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Sarnafil Roofs Surviving High Wind Events

Sika Sarnafil Roof withstands Katrina's Wrath

Biloxi, MS - Located on the Gulf of Mexico outside of Biloxi, Mississippi, the Beau Rivage Casino has seen its fair share of hurricanes, but it had been decades since one as ravenous as Hurricane Katrina came through. Blowing sustained winds of 140-150 mph, the Beau Rivage was right in Katrina's way. Due to the fact that the building stands 29 stories high, the roof was undoubtedly exposed to even stronger winds than were reported from the ground.

The portion of the roof with Sarnafil 60 mil G410 feltback membrane adhered to cellular lightweight concrete had already weathered Hurricane Georges in 1998. Seven years later when Katrina came through, the Beau Rivage roof once again persevered, performing significantly better than surrounding roofs much closer to the ground. In fact, when the time came to replace the modified bitumen portion of the roof that did not stand up to the high winds, a new Sika Sarnafil system was selected due to its proven performance.

Be Prepared! Click here for more information on designing a high wind roofing system.

Violent Winds Blow Through North Texas - American Airlines Center Roof Remains Unscathed and Intact

Dallas, TX - When the American Airlines Center, home of the Dallas Stars and the Dallas Mavericks, needed a new roof in 2001, the developer turned to Sika Sarnafil for a long-term solution that would look great and stand up to the severe weather conditions characteristic of Dallas. A Sarnafil Adhered Roof System was installed, complete with custom colored membrane welded to the roof to create the American Airlines Center logo.

Since its installation in 2001 the building has seen its fair share of high wind events, one of the worst occurring last May when violent thunderstorms packing hurricane force winds tore through North Texas, causing widely scattered property and tree damage. But the AA Center Roof remained unscathed and intact throughout. As the Facility Manager at the American Airlines Center said, "The roof performed well through the recent storm, weathering winds up to 100 mph. Although some buildings in the area were damaged, I am happy to say that our Sika Sarnafil roof remains in good shape and leak free."

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John Hancock Tower's Sarnafil Roof lasts Decades in Harsh New England Climate

Boston, MA - The John Hancock Tower, standing 70 stories tall and erected in 1972, needed a new roof by the mid '80s. Hancock engineers had many concerns, their biggest being wind uplift. Sarnafil was the answer, and a Sarnafil mechanically attached system was installed.

Wind tunnel testing calculations and real-life experience were the basis for the design of a Sarnafil Engineered Roof System for this unique structure. The Sarnabar and fastener spacings were optimized to resist the different wind loadings across the roof, with significantly more fasteners used at the highly angular corners. After more than two decades of exposure to the forces of nature, including a hurricane and numerous "nor'easters", the Sarnafil roof continues to protect the John Hancock building from the elements.

To read more about these and other Sarnafil High Wind projects, click here.