Vented Flat Roof Assembly

Before constructing a flat roof assembly please refer to the unvented roof assembly comments under 6 2 vented and unvented roof assemblies and if applicable 6 3 parapet walls.

Vented flat roof assembly. Vented roofs provide the capacity for moisture to be removed from the underside of roof sheathing via convection currents in the vent cavity. Let s take the example of a cathedral ceiling renovation project on older home in bc. Control airflow install at least 1 in. By installing spf insulation spray in place insulation in lieu of mineral fiber insulation in the joist cavity of a flat roof or between rafters of a cathedral ceiling the assembly may perform the same as or better than that of a typical one and venting can be shown to be unnecessary.

This is a long slender aluminum vent that has a larger cover that is a domed shape. Historically typical construction of homes in canada and the us have vented attics between the ceiling of the interior space and the roof. That setup makes it easy to insulate the ceiling with thick fluffy insulation like cellulose or fiberglass. If you don t want to use sips or nailbase read this article tolearn the four basic approaches to insulating unvented roof assemblies.

The most common way to eliminate venting from a roof assembly is to use a spray foam spf insulation. Unvented flat roofs a technical discussion flat roofs have often been built with the insulation all on top of the vapor closed drainage plane as this avoids dew point condensation issues inboard of the roofing. It has the shape of a mushroom once it is completely installed. Minimum 1 4 in.

Unvented roof assemblies should be insulated either with air impermeable insulation rigid foam or spray polyurethane foam or with a combination of foam and air permeable insulation. 6 2 vented and unvented roof assemblies vented roofs for pitches of 3 12 or above when detailed correctly vented roofs have a long successful track record in the pacific northwest. Or 6 mm vented airspace should be installed between the roofing and the underlayment. In hurricane prone zones with frequent high wind events vented soffit collapse can pressurize a building which can cause windows to blow out and the roof to be blown off.

Any roofing material can be used on an unvented roof assembly with ccspf. If wood shingles or shakes are used a layer of drainage mat e g. Similarly in coastal environments or in regions with lots of rain and wind moisture can be forced into the vents and into the roof assembly. However in many situations the insulation may need to be primarily or entirely below the flat roof membrane and between the roof joists if so what are the best options.