+---
+title: Fluid-Applied Roofing and Coatings
+category: Building Envelope
+toc_depth: 3
+description: >
+ When to use: Liquid-applied roof coatings and membranes that cure in place to a
+ seamless monolithic film on low-slope and low-pitch roofs — acrylic, silicone,
+ polyurethane, and spray-polyurethane-foam (SPF) topcoat systems. Covers new-construction
+ membranes over deck or insulation, restoration re-coating of weathered but sound
+ built-up, modified-bitumen, single-ply, metal-panel, and concrete roofs without tear-off,
+ reflective cool-roof upgrades, and maintenance re-coat cycles, including substrate prep,
+ primer, fabric reinforcement, dry-film thickness, reflectance/emittance compliance, and
+ 5/10/15/20-year NDL warranty tiers.
+ Not intended for: mechanically attached or adhered sheet membranes (use
+ [[sync/membrane-roofing]]); hot/cold fluid-applied waterproofing of plaza decks and
+ parking structures over occupied space (use [[sync/fluid-applied-waterproofing]]);
+ structural metal roof panels (use [[sync/metal-roof-panels]]); metal copings, gravel
+ stops, and edge flashings (use [[sync/roof-specialties-and-copings]] and
+ [[sync/gutters-and-downspouts]]); exterior wall coatings and sealants (use
+ [[sync/exterior-weather-sealants]]); below-grade waterproofing; steep-slope shingle,
+ tile, or shake roofing; vegetative roof assemblies; and built-up or modified-bitumen
+ sheet roofing.
+---
+
+# Scope {toc}
+
+## This Standard covers fluid-applied roofing: liquid coatings and membranes applied to low-slope roof surfaces that cure in place to form a seamless, monolithic film. {note}
+
+## Fluid-applied roofing has two distinct uses: a new-construction roof membrane installed over a steel deck, concrete deck, or rigid insulation; and restoration — re-coating an existing built-up, modified-bitumen, single-ply (TPO/PVC/EPDM), metal-panel, or concrete roof that is structurally sound but weathered, avoiding the cost and disruption of a full tear-off. {note}
+
+## Restoration is the larger share of the market; a reflective coating applied for energy performance and a scheduled maintenance re-coat are both restoration cases. {note}
+
+## The four coating chemistries in this Standard each have a distinct service envelope, summarized below. {note}
+- Acrylic is water-based, UV-stable, and economical but degrades under long-term ponding water.
+- Silicone is a high-solids moisture-cure film with superior ponding-water resistance, offset by a tacky surface that holds dirt and the fact that it can only be recoated with silicone.
+- Single- and two-component polyurethane gives the highest tensile and abrasion resistance, suited to foot-traffic roofs.
+- SPF is a sprayed insulating substrate that must always receive a fluid-applied topcoat for UV and weather protection; the foam is not a finished surface on its own.
+
+## Coating chemistry shall be selected for the roof's ponding behavior, traffic exposure, substrate, and required warranty term, not by lowest installed cost alone.
+
+## Restoration re-coats an existing weathered membrane that is structurally and watertight-sound after repair, so its scope is dominated by survey, cleaning, repair, and primer selection matched to whatever surface is present. {note}
+
+## New construction installs the coating system over a prepared deck, rigid insulation, or fresh SPF, where the substrate is known and clean; the two share the coating chemistry and detailing rules but diverge sharply in preparation and submittal requirements. {note}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Project type
+type: radio
+options:
+ - Restoration / re-coat over existing roof
+ - New construction over deck or insulation
+ - SPF roof with fluid-applied topcoat
+default: Restoration / re-coat over existing roof
+```
+
+## Fluid-applied roofing of this Standard is governed by IBC Section 1507.15, which requires compliance with the applicable ASTM material standard and installation per the manufacturer's published instructions. {note}
+
+## This Standard does not cover sheet-membrane roofing, fluid-applied waterproofing below occupied space, metal roof panels, roof edge metal, or wall coatings. {note}
+
+## The boundary that causes the most confusion is fluid-applied roofing (this Standard) versus fluid-applied waterproofing ([[sync/fluid-applied-waterproofing]]): the two use different products, test standards, and warranty criteria. {note}
+
+## Roofing products are formulated for direct, permanent weather and UV exposure, while waterproofing products are formulated to sit beneath a wearing course or overburden and are not UV-stable; using either out of place creates a performance gap and voids both warranties. {note}
+
+## Adjacent scopes belong to their own standards: sheet single-ply to [[sync/membrane-roofing]]; structural metal panels to [[sync/metal-roof-panels]]; copings, gravel stops, and edge metal to [[sync/roof-specialties-and-copings]]; gutters and downspouts to [[sync/gutters-and-downspouts]]; and wall coatings and below-flashing sealant to [[sync/exterior-weather-sealants]]. {note}
+
+# Referenced Standards {toc}
+
+## Materials, application, and testing shall comply with the latest adopted edition of each of the following unless a specific edition is cited.
