Wellness Risks of PVC Roofing Membrane

Several constructing owners and companies have asked me why I do not supply PVC membrane to my flat roof buyers. I just feel that PVC is too terrific of a risk to take. What's PVC? PVC, or Polyvinyl Chloride, is made from the polymerization of vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), a toxic, carcinogenic gas. It really is a durable, economical material with numerous makes use of. 75% of all PVC consumption in North America is attributed to plastic pipes. PVC can also be utilized as a membrane to cover flat roofs, and appears for the typical individual to look precisely like TPO membrane. What will be the risks linked with PVC? Study shows that dioxin, which can be the most potent carcinogen identified to science, in addition to vinyl chloride and specific acids, are designed and released through the production of PVC. These chemicals can cause extreme overall health troubles including: cancer neurological harm immune technique damage respiratory problems liver and kidney failure birth defects asthma They are troubles that the public and roofing contractors have a right to know about. My story

About 12 years ago, PVC was the principal material we utilized in our flat roofing division here at Brady Roofing. Right after we started installing PVC, I started to practical experience overall health complications. I have been wholesome my complete life, so when these issues came on so suddenly, it produced me wonder in regards to the security of PVC membrane. This led me to accomplish some critical investigation around the material. I located that producers in fact understand that PVC membrane is extremely toxic, but they had been hiding these details from me through our conversations. My private well being problems integrated serious respiratory troubles and neurological damage. The neurological concerns are basically receiving worse, regardless of the truth that I no longer set up PVC. I do not need to go into my personal wellness complications as well deeply, but just to illustrate, my left lower physique is experiencing a slow atrophy of your muscles on account of neurological harm. My left calf is at the moment 1.25 inches smaller sized in circumference than my ideal. Although I've no proof, I strongly think it's triggered from breathing the toxins located in PVC membrane. I've no genetic predisposition for such neurological troubles. Is this study relevant? I approached our PVC manufacturer regarding the issue. They just told me that there was no research to help my claims. In actual fact, there's a great deal of research performed on the toxicity of PVC. The suppliers can claim they may be not relevant due to the fact these studies are carried out around the production of PVC in lieu of the installation risks. Having said that, when you install PVC, you use hot air as much as 1300 degrees F to melt the membrane and seal it. Because the membrane melts, it may feel like you are breathing ammonia. The air can burn your sinuses, displaying the presence of harmful chemical compounds getting released, just as they're during production. Manufacturers will not supply this facts to contractors and buyers. Their argument is that the roofs are installed in open air, so there is certainly sufficient ventilation to help keep the installers protected. However, once you are welding, your face is 18 inches in the fumes. Inside a large majority of flat roofs you'll find also parapet walls, keeping the wind from blowing and clearing the fumes out. A significant percentage of your time, the fumes will enter your sinuses rather. What can we do? All of my analysis led me to believe that PVC film is not a secure material to manage. For this reason we've refused to set up PVC membranes. Even though there are actually variations of PVC membranes created in an effort to distance themselves in the hazards linked with PVC, cautious examination will reveal that vinyl chloride monomers and dioxins are still present in these options. Even though I've not drawn any strict correlations involving PVC wellness risks as well as the buyers, I've drawn risks for the installers, and I refuse to take any doable risk with our consumers health at the same time. We've got chosen a brand new, revolutionary roofing alternative named TPO. TPO appears identical to PVC, however it comes with no risks for the installer or client. I think that it is in fact a better membrane mainly because it will not get brittle like a dried up PVC pipe, as is characteristic of PVC sheets. TPO is versatile and very energy efficient, in conjunction with being non-toxic. TPO is usually a younger item, it has only been about considering that 1991. Having said that, it truly is displaying indications that it'll final longer than PVC membrane.