Roof Wind Uplift Testing

A common point of system failure occurs when fasteners shear or pull loose from the underlying roof sheathing.

Roof wind uplift testing.

Fm loss prevention data sheet 1 52 fm 1 52 field uplift tests provides for two methods of testing wind uplift resistance. It starts by evacuating the air on the top side of the roof and then lets the atmospheric pressure push on the bottom side. The test frame has the appropriate roof deck attached to supports. 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. 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 negative pressure test and the bonded uplift test. These tests are necessary to understand how a metal roof system can withstand both external and internal pressures which is important when trying to meet design and performance requirements in projects.

To ensure a correctly built metal roof there are a variety of wind uplift tests manufacturers use to test their metal panel systems. The test is performed on a 10 square foot section of the roof. The video below is a demonstration of the wind uplift tests on the butler mr 24 roof. 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.

This creates an uplift form which is then measured.