A Roofing Membrane That Works to Extinguish Flames

By Colin Sheehan, RCS Reporter. 

After a year of historic wildfires, fire-resistant roofing products are some of the most needed in residential and commercial markets today.  

 Duro-Last® manufactures products to beat the elements. Their custom-fabricated, single-ply commercial roofing system is ideal for any flat or low-sloped application and features an extremely durable, watertight, highly reflective, fire- and wind-resistant PVC-based membrane. To demonstrate the fire resistance of their product, Duro-Last created this video to visually show how their membrane outshines the rest in terms of fire resistance.  

 In their R&D lab, Duro-Last uses a chemical hood to test their products against other types of roofing materials. In this test, three different roofing membranes are placed side by side before being lit on fire and examined to see how each burns. 

The first membrane tested was a piece of rubber-based EPDM roofing, which caught fire quickly. The TPO burned similarly to the EPDM, the only difference being that it began to melt, whereas the EPDM eventually burned into pieces. Centered between the two is Duro-Last's PVC membrane, which held up to the flames, working to extinguish them as they caught onto the material. 

The fire protection in Duro-Last's product comes from its formulation and use of premium ingredients. TPO and EPDM burn because that’s how they’re formulated. Duro-Last, on the other hand, is inherently fire resistant and premium flame retardants are added to the formulation to improve its fire-resistance properties. 

The unfortunate reality is that fires can and do happen on the rooftop. From firework sparks landing on a roof to a HVAC system shorting out, there are just potential fire hazards and more electronics on a roof than there used to be. 

Membrane strength, custom -fabricated accessories and some of the industry’s best warranties, are just a few benefits of the Duro-Last system. At the end of the day, the product was designed to provide your customers with long-lasting roofing systems and peace of mind. 

Watch the full video and see for yourself how Duro-Last's PVC membrane actively works to extinguish the flames. 

Learn more about Duro-Last in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.duro-last.com.