F.A.Q.


Roofing F.A.Q.

When bitumen is modified by synthetics or by styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) polymers, it becomes elastomeric bitumen. The quality of SBS bitumen is dertermined by the quality and quantity of the polymers used as well as the quality of the process used in mixing them.
It's difficult to give a specific answer. All the other components of a roofing system, such as the insulation and the efficacy of its installation, play a great part in determining its life expectancy. Generally speaking (and under ideal conditions), we expect a SOPREMA SBS modified bitumen membrane to be waterproof for a period of 25 to 30 years.
  • Dimensional stability
  • Flexibility
  • Excellent resistance to high temperatures
  • Great flexibility in low temperature
  • Excellent adherence to deck
  • Dependable waterproofing and solid at the joints
  • Impressive longevity
  • Very good resistance to puncture and impact
While sharing compatibility with many substrates, SBS modified bitumen is chemically incompatible with coal tar and PVC.
Generally speaking, membranes adhered with hot bitumen must be installed at a temperature above -10 °C. Certain self-adhesive membranes are formulated to allow good performace in temperatures reaching -10 °C. In the case of heat-welded membranes, as long as winter installation recommendations are followed, the only temperature limit that must be observed is the cold tolerance of the installer himself. Finally, for membranes installed using adhesive, it's important to refer to the technical data of the product being used. SOPREMA offers several types of adhesives to respond to the needs of installers at various temperature levels.

In itself, standing water does not damage SOPREMA membranes. At the same time, standing water can, in certain cases, cause sediment accumulation in a phenomenon called "Mud Curling". This can provoke a substantial loss of the granules which protect the bitumen from UV rays, and affect the membrane in this way.

The maximum load on a SOPREMA two-ply system must not exceed the compression resistance of the support panel, the membranes or the insulation when the base panel is installed directly onto the system, and to a maximum of 40 psi (275 kPa) i.e. fibreboard = 30-40 psi.
It is not advisable to install heat-welded membranes on combustible materials such as wood, for safety reasons. Self-adhesive membranes or those applied with adhesive onto wood can be folded where plywood panels join. In the case of a plank deck, resin from pine or spruce will dissolve the membranes' bitumen, causing rapid deterioration. While it is possible to apply certain types of membrane directly onto wood, SOPREMA recommends the pre-installation of an asphalt panel like SOPRABOARD on a wood deck. This step has the added advantage of eliminating the risks of membrane puncture by mechanical fasteners or deck imperfections.
Allowing the membranes to relax before installation is good practice because it lessens the tensions created during manufacture. In all weather conditions, SOPREMA strongly recommends that you unroll membranes a full 15 minutes before application, or to condition them with a torch when the temperature is below 5 °C. When installing COLVENT High Performance membranes, the relaxation step is mandatory at any temperature.
FM Global and ULC have tested and approved our products in a submitted waterproofing system. Companies themselves cannot be FM Global - or ULC - approved.
No. LEED does not approve companies or products. LEED is a system that evaluates projects as a whole.
While it's recommended to cover wall vapour barrier membranes as soon as possible, they can be left exposed for a period of up to 90 days.
Division joints may be required depending on the type of system and method of application used. Consult ACEC Bulletin #42 as well as SOPREMA's Technical Bulletin #0199Cf for precise details.
Division joints may be required depending on the type of system and method of application used. Consult ACEC Bulletin #42 as well as SOPREMA's Technical Bulletin #0199Cf for precise details.
In order to prevent granule loss which can lead to premature aging of the membrane, it's imperative to have a minimum slope 1% (1/8 inch per foot). The slope must be consistent and lead toward the drains.
SOPREMA cannot be held responsible for damages resulting from any of the following causes: renovations, modifications, additions or repairs to the roof, conducted after the date of inspection and without prior written agreement with SOPREMA.
Yes, an accumulation of bird droppings can cause a loss of granules on the membrane. The granules protect the membrane's bitumen, so if they're damaged, membrane deterioration is likely to follow.

As indicated in ACEC Technical Bulletin # 43, certain minor defects don't require repair, while other more significant ones do.

