A roofing underlay, insulating breather membrane Actis Boost ‘R Hybrid, has passed a specialised BRE test aimed at helping British builders construct roofs which can withstand increasingly windy conditions. The test for wind uplift resistance is part of a new labelling system brought in as part of the radically updated building standard BS5534 which was introduced in February this year. NHBC sites have had to comply with the revised version, which now addresses every component of the construction of a standard roof, since the beginning of July.

The labelling will ensure that builders can easily identify the correct underlay for the geographical region in which they are working. This is particularly relevant for roofing contractors in Scotland, the North of England and ultra windy parts of the UK. The test, carried under controlled conditions at the BRE HQ, concluded that Actis Boost ‘R Hybrid is suitable for use across all five regions, or zones of the UK identified under the new system, from the most northerly islands of Scotland to the most southerly point of England.

Tests concluded that the wind uplift pressure achieved by Boost ‘R Hybrid was way more effective than that required under the revised BS standard – with an average of 3054Pa when used with taped lap alone and 5748Pa with the addition of a 38mm counter batten.