Demonstration Shows ZIP System® Roof Assembly Meets FORTIFIED Roof™ Resilient Building Standards

CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) conducted a hurricane-force, wind-driven rain demonstration on January 9, 2020, to show the water resistance of a FORTIFIED Roof™ built with a ZIP System^® Roof Assembly. Huber Engineered Woods' ZIP System Roof Assembly is the first manufacturer-warranted¹, roof sheathing system² that meets the sealed roof deck standard for a FORTIFIED Roof³.  FORTIFIED Roof sealed roof deck standards are based on more than 20 years of scientific research and real-world testing.

In the demonstration,105 fans reaching peak speeds of 105 mph and a rainfall rate of 8 inches per hour were released onto a model house outfitted with a ZIP System Roof Assembly. The wall of fans was programmed to provide gusts and triangulation of wind to replicate wind trace data collected during Hurricane Florence. The sealed roof deck built with ZIP System^® sheathing and tape was 830 square feet and faced over 2,000 gallons of rain in 30 minutes, equating to about 4 inches during the 30-minute demo.

"We've calculated that an unsealed roof deck allows up to 60% of the rain that hits a damaged roof to enter into the attic. A sealed roof deck can reduce water entry by as much as 95%," said Anne Cope PhD, P.E., chief engineer for IBHS. "If all the shingles came off a 2,000-square-foot unsealed roof, up to 750 gallons of water could enter the attic for every inch of rain that falls – equivalent to 9 bathtubs full of water."

The resulting well-protected interior with a dry attic demonstrated that ZIP System Roof Assembly provides an effective water barrier even when completely exposed during Category 1 hurricane conditions.

"This impressive demonstration subjected the ZIP System Roof assembly to a punishing, realistic period of high wind and wind-driven rain. The rain downpours and wind gusts simulated those that occurred during Hurricane Florence," said Kurt Koch, VP Product Engineering and Quality for Huber Engineered Woods. "We couldn't be happier with the results – ZIP System Roof really delivered as a sealed roof deck solution. We are proud of the team and their accomplishments to create the first fully warranted roof sheathing system that meets the sealed roof deck standards for a FORTIFIED Roof."

ZIP System Roof Assembly is a streamlined approach to a sealed roof deck using integrated sheathing with a built-in, weather-resistive underlayment and taped seams. It eliminates the need for felt and provides a continuous water and air barrier that helps meet FORTIFIED Roof standards to keep the water out, even in a high-wind driven rain event.

Since its introduction in 2006, ZIP System^® sheathing and tape has been widely adopted by construction teams as a replacement for traditional sheathing and housewrap or felt. Completed with taped panel seams using high-performance ZIP System™ flashing tape, the system helps achieve quicker dry-in and reduces the risk of rework, while providing advanced moisture protection and reduced air leakage.

Click here to watch footage of the January 9 demonstration at IBHS.

Click here to watch The Weather Channel's coverage of the demonstration on March 25 .

For more information on ZIP System Roof Assembly, visit ZIPSystem.com/roof.

About Huber Engineered Woods
Building products innovator Huber Engineered Woods LLC has a reputation built on consistent product performance and commitment to people. Fueled by on-the-jobsite analysis and building science principles, AdvanTech® subflooring and ZIP System® building enclosure product solutions have changed the way construction teams build better buildings. AdvanTech and ZIP System products streamline installation, while providing dependable performance as critical components of quiet, stiff floors and weather-resistant, tight building envelopes. With headquarters in Charlotte, NC and manufacturing facilities in Maine, Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee and Oklahoma and a national sales team of over 100 members, Huber Engineered Woods provides specialty building materials to residential, multifamily and light commercial projects nationwide, through a national network of lumberyard and distribution partners. Visit huberwood.com to learn more.

About the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS)
The IBHS mission is to conduct objective, scientific research to identify and promote effective actions that strengthen homes, businesses and communities against natural disasters and other causes of loss. Learn more about IBHS at DisasterSafety.org.

¹ The ZIP System^® product line is backed with a 30-year limited warranty. Limitations and restrictions apply. See http://www.huberwood.com/warranties.
² Roof sheathing system means integrated sheathing with a built-in, weather-resistive underlayment and taped seams.
³ When ZIP System roof sheathing is installed using the product installation instructions and attached to the framing members using a FORTIFIED Roof accepted method.

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SOURCE Huber Engineered Woods LLC