In the Information Age, data centers are indispensable for keeping society's moving parts humming. Data centers are specialized buildings that house remote technology required for organizations' various digital operations, such as servers, storage devices, networking equipment, generators, and sophisticated cooling and monitoring systems. This technology is crucial to running applications, hosting websites, managing customer data, and generally ensuring continuous access to information.
As with any commercial building, a reliable roofing system is essential to structural integrity, energy efficiency, and uninterrupted business operations. Here's a comprehensive look at hybrid roof assemblies and how these hybrid systems can provide a superior roofing solution for data centers.
Unique Data Center Needs
Data centers are classified by tiers ranging from I to IV, a ranking system that indicates the reliability of the data center's infrastructure. The most basic tier I facility doesn't guarantee redundancy for any system, and it's allowed to go "offline" up to 26 hours per year. A tier IV data center, however, is fully redundant and "fault-tolerant," meaning it's only allowed to go offline for a total of 26 minutes per year.
A data center's roof construction is therefore critical to help not only protect the building's interior but also maintain the ambient temperature range required for the sensitive equipment therein. Of all the possible reasons a data center might need to go offline, you don't want roofing problems to be one of them. When it comes to meeting these exacting requirements, hybrid systems can check all the boxes.
Understanding Hybrid Systems: What Is a Hybrid Roof Assembly?
A hybrid roof is composed of two roofing membrane systems, each with different materials and technologies, combined in a single roof assembly. Each system offers specific strengths, and together, the hybrid system combines the best features of both.
One example of a hybrid roof assembly is a modified bitumen base with a cap layer consisting of a single-ply membrane. For a better understanding of how two roofing systems can be better than one, let's examine each system's strengths.
Modified Bitumen Systems
The traditional roof system for low-slope roofs is the asphaltic built-up roof (BUR). When first conceived in the 1890s, a typical BUR was composed of multiple redundant layers of rags, paper, or asbestos hot-mopped with asphalt. Over time, the plies evolved into "modified" bitumen membranes consisting of asphalt-impregnated fiberglass felts, fabrics, or mats with added flexibility from rubber or plastic modifiers. The final layer of a BUR is usually either an asphalt flood coating with embedded gravel or a mineral-surfaced, granulated cap sheet.
Depending on the chemical makeup of the base and cap layers, today's plies can be hot mopped, torch applied, cold applied, or self-adhered. Multiple redundant layers of modified bitumen technology account for its longevity and robust puncture resistance. GAF bituminous roofing membranes, including RUBEROID®, GAFGLAS®, and Tri-Ply®, have a long track record of proven performance and time-tested durability.
Single-Ply Roofing Membranes
Single-ply membranes are the roofing system of choice for most commercial roofs due to their ease of installation and relatively low cost. Most single-ply membranes are either thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
Each offers excellent performance, with strong, heat-welded seams, long-term weathering, and UV resistance. GAF EverGuard® TPO membranes have the added benefit of natural fungal resistance and a high degree of flexibility, while GAF EverGuard® PVC membranes offer enhanced protection against fire and chemicals.
You can install these single-ply membranes more quickly than a traditional modified bitumen system using mechanical attachment, induction welding, or adhesives. They're also resistant to ponding water and are easy to repair and maintain. Single-ply membranes' higher Solar Reflective Index adds to a roof's energy efficiency, as well, which can help reduce cooling costs in the building.
Benefits of Hybrid Systems
When you combine the proven strength, redundancy, and puncture resistance of modified bitumen assemblies with the flexibility, ease of installation, and energy efficiency of single-ply roofing membranes, it adds up to a roofing system that's hard to beat.
The benefits of combining these two roof technologies include:
- Improved durability and longevity
- Enhanced energy efficiency
- Cost effectiveness over the system's life cycle
- Flexibility in design and application
Meeting Unique Data Center Challenges
With their multi-layer redundancy, strong protection against leaks, and enhanced energy efficiency, hybrid systems can meet data center roof construction's demanding requirements.
A GAF hybrid roofing system can also be an excellent solution for a data center roof retrofit or re-cover. If the existing BUR is in relatively good condition with minimal underlying moisture, you can install a single-ply fleece-back TPO membrane as a new top layer without tearing off the existing roofing system, which can be disruptive and expensive. This addition can increase the entire roof assembly's service life through its long-term weathering protection and UV resistance. Additionally, you can install the single-ply membrane with low-VOC options, minimizing both odor and noise disturbance.
Whether for a new building or a retrofit, GAF hybrid roof systems offer multiple long-term benefits for data centers. For more information, explore the GAF Data Center page.