The decision to repair an SBS modified bitumen membrane, as with any other coverage roofing system, should be taken only after serious consideration, and must be based on the consequences to performance. Open joints, fishmouths at the overlaps, non-adhesion on large surfaces or surfaces where overheating has caused reinfocement distortion should be repaired as soon as possible.

On the other hand, unspecified anomalies such as minor wrinkles and blisters should be seen as inherent to the physical characteristics of these materials and their recommended methods of application. Patching a small wrinkle or blister for no reason other than to make look better isn't justified in the majority of cases and, in general, the repair will look worse than the original imperfection.

SOPREMA's High Performance waterproofing systems for roofs were conceived with a base criterion in mind: durability. Their base sheets all include composite reinforcements which are best in resisting the stresses to which roofing materials are prone. The composite reinforcement combines the stability of glass mat and the mechanical resistance of polyester.
Yes, if the insulation is made to be used in this way. In the majority of cases, the system must be installed independently - that is, mechanically fastened or ballasted. SOPREMA developed the COLVENT High Performance system for this purpose. It's a semi-independent system which can be installed directly onto COLGRIP A insulation.
Yes, it's imperative to use MAMMOUTH waterproofing accessories to ensure product compatibility as well as to fulfill the requirements of the SOPREMA warranty.
The majority of our membranes accept sprayed foam insulation. At the same time, there are particular specifications in certain cases. When sprayed insulation is applied on self-adhesive membranes at connections, window frames, door frames, endings, and on the building perimeter, they must be mechanically fastened with a metal bar made for this purpose.
In summer, a minimum maturation period of 10 to 14 days is recommended to ensure good adherence to our membranes. This could be longer when the temperature is colder.
Install the COLPHENE 800 AG panel with the dimples against the foundation wall, taking care to keep the smooth edge along the level line.
SOPREMA recommends the installation of a protection board to avoid punctures in the membrane during backfill. However, if the backfill consists of a fine substrate like sand, a protection board may not be required.
You can backfill when the COLPHENE LM 300 membranes is dry to the touch.
When ANTIROCK is installed in a parking area, only on layer is necessary. When it's applied in a living area, two layers are required.
No, a protection board of any kind is not to be used, as it risks warping the asphalt coating. The asphalt must be applied directly onto the membrane to ensure perfect adhesion.

LEED® certification (introduction excerpted from the website)

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating SystemTM encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria.

LEED is a third-party certification program and an internationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. It provides building owners and operators with the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings' performance.

LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health:

  • sustainable site development
  • water efficiency
  • energy efficiency
  • materials selection
  • indoor environmental quality
  • innovation and design process
  • regional priority

For further information concerning the LEED® accreditation program, go to this link:
http://www.cagbc.org/leed/systems/index.htm


Green Roofs F.A.Q.

Our green roofing system can be adapted to all new projects, with several choices of vegetation (transplanted or seeded), irrigated or not, always suited to specific environmental conditions. The organic cover can take the form of sedums and other drought-resistant plants, a flower-filled meadow, a grassy meadow, as well as natural habitat with indigenous plants, or a fully-tended garden. It's this diversity of plant possibilities that makes SOPRANATURE unique.

SOPREMA supplies a LEED fact sheet for each SOPRANATURE product and component indicating the distances between the source, manufacturer and building site. Every effort is made across the country to utilize local products as much as possible.

The MICROFAB root barrier membrane is a coated and micro-perforated (50 µ), high-density polyethylene weave which prevents root penetration into the drainage panel situated just beneath it. The drainage material likewise remains free of root penetration to ensure maximum efficiency. The micro-perforations allow passage of water, air and gas but not roots. The physical nature of this barrier also prevents the leaching of chemicals into the environment.

Here are a few examples of landscapes installed with the SOPRANATURE system:

For each and every project, we offer complete support beginning at conception, including details, specifications, system weight on structures, and plant recommendations. We can also provide supervisory support at all steps of installation.

The cost varies with the system chosen, from $10.00 to $17.00 per square foot, including vegetation, assembly and installation.

The weight of the SOPRANATURE system depends on the installed landscape and the local plant hardiness zone. Water-saturated weight is between 25 and 45 lbs. per square foot, but can rise to 100 lbs. in the case of multiple roof-terraces.

During construction and maintenance, workers must be secured by safety harness and fasteners, if there is no railing installed. Generally, in Canada, municipalities require a parapet or railing of 42 inches in height for accessible green roofs.

