Revised ACR publication – ACR Red Book Fifth Edition -Test for non fragility of Profile Sheeted Roofing Assemblies

The ACR is pleased to announce the publication of 5th Edition of its material standard – The Red Book ACR[M]001:2014

Since the ACR Red Book was first published there has been clear guidance on the test methods for non-fragility of roofing materials including rooflights manufactured from plastic materials. It has been less clear where glass rooflights are concerned. This has caused confusion amongst specifiers as to what testing requirements are appropriate for glass. The Centre for Window and Cladding Technology (CWCT), based at Bath University, also produced guidance and test methods for testing glass rooflights, TN66 and TN67.

The ACR tests do not include a hard body impact test and the CWCT tests are not appropriate for plastic rooflights therefore neither standard was appropriate for all circumstances. The CWCT TN66 and TN67 tests were also considered to be onerous and inappropriate to be specified on projects with only small areas of glazing, therefore the need for new cohesive guidance was identified.

The result was that the National Association of Rooflight Manufacturers (NARM) worked closely with CWCT to develop a new standard, TN92, which offers a simplified method of testing as well as prescribing some deemed to satisfy criteria for specifying glass rooflights.

The ACR Red Book has now been revised and re-issued as the 5th Edition to include reference to the CWCT standards as the most appropriate tests for glass rooflights which means that specifiers that now refer to testing for non-fragility to ACR[M]001:2014 can be sure that whatever rooflight material is being used on their project the recommendations within the Red Book will provide clarity in guiding them to the correct test for their chosen rooflight material.

The 5th Edition can be downloaded free of charge from the ACR website
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