All,

The roof tile on my house need to be changed. The contractor is planing to put some aluminum and zinc in the roof to prevent leak from the rain. Does this void the fire insurance on the house??

I remember reading some where about aluminum on the roof will void the fire insurance. Is this the case or only applies to aluminuim wriring in the house.

Thanks in advance.

Dreamer

http://www.piam.org.my/product/fire.htm#03

a very good site for resources to ask questions about fire insurance for house owner..

as far as i know alluminium roof doesn't affect fire insurance policy. alluminium is one the common material used for roof , steel is another common one. Metal roofing bcoz of its non-combustible , is safer to use .

http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Metal-Roofin...rials&id=659630

this website actually mention insurance company give discount for fire insurance if use metal roof...

it's not aluminum nor zinc

it's ZINCALUME - zinc and aluminum alloy

and either material is common roofing material. it's been used for ages, besides the ubiquitos concrete / clay tiles

i know cos i design roofs - engineering side, not architecture

This post has been edited by lucifah: Sep 24 2007, 01:25 AM

thanks for the ZIncalume term!!! i was scratching my head for the term of this combi....

so i guess u r from bluescope company...


last time i was workin in roofin industries...

Thanks to all those responded.

Dreamer

BHP lysaght (before it got turned to BlueScope Lysaght)

Bluescope is the steel manufacturer

lysaght is the roofing people

now i work full time as hospital's janitor - cleaning up other people's mess

edit: TS : there's no such thing as aluminum wiring - they all use copper wires. aluminum just doesn't make sense in electric conductivity

This post has been edited by lucifah: Sep 24 2007, 03:13 AM

I had my insurer telling me zinc sheets placed under the clay roof tiles is a fire hazard, hence making the fire policy voidable.

Not sure if this is some 'excuse' the insurer uses or if there's any truth to it.
Bomba apparently does not approve of zinc sheets beneath the clay/cement tiles as well.

Any Roof specialists can confirm this?

Lucifah,

You are not OLD enough. Tenaga / LLN did use aluminum wiring about 35 years.

Dreamer

Hi dreamer101 I checked with my insurer before coz my contractor wanted to installed zinc in the roof but they said it will void my fire insurance... its stated in the agreement as well.

The insurer is ING!

What if those zinc in car porch roof only, will it void the whole building?

ah... never knew there still are aluminum wirings. tq tq.

i rarely see aluminum wiring nowadays except in bus bars where they are in 1/2" thick plate, 4" wide, carrying 415V and about 600 amp for my hospital

just a piece of info to share



anyhow, back to the main topic: frmo engineering side, yes, zinc roofing tend to be more "flammable" than concrete / clay tiles

however, this is due to one main factor:

WHEN YOU USE METAL ROOFING, YOU'LL NEED TO LAY A LOT OF SOUND PROOFING INSULATION LAYER - usually about 2" of rockwool

this insulation is the fire hazard

without the insulation, you'll be deaf when it rains. it's bloody noisy

This post has been edited by lucifah: Sep 25 2007, 11:30 PM

if you use CONCRETE tiles, you don't need the zinc sheet since it's thick enough and is waterproof

but if you use CLAY tiles, you're gonna need the zinc sheets since water may soak / seep into the house

i have never heard of BOMBA not approving those metal sheet layers yet. anyone can confirm?


anyway, additional info:

CONCRETE tile : cheap, easily available // easily stained, not beautiful (about RM 1 per piece)
CLAY tile: beautiful, the color is lasting and not so susceptible to fungus growth // bloody expensive (RM 2 (china made) to RM 15 (italian tiles) per piece)

well maybe you can ask an opinion from another contractor around your area. Because as far as I know BOMBA are not really standadized. Every state are different in their way.

You sure about this. As far as I know, the Bomba requirement is standard but the local authority requirement is different.

actually, the zinc sheets are more for security to make it more difficult for intruders to get in from the roof!!

nope. it's what ppl may have convinced you

but we engineers try to economize everything - security isn't our priority. cost, safety and customer satisfaction is.

the metal sheet has to be there or else someone will have to use umbrella in the house during rain

Lucifah,

I am referring to the Zinc sheet below the tiles. Does that void the fire insurance?

Sorry if I confuse anyone. The roof is NOT made of zinc. I am referring to the Zinc sheet under the roof tiles.

Dreamer

This post has been edited by dreamer101: Sep 26 2007, 10:30 PM

1st of all, do u all referrin aluminium wiring = chicken netting??

2nd, wats d pitch (degree) of ur house roof? since u say d contractor wants to put d zinc sheet coz scare its leakin, its not true... if they done it properly, d water will not leaked into ur house provided d degree is mre than 18degree or more...

3rd, y need to put chicken nettin??? d contractor also will b puttin rockwooll(d thing in yellow color which can make u gatal gatal)??

4th,nowadays alot private house rebuild did not use chicken nettin but some do use zinc sheet(pitch more than 18degree) to prevent direct warm from sunlight..

there r some high quality zinc sheet which will not rosak easily n resistant to fire more better...


but, if it really happen fire, d zinc sheet(d cheap type) vry fast gone one... so how they noe u use zinc sheet ??

i thought they call it Hot Dip Galvanised Steel Sheet (in coils).