The Freudenberg Politex Group

Waterproofing underslating and

reflecting shield

electromagnetic shield
heat-reflecting shield
waterproof
rot-proof
excellent mechanical resistance
stable at operating temperatures

hable

Waterproofing underslating and reflecting shield

hable

CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM LAYERS: PITCHED ROOF

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Matchboarding Clay block floor slab

ECOZERO thermal insulator between the laths
Counter-roof lathing
Laths + counter-roof lathing + tiles
Breathable

METHOD OF APPLICATION
Starting at the gutter line lay the
parallel to it, with the reflecting surface facing
upwards.
The first sheets are nailed to the wood or
cement support. The following sheets have to
be overlapped by at least 10 cm, in order to
guarantee perfect waterproofing also over
nail or screw holes, and then joined with one
another with a water-resistant aluminium tape.
Laid on the roofing laths with this method,
is also maintained under tension.

Breathable

Excellent protection against water penetration

Vapour control layer
Electromagnetic shield
Thermal shield

Protection against water infiltration due to

breakage or movement of tiles
Electromagnetic shield
Thermal shield

Not only a waterproofing underslating membrane

The Freudenberg Politex Group

INTRODUCTION
The recently introduced incentives as well as new laws in the construction industry have heightened the interest in
the building or restructuring of lofts within homes.
An ongoing need to create more domestic dwellings has also led to a significant increase in the conversion of
existing lofts, which were used simply as storage areas, into high specification living accommodation.
This new trend has led to the development of covering structures with design criteria that have reached some very
high technical performance levels, able to offer excellent and definitive solutions for many problems such as:

water infiltration
condensation - humidity
protection from cold as well as from heat

Thanks to the essential action of nonwoven membranes, positioned in the spaces between the different pitch layers,
it is possible to obtain a roofing system that can resist both internal and external aggressions which would lead to
serious degradation.

VAPOUR CONTROL LAYER

It is important at the design stage of the roofing structure to consider the significant thermal changes that are likely
to take place within the roofing cavity, in relation to the cold winter periods, compared to the intense heat during
the summer.
When designing undertile materials, it is necessary to foresee not only a good thermal insulator, but also a valid
vapour control layer. This membrane must in effect provide protection for the thermal insulator being able to
prevent any circulating vapour from moving towards it and particularly to prevent the formation of dew drops,
which would reduce the effectiveness of the insulating capability.
, nonwoven polyester coated with a reflecting film, positioned directly on the floor slab, acts as a valid
barrier against water vapour passage and offers therefore significant benefits to the health inside houses.

WATER-RESISTANCE
Following the breakage or movement of tiles, water ingress can occur within the roofing system.
Penetrating into the construction of the roof, water can seriously damage the materials therein, affecting their
functionality, and it may even penetrate into the structure of the building.
, positioned under the tiles with the reflecting shield facing upwards, thanks to its excellent water
penetration resistance, will ensure that the inside structure remains dry, whilst directing any water towards the
Breathable
gutter.

Applications characteristics
ELECTROMAGNETIC SHIELD
Electrosmog refers to the type of pollution derived from non-ionising radiation emitted by repeaters, high-tension
lines and radio-base stations, basically everything that is part of our daily life in this age of mass communication.
All such systems create magnetic fields that pollute the surrounding environment.
Within this area the W.H.O. (World Health Organization) provides a series of instructions for the protection of our
health, offering a precautionary and preventive approach describing the possibility that physical damages may
arise, even though it has not been scientifically proven that electromagnetic fields can have harmful effects on
our health.
Electromagnetic waves propagate in the air space, regardless of their origin:
natural: from earth, plants and minerals etc.
artificial: from radio, TV, mobile phones etc.
The different frequencies of such magnetic fields have different effects in their interaction with biological systems.
It seems that long exposures to 50-60 Hz frequencies (higher than 0.2 microTesla) create problems to blood and
micro-organisms, increasing the likeness of developing some diseases, particularly in young children.
Some of the frequencies we are exposed to in our daily life are:
Radio frequencies from 25 to 30 MHz
Radio broadcasting FM from 88 to 108 MHz
Television band UHF from 175 to 216 MHz
V-UHF band and mobile telephones from 470 to 1880 MHz
Radar and microwave ovens from 2450 MHz to 2.5 GHz
Military radar and industrial ovens from 10 to 100 GHz
represents a valid barrier against electromagnetic waves.

