The Importance of Roof Renovation and Industrial Roofing.

Since the 1960s, during the economic boom, Italy has witnessed a significant success in industrialized concrete construction. The country has a substantial number of industrial buildings; according to a recent study by Il Sole 24 Ore, in the most industrialized regions, there is one building for every 54 inhabitants. However, not all are operational, with about 20% being abandoned or unused—a figure that increases in the central and southern regions.

Of these, 60% consist of reusable structures. The roofs are constructed using various systems. There are roofs with sloping eaves, flat roofs, and barrel roofs.

The roofs may be fully walkable or not and can be made entirely of concrete using prefabricated tiles placed side by side, or constructed using concrete tiles (such as I-beams or wing-shaped tiles) with interspersed flat or curved sandwich panels. Additionally, they can include flush skylights, made of plastic materials (currently polycarbonate, previously fiberglass), or shed-type systems.

Another important detail is the presence or absence of a perimeter parapet, where roofs are subject to the installation of fall prevention lifeline systems.

 

 

Industrial roofing systems are designed to last for many years, yet even with the best systems, there comes a time when maintenance and replacement are necessary. The lifespan of a roofing system, which includes the waterproofing and rainwater disposal components, is significantly shorter than the structural life of the industrial building itself. Indeed, in the best scenarios, the useful life of a roof is about 20-30 years, whereas the industrial property itself can last much longer.

In optimal cases, after 20-30 years, the materials comprising the roof no longer guarantee their initial thermal or mechanical performance. They become prone to hardening, corrosion, wear, and obsolescence, which diminish their effectiveness and make them susceptible to water infiltration.

It is also important to consider that industrial roofs with bituminous sheet finishes tend to wear out faster than those with metal sheet finishes.

 

 

“In recent years, we have witnessed the inadequacy of existing water drainage systems on roofs, originally designed based on criteria that were valid 30 to 40 years ago. These systems are increasingly challenged by the climatic changes we are experiencing, including severe downpours that unload large amounts of rain in a short time.

In such cases, the technical solution becomes more complex and requires detailed study. It necessitates modifying the entire roof system, potentially involving the addition of an overstructure, a sort of secondary skin, suspended above the original, which allows for a redesign of the entire water drainage system using a specialized sheet metal system.”

 

 

Older coverings typically lack insulation materials. Proper design, in accordance with legislative parameters, includes insulation packages that reduce the thermal transmittance of the envelope. This insulates the environment by retaining heat in the winter and coolness in the summer, ensuring adequate climate comfort.

Although this requirement is mandatory only in certain renovation scenarios, a conscientious owner might consider enhancing comfort in their work environment regardless.

 

 

Public health reasons can also necessitate the renovation of industrial roofing. Many industrial buildings in Italy still feature asbestos cement finishes today, commonly known as Eternit. Eternit, a trademark for a corrugated sheet, was marketed until the early 1990s and contained asbestos, long used as a finish for industrial buildings.

Asbestos dust is carcinogenic. In Italy, the sale of this product was banned by Law No. 257 of 1992, which remains in effect today but could not address buildings already constructed. Every year, INAIL (the National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work) promotes grants to encourage the replacement of asbestos roofs, offering non-repayable contributions up to 65%: this represents an opportunity for property owners to improve the health and safety conditions for workers.

 

 

Inveco Holding Spa, serving as a general contractor with over thirty years of experience in the prefabricated industrial construction sector and twenty years in the renewable energy plant sector, positions itself as the ideal partner for refurbishing your roofing and for the subsequent installation of a photovoltaic system on it.

We design the best solution for refurbishing the roofs of industrial sheds of all types and categories. We conduct a site inspection and provide a free evaluation. Additionally, we can assist you in participating in INAIL bids and those related to renewable energy sources.

 

 

In-depth analysis by Eng. Matteo Pierotti – INVECO GROUP.