure-Weld SAT (Self-Adhering Technology) TPO membrane is a heat-weldable single-ply sheet designed for fully adhered applications. Carlisle's SAT TPO incorporates a 100%-solid hot-melt adhesive fused to the bottom ply of the TPO sheet and provides a variety of benefi ts, including: Improved adhesive formulation for superior bonding to substrates Lay-Flat Technology provides a wrinkle-free appearance Up to 80% labor savings compared to traditional adhered systems Quicker, quieter, application with less disruption to building occupants No solvents, VOCs or odors Available in 60-mil white 10' x 50' and 10' x 100' rolls Double-sided, non-stick release liner eliminates sticking issues upon removal, particularly in windy conditions Smooth membrane reduces dirt buildup and stays cleaner longer Factory-applied adhesive provides consistent thickness and maximum uplift performance 2

3 SAT TPO: Quick Tips Before installation, please keep in mind that: Carlisle s SAT TPO membrane may only be installed when the outdoor temperature is at least 50 F (10 C) and rising. The surface to which the membrane will be applied must be clean. Prior to membrane placement, the surface of the insulation or underlayment board must be cleaned using a fi ne push broom or a blower. Priming of the insulation surface is not required. Welding the sheet: Refer to Carlisle s TPO Adhered Application specifi cation for typical heat-welding procedures. SAT TPO has an uncoated edge on one side along the length of the sheet for membrane welding. Adjoining membrane sheets are overlapped lengthwise a minimum of 2" to provide for a minimum 1½"-wide heat weld. Carlisle recommends that all splices be shingled to avoid bucking of water. An uncoated edge is not provided at the ends of the rolls. Adjoining membrane sheets must be butted together and overlaid with 6"-wide TPO Reinforced Membrane and hot-air welded along all edges. Seal all membrane edges (where scrim reinforcement is exposed) with TPO Cut-Edge Sealant. How to Install a 10' x 100' Sheet of SAT TPO in Under Two Minutes: 1. Roll out and position the sheet. 2. Remove approximately 3 feet of release liner from the end of the sheet. 3. To tack the sheet into place, press the exposed pressure-sensitive adhesive firmly onto the substrate. 4. Remove liner by pulling at a 45-degree angle from under each side of the sheet. Important: The roller can be run lengthwise only after the SAT TPO has been broomed onto the substrate. If you are not using the pushbroom method, the roller must be run widthwise across the sheet. SAT TPO can also be installed using the barn door installation method: Position Sure-Weld SAT TPO membrane over the substrate. Fold the membrane sheet back so half the underside is exposed. Remove the release liner on one half of the sheet, starting from the split in the liner at the middle of the sheet. The liner should be removed at an angle to reduce tearing. Broom the membrane onto the substrate using a push broom. Doing so will reduce the chance of membrane wrinkling during the rolling process. Roll the membrane onto the substrate, taking care to avoid wrinkles. To achieve optimal adhesion, the membrane should be rolled onto the substrate at an angle with a 150-lb segmented roller. Fold back the remaining half of the sheet and repeat the above process. Always refer to Carlisle s Specifi cations and Details for complete installation information. 5. Use a push broom to tack the entire sheet into place. THIS STEP IS CRITICAL TO AVOID PUSHING FULLNESS INTO THE SHEET. 6. Use a weighted roller to obtain full adhesion. 3 CLICK HERE TO SEE A VIDEO OF THIS INSTALLATION METHOD.

4 Q&A From the Field May a sun deck be installed over a warranted Carlisle roof system? This is a job-to-job decision. Carlisle will need information on how the deck is to be used, along with a roof plan showing layout and attachment details. If approved for warranty, the owner must agree to remove and replace the deck if it should become necessary, or allow Carlisle to service the membrane or investigate potential leaks. Can a roof garden be installed on a flat (dead level) roof? No, there is a minimum slope requirement of ¼" in 12". What width of expansion joint can Carlisle s Sure-Seal Expansion Joint cover? The span limit is 2" on deck-to-wall expansion joints and 3" on deck-to-deck expansion joints. On a U-8B, what is the upper temperature limit for a hot pipe penetration? 180 F for EPDM installations and 160 F for Thermoplastic installations. What adhesives can be used for adhering FleeceBACK membrane to parapet walls? When adhering FleeceBACK membrane to parapet walls, the following adhesives may be utilized: FAST or Flexible FAST Adhesive These adhesives must be applied with full spray (not the extruded application). Fold the membrane back approximately 2' from the angle change. Spray light, even coats on the wall surface, working from top to bottom, covering the fi rst pass by 50% with the next pass. Next, spray the exposed horizontal deck. Allow the adhesive to set up approximately 3-4 minutes past string time. Work the membrane into the angle change and smooth it up the wall with your hand. Broom in with a stiff bristle broom and roll by hand with a hand roller. Complete proper termination of the membrane. Bonding Adhesive - Coat the fl eece, then coat the wall, then re-coat the fl eece using the specifi ed coverage rate of 60 square feet per gallon fi nished surface. Allow the bonding adhesive to tack conducting the tack test (bonding adhesive should not string or transfer to a dry fi nger touch). Mate the membrane to the wall and broom with a stiff bristle broom. Complete proper termination of the membrane. Can Water Cut-Off Mastic (WCOM) be used instead of Lap Sealant under T-Joint Covers? No. WCOM is designed to be placed under constant compression. Examples of where WCOM is used include: underneath drain and pipe boot clamp rings, under termination bars and under scupper and curb fl anges. The coverage rate is 10 feet per tube. May A Bonding Adhesive be spray-applied? No. Why do blisters sometimes occur when using Low-VOC Bonding Adhesive? Low-VOC Bonding Adhesive must be allowed to dry until it is tacky but does not string or stick to a dry fi nger touch. Any coated area that has been exposed to rain should be allowed to dry and then re-coated. If membrane is mated with the substrate prior to the adhesive fl ashing off, blistering will occur. What precautions should be taken if insulation is to be stored on the roof prior to installation? Insulation/underlayment must be stored so it is kept dry and protected from the elements. Store insulation on a skid and completely cover with a breathable material such as a tarp or canvas. If the insulation is lightweight, it should be weighted to prevent possible wind damage. Will high temperatures above 90 F affect flashings and adhesives? Yes, temperatures in excess of 90 F (32 C) may affect the shelf life of curable materials such as uncured fl ashing, adhesives, sealants, primers, SecurTAPE, and pressure-sensitive fl ashing and accessories. 4

5 Did You Know? Did you know Carlisle is in the process of putting QR (quick response) codes on its accessory packaging? A QR code is a type of 2D bar code that is used to provide easy access to information through a smartphone. Go to your phone s app store, search for QR readers, and download the QR reader of your choice. Then, scan the code to the right to see how Carlisle is implementing QR codes on its packaging P.O. Box 7000 Carlisle, PA Fax: Carlisle. Carlisle, Sure-Weld, Sure-Seal, FleeceBACK, SAT, FAST and SecurTAPE are trademarks of Carlisle.