Resumen
Low-slope roofing assemblies can be designed with a range of insulation and membrane-attachment methods. Various building and energy codes appear to assume fastening methods to have an insignificant effect on insulation value, meaning that design and effective values are essentially the same. Recent studies showing that mechanically fastened systems could have very significant loss of insulation value are reviewed. This study uses thermal losses shown in those recent studies and examines the practical effect on various roof assemblies. Fully mechanically attached systems are compared with those that use adhesive attachment for the membrane and part of the insulation assembly. The thermal losses are shown to be significant and are presented in terms of the economic loss of the insulation. The cost of lost R-value is contrasted with the cost of attachment. A system based on a first layer of mechanically attached insulation with a second layer of insulation and membrane being adhered is shown to be very similar in cost, once the lost R-value is included. Finally, the loss in energy efficiency is calculated over a 15-year time frame. When total system costs include fastening as well as energy efficiency, then mechanically attached systems are essentially equivalent to some fully adhered approaches. Overall, the work challenges the code assumption that fastening methods do not significantly impact insulation efficiency. Furthermore, the results have implications for any analysis that considers such factors as carbon footprint, since building-energy efficiencies might be lower than currently assumed.