April 2017
Wind Uplift of Asphalt Shingles: Sensitivity to Roof Slope and Installation Temperature
Heather E. Estes
Jason T. Smith, Ph.D.
Tanya M. Brown-Giammanco, Ph.D. 2
IBHS wind testing of asphalt shingle products has demonstrated that the most important factor affecting high-wind performance for self-sealing asphalt shingles is the strength of the seal between shingles.
Self-sealing asphalt shingles contain a temperature-activated adhesive strip applied during the manufacturing process, which is used to adhere the lower-edge bottom-surface of the exposed top shingle to the top surface of the shingle below. Improvements in sealants applied to these products over the past 15 years1 have resulted in dramatic increases in the wind ratings of self-sealed asphalt shingles from 60 mph in the 1990s to 150 mph today. Nevertheless, asphalt shingle manufacturers typically indicate that hand-sealing of these shingles is required when shingles are installed on steep-slope surfaces or during extended periods of cold weather (defined by some manufacturers as below 40°F). The Asphalt Shingle Manufacturers Association (ARMA) recommends hand-sealing for slopes greater than 12:12 (45 degrees)2 or when shingles are installed during very cold weather3, although no specific temperature is given. Despite these recommendations, hand-sealing of self-sealing asphalt shingles is not common practice for winter or steep-slope installations.
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Importance of Sealant Strips_IBHS