Ventilation Requirements For Roofing Membranes

3/7/2021 CPD 02 2021: Ventilation requirements for roofing membranes – Building | Building Design | Housing Today CPDs
CPD 02 2021: Ventilation requirements for roo ng membranes
This CPD, sponsored by Glidevale Protect, explains how

to take ventilation requirements into account when
specifying roo ng underlays.
DEADLINE TO COMPLETE: 2 April 2021
https://cpd.building.co.uk/courses/cpd-02-2021-ventilation-requirements-for-roofing-membranes/ 1/11
A membrane, required in virtually all tile and slate pitched roof constructions, offers a
secondary line of defence against wind, rain and snow – but without compromising on
additional ventilation that may be required, which needs to be factored into the
speci cation.
Introduction
The government’s goal of reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2050 is going to have a
signi cant impact on the way homes and other buildings are constructed. As legislation
develops, ensuring roofs afford protection from the elements while at the same time
allowing for effective ventilation to ensure a comfortable indoor environment will be
crucial.
This CPD will look at the topic of pitched roo ng underlays and how they can be speci ed
to meet building regulations and standards, securing the integrity of a building while also
covering the roof ventilation requirements that go hand in hand with the membrane
choice.
Specifying pitched roo ng underlays for new-build or refurbishment projects is often a

confusing subject with so many options available on the market, each offering a variety of
technical attributes and performance credentials.
Required in virtually all tile and slate pitched roof construction, an underlay should be
designed as a true hidden protector, operating as the secondary line of defence to the roof
tiles, offering weather defence against wind driven rain or snow and wind uplift resistance
to the loading pressures applied to the structure in accordance with BS 5534, the code of
practice for slating and tiling.
Underlays have a further requirement to absorb a proportion of the wind load acting on a
roof without ballooning and contacting the underside of the roof covering. Some modern
underlays have severe restrictions on their use in this country, while some underlays
brought in from Europe are often not designed for UK conditions.
However, with the roo ng underlay often speci ed in isolation, it can be easy to overlook
the integral link between the type of membrane speci ed and the controlled ventilation
strategy that needs to be employed to manage condensation risk.
Roo ng underlays and ventilation must work simultaneously to deliver a full solution that
provides a watertight structure and avoids condensation build-up within the roof space,
ultimately leading to a healthy indoor living environment.
Balancing ventilation against airtightness
The choice of underlay for any pitched roof impacts the amount of ventilation required to
eliminate the risk of harmful condensation and to create a better building and healthy
home. This means that selecting a manufacturer well versed in offering the appropriate
guidance along with an array of solutions is paramount. Choice is the all-important factor
here, rather than a one-size- ts-all approach, with the membrane an integral component
as part of the overall solution.
Even if there are cost restraints for the overall roof package, using the cheapest membrane
without factoring in additional ventilation requirements may result in problems and
expensive structural repairs in the future. Getting it right rst time means homes are
future-proofed, maintaining their property value and ensuring reduced maintenance
costs.
The need for controlled ventilation within housing has never been more important. With
the onset of climate change and the ongoing commitment by the UK government to bring
all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, compared with the previous target of at
least 80% reduction from 1990 levels, energy ef ciency is top of the agenda.
Meanwhile building regulations are set to become more onerous by lowering U-value
notional targets. As well as updates to Building Regulations Approved Document Part L
(conservation of fuel and power) and Part F (ventilation), recently announced by the
government following the initial consultation process, changes are also expected this year
to BS 5250, the code of practice for control of condensation in buildings.
Improvements to these regulations in 2021 will facilitate the transition to the Future
Homes Standard, set to vastly improve energy ef ciency in new-build properties, which
will be introduced by 2025. Additionally, the government’s recently launched new charter
for social housing residents commits to reviewing the Decent Homes Standard to support
the decarbonisation of social homes.
As these more stringent targets mean homes are being designed with a fabric- rst
approach to increase airtightness, it is vital to balance that with the correct ventilation
strategy to protect against excessive build-up of moisture and pollutants. This includes the
roof, where it is key to have appropriate ventilation provision that is aligned to the type of
roo ng underlay speci ed, particularly if the loft is a liveable space.
So, with the undoubted importance of ensuring ventilation is provided into dwellings, what
different categories of membrane are available, and how do these impact on the
ventilation requirements for each? And how is this affected by whether the construction is
cold roof (where insulation is located immediately above or between ceiling joists) or
warm roof (where insulation is placed in the rafter line either above or partially between
the rafters)?
The increasing emphasis on airtightness in housing design brings an even greater need to
provide an adequate ventilation strategy to ensure healthy homes
Low-resistance (LR) membranes
The two main categories are low-resistance (LR) products, which are vapour-permeable,
and high-resistance (HR) products, which are vapour impermeable. Starting with LR
products, there are two main types of such underlay available in today’s market.
The traditional LR product is airtight but allows water vapour to disperse into the
atmosphere. For a solution on a dwelling-sized cold roof, BS 5250 recommends the
combination of a vapour-permeable, airtight underlay with high-level ventilation of
5,000mm2/m through tile or ridge vents, whether a well-sealed or normal ceiling is in
place.
Alternatively, where there is a well-sealed ceiling, a ventilation provision of only