+
+## Where referenced standards conflict, the more stringent requirement shall govern unless the Engineer of Record directs otherwise in writing.
+
+| Standard | Title |
+|----------|-------|
+| ASTM D6083/D6083M-24 | Liquid-Applied Acrylic Coating Used in Roofing |
+| ASTM D6694/D6694M-15 | Liquid-Applied Silicone Coating Used in Spray Polyurethane Foam Roofing Systems |
+| ASTM D7311-17 | Liquid-Applied, Single-Pack Moisture-Triggered Aliphatic Polyurethane Roofing Membrane |
+| ASTM D7425-18 | Application and Performance of Spray Polyurethane Foam Roofing Systems |
+| ASTM C836/C836M-15 | High Solids Content, Cold Liquid-Applied Elastomeric Waterproofing Membrane for Use with Separate Wearing Course |
+| ASTM D412 | Vulcanized Rubber and Thermoplastic Elastomers — Tension |
+| ASTM D4541 | Pull-Off Strength of Coatings Using Portable Adhesion Testers |
+| ASTM C1371 | Determination of Emittance of Materials Near Room Temperature Using Portable Emissometers |
+| ASTM E1918 | Measuring Solar Reflectance of Horizontal and Low-Sloped Surfaces in the Field |
+| NRCA Roofing Manual | Membrane Roof Systems (detailing and practice guidelines) |
+| FM Approvals 4470 | Single-Ply, Polymer-Modified Bitumen, BUR, and Fluid-Applied Roofing Membranes |
+| UL 790 | Tests for Fire Resistance of Roof Covering Materials |
+| IBC Section 1507.15 | Liquid-Applied Roofing |
+| IBC Section 1503.4 | Roof Drainage |
+| IECC Section C402.3 | Roof Solar Reflectance and Thermal Emittance |
+| ASHRAE 90.1 Appendix A2 | Cool Roof Aged Reflectance and Emittance |
+| CRRC-1 | Cool Roof Rating Council Product Rating Program |
+| ENERGY STAR | Roof Products Program — Low-Slope Minimum Requirements |
+
+# Submittals {toc}
+
+## The Contractor shall submit the following product data and certifications before any material is delivered to the site:
+- Manufacturer's product data sheet for primer, base coat, top coat, reinforcing fabric, and all accessory products, identifying chemistry, solids content, and VOC content.
+- ASTM material-standard compliance certification (D6083 acrylic, D6694 silicone, D7311 polyurethane, or D7425 for SPF substrate) for the proposed coating.
+- CRRC Product ID number with rated initial and 3-year aged solar reflectance and thermal emittance, where a cool-roof requirement applies.
+- FM Approvals or UL 790 assembly listing identifying the exact tested configuration, where a wind-uplift or fire classification is required.
+- Manufacturer's written system warranty sample for the specified tier, including the dry-film thickness and number of coats required to earn it.
+- Manufacturer's letter approving the proposed contractor as an applicator for the specified warranty (required for No Dollar Limit warranties).
+
+```datasheet
+label: Action submittals
+type: checkbox
+options:
+ - Coating and accessory product data sheets
+ - ASTM material-standard compliance certification
+ - CRRC Product ID with reflectance/emittance values
+ - FM / UL assembly listing
+ - Sample system warranty for specified tier
+ - Manufacturer applicator approval letter
+default: [Coating and accessory product data sheets, ASTM material-standard compliance certification]
+```
+
+## For restoration over an existing roof, the Contractor shall additionally submit a moisture survey of the existing assembly and written confirmation that the existing-membrane manufacturer's warranty permits overcoating.
+
+## Many single-ply manufacturers void their own warranty if a fluid-applied coating is applied over their membrane without written approval, so this must be resolved in design, not discovered during construction. {note}
+
+## The Contractor shall submit the following execution and quality-control records during and after application:
+- Infrared or nuclear-gauge moisture survey of the existing assembly, for restoration scope.
+- Substrate adhesion test (ASTM D4541 pull-off) results on the actual roof before full application.
+- Daily application log recording ambient and substrate temperature, coverage rate in gallons per 100 square feet, and wet-mil gauge readings per coat.
+- Post-cure dry-film-thickness verification record.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Informational and closeout submittals
+type: checkbox
+options:
+ - Existing-assembly moisture survey
+ - Existing-membrane manufacturer overcoat approval
+ - ASTM D4541 adhesion test results
+ - Daily application log (temperature, coverage, wet mils)
+ - Post-cure dry-film-thickness record
+ - Executed system warranty
+default: [Daily application log (temperature, coverage, wet mils), Post-cure dry-film-thickness record, Executed system warranty]
+```
+
+# Quality Assurance {toc}
+
+## The coating system shall be supplied as a single-source assembly — primer, fabric, base coat, top coat, and accessories — from one manufacturer.
+
+## Mixing components across manufacturers voids the warranty. {note}
+
+## For a No Dollar Limit (NDL) system warranty, the applicator shall be a contractor currently approved in writing by the coating manufacturer. {note}
+
+## NDL warranties cover both material and labor with no cap on the manufacturer's repair obligation, which is why manufacturers restrict them to trained, audited applicators; a material-only warranty has no applicator-approval requirement but offers far less protection. {note}
+
+## Where the project requires an FM Approvals or UL 790 classified assembly, the installed configuration shall match the listed assembly exactly; no product substitution shall be made without FM or UL re-evaluation.
+
+## FM and UL listings are specific to the exact products, thicknesses, and substrate tested, so substituting a coating mid-project — even a "comparable" one — silently invalidates the uplift or fire classification the assembly was specified to provide. {note}
+
+## For FM-insured buildings the assembly must carry an FM Approvals 4470 listing to the required wind-uplift class — FM 1-60, 1-90, 1-120, and higher are common targets driven by building height, exposure, and roof zone. {note}
+
+## For fire, IBC Table 1505.1 requires a UL 790 Class A roof covering for most commercial occupancies, and the coating system must be named in the listed assembly. {note}
+
+## The roofing assembly shall carry an FM Approvals 4470 listing to the specified wind-uplift class where the property is FM-insured or the code requires a listed uplift rating.
+
+## The roofing assembly shall achieve the fire classification required by IBC Table 1505.1 for the occupancy, verified by a current UL 790 listing that names the coating system.
+
+```datasheet
+label: FM wind-uplift class required
+type: select
+options:
+ - Not required
+ - FM 1-60
+ - FM 1-75
+ - FM 1-90
+ - FM 1-105
+ - FM 1-120 or higher
+default: Not required
+```
+
+```datasheet
+label: UL 790 fire classification
+type: radio
+options:
+ - Class A
+ - Class B
+ - Class C
+ - Not required
+default: Class A
+```
+
+## A field mock-up of not less than 100 square feet, including one penetration and one seam, shall be applied and approved before full-scale work begins, and shall remain as the standard of acceptance for the work.
+
+## The Contractor shall verify and document positive roof drainage before any coating is applied.
+
+## A fluid-applied coating does not correct a drainage problem; it photographs it — coating a roof that ponds, or that develops ponding because the coating filled a slight low spot, leads to early delamination and voids the warranty. {note}
+
+## Slope deficiencies are corrected with tapered fill or crickets shown on the drawings, before the coating scope begins. {note}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Warranty type
+type: radio
+options:
+ - Manufacturer material warranty (coating only)
+ - System warranty (labor and material)
+ - No Dollar Limit (NDL) system warranty
+default: System warranty (labor and material)
+```
+
+```datasheet
+label: System warranty term
+type: radio
+options:
+ - 5 years
+ - 10 years
+ - 15 years
+ - 20 years
+default: 10 years
+```
+
+# Environmental and Service Conditions {toc}
+
+## Ponding water is the single most important service condition driving chemistry selection. {note}
+
+## Acrylic coatings re-emulsify and degrade under standing water and are unsuitable for any roof that retains water longer than about 48 hours, while silicone is unaffected by standing water — specifying acrylic over a ponding roof is the most common and most damaging error in this category. {note}
+
+## Coating chemistry shall be matched to the roof's documented ponding behavior; acrylic shall not be specified where water ponds for more than 48 hours.
+
+## The coating system shall be selected and applied within its published ambient and substrate temperature limits.
+
+## The coating system shall not be applied when frost or precipitation is forecast within the manufacturer's stated cure window.
+
+## Acrylic films will not coalesce below roughly 40°F (4°C) or if dew or frost forms before the surface skins, producing cracking and delamination; solvent-borne silicones tolerate lower temperatures (some to 35°F / 2°C) but still require a dry, frost-free substrate. {note}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Documented ponding condition
+type: radio
+options:
+ - No ponding (drains within 24 hours)
+ - Incidental ponding (drains within 48 hours)
+ - Persistent ponding (ponds beyond 48 hours — silicone required)
+default: Incidental ponding (drains within 48 hours)
+```
+
+```datasheet
+label: Minimum application temperature (ambient and substrate, rising)
+type: range
+unit: °F
+min: 35
+max: 60
+step: 5
+default: 40
+```
+
+## Cool-Roof Compliance {toc}
+
+### The Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC-1) program is the compliance pathway for IECC Section C402.3 and ASHRAE 90.1 Appendix A2 in climate zones that mandate a low-slope cool roof. {note}
+
+### Because reflectance drops as a roof weathers and soils, code compliance is judged on the 3-year aged value, not the bright initial value, so the submittal must carry the CRRC Product ID with both numbers. {note}
+
+### California Title 24 imposes additional aged-reflectance minimums for West Coast projects. {note}
+
+### Where a cool roof is required, the coating shall be a CRRC-rated product meeting the governing aged solar reflectance and thermal emittance for the climate zone.
+
+### The coating shall carry a current CRRC Product ID, and its rated aged solar reflectance and thermal emittance shall be verified against the governing code minimums for the project's climate zone.
+
+### Field verification of in-service solar reflectance, where required, shall be performed per ASTM E1918 and thermal emittance per ASTM C1371.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Cool-roof compliance basis
+type: radio
+options:
+ - Not required (climate zone exempt)
+ - IECC C402.3 / ASHRAE 90.1 aged values
+ - ENERGY STAR low-slope
+ - California Title 24
+default: IECC C402.3 / ASHRAE 90.1 aged values
+```
+
+```datasheet
+label: Minimum aged solar reflectance
+type: range
+unit: "(0–1 scale)"
+min: 0.40
+max: 0.70
+step: 0.05
+default: 0.55
+```
+
+```datasheet
+label: Minimum thermal emittance
+type: range
+unit: "(0–1 scale)"
+min: 0.25
+max: 0.90
+step: 0.05
+default: 0.75
+```
+
+# Coating Chemistry and Materials {toc}
+
+## Acrylic Elastomeric Coatings {toc}
+
+### Acrylic coatings are water-based elastomeric films, economical and highly UV-stable, but water-sensitive until fully cured and unsuitable for ponding. {note}
+
+### Acrylic is the workhorse reflective restoration and maintenance coating for well-draining sloped roofs — metal panels, modified bitumen, and BUR in dry climates. {note}
+
+### Because acrylic is only about 50–60% solids, it is applied at a higher wet-mil rate than silicone to reach the same dry film, and it must not be rained on or frosted before it skins. {note}
+
+### Acrylic roof coatings shall comply with ASTM D6083/D6083M, with tensile strength not less than 100 psi and elongation not less than 100% at 73°F per ASTM D412.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Acrylic system configuration
+type: radio
+options:
+ - Single base coat only (maintenance / budget — no fabric)
+ - Two-coat with polyester fabric at seams and penetrations
+ - Full fabric-reinforced field-of-roof system (metal re-roof)
+default: Two-coat with polyester fabric at seams and penetrations
+```
+
+## Silicone Coatings {toc}
+
+### Silicone coatings are high-solids moisture-cure films with the best ponding-water resistance of any roof coating chemistry, specified for ponding-prone roofs and as the standard topcoat over SPF. {note}
+
+### Silicone's trade-offs are a tacky surface that attracts dirt (slowly lowering reflectance) and the fact that nothing but silicone adheres to cured silicone, so recoating decades later is locked to the chemistry. {note}
+
+### At 90%-plus solids, silicone reaches dry-film thickness at a much lower wet-mil rate than acrylic. {note}
+
+### Silicone roof coatings shall comply with ASTM D6694/D6694M, with solids content not less than 90%, tensile strength not less than 100 psi, and elongation not less than 50%.
+
+### Where a silicone system is specified, the design shall account for the fact that only silicone bonds to cured silicone, so all future recoats are committed to the same chemistry.
+
+### Committing a roof to silicone is a long-horizon ownership decision worth flagging to the owner during selection, because it removes the option to switch to an acrylic or polyurethane recoat later. {note}
+
+## Polyurethane Coatings {toc}
+
+### Single- and two-component polyurethane coatings provide the highest tensile and abrasion resistance and are specified where the roof carries foot traffic or rooftop equipment service paths. {note}
+
+### Aromatic polyurethane is often used as a tough, low-cost base coat topped with a UV-stable aliphatic polyurethane or silicone; a single-pack moisture-cure aliphatic membrane can serve as both. {note}
+
+### Single-pack moisture-cure polyurethane roofing membranes shall comply with ASTM D7311 for tensile strength, elongation, and tear resistance.
+
+### Aluminum-pigmented asphalt emulsion shall not be specified as a primary waterproofing membrane.
+
+### Aluminum-pigmented asphalt emulsion is a reflective maintenance coat over built-up or modified-bitumen roofs; it extends service life and lowers surface temperature but does not form an elastomeric waterproofing film and is excluded from the dry-film-thickness and warranty-tier requirements of this Standard. {note}
+
+## Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) Substrate {toc}
+
+### Sprayed polyurethane foam with a fluid-applied topcoat uses the foam as an insulating substrate that must always receive a protective topcoat; bare SPF is never a finished roof surface. {note}
+
+### SPF provides a self-flashing, monolithic, insulating base that builds positive slope to drains, but its closed cells degrade rapidly under UV, so the silicone or polyurethane topcoat is what makes it a weatherproof roof; fabric-reinforced granule-broadcast topcoats are standard for SPF. {note}
+
+### Spray polyurethane foam shall comply with ASTM D7425 for density, compressive strength, closed-cell content, and applied thickness.
+
+### SPF shall receive a fluid-applied silicone or polyurethane topcoat from the same or a manufacturer-matched system at the specified dry-film thickness.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Primary coating chemistry
+type: radio
+options:
+ - Acrylic (water-based elastomeric)
+ - Silicone (moisture-cure, high solids)
+ - Polyurethane (high tensile / traffic)
+ - SPF with fluid-applied topcoat
+default: Silicone (moisture-cure, high solids)
+```
+
+# Primer and Reinforcing Fabric {toc}
+
+## Substrate type drives primer selection and surface preparation, because a built-up/gravel surface, modified bitumen, TPO, PVC, EPDM, a metal panel, and concrete each demand a chemistry-specific primer and a different preparation protocol. {note}
+
+## A specification that lumps all substrates together without substrate-specific primer provisions generates RFIs and adhesion failures. {note}
+
+## Each coating coat and primer shall be the product specifically matched by the coating manufacturer to the substrate it is applied over.
+
+## The Contractor shall apply the manufacturer's matched primer for the substrate present, at the manufacturer's coverage rate, before the base coat.
+
+## The common substrates drive different preparation and primer decisions, as follows. {note}
+- Gravel-surfaced built-up roofing requires spudding or embedment of loose aggregate, often a flood-coat-and-aggregate-set, and a bleed-blocking primer before coating.
+- Smooth or mineral-cap modified bitumen and BUR generally accept an asphalt-compatible primer once cleaned and de-glossed.
+- TPO, PVC, and EPDM single-ply each require a chemistry-specific bonding primer; EPDM in particular needs a primer formulated for its low surface energy, and the existing-membrane manufacturer's overