TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin) is a popular type of single-ply roofing membrane that has been a central part of the roofing industry for years. By the end of the last century, product advances underscored the inevitability of TPO membranes becoming the fastest-growing segment of the membrane market.
From cost considerations to ease of fabrication and “green” benefits, roofing contractors have consistently viewed TPO products as a great roofing solution, especially on large, non-complex areas. But, with the multitude of unpredictable factors in commercial roofing, contractors are always seeking new, easily adoptable ways to maximize roof installations.
Firestone, an industry leader providing trusted commercial roofing solutions, recognized an opportunity to further improve on its standard TPO product line, with the recent introduction of Firestone UltraPly™ TPO Flex Adhered, the most flexible TPO on the market. UltraPly TPO Flex Adhered is engineered to be more pliable for easier installation, making it a perfect choice for complex roofs. This flexibility enables better navigation of curbs, corners and angles.
For the roofing contractor and TPO installer of fully adhered systems, this translates into a more efficient work process, even in cold temperatures, since the membrane remains very flexible. UltraPly TPO Flex Adhered is also designed to make it less difficult to find weld settings that will achieve reliable welds. Plus, just like with standard TPO membranes, Flex Adhered is environmentally friendly, can improve energy efficiency, offers superior puncture resistance against hail, and can cost less than some competing roofing membranes.
Doing More with Less: Increased Productivity and Efficiency
UltraPly TPO Flex Adhered picks up where traditional TPO leaves off, providing increased roofing/construction productivity, where installers find the added benefit of getting TPO installed more easily than with a rigid, difficult-to-bend TPO, especially on complex roofs that have many angles and obstructions. Flex Adhered TPO also gives specifiers and architects more options due to its superior, high slope fire capabilities.
Firestone makes it a practice of listening to its customers and responding with innovative solutions. According to Christian Ortega, Firestone TPO Product Manager, UltraPly TPO Flex Adhered was born of the company’s longstanding embrace of problem-solving products and enhanced installation techniques. Ortega remarks, “Driven by the many challenges faced on commercial roofing jobsites, we recognized an opportunity to innovate around products specifically designed for ease-of-use and improved efficiency. Flex Adhered is a game changer in the TPO landscape, and we’ve had tremendous customer feedback. Once contractors experience the product, they talk about how much more flexible the membrane is and what it can mean for a complicated roof.”
Extending the Roofing Season: Enhanced Flexibility Allows for Cold-Weather Installations
Beyond efficiencies related to navigating the challenges of complex roofs, Firestone UltraPly TPO Flex Adhered allows for increased productivity in other ways. For instance, in light of the intensifying weather fluctuations much of the nation is experiencing, such as increased precipitation and unusually cold temperatures, construction professionals need to account for the impact of such unpredictable weather patterns on building construction.
Firestone UltraPly TPO Flex Adhered allows for optimal productivity during cooler weather because unlike the more rigid standard TPO membranes, it maintains flexibility in cold temperatures where it is more difficult for roofing membranes to flex, and it provides excellent wind-uplift resistance and resistance to punctures, tears and abrasions—thereby mitigating many common weather-related concerns.
Contact Firestone Experts to Learn More
All in all, UltraPly TPO Flex Adhered offers next-level performance in situations where standard TPO solutions fall short, providing greater ease of installation, especially on complex or difficult roofs. To learn more about Firestone UltraPly TPO Flex Adhered, visit the Firestone website or call (800) 428-4442.
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*Based on Taber Stiffness testing versus best-selling competitor TPOs.
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