3,000mm2/m at low level, for example, via the eaves is required – although for re-roo ng
projects where a normal ceiling may be in place and a well-sealed ceiling cannot be
achieved, ventilation at low level should be increased to 7,000mm²/m.
In warm-roof construction, where the loft area has been designed as a habitable space and
thus the insulation is laid at rafter level, the use of an LR roo ng underlay that is airtight
and vapour-permeable will not require any additional ventilation, subject to a well-sealed
ceiling and an air and vapour control layer (AVCL) being installed on the warm side of the
insulation.
If there is doubt about the ability to provide an effectively sealed ceiling and an AVCL at
speci cation stage, further ventilation should be planned into the design; the chosen
manufacturer should provide suitable guidance.
The second type of LR underlay is both air and vapour permeable, allowing ventilation to
be delivered into the roof space through special melt-blown technology built into the
membrane core. This ensures air ow through the material and allows vapour to escape,
helping control the risk of condensation.
Underlays come in two main types: high-resistance (HR), which are vapour-impermeable
and airtight, and low-resistance (LR), which are either vapour permeable and airtight or air
and vapour permeable. Pictured is a type LR underlay which is both vapour- and air-
permeable, requiring no additional ventilation provision, as accepted by the NHBC for cold
roof construction.
Image source: Prentice Roo ng
For these product types, speci cation should be made for underlays that are also
hydrophobically treated in order to repel water to offer added protection. While an air-
permeable underlay may involve higher initial material costs, this is offset by there being
no additional requirement to ventilate, saving time and labour costs when it comes to
installation.
Whether for a cold or warm roof, air and vapour permeable membranes can be used
without additional ventilation. This is accepted by the NHBC in its Technical Requirements
R3 Document, related to cold-roof construction.
The only exceptions to this are where the underlay is installed on closed-jointed sarking
board, or if an airtight roof covering is used, such as metal tiles or bre cement slates. In
such cases, it would be necessary to ventilate the batten space with 25mm counter
battens. The chosen manufacturer should always recommend a well-sealed ceiling and
separate AVCL is used, where achievable.
High-resistance (HR) membranes
The other main category of pitched roo ng underlays is high-resistance (HR) membranes,
which are both airtight and where the diffusion of water vapour is prevented from
travelling through the material. Designed to overcome the disadvantages of traditional
type 1F felts, vapour-impermeable HR membranes are generally the most cost-effective in
terms of purchasing the membrane alone.
However, this must be balanced against the requirement for additional high- and low-level
ventilation for both a cold and warm roof. This extra ventilation provision is imperative to
avoid the risk of interstitial condensation forming on the underside of the underlay.
As an example, for dwelling-sized cold roofs with pitches in excess of 15°, a minimum of
10,000mm2/m of ventilation is required at low level, in addition to 5,000mm2/m at high
level. For pitches over 35° or spans in excess of 10m an additional 5000mm2/m of
ventilation is required. For warm roofs, where HR underlays are being used, both high- and
low- level ventilation is also needed. The chosen manufacturer should provide relevant
ventilation guidance on a project speci c basis.
There are undoubted synergies to be gained from the right choice of roo ng underlay
material and with an appropriate ventilation strategy, and it is vital that the selected
manufacturer can advise on the full solution, ensuring the roof is future-proofed and can
contribute to a healthy home for occupants.
Ventilation delivered from high level areas such as the ridge is paramount alongside lower
level ventilation when an impermeable (HR) roo ng underlay is used.
To take the module, click the link below…
CPD Module Content
 CPD 02 2021: Ventilation requirements for roo ng membranes
Copyright © 2021 Assemble Media Group Limited

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3/7/2021 CPD 02 2021: Ventilation requirements for roofing membranes – Building | Building Design | Housing Today CPDs

CPD 02 2021: Ventilation requirements for roo ng membranes

This CPD, sponsored by Glidevale Protect, explains how

Specifying pitched roo ng underlays for new-build or refurbishment projects is often a

Balancing ventilation against airtightness

Low-resistance (LR) membranes

Alternatively, where there is a well-sealed ceiling, a ventilation provision of only

High-resistance (HR) membranes

To take the module, click the link below…

CPD Module Content

 CPD 02 2021: Ventilation requirements for roo ng membranes

Copyright © 2021 Assemble Media Group Limited

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