An oft-quoted definition from a sustainable low-slope roofing
workshop held by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge,
Tenn., describes a sustainable roof system as one that is
"designed, constructed, maintained, rehabilitated and demolished
throughout its life cycle with an emphasis on using natural
resources efficiently and preserving the global environment."
Quality asphalt low-slope roof systems, including built-up and
polymer-modified bitumen roof systems, perform well with regard to
these sustainability aspects.
Various factors related to built-up and polymer-modified bitumen
roofing contribute to sustainability. The Asphalt Roofing
Manufacturers Association (ARMA) has formed a sustainability
council to examine these factors in greater detail. But much work
remains to fully understand and quantify this complex subject.
The asphalt used in roofing products is a byproduct of petroleum
refining. This byproduct, known as asphalt flux, is the residue
remaining after high-value fuels such as gasoline, kerosene,
aviation fuels and furnace oils have been released from crude oil
through atmospheric and vacuum distillation or fractionation.
Asphalt flux is further processed into materials for the
manufacture of asphalt shingles, mopping asphalt, asphalt-saturated
roll roofing and...
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