Owens Corning Spearheads New ASTM Standard

By Owens Corning. 

Seeing the roofing community embrace synthetic underlayments without an industry standard, Owens Corning successfully gets ASTM D8257 established. 

Owen Corning® has been a leader in the roofing industry in technology and innovation for 40 years. After spearheading the effort with ASTM for several years, we were successful in developing an industry standard that stipulates the performance requirements for synthetic underlayments.   

When synthetic underlayments were introduced in the market, there was not a standard test method for determining their suitability as a roofing underlayment. Therefore, these products were tested in accordance with the long-standing standards for asphalt felt underlayments - ASTM D226 and ASTM D4869.   

These standards were primarily composition driven, and since synthetic underlayments are without asphalt, there are very few performance requirements in D226 and D4869 that translate to the testing of synthetic underlayments.   

ASTM D8257 has been established for the sole purpose of determining suitability of synthetic underlayment product for use as steep-slope roofing underlayments. This new standard includes many tests and a level of performance that applies specifically to this category of products - much more so than the older felt standards.   

the ASTM D8257 testing requirements for synthetic underlayments are much more stringent than any previous mechanically fastened underlayment standard. All synthetic underlayments manufactured by Owens Corning meet the requirements of the new standard.   

The next step is ensuring that the new standard is included in upcoming building code editions. Owens Corning has already started the process of proposing that ASTM D8257 be incorporated into the 2024 I-Codes and the 2023 Florida Building Code. This will ensure products that don’t meet the stringent requirements of the new standard are not code compliant.  

Learn more about Owens Corning in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.owenscorning.com/roofing. 

About Owens Corning 

Owens Corning (NYSE: OC) develops, manufactures and markets insulation, roofing and fiberglass composites. Global in scope and human in scale, the company’s market-leading businesses use their deep expertise in materials, manufacturing, and building science to develop products and systems that save energy and improve comfort in commercial and residential buildings. Through its glass reinforcements business, the company makes thousands of products lighter, stronger and more durable. Ultimately, Owens Corning people and products make the world a better place. Based in Toledo, Ohio, Owens Corning posted 2017 sales of $6.4 billion and employs 19,000 people in 37 countries. It has been a Fortune 500® company for 64 consecutive years. For more information, please visit www.owenscorning.com.