METAL ROOFS SAVE ENERGY, AS A DETAILED THREE-YEAR PERFORMANCE COMPARISON STUDY DEMONSTRATED IT

Cool Metal Roofing Constantly Generates Savings

The Buildings Technology Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory concluded a three-year performance comparison study of metal roofing systems’ impact on energy costs and lifespan in 2004.

This organization analyzed the results of the test fence data after 10, 15, and 30 years of exposure. Both painted and unpainted metal roofs show less effect from weather extremes over time, maintaining surface properties and resisting soiling, as shown in the performance comparison study.

In some applications, the energy savings from a painted metal roof (compared to a traditional built-up roof) can translate to notable cost savings. Indeed, the roof could pay for itself in only nine years. Roof roofing has a useful life of 30-50 years in most other contexts.

• Fast Facts about the Research:
• Study of roofing materials, including painted and unpainted metal roofing systems, for several years at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and at test fence exposure locations in Florida, Nova Scotia, and Pennsylvania.
• Constant temperature and heat transfer measurement from the roof.
• Periodic measurement of solar reflectivity and infrared emissivity (two characteristics that strongly impact a roof’s energy efficiency).
• Assessing how different roofing materials affect cooling needs and peak loads.

• Who Took Part in The Research:

The Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Buildings Technology Center, alongside the Cool Metal Roofing Coalition, carried out this research. The American Iron and Steel Institute, the Metal Construction Association, the National Coil Coaters Association, and the North American Zinc-Aluminum Coaters Association also participated in the study.

• What Methods Were Used to Conduct the Study:

Researchers evaluated the reflective and heat emission properties of several roofing materials using high-tech tools. The equipment used included sun spectrum reflectometers and portable emissometers. It was possible to observe how these materials’ performance evolved through repeated measurements.

Painted and unpainted galvanized steel, Galvalume–coated steel, and painted PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) aluminum roofing were tested in the study. The experts evaluated their suitability for both steep-slope and low-slope installations.

Cool Metal Roofing Is the Most Cost-Effective Option

• What We Learned from the Study:

As can be seen in the following graph, metal panels maintain high levels of reflectivity even after years of exposure to the elements. Moreover, the panels kept their high emittance levels and, in some cases, even improved upon them.

In comparison to other roofing materials, metal panels, whether coated or untreated, keep their energy efficiency better over time.

• Research’s Conclusions About Solar reflectance from PVDF-coated metals:

Researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory found that pre-painted metal roofing maintained 95% of its initial solar reflectance after three years.

As exposure duration rises, so does the infrared emittance. When exposed to varying conditions, the emittance of coated metals remains consistent throughout measurements.

The factory finish of all painted metal roofs has been preserved. For over three and a half years, rainfall with a Ph OF 4.3 has “not etched the metal finish.”

It has been observed in the field that “these sorts of (PVDF) painted metals maintain their resistance to soiling for at least thirty-five years.”

The Oak Ridge National Laboratory found “Exposure Testing of Painted PVDF Metal Roofing”

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