Unvented Warm Flat Roof

With the introduction of vapour permeable plastics underlays the need to create ventilated voids above inclined insulation and the requirement to ventilate cold roof lofts may be reduced.

Unvented warm flat roof.

The contractor is wondering whether or not the flat roof should be vented. Unvented flat roofs a technical discussion flat roofs have often been built with the insulation all on top of the vapor closed drainage plane as this avoids dew point condensation issues inboard of the roofing. Low slope and steep slope unvented roof systems i e. One of the best ways to insulate a roof whether sloped or flat is to install rigid foam on top of the roof sheathing.

In unvented flat or low slope roofs with parapets perform a full flood test to ensure leak free installation of roofing membrane. I couldn t find anything in the code that requires this he is doing a tpo cool roof. The enclosed void of a warm pitched roof does not require to be ventilated. Unvented roof assemblies such as conditioned attics and unvented cathedral ceilings are becoming common in north american construction.

Basically the term cold roof refers to a traditional roof or vented roof while hot roof refers to a roof that is not ventilated and which has foam insulation attached directly to the roof sheathing. An unvented assembly can perform well but it s important to get the details right to avoid sheathing rot. Air permeable insulation such as fiberglass batts dense packed cellulose or blown in fiberglass can t be used alone for an unvented assembly since these types of insulation can allow moist indoor air to reach the cold roof sheathing leading to condensation or moisture accumulation. Insulation and air barrier are applied directly to the underside of the roof deck are common in applications where designers are seeking cost effective and energy efficient roof assemblies.

Drying of unvented roofing assemblies is by definition only provided to the interior. Exterior foam can reduce air leaks limit condensation at the sheathing layer interrupt thermal bridging through the rafters and make ice dams unlikely. This document provides a brief description of different types of unvented roof assemblies and the benefits of unvented roof construction.