Breathable

Applications characteristics
Breathable

, besides its waterproofing and vapour control characteristics, is also an excellent electromagnetic

The Freudenberg Politex Group

shield.

ELECTROMAGNETIC SHIELDING
Standard: MIL STD 285 and IEE STD - 299
FREQUENCIES
MHz

SHIELDING EFFECT
dB

ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD REDUCTION

n of times

DAMPING %

50

45

178

99,44

100

44

158

99,37

200

39

89

98,88

500

34

50

98,00

600

33

45

97,76

700

33

45

97,76

800

33

45

97,76

900

33

45

97,76

1000

32

40

97,49

1200

32

40

97,49

1500

31

35

97,18

1800

29

28

96,45

2000

28

25

96,02

2300

26

20

94,99

2600

25

18

94,38

Breathable

Applications characteristics
HEAT REFLECTING SHIELD
The roof of any building is the area most subjected to external climatic changes, which are subsequently transferred
through the structure of the Breathable
house. This is also one of the elements that allows heat to disperse from the inside of
the house.
Thermal insulation of the roof is necessary in order to reduce heat loss, together with maintaining environmental
comfort.
Breathable
The roofing areas are now complex, sophisticated structures, which have to meet several requirements: the original
pitch and layer structures covered only by a water repellent layer have been further developed into more
sophisticated and demanding roofing systems, which have to contain:
water-proofing elements (such as ACQUAPAR or B-PAR)
vapour control layers (such as ACQUAPAR or
)
thermo-insulating elements (such as ECOZERO)
and
supplementary elements such as electromagnetic shields and heat reflecting sheets (such as

Breathable

Applications characteristics
for winter
Thermal dispersions are a critical issue during the
winter period, when heat created inside the house
tends to permeate through towards the external
environment.
Breathable
Maintaining the necessary heat within the residential
area means saving energy, thanks to a more efficient
management of the heating system.
Freudenberg Politex, deeply engaged in environmental
protection and research, developed in its own
laboratories
, a product able to grant
Breathable
excellent properties and contribute significantly to
energy saving, therefore to environmental protection.
is a polyester spunbonded nonwoven
combined with a reflective film. When fitted within
the roof next to the cement or wood sheets, thanks to its
reflecting properties and to its resistance against heat
transmission, it can significantly reduce the dispersive
thermal flow. In the development of this product an experimental system was created for assessing its effectiveness
by simulating the behaviour of a roof, with and without the use of
.

The Freudenberg Politex Group

Breathable

Experimental elements for winter test

Box:

Material - wood
WallBreathable
thickness 1 cm
Thickness of the bottom with lamp holder 1 cm
lamp 25 W
note: walls and base are coated internally and externally with aluminium

Cover: plywood lid, thickness 0,5 cm

Infrared thermometer C9001 COMARK N2905812 (calibrated 3/07/2006)
with
Reader KANE-MAY INFATRACE IRP1
Probe with tester T C - display E-T-A

Breathable
Applications characteristics

Phase A
Box covered with bare roof
Phase B
Box covered with roof externally coated with
, with reflecting surface facing outward and the
black nonwoven surface positioned on the roof.
Test
The evaluation is initiated with the use of the lamp and, after the balance is reached (3 hours), the following
temperatures are measured:

RESULTS

Breathable

external environment

loft from display

T on the roof (infrared thermometer)

T

Phase A

Phase B

25 C

25 C

100 C

102 C

52 C

32 C

48 C

70 C

Breathable

Conclusions
The use of
directly positioned on the wood or clay block floor-slab can contain the T within the
house significantly reducing the heat transmission though the building.
Phase C
In addition to the roof construction described in Phase B, it is possible to insert above
a thermal
3
insulator. The following table shows the results obtained with ECOZERO with w = 30 kg/m and th= 40 mm:

RESULTS
T

external environment

loft from display

on the roof (infrared thermometer)

Phase B

Phase C

25 C

25 C

102 C

110 C

32 C

29 C

70 C

81 C

Breathable

Conclusions
The thermal insulator guarantees further advantages in terms of temperature control within the house and
external dispersion.

Applications characteristics
for summer

The Freudenberg Politex Group

Breathable

Air

flow

Sun rays heat radiating through the tiles can

influence the behaviour of any covering material.
It causes high temperature increases of the
superficial layers of the pitch whereby composing
materials can reach a temperature of up to 80C.
Tiles absorb most of the suns thermal flow, and the
radiation effect is consistent in all directions: they
have a very high level of emissivity (amount of
energy being absorbed and irradiated).

, a polyester black nonwoven

coated with a reflective film, absorbs only 5% of the
thermal energy and reflects the remaining 95%.
This performance is made possible by the reflective film, which has an average emissivity coefficient of 0,05.
The heat retained in the material just below the tiles is then forced towards the edge of the roof by way of the air
entering the ventilated cavity of the pitch.

Experimental elements for summer test

Box:

material - wood
wall thickness 1 cm
thickness of the bottom with lamp holder 1 cm
lamp 60 W
note: walls and bottom are internally and externally coated with aluminium
Breathable
Cover: plywood lid, thickness 0,5 cm
Infrared thermometer C9001 COMARK N2905812 (calibrated 3/07/2006)
with
Reader KANE-MAY INFATRACE IRP1
Probe with tester T C - display E-T-A
Tile: plain roofing tile
Laths

Applications characteristics

Phase A
System covered with plain roofing tiles. The TC measurement is carried out by the use of a probe that is fixed to
the external side of the tile, together with an infrared thermometer that records the measurement on the under side
of the same tile.
RESULTS
Phase A

T
T
T

24 C

external environment
tile external side (probe)
(sun heat)

for all experimental

phases

140 C

tile internal side

(infrared thermometer)

85 C

Conclusions
Without any protection means T = 85C is measured on the loft of the house.
Phase B
On the Phase A system two laths, 3 cm high, are positioned and then the 5mm thick plywood lid, allowing a
microventilation between tile and cover.
RESULTS
Phase B

T
T
T

Breathable

tile external side T (probe)

(sun heat)

150 C

tile internal side

(infrared thermometer)

95 C

near the internal side

(not facing the tile) cover

54 C

Phase C
Following the evaluation carried out in Phase B (as above),
reflective side of the material facing the underside of the tiles.

is added to cover the external coating; the

RESULTS
Phase C

Breathable

T
T
Breathable

tile external side (probe)

(sun heat)
tile internal side
(infrared thermometer)
cover internal side
(coated with ReflexPar on its external side)

150 C
99 C
42 C

Conclusions
The use of
directly laid under the tiles (with laths to allow microventilation) and with the reflecting
side upwards, can substantially limit the penetration of the heat generated by the sun into the house.

Final note
A more detailed research study has commenced with the Istituto Universitario Federico II of Naples, (Italy) in order to
validate the experiences described in these pages and the relevant results.

Accessories

The Freudenberg Politex Group

ADESIVE TAPE

Breathable

In order to protect the joints between

sheets, Freudenberg Politex recommends the use of an
aluminium coated adhesive tape, bonded with an acrylic adhesive and protected with a silicone paper.
This tape is easy to cut, is totally waterproof and is able to reflect the heat.
We recommend storage of this tape in a cool dark dry place, away from direct sun light and kept at a constant temperature.

U.o.M.
Support

aluminium sheet

Tape thickness
Adhesive
Elongation at break

54
acrylic
3

Fire resistance (B.S. 476 - Part 6)

Class 1

Operating temperature

-20 +110

Breathable

my

Technical datasheet

U.o.M.
Weight

EN ISO 9073.1

Composition
Thickness

EN ISO 9073.2

Tensile strenght at break

EN 12311-1

Elongation at break

EN 12311-1

Thermal contraction

BS 747

Nail tearing resistance

EN 12310-1

Water resistance
(passed through water volume)

EN 13111

Vapour transmission properties

(vapour transmission speed)

EN 1931

Vapour transmission properties (Sd)

EN 1931

g/m2

95
Polyester (PET)

70

Reflecting film

25

g/m2

0,3
MD

26

CD

25

MD

30

CD

30

MD

-1,5

CD

-0,2

MD

31

CD

35

Breathable

mm
daN/5cm
%
%
N

ml

46

mg/m2x24h

33

mt

Supply characteristics

U.o.M.
Height

150

cm

Length

50

mt

Surface

75

m2

Diameter

14

cm

Roll weight
Breathable

Pallet (48 rolls)

kg

3600

m2

Supply: roll or pallet

A heat-reflecting membrane,
consists of a polyester spunbonded black nonwoven material coated
with a reflective film. The membrane is waterproof and has good heat-reflecting capability.
The membrane moreover has a damping power against electromagnetic waves between 94% and 99% at
frequencies between 50 MHz and 2600 MHz.

The Freudenberg Politex Group

www.freudenbergpolitex.com

Feb. 2007 edition

SPECIFICATION ITEM