AskARoofer.com > Above and Beyond: Testing DECRA Metal Roofing

Above and Beyond: Testing DECRA Metal Roofing

March 23, 2021 at 6:00 a.m.

By Mark Gallant, DECRA.

Why DECRA products have earned a reputation for their durability and resilience against the elements.

Most manufacturers work to satisfy only the minimum U.S. building code requirements, narrowly focused on wind and fire resistance. However, DECRA Metal Roofing sends every product through independent laboratory testing, so it can provide top performance across all categories. DECRA conducts exhaustive 13-point independent lab testing to ensure their product protects its customers.

Meeting the higher testing standards of Canada

Many of DECRA’s competitors, especially overseas manufacturers, don’t offer their products in Canada since the harsh weather conditions of the region require rigorous testing that is beyond the scope of their products.

DECRA, on the other hand, has had a long-established reputation for quality in Canada, with some of the originally-installed roofs still retaining their ageless beauty, while enduring the harsh winters.

DECRA takes pride in being the only stone-coated steel roofing manufacturer to meet or exceed the rigorous tests below, and have the quality of its products verified by independent laboratory testing:

APA PRP-108: American Plywood Association – Engineered Wood Systems

ASTM: American Society for Testing and Materials International
CAN/CGSB: Canadian General Standards Board (Version 93.3: Prefinished Galvanized and Aluminum-Zinc Alloy Steel Sheet)
International Residential Code (IRC) and International Building Code (IBC)

Let’s look at the 13 physical properties that all DECRA products are independently tested for:

Physical Property	Method and Standard	Roofing Performance Characteristic
Material thickness	Micrometer or Vernier Caliper measurement	Impact resistance and shear strength
Aluminum-zinc alloy thickness	ASTM A653	Strength, bending, and anti-corrosion
Coating quality	CAN/CGSB-93.3 Section 6.2	55% Aluminum-zinc alloy quality for exterior exposure and weather durability
Coating thickness	CAN/CGSB-93.3 Section 6.2 \| Thickness measured per ASTM D1005	Adequate protective (film) thickness for weather durability and thermal performance
Film adhesion	CAN/CGSB-93.3 Section 6.5.1	Ageless beauty and color without granular loss
Hardness	CAN/CGSB-93.3 Section 6.7.1 \| Test per ASTM D3363	Class 4 Hail Impact resistance and fully walkable roof surface
Flexibility	CAN/CGSB-93.3 Section 6.8	Withstands bends required for cupolas, towers, and complex roof geometry
Humidity resistance at 100% relative humidity	ASTM D2247	Test for water damage resistance to detect deficiencies in coatings
Salt spray resistance (salt fog spray)	ASTM B117	Resist metal corrosion in the harshest environment
Durability (sunlight and ultraviolet rays)	CAN/CGSB-93.3 \| Test per ASTM G155	Prevent color pigment degradation, rusting, and breakdown from UV rays
(Loss of adhesion test)	ASTM D4977	Prevent the loss of stone-coating and abrasive wear common with asphalt shingles
Traffic load	ASTM E661	Resistance to deflection for walkable roofs and enhanced impact resistance
Uniform load (performance rating for flooring and structural panels)	APA Test S-2 in American Plywood Association PRP-108	Load testing for walkable roof and weight-bearing under snow loads