Roof Tests — EN 1304 / EN 490 / EN 14783 / EN 13707

What Is Roof?

Roofing materials tests are carried out with different standards depending on the type of coating: EN 1304 and EN 539 series are applied for clay tiles, EN 490 and EN 491 for concrete tiles, EN 14783 for metal roof sheets, and EN 13707 for membrane-based coatings. Common topics are water impermeability, freeze-thaw resistance, bending strength and wind absorption resistance.

Purpose of Roof

The aim is to show that the roof covering will maintain its integrity under rain, snow, frost and wind loads. The roof is the component of the building that is exposed to the most climate stress.

Which Products Is Roof Applied To?

Clay and concrete tiles
Metal roof sheets and panels
Bituminous and shingle coatings
Fibercement roof sheets
Roof accessories and ridge elements

In Which Sectors Is Roof Used?

ConstructionConstructionCeramicsMetal

Standards Related to Roof

TS EN 1304 (clay tiles and fittings)
TS EN 539-1/-2 (clay tiles — water impermeability and frost resistance)
TS EN 490 / EN 491 (concrete tiles and test methods)
TS EN 14783 (metal roof and wall sheets)
TS EN 13707 (bituminous roof waterproofing membranes)
TS EN 14437 (wind absorption resistance in tiles)

Roof Conditions

Freeze-thaw: Number of cycles defined in the standard; It is applied to samples that have absorbed water.
waterproofness: Leak observation under water load for a defined period of time
Bending: Support opening and loading speed defined in the standard
wind suction: Evaluated on actual slope, with mounting system

Equipment for Roof

Freeze-thaw cabinet
Water tightness test equipment
bending press
Wind suction test setup
Oven and conditioning room

Sample Requirements for Roof

Conditioning in building materials directly determines the result: concrete with incomplete curing time, damp wood or insulation material that is not balanced will not show its true performance. Sample age and conditioning conditions are always stated in the report.
Number of complete tiles or sheets defined in the standard
Coating type, size and mounting system must be declared
Mounting elements should also be sent for the wind test.
Samples must be undamaged

Duration of Roof

Flexural and water tightness tests are completed within a few days. The freeze-thaw experiment is significantly longer due to the number of cycles and determines the total schedule.

Roof Procedure

1The samples are conditioned and their dimensions are measured.
2Water absorption and water permeability tests are applied.
3Flexural strength is measured.
4Freeze-thaw cycles are applied.
5After the cycle, the samples are examined and the experiments are repeated.
6Wind suction resistance is determined by the mounting system.

Roof Acceptance Criteria

Product standards (EN 1304, EN 490 etc.) define minimum requirements for water tightness, frost resistance and bending strength. Wind suction resistance is a declared performance value and its adequacy is evaluated in the project according to the location and height of the building. Within the scope of (EU) 305/2011, the test result is not a pass/fail decision, but the performance value to be announced in the Declaration of Performance (DoP). The national regulations and project specifications of the country where the structure where the product will be used determine which performance level is sufficient.

Evaluation of Results

Frost resistance is the defining characteristic of coatings to be used in cold climates: when a water-absorbing tile freezes, it cracks from the inside, and this damage occurs within a few winters. Wind absorption resistance is a feature of the assembly system, not the material itself; The type of clip and connection directly changes the outcome.

Roof Report

Coating type, size and manufacturer information
Water absorption and water impermeability results
Flexural strength values
Number of freeze-thaw cycles and post-observations
Wind suction resistance and mounting system description

Accreditation

EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation obtained from accreditation bodies party to the IAF and ILAC multilateral recognition arrangements, under ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory testing, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection and surveillance, and ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065 for system and product certification. This chain ensures the reports and certificates issued are accepted worldwide.

Whether this test can be offered within accredited scope depends on your product and the standard applied; since accreditation is method-based, the scope is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.

Scope and authorisations

Related Regulations

Construction Products Regulation (EU) 305/2011

Construction Materials Testing — What Does This Testing Field Cover?

The section below describes the field that the Roof test belongs to; the conditions and acceptance criteria of this particular test are given in the sections above. The scope specific to your product is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.

Construction materials testing shows whether a product performs the function it takes on within the structure. A wide field is gathered in this family, from the compressive strength of concrete to the thermal transmittance of glass, from sieve analysis of aggregate to the watertightness of windows.

What sets this family apart from the others is that the result turns directly into a REGULATORY DECLARATION. For products covered by construction products legislation a declaration of performance (DoP) is mandatory, and every essential characteristic in the declaration rests on a test result. Reaction-to-fire class, thermal conductivity, compressive strength, water permeability and release of dangerous substances are declared in this way. The declaration is a legal text carrying the manufacturer's signature; the test record behind it is the first document requested in an inspection.

The second distinguishing feature is that the product is assessed over its SERVICE LIFE. An electronic device runs for five years; a building component stays in place for fifty and is exposed throughout that time to freeze-thaw cycles, UV, moisture, chemical attack and load. Durability tests (freeze-thaw, carbonation, alkali-silica reaction, ageing) therefore carry as much weight in this field as classical strength tests.

Tests are separated by material type and each group has its own set of standards: cement and concrete, aggregate, masonry units, wood-based panels, thermal insulation, glass and glazing units, ceramic tiles, floor coverings, screeds, joint fillers and coating systems. Where the product will be installed determines which set applies — the same panel is assessed against different standards on a wall and on a floor.

Factory production control (FPC) is a continuous component of the field. CE marking on a construction product is not obtained with a single test and then left; the manufacturer must set up a system showing that it monitors production consistency, takes samples regularly and intervenes when there is a deviation. Depending on the product group, this system may have to be audited by a notified body.

Site testing is a separate body of work. In the laboratory the product is approved; on site it is checked that the product really is of the declared class and that it has been applied correctly. Fresh concrete slump, cylinder sampling, aggregate sieve analysis and in-situ watertightness tests fall within this scope.

Method groups in this field

Concrete and cement
Slump, air content and unit weight in fresh concrete; compressive and flexural strength, water permeability and freeze-thaw resistance in hardened concrete. For cement, compressive strength, setting time and composition analysis.
Aggregate
Sieve analysis, particle shape, Los Angeles abrasion resistance, freeze-thaw, alkali reactivity and density/water absorption.
Thermal and energy performance
Thermal conductivity and thermal resistance, calculation of thermal transmittance (U value) in glazing units, solar energy transmittance.
Facade and joinery
Air permeability, watertightness and wind load resistance in windows and doors; fire performance in facade systems.
Fire performance
Reaction-to-fire classification and fire resistance tests; these are two separate concepts and are addressed by separate standards.
Masonry, tile and flooring
Compressive strength, water absorption, abrasion resistance, slip resistance, stain and chemical resistance.
Emissions and dangerous substances
Formaldehyde release from wood-based panels, VOC emissions from construction products, leaching behaviour of aggregates and waste.

Commonly confused in this field

REACTION to fire and RESISTANCE to fire are different concepts: one describes the material's contribution to a fire, the other how long a component holds the fire back.
A declaration of performance is not a certificate; it is the manufacturer's declaration. Notified body involvement varies with the product group and the assessment system.
A test result is valid for the mounting arrangement in which the product was tested. A different substrate, a different thickness or a different joint detail may require reassessment.
A site sample and a laboratory sample are not the same thing. A concrete cylinder taken on site also reflects application and curing conditions; it does not replace product approval.
ASTM and EN construction standards measure similar quantities with different specimens and scales; the results cannot be converted one-to-one.

Which decisions these results support

Declaration of performance (DoP) and CE marking
Establishing and maintaining the factory production control system
On-site conformity control of concrete, aggregate and workmanship
Meeting fire and energy performance requirements
Verifying the technical items in the project and tender specification

Related Tests

Frequently Asked Questions About Roof

What is needed to prevent the tile from blowing away in the wind?

Material testing alone is not enough; Wind suction resistance is determined together with the mounting system. The clip and connection plan should be calculated according to the building height, roof slope and wind load of the region.