It's essential to irrigate all types of green roofs or roof-terraces during their establishment periods. This is why we require the installation of a water tap on the roof, and watering for at least a month to establish the root systems. This period varies from a few weeks to a few months depending on the vegetation and its introduction by seed or transplant. Extensive green roofs (made up entirely of drought-resistant vegetation) do not normally require irrigation after they're established. By contrast, semi-intensive garden roofs require a minimum of water for survival, growth, and development of ornamental or indigenous plants.

AQUAMAT JARDIN irrigation capillary mat serves as a rain water reservoir able to hold 12 litres of moisture per square metre. The capillaries feed the water into the culture substrate to nourish the plant roots. This unique, intergrated sub-irrigation system operates drop by drop and, combined with a humidity sensor or a rain detector, considerably reduces water consumption while maintaining the appropriate moisture level. It's also possible to collect rain water in a reservoir and use it to irrigate, again reducing the need for potable water.

This is a summary of the saturation weight and water retention by surface of our systems:

SOPRANATURE WEIGHT WEIGHT WATER RETENTION WATER RETENTION
  sq.ft. (kg/m²) (Litres/sq.ft.) (Litres/m²)
         
SOPRADRAIN 10-G 0.41 2.00 0.00 0.00
AQUAMAT JARDIN 2.53 12.35 1.08 11.60
SOPRAFLOR X (150 mm) 38.42 187.50 5.58 60.00
Vegetation 2.00 9.60    
TOTAL 42.96 209.45 6.65 71.60
         
SOPRADRAIN 10-G 0.41 2.00 0.00 0.00
AQUAMAT JARDIN 2.53 12.35 1.08 11.60
SOPRAFLOR I (150 mm) 34.12  166.50 6.97 75.00
Vegetation 2.00 9.60    
TOTAL 38.65 188.45 8.05 86.60
         
SOPRADRAIN 10-G 0.41 2.00 0.00 0.00
AQUAMAT JARDIN 2.53 12.35 1.08 11.60
SOPRAFLOR L (150 mm) 26.13 127.50 9.76 105.00
Vegetation 2.00 9.60    
TOTAL 30.66 149.45 10.84 116.60

The six SOPRANATURE systems are composed of just four differently arranged product groups, depending on the desired landscape type. The depth of the culture substrate varies according to the needs of the vegetation. Perennials are planted every 150 mm, shrubs need 300 mm, and trees a minimum of 600 mm.

The required maintenance depends on the type of installation. Extensive green roofs will need 4 to 6 visits per year for cleaning, weeding, irrigation and fertilization. Semi-intensive roof gardens demand a bit more maintenance, while intensive roof-terraces need weekly care in the same way green spaces on the ground do.
Plants used in lighter systems are generally herbaceous perennials which regenerate and multiply on their own. They can be divided after 10 years. Shrubs and trees can last as long as they normally do on the ground.
The growing medium is created to serve the needs of different plants. It is composed of 40% to 65% of mineral aggregates, and 35% to 60% of organic material, essentially peat moss and plant compost.
The SOPRANATURE system contains (by weight) between 75% and 90% of recycled and recyclable material.
The SOPRANATURE system has been employed in several LEED projects in Canada, including the Yellowknife GOCB (NWT), the Maple Leaf Storage and the White Rock Operations Centre in Vancouver (BC), the First Choice Savings Bank in Lethbridge (AB) and the TOHU Building in Montreal (QC).
Our system is simple, with just four components. It's fast and easy to install. Moreover, it's versatile in adapting to the needs of individual projects, in terms of allowable structural load, aesthetic and maintenance criteria, local conditions, type of plant cover required, and the type of landscape envisioned.
We give technical advice and support from the first seeds of conception through installation to maintenance. Recommendations on vegetation are supplied by our agronomist who is trained in horticulture, and specializes in plant adaptation for green roofs.
SOPRANATURE was born in 1986 in France, and has been available in Canada since 1996. In 10 years here, we've created 200 SOPRANATURE green roofs anf roof-terraces amounting to an area of 300 000 square feet. In France, approximately 2 million square feet of roofing turns green each and every year, thanks to SOPRANATURE system.