This case study, published on the INGENIO portal, describes an industrial plant in the province of Brescia that suffered severe damage following a violent hailstorm. The impact compromised the waterproofing membrane and caused breakage of the skylights. The adopted solution involved restoring the waterproofing system with a hail-resistant membrane in Ultrawhite finish, featuring high Solar Reflectance, in order to reduce surface temperature, provide superior UV protection, and ensure long-lasting durability of the roof.
In Italy, hail events traditionally occur between April and October. However, in recent years these violent weather phenomena have also extended into subsequent months, with a higher concentration at the end of summer and during autumn. Certain geographical areas, especially in Northern Italy, are more prone to hailstorms, leading to significant damage and deterioration of roofing systems, façades, and external building envelopes for both private and industrial facilities.
We oversaw the refurbishment of the roof of the Client’s industrial facility in Brescia, severely impacted by a hailstorm that damaged the existing membrane and broke the skylights. The Client’s requirement was the restoration of the waterproofing layer with a system featuring high hail resistance and a ULTRAWHITE finish, selected for its elevated solar reflectance, designed to reflect solar radiation and lower the surface temperature of the membrane.
The Solution: Waterproofing System with MFT Technology
The proposed solution consisted of the following two products:
- PRIMER SP, a pure solvent-based primer used to prepare and homogenize the surface of the old hail-damaged membrane before application of the new waterproofing layer.
- MFT PRO 25 MINERAL, a Multi-Flex Technology waterproofing membrane, torch-applied and specifically engineered to withstand hail impact.
The intervention was completed with complementary products designed to ensure a watertight seal at all drainage points and details.
MFT PRO 25 MINERAL combines the outstanding features of the Multi-Flex Technology compound with the mechanical protection of mineral slate surfacing and the high puncture resistance of its reinforcement. These properties make it a highly resistant product against hail impact and severe weather, even when applied as a single-layer system.
The hail resistance of MFT PRO 25 MINERAL has been tested and certified at the SKZ-Testing GmbH laboratories in Germany in accordance with EN 13583. The membrane successfully withstood impacts from hailstones traveling at speeds of up to 180 km/h (test report no. 126739/17). Copernit proudly highlights the exceptional performance of this membrane, proven to resist violent hail impacts on both rigid and flexible substrates.
The Ultrawhite mineral slate finish enables the creation of a Cool Roof system. With a high Solar Reflectance Index (SRI), this special finish effectively reflects solar radiation and lowers the surface temperature of the waterproofing layer compared to traditional finishes.
The MFT PRO 25 MINERAL ULTRAWHITE bitumen-polymer membrane ensures reduced heat absorption during the day and promotes heat dissipation at night. This contributes to lowering energy consumption for cooling the spaces below the roof, improving indoor comfort, and generating significant cost savings.
Cool Roof systems are particularly recommended in contexts where high energy efficiency is required, such as industrial facilities like the Client’s plant.
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Technical Documentation
For further details and technical specifications, please refer to the technical data sheets:
