roofing materials Archives

What does the future hold for roofing materials?

Posted on December 20, 2016March 13, 2017 by Danpal

In the last few decades, the types of roofing materials chosen by designers and architects for different projects have changed drastically. As technology has now become so far advanced, there are many more options available to choose from. These include materials like polycarbonate, as well as your more traditional options.

The other big change was the shift in focus towards more energy efficient options to minimize the carbon footprint that is extracted from Mother Nature. Developers want to have environmentally friendly materials, as well as saving money on energy costs in the long run.

Roof insulation has seen its R values almost triple in the last couple of decades and this looks set to continue into the future. With advanced VOC regulations being enacted, there are a lot stricter rules when it comes to coatings, sealants and adhesives that are being used.

One of the big buzzwords in today’s world is “The Internet of Things.” It seems logical that this phenomenon will move its way to the rooftop, making it a lot easier and effective when integrating rooftop energy into the energy system of the structure as a whole. This means that the roofing materials themselves will play a larger role in how efficient the transfer of thermal energy may be.

Roofs will also become even more durable and resilient. As weather is becoming more volatile and stronger weather conditions have been hitting many buildings, something that has been put down in large part to climate change, there is a growing demand for more resilient roofs. This could mean being more resistant to fires, winds, hail and other adverse conditions. Roof ratings are set to explode even further in the coming years.

Finally, the removal of roofs will become very important, as people will start wanting to reuse these roofing materials when putting on the new roof. This is more environmentally friendly, as well as cost effective if it can be done in the correct manner.

At Danpal, we are always on the cutting edge of new developments and are constantly tweaking and improving existing products to meet with these growing demands. We pride ourselves on having a roofing system that is aesthetically pleasing, as well as being fundamentally sound and energy efficient. Daylight is maximised in the winter, while solar heat will be blocked in the summer, making it a win-win.

Why thermal insulation is so important when choosing roofing materials

Posted on December 12, 2016March 13, 2017 by Danpal

When you are considering which roofing materials to use for a building or you are trying to explain the benefits of a certain material to a developer, it is vital that you talk about thermal insulation.

In very basic terms, the goal of a roof is to get adverse weather away from the occupants of a building. This means protecting the internal structure from moisture, wind and external temperatures.

This is why refractory and heat insulation roofing materials have been a big focus on companies like Danpal recently, as there was a clear purpose to finding a material with excellent thermal insulating properties and something that had the strength to withstand high temperatures.

When you hear about thermal insulation, it concerns the transfer of thermal energy between two different objects that have different temperatures. It is natural that there will be a flow of heat between two surfaces of differing temperatures.

When you have roofing materials that are thermally insulating, they give a protective layer of insulation that reduces the heat transfer that occurs. Thermal radiation will be reflected instead of the lower temperature object holding onto this heat.

Multilayer composite thermal insulation materials improve heat insulation more than a basic single material, which is why the Danpal roofing system is multi-layered with the amazing Microcell technology. It also provides a great level of strength to the structure as a whole.

As well as being important in terms of the internal temperatures of a building, thermal insulation plays a massive role in the energy consumption of a structure, something which has become a massive talking point in recent times when it comes to the design of a structure.

A building that is well insulated thermally will be more energy efficient, which will save money for the owner of the building; the temperatures internally will be more uniform and comfortable, especially when external temperatures are very high or low. You will also save on the recurring expense that is heating or cooling a building utilising equipment, as well as its upkeep and maintenance. Overall, the carbon footprint of the building will be decreased.

This roofing material is resistant to both hail and UV rays. The Danpal panelling has been independently tested to prove the claim that it can withstand even the more inclement weather conditions. The special coating means that harmful UV rays will no longer cause damage to the interior or exterior surfaces of the structure, as the coating on the panels diffuses even the harshest sunlight, rendering it obsolete in terms of damage it inflicts. The strongly woven plastic means that hail will simply bounce off the surface and leave no visible or structural damage.

At Danpal, we have put a lot of work into the roofing material that is used in our systems, utilising the very best in Microcell technology. This is what helps to limit the amount of weathering occurs over time on the roofs that use our system, which saves money in the long run.

Solar and Thermal Planning for New Building

Posted on July 24, 2016July 25, 2016 by Danpal

Solar and thermal planning for new building is essential in today’s energy market. Home owners and business owners have a vested interest in orienting their buildings – including location of doors, windows and energy creation – to make best use of local daylight and thermal conditions. Of course, this is going to vary from climate to climate, and geographical location. But some things will remain constant.

These include changing of the sun’s angle by season, thermal gain due to sunlight on glass, and the need for shading options during seasons or in locations where strong sunlight is the rule. Locations that have seasons with extremely short daylight hours interspersed with extremely long daylight hours, that have little or no natural shade or that have a great deal of natural shade will require special treatment.

With that said, Danpal building materials have a great deal to offer owners who are erecting new buildings. One viewer, upon seeing the Danpal website with its catalog of transparent, translucent and opaque building panels said, “Hey, look! It is the Earthship concept all grown up and made beautiful!” Indeed, the Danpal materials embrace ideas and research from earlier energy conscious builders.

Facade Materials for Solar and Thermal Planning in New Building

First of all, there is recognition of the need for façade materials for solar and thermal planning in new building that work efficiently and esthetically. Controlite is a Danpal system of translucent glazing materials with internal louvres that constantly adjust, allowing adjustment to a comfortable, no-glare interior that makes efficient use of natural sunlight. An easy-to-install facade solution is Danpatherm, a factory assembled unit that incorporates excellent thermal properties with tensile strength that can resist wind and dirt penetration. During the day, it functions as a wall panel that emits natural light.

Fitted with LED lighting, at night it works as a light box. The combination ensures pleasant lighting at all times. Finally, there are the Danpal translucent façade panels. These combine light weight with tensile strength; weather resistance with ease of installation. They come in a variety of colors and styles, enabling mixing and matching for unique external building designs; in addition, they provide excellent solar and thermal protection, admitting light while blocking harmful UV rays and managing thermal gain.

Combined with a lightweight metal framing system, they are a highly secure means of admitting natural light, and creating an attractive nighttime display of light and color without compromising privacy.

Transparent and Translucent Roofing

Second, Danpal transparent and translucent roofing panels create a constructive, incredibly beautiful answer to the architectural question of how to make skylights – a superb way to get natural lighting into a building – secure and weather resistant. Incorporating the same tough materials and practical building options as the façade materials, Danpal roofing can bring daylight to any room or area that is on the top floor of a building. Furthermore, because it is roofing, rather than an inset window panel, visual interest is achieved by organization and arrangement of the roof supports. For those who would love to look at the stars while falling asleep, without the inconvenience of wind, rain, dust and insects, this is the ideal solution. As for that old movie cliché of falling through the skylight, Danpal roofing systems are designed for a wide variety of weather conditions and are impact resistant.

Shading, for When the Sun is Too Much

Finally, Danpal panels include shading solutions for solar and thermal planning in new building. Sunlight is marvelous for lighting rooms or even for thermal heating solutions, but there are times when enough is enough, and sunlight simply isn’t welcome. For those areas, Danpal translucent louvered shades are the perfect solution. They can be adjusted by the user, and can be set for a broad variety of effects. They come in a wide range of colors. Their jewel tones are not dissimilar to those of a stained glass window – just not quite as ornate. More importantly for the modern user, the panels can be adjusted to that just-right lighting for a particular interior. They shade without gloom, and admit the right amount of natural daylight for that uplifting feeling that comes only from sunlight.

The Danpal systems are designed for efficiency, security and beauty. They can be used for basic Frank Lloyd Wright building styles or incorporated into older or newer types of architecture. With these versatile panels, with their wide array of colors, their unique thermal properties and their modern building systems only the builders’ imagination will limit their applications.