Liquid Cool Roof systems ensure better living and working comfort, reduced energy consumption and greater environmental friendliness.
The current problems of roofs and roofing
Dark roofs or roofs with low emissivity materials have a tendency to absorb excessive solar radiation, causing harmful effects on both the environment and human health. These phenomena produce an excessive increase in temperature inside buildings, a greater use of air conditioners and, consequently, a greater production and emission of CO2 into the atmosphere. This results in an increase in the perceived temperature in urban areas, which is known as the ‘heat island effect’. To counter this, regulators and various trade associations have encouraged and promoted the use of increasingly green and environmentally friendly technologies.
Cool Roofs – what they are and what they are for
In the construction field, thanks to regulatory measures such as the Ministerial Decree 26/6/15 ‘Adaptation of national guidelines for the energy certification of buildings’ and the Ministerial Decree 11/10/17 “Procurement of design and construction services for new buildings, renovation and maintenance of public facilities“, the waterproofing systems with high reflectivity and solar emissivity are now playing leading roles in the design and upgrading of roofs, turning them into cool roofs with high heat protection.
These materials, linked to the Cool Roof design, allow both the construction of new waterproofing membranes and the functional and energy-efficient renovation of existing ones. Their ability to reflect solar radiation and to radiate, in the form of infrared rays, the remaining heat from the roof to the outside, allows not only a reduction in the internal temperature of the building perceived during the summer period, but also less degradation of all the elements of the covering as they are subject to less ‘thermal shock’.
Liquid Waterproofing in Cool Roof Designs
The construction of a roof with thermal behaviour Cool Roof can be carried out by using special liquid formulations characterised by the typical ‘reflective’ white colour. Due to their versatility it is possible to carry out various tasks on roofs, such as the visible waterproofing of flat roofs or the functional and energy recovery of existing bituminous coverings. The simplicity of laying also makes it possible to work on geometrically complex surfaces, such as domed roofs or wave slabs, where the use of prefabricated membranes is impossible. In addition, the possibility of spraying the resin with airless pumps improves efficiency while reducing installation times.
How to make a Cool Roof protection with Icobit’s Star line
It is possible to reduce overheating under solar radiation of bituminous coverings, masonry or concrete and metal roofs, thus guaranteeing a reduction in the perceived temperature inside the home, thanks to the use of Icobit’s Star Line.
The use of Icoper Star, a white single-component continuous membrane in water emulsion based on elastomeric resins with high solar reflectance and resistant to water stagnation, allows both the construction of visible waterproofing membranes on flat roofs and the recovery of old bituminous coverings, while guaranteeing energy savings in summer, typical of Cool Roof materials. From an operational point of view, proper waterproofing, in order to be carried out in a professional manner, must comply with three distinct stages, namely:
- Preparation and restoration of the substrate
- Appropriate priming
- Correct installation of waterproofing
Referring the reader to the in-depth examination of the above-mentioned phases by reading the articles and product sheets on icobit.com, we focus our attention on the functional, energy and economic characteristics of the waterproofing membrane. The sealing element made from Icoper Star has the ability to reflect 80% of the sun’s radiation, thereby reducing the surface temperature of the roof by up to 50%.
This reduction translates into lower energy consumption of the building and, therefore, higher savings in the energy bill for the consumer.
If the aforementioned contribution is added to the savings gained by avoiding the costs of disposing of an existing asphalt surface, one can imagine the enormous potential of Icoper Star in a cost-benefit ratio for a re-waterproofing operation.
Furthermore, the increase in albedo, the fraction of incident radiation that is reflected from the roof surface, increases the performance of the photovoltaic system.
Keeping white painting over time with Free Dust Icobit
In general, white Cool Roof protections express their characteristics of solar reflectance and emissivity as long as it is characterised by thermal white, typical of cool materials. Exposure to aggressive environments, in the absence of appropriate slopes or the presence of a high concentration of smog in the air, can change the colour of the roof covering/cladding.
An effective way to avoid such problems is the application of Free Dust, a non-yellowing, transparent aliphatic finish with very low dirt pick-up, which allows the finished Cool Roof to last longer.
The performance of the Star line for a Cool Roof
Thanks to the innovation of the Star line products, it is possible to work on roofs and roof coverings (today largely dark in colour and lacking any thermal protection properties), succeeding in drastically reducing their surface temperature, while at the same time guaranteeing energy savings for buildings in terms of lower consumption of electricity linked to air conditioning systems and greater energy efficiency of any photovoltaic systems installed on the roof. The technology of the Star line of products is based on the use of water-based, solvent-free products, while ensuring easy application on site.
Discover the numerous versions of the Icoper line at http://www.icobit.com/it/la-gamma-icoper or write an e-mail to info@icobititalia.com