Instructions / Assembly

®
7
Safety Precautions/Considerations
Roofing is a hazardous activity. Workers must be properly trained to
work in a manner to avoid falls, burns, back injuries, heat related
afflictions, etc.
It is the sole responsibility of the roofing applicator to enforce fire safe-
ty precautions and to ensure safety at all times. All appropriate OSHA and
local codes should be followed in the application of roofing. All personnel
involved in roofing should be properly trained in safety and fire proce-
dures. Proper clothing and equipment should be worn at all times on the
job site.
We refer you to the National Roofing Contractors Associations Passport
to Safety booklet which addresses numerous safety concerns.
National Roofing Contractors Association
O’Hare International Center
10255 West Higgins Rd. Suite 600
Rosemont, IL 60018-5607
[phone]
Torch Safety Information
Installation of torch-applied products creates the risk of fire, including
smoldering fires.
Torch-applied products must be applied only by professional roofing
applicators trained in proper torch application and safety procedures.
Roofing applicators must follow GAFMCs current roofing safety
requirements, procedures and specifications, which are available from
GAF Technical Services, toll-free 1-800-ROOF-411.
Procedures and equipment that will be used must comply with all
applicable code requirements.
Knowledge of the building construction and HVAC systems must be
obtained prior to installation of torch-applied products.
All potentially combustible and flammable aspects of the buildings use
and design that increase the risk of fire must be identified including:
•
deck and under deck composition (materials and accessories);
•
insulation types;
•
cants and tapered edge strips;
•
parapet wall and curb composition;
•
perimeter details;
•
adjoining building materials;
•
expansion joints;
•
wires and electrical conduit pipes;
•
natural gas lines;
•
chemicals, grease, oil or other condensates/exhausts/spills.
A base sheet must be used between the roofing membrane and any com-
bustible materials such as wood.
Never apply flame directly to combustible materials or allow the flame
to enter into hidden or protected areas that may contain combustible
materials such as:
•
air intakes or exhaust openings;
•
air coolers;
•
lead flashings;
•
drains;
•
counter flashings and coping covers;
•
collars;
•
flashings.
The installation equipment must be designed for the specific use, and
must be in proper working order.
Ventilation must always meet or exceed OSHA or NIOSH requirements.
A supervisor trained in torch safety must conduct external and internal
fire watches during application and after the torches are shut down. The
watches shall never be less than one hour and may need to be longer. The
watches shall be of sufficient frequency and duration based on:
•
weather;
•
building and roof design and composition;
•
penetration types and design.
Infrared scanning equipment must be used in the fire watch.
One Class ABC fire extinguisher must be kept within 10 feet of every
torch operator.
The above list is not a complete set of necessary safety requirements,
TRIPLY
®
Safety Precautions
procedures, and specifications. Call GAF Technical Services for the most
current GAFMC technical literature. In addition, the following steps must
be taken by the applicator to prevent fires, since only the applicator is in a
position to prevent fires. These steps include, but are not limited to:
Do not leave propane torches lighted and unattended. Do not place a
lighted torch on the deck surface, insulation, membrane, or any other sur-
face or object other than an acceptable torch stand. Extinguish the torch
when not in use.
Avoid holding the flame on any one area of the membrane or substrate
long enough for heavy smoke to be generated.
Train all personnel in GAF MATERIALS CORPORATION’s recommended
application techniques.
Train all personnel in fire prevention and extinguishing methods. Take
precautions when working around combustible materials, such as gas
lines for HVAC units, and in the presence of solvent-based products. Use
caution to prevent burns and train personnel in first aid procedures.
Comply with all applicable fire regulations regarding the storage and
use of propane.
Note: For more information on safety measures we recommend you refer
to the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association booklet titled Torch
Applied Roofing Dos and Donts and their video, A Guide to Safety Torch-
On Modified Bitumen.
Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association
4041 Powder Mill Road, Suite # 404
Calverton, MD. 20705-3106
[phone]
Specific Recommendations for Torch Applications
Membrane Installation
Only torches designed for installing modified bitumen roofing sheets
should be used for installing TRIPLY sheets in both field and flashing con-
structions.
Starting at the low point of the roof surface, set the roll in the course to
be followed and unroll half the roll where practical. Position the membrane
to provide a minimum of 3 inch side laps and a 6 inch end lap. End laps
shall not occur in a continuous line and should be offset by a minimum of 3
feet. Using the torch, apply the flame to the surface of the coiled portion of
the roll until the surface reaches the proper application temperature (approx-
imately 350˚ F). The side lap and end lap areas of the previously applied
sheet must also be heated to provide proper adhesion. The plastic film must
be melted off the selvage edge of granule surfaced products. The flame
should be moved from side to side and up the side lap area of the previously
applied sheet. Unroll the membrane while pressing onto the underlying sur-
face. BE SURE that the surface of the roll is heated sufficiently so that it
develops a sheen and the texture-backed products lose their sharp defini-
tion. The generation of heavy smoke is an indication that the surface is
being overheated. When this half of the roll is secure, reroll the other half of
the roll and heat weld in place in the same manner. A minimum of
1
/ 4 inch
flow out of modified bitumen compound is required at all seams. More than
1” flow out of modified bitumen compound may indicate excess heating of
the sheet. Field seams should not be troweled.
Vertical flashing seams may
be troweled when desired for appearance.
At the 6 inch minimum end laps, sufficient heat must be applied to the
granule surfaced TRIPLY Membranes to cause the granules to sink into the
top surface coating to assure a receptive surface for bonding to the
overlapping next roll of TRIPLY Membrane.
Occasionally, a roll of TRIPLY membrane will contain a splice that was
fabricated as part of the manufacturing process. These splices are marked.
Cut out all splices, and treat as an end lap area.
Note: Torch applied TRIPLY Membranes must not be installed with asphalt
nor should they be used in conjunction with roofing cements.
Surfacing
Coatings or gravel surfacing are required for smooth surfaced torch applied
TRIPLY Membrane installations to be guaranteed for 12 years. Apply
TRIPLY Premium Aluminum Roof Coating within 1 - 4 weeks.
Reapplication of surfacing should be employed as part of a periodic mainte-
nance program. The frequency may vary depending on climatic conditions.