Impact Resistant Roof Classes

Storms that bring hail airborne debris and high winds put your roof at risk for damage and installing impact resistant shingles may.

Impact resistant roof classes.

Roof coverings must be tested and approved by underwriters laboratories ul or factory mutual fm and be rated as a class 1 2 3 or 4. If you re one of the millions of american homeowners who live in an area where intense storms frequently occur then your choice of roofing shingles plays a critical role in protecting your roof from storm damage. Ir shingles are impact resistant not impact proof. Roof coverings that have passed the ul standard 2218 test are classified by ul as either class 1 2 3 or 4.

The amount of discount for each class of roofing material is established on a company by company basis. What are impact resistant roofing materials. With a regular shingle most of our competitors impact resistant shingles are only class 3 cracks and ruptures will appear from that kind of impact. Class 4 roof covering is the most impact resistant roof and receives the highest premium discount.

Your roof is an essential part of your home or building and you want to be sure it is strong enough to take an impact. A class 4 hail resistant roof is the most durable type of roofing on the market and will not rip tear or crack when exposed to heavy winds rain or hail. There are four testing classes that use four different steel ball sizes that range from 1 1 4 to 2. So while an ir shingle may reduce these effects the real benefit lies in the rubberized material making your shingle less likely to crack from the impact.

After performing the test roofing manufacturers would be scored based on the resistance of the material getting a rating from 1 least hail resistant to 4 most hail resistant. In a class 4 ul 2218 impact resistance test a 2 inch steel ball is dropped from 20 feet to see if the shingles will fracture. Impact resistant shingles and other roofing materials are designed to resist damage from hail and flying debris abuse that might damage ordinary shingles. To qualify in texas as impact resistant roofing class 4 the roofing product must meet underwriters laboratory testing requirements under designation ul 2218.

The ul 2218 is the roofing industry standard for testing shingles against hail impact. Please check with your insurance company to learn the discounts available for class 1 2 3 or 4 roofing products. Impact resistant roofing as defined in texas. Products qualifying for impact resistant roofing credits.

Class 4 impact resistant roofing shingles. Impact tested to prevent cracks and tears. A class 4 roof covering offers the best hail protection and will receive the highest discounts on insurance premiums. Shingles on an impact resistant roof are designed to withstand high winds and hail damage and have a class 4 rating see below.