WHAT IS A WATERPROOFING BITUMEN POLYMER MEMBRANE?

     B ehind this product there are many years of scientific and technological researches.
The waterproofing bituminous membranes are a kind of sandwich made by:

A Carrier: it is the internal membrane reinforcement and identifies the mechanical features.
A Compound: made by bitumen and polymers, it is the real waterproofing protective part of the membrane, it features the duration to the high and low temperatures and the resistance to thermal ageing.
The finishing: it forms the surface layer of the product and the consequent aesthetic look.
Accordingly to the type of reinforcement, compound and finishing, there will be membranes destined to different applications.

THE CARRIERS

V = Glass Fibre: is a carrier in glass fibre reinforced with polyester yarns. Membranes obtained have an excellent dimensional stability, avoid anaesthetic folds on the roof. The Glass Fibre can be laminated with an aluminium foil that guarantee the absolute waterproof to the water vapour, protecting in this way the other insulation elements.

P = Short fibre Polyester: it is a carrier made by polyester with short fibre. In the last years P stabilized with glass yarn have been developed. They improve the dimensional stability.

FC = Spunbonded: it is a non-woven tissue of polyester stabilized with glass yarns. Basic feature is the tear resistance and the tensile strenght. Even in this case the glass yarns improve the dimensional stability, avoiding the phenomenon of the shrinkage along the overlaps.
In case of carriers V, P and FC FIM uses only fibre glass stabilized carriers.

ALU = Aluminium ; it is a real metal membrane in aluminium. It guaranties the absolute impermeability to the water vapour. With this reinforcement you can obtain membranes used for their vapour barrier features, to be used when high mechanical values are not required.

COMPOUNDS

The compounds are the real waterproofing element of the membranes. They are obtained by hot mechanical shaking of bitumen ,polymers, inert and other additives ( in the case of special membranes like the antiroots ) in warmed and sealed plants called primary mixers.
The basic features of a compound and therefore of the membrane is the cold flexibility.
A high cold flexibility performance gives to the membrane induced features, for instance the higher thermal ageing resistance ( so the membrane resist longer on the roof ) and a lower specific weight with the same thickness.
Many cold flexibilities (from 0° to -20°C) are obtained mixing many different polymers following specific formulations, they represent the company know-how.
Depending from the polymer sorts used in the compounds , we can obtain the membranes known with the words APP (plastomeric, elastoplastomeric and elastopolyolefinic ) and SBS (elastomeric).

APP membrane (plastomeric, elastoplastomeric and elastopolyolefinic): the bitumen is modified with plastomeric polymers (atactic polypropylene ), elastomeric polymers (atactic polypropylene and co-polymers) and elastopolyolefinic (atactic polypropylene and selected co-polymers). This kind of compound has cosiderable features of plasticity, therefore it is suitable for any application fields, especially in those where the heat resistance and UV rays is essential. APP membranes are particularly suitable for laying “at sight” , the ones where the membrane is used as final layer.

SBS Membranes (elastomeric): the bitumen is modified with elastomeric polymers, practically similar to the thermoplastic gum, mainly Stirene-Butadiene-Stirene. The SBS membranes are featured by a long elastic component, for this reason they are suitable for any application , and particularly those subjected to strong structural movement (prefabricated, metal corrugated membranes for instance).
The SBS is very soft, so it behaves very well to low temperatures while the insaturation in the polymer determines a low resistance to UV, so a further protection with mineral slate is compulsory.

SURFACE FINISHES

Membranes have many different surface finishes, in both sides.

Mineral slate protection: is mad by slate small flakes or basaltic ceramic rock chips, both are specifically treated for guaranteeing the waterproofing and the color stability in the time. In slang this finishing is indicated as “mineral”, or “GR”.
The slate protects the waterproofing mantle from UV rays, in the time. The mineral finishing is always necessary for protection of APP and SBS membranes when used as final layer.

Polyethylene Film: it is usually applied on the lower side of the membrane (on the roll is externally visible) and is destined to be torched during laying (see laying instructions). The film has FIM logo and, on the border, some nicks every 50 and 100 cm for helping the detailed measurements in yard (printed film). On request, or for specific products, the film is without writings (opaque plain, anonymous).

Sand: these is a kind of finishing of both sides of the membrane, considered as a standard finishing.

Surface finishing combination: not self-protected membranes (in slang “plain” or “black” are usually supplied with film-sand finishing (the film is external to the roll). Mineral membranes are usually supplied with film-slate finishing (the slate inside the roll) and a longitudinal stripe withouth slate along the roll length, called selvedge, 10 cm wide and protected by a transparent polyethylene film, used for rightly making the mineral at sight membranes overlap. Any other finishing combination are varying, according to the different single products, and they are available on request.

PACKAGING Waterproofing membranes are sold in rolls, with the specific of thickness (in mm) or weight (in Kg), usually 1 mt width and 10 mt length (or 15 mt, depending from the thickness). On request customized length are available, for special yard needs. Rolls are standing on wooden pallets, type ”4 ways” for allowing the movement from any side, or “Euro-standard”, depending from the product. The minimum selling unit is a full pallet. The roll number per pallet vary from the product thickness.
The pallet is packaged with a band and an external thermo-retractable shrink-film (in polyethylene, both recyclable).

MOVEMENT AND TRANSPORT

Waterproofing membranes are not dangerous products for transport aim. Therefore the ADR norm doesn`t refer to them.
About the safety during transportation, you have to lean the external rolls of every pallet with those of the adjoining one, in order to make with all pallets a unique and stable body. Anyway some very well taut ropes crossing the truck body most be always used when pallets don`t fulfil the truck. Fix or block rolls on the loading platform, if these ones are loose carried.
The movement during load and unload must be done with the intact pallet, complete of thermo-retractable shrink film. Anyway, paying attention to very fast movements that can unbalance the pallet. Furthermore, even membranes are a very strong and resistant product, is better to avoid violent impacts (as let falling down horizontally the roll), especially with low temperature, impacts can cause the breaking of the roll.
In case of movemement in yard, the pallet must be lift on the roof in perfect conditions and complete of thermo retractable shrink film. Very important to be remembered is the fact that the weight of a pallet can be more than 900Kg, for this they must be uplift and moved only by qualified personnel. The working area must be isolated, denying accesss in the forklift action ray. You must absolutely avoid to lift on the roof loose rolls, tied with ropes or other unfit accessories. The operator`s safety is a must, including the one of people of external companies present in the Yard.

WAREHOUSING

In FIM our products are kept in a covered warehouse in thermo-retractable shrink film pallet, sheltered from hot and cold termperature, for keeping the Quality. For APP membranes a superimposed storage for short periods is allowed, for a maximum of only one pallet on the other, but putting a rigid layer between the pallets (a wooden board 1 mt x 1 mt, but thick 1/1,5 cm is enough). Don`t superimpose SBS membranes pallets or low thickness membranes ones.
We suggest following the same storage rules, anyway protecting the membranes from very low temperature. In case of bad climatic conditions, is better to stabilize the material before laying down, by storage it in an ambient with at least +5 C.
Loose rolls must be storage only standing, on pallet or plain and smooth surfaces separated from the soil; don`t storage rolls on horizontal position, in order to avoid the ovalization.

Once in yard we recommend to storage only the material quantity to be used on the same working day. Already positioned pallets on the roof and which doesn`t need further lifting, must be safety positioned, far from fall risk. Keep away the thermo retractable shrink film or at least make on it some cutting from the top to the bottom, in order to allow the ventilation and reduce the internal temperature on the rolls head. After this rolls must be positioned always standing on flat surfaces, without roughness and risk of falling.

LAYING DOWN

For any technical details regarding the laying of waterproofing membranes please visit our web-site www.fim.co.yu ?????????????, and search for the Technical Instructions – Instructions for application of membranes for waterpfoofing.

DISPOSAL CONSIDERATIONS AND PACKAGING RECYCLING

In FIM waterproofing membranes there are no dangerous substances like coal tar or asbestos, neither in small quantities.
Waterproofing membranes are considered non-dangerous waste. The correct way for disposal is sending the product to an authorized dump.
Regarding the packaging, wooden pallet are reusable; thermal ra=etractable shrink foil on pallet is made of polyethylene and is fully recyclable, as well as binding strip, and these can be sent to special regenerators, for further processing for purpose of safeguarding of the environment.