This was a good information. I have just been told that my 30 year roof that is less than 10 years old will need to be replaced!! And when it was replaced before it was largely funded by State Farm as it will be this time. However if the premium for the hail resistant roofing is only 20% I definitely will use the HRR– in fact if the cost premium is not over 40% I most likely will use the HHR.
The UL test uses steel to impact new shingles at room temperature. What happens
during a hail storm, it is raining.
The surface is cooler than room temp.
Cooler shingles are more brittle and
subject to hail damage.
As shingles age, the asphalt also
embrittles and hardens.
An aged shingle is more vulnerable to
hail. The UL test does not take into account age, temperature and uses steel.
When you test a roof for fire what do
you use FIRE.
Testing for hail should be with Ice
Spheres using National Bureau of
Standard 23, with reduced surface temp.
What brands have the hail resistant shingles? I checked with Lowes and could not find the rating nor did the man know of a class 3 or 4 shingle. Thanks
There is an engineering argument to be made on not using steel balls versus actual ice to simulate hail impacts. I have performed ballistic tests using both and ice is more apt to fragment and disintegrate on impact than a steel ball. This dissipation of kinetic energy by the ice’s behavior will affect the outcome of the test. Given the discrepancy in response characteristics between steel and ice, test methods that use ice spheres would seem to be more appropriate.
1. I agree that ice is better than steel for simulating hail.
2. Remaining problem: Large hail is not spherical. How can one fairly represent irregular hailstones? Granted, any test that departs from spherical would get much more complicated, perhaps even requiring a statistical method to define passing the test.
3. The steel ball test is not identical to hail, but does provide an index to impact resistance. In summary irregular hail is the best test, followed by ice spheres, then steel spheres.
My question is, what if a hail storm damages the impact resistant shingle cosmetically, but the shingle doesn’t leak, am i stuck with a functional shingle that looks bad?
Any info. would be appreciated.
My question is, if a hail storm damages the impact resistant shingle cosmetically, IE. dents, etc.,but does not leak, am i stuck with a roof that looks bad but still is functional?
I disagree with the steel vs ice for comparison comments above. Living in Oklahoma, we have hail several times per year. The consistency of hail is quite varied in both roundness and firmness. But, the steel can make comparison among products even and the steel’s weight to volume and density will always be higher than ice, so if the shingle can take the steel, it should surely be able to withstand the hail. I do agree that age and cold certainly are factors making test products appear much better than they would be in the real world.
This 1998 requirement was rescinded in 2003 and now discounts for Class 4 shingles are arbitrary. Some companies do give discounts but none are required. Ck with your agent before spending extra money on the premise of getting a discount. 04/15/2016
Just received a quote on shingle pricing from my local building materials store (not big box).
The IR shingles are priced 65% higher than non-IR shingles. GAF Armorshield 2 versus GAF Timberline non-IR. Including the added nails required (6 vs. 4) and added labor, it will cost me about $6K more to go the IR route.
Insurance premium savings is 17%. I’m assuming the IR shingles will still lose granules as usual, and beginning at year 15 or so begin to appear worn and streaked with asphalt bleed. Which means, it seems for a nice-looking roof for 15 years, it is much more economical to use non-IR shingles, allow them to be pummeled by hail, and have it replaced with new every 10-15 years.
Sounds like a win win deal for both the insurer and insured. If I was a Manufacturer. I Would only produce HRS.
This was a good information. I have just been told that my 30 year roof that is less than 10 years old will need to be replaced!! And when it was replaced before it was largely funded by State Farm as it will be this time. However if the premium for the hail resistant roofing is only 20% I definitely will use the HRR– in fact if the cost premium is not over 40% I most likely will use the HHR.
Could you give me the specifications of the subject matter and the company to contact for material source.
The UL test uses steel to impact new shingles at room temperature. What happens
during a hail storm, it is raining.
The surface is cooler than room temp.
Cooler shingles are more brittle and
subject to hail damage.
As shingles age, the asphalt also
embrittles and hardens.
An aged shingle is more vulnerable to
hail. The UL test does not take into account age, temperature and uses steel.
When you test a roof for fire what do
you use FIRE.
Testing for hail should be with Ice
Spheres using National Bureau of
Standard 23, with reduced surface temp.
Jim Koontz, PE, RRRC
What brands have the hail resistant shingles? I checked with Lowes and could not find the rating nor did the man know of a class 3 or 4 shingle. Thanks
GAF makes ArmorShield II which is rated as a Class 4
I talked to Lowes about class 4 shingles. They said it’s a special order item. So they can order several different Class 4 shingles for you.
Certainteed makes a great IR Shingle….I am a sales rep for a distributor for roofing material in Wisconsin
There is an engineering argument to be made on not using steel balls versus actual ice to simulate hail impacts. I have performed ballistic tests using both and ice is more apt to fragment and disintegrate on impact than a steel ball. This dissipation of kinetic energy by the ice’s behavior will affect the outcome of the test. Given the discrepancy in response characteristics between steel and ice, test methods that use ice spheres would seem to be more appropriate.
1. I agree that ice is better than steel for simulating hail.
2. Remaining problem: Large hail is not spherical. How can one fairly represent irregular hailstones? Granted, any test that departs from spherical would get much more complicated, perhaps even requiring a statistical method to define passing the test.
3. The steel ball test is not identical to hail, but does provide an index to impact resistance. In summary irregular hail is the best test, followed by ice spheres, then steel spheres.
My question is, what if a hail storm damages the impact resistant shingle cosmetically, but the shingle doesn’t leak, am i stuck with a functional shingle that looks bad?
Any info. would be appreciated.
My question is, if a hail storm damages the impact resistant shingle cosmetically, IE. dents, etc.,but does not leak, am i stuck with a roof that looks bad but still is functional?
I disagree with the steel vs ice for comparison comments above. Living in Oklahoma, we have hail several times per year. The consistency of hail is quite varied in both roundness and firmness. But, the steel can make comparison among products even and the steel’s weight to volume and density will always be higher than ice, so if the shingle can take the steel, it should surely be able to withstand the hail. I do agree that age and cold certainly are factors making test products appear much better than they would be in the real world.
This 1998 requirement was rescinded in 2003 and now discounts for Class 4 shingles are arbitrary. Some companies do give discounts but none are required. Ck with your agent before spending extra money on the premise of getting a discount. 04/15/2016
THE UL Class 4 rating is great day 1 in shingles life.
Give any asphalt roof a few years of UV exposure, the shingles will then fail the Class 4 rating…
Just received a quote on shingle pricing from my local building materials store (not big box).
The IR shingles are priced 65% higher than non-IR shingles. GAF Armorshield 2 versus GAF Timberline non-IR. Including the added nails required (6 vs. 4) and added labor, it will cost me about $6K more to go the IR route.
Insurance premium savings is 17%. I’m assuming the IR shingles will still lose granules as usual, and beginning at year 15 or so begin to appear worn and streaked with asphalt bleed. Which means, it seems for a nice-looking roof for 15 years, it is much more economical to use non-IR shingles, allow them to be pummeled by hail, and have it replaced with new every 10-15 years.