When the Mercury Soars, Keeping Cool May Depend On What's Overhead
June 19, 2001
The current energy crisis has fueled great interest in metal roofing systems because of their reflection of radiant heat. In the past, though, property owners who wanted to enjoy lower air conditioning costs with metal roofing were best to choose either metallic finish roofs or very light color roofs. All of that, however, was changed when Classic products, Inc. unveiled its new HI-R Heat Barrier metal roofing finishes at the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) show held in San Francisco.
In side-by-side heat reflectivity testing, HI-R Heat Barrier finishes substantially out-perform all other colored metal roofing systems, even in the very dark colors that many designers and property owners prefer. HI-R coatings can be applied to aluminum or steel. The technology used in these coatings comes from Ferro Corp. For over 50 years, Ferro has been involved in the development of infrared reflecting pigments and coatings for the military. With the new HI-R Heat Barrier finishes, though, this technology takes on new life and new meaning in an era of rapidly increasing energy costs.
HI-R Heat Barrier finishes have been tested to generate temperature reductions of 50° and more on metal roofing panels in comparison to conventional paint finishes in similar colors. If the rooftop is kept cooler, of course, then the attic and the living space beneath it are kept cooler as well. The implications of this technology are substantial as it is estimated that air conditioning loads increase by 2 percent for one degree in temperature rise. If buildings are kept cooler, then air conditioning demands are reduced substantially. When energy consumption is reduced, additional benefits occur in the reduction of city smog-related health problems.
Classic Products, Inc., based in Piqua, Ohio is a leading manufacturer of metal roofing materials for residential and other sloped roof applications. The HI-R Heat Barrier finishes now available on their products was developed in conjunction with BASF and Ferro Corporation. BASF is a leading producer of paint finishes for architectural building products while Ferro Corporation is a manufacturer of pigments used in those paint finishes.
HI-R Heat Barrier finishes on metal roofs are available locally by American Roofs Inc. 1-800-287-0677 or www.americanmetalroofs.com. To see these new HI-R Heat Barrier finishes visit our showroom at 3400 N. Elms Rd., Flushing, Michigan, 48433.
