It only seems that these products are free from synthetic polymers. In practice the bitumen sheets are reinforced with polyester and the coating layers are modified with elastomers and/or plastomers. Roofing tiles can sometimes be made of composites containing e.g. polyesters.
Especially for flat roofs however there are many more possibilities, roughly to be distinguished into plastic and into rubber roof waterproofing sheets. To the group of plastic sheets belong among others PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PIB (polyisobutylene) and TPO, also known as FPO or TPE (flexible thermoplastic polyolefins). To the group of rubber sheets belong among others EPDM and CSM.
For these products there is a harmonized European standard, EN 13956, on the basis of which CE marking is obligatory.
Furthermore there are liquid applied roof waterproofing kits. These liquid applied roof kits are also based on polymers, such as (un)saturated polyester resins, polyurethanes, modified bitumen and water dispersible polymers. For these products there is a European guideline, ETAG 005, for CE marking.
An important part of the contemporary roofs is the insulation that often is made out of polymers, e.g. extruded and expanded polystyrene (XPS and EPS), polyurethane foam (PU) and phenolic foam (PF). For these products there is a series of harmonized European standards, EN 13163 up to and including EN 13166, on the basis of which CE marking is obligatory.
Kiwa delivers many services in the field of these and many other plastic and rubber building products.
In the laboratories of the Kiwa BDA Test Institute all various tests on the characteristics of these products as well as system tests on the applied products are performed.
Manufacturers and contractors of roofing products, asset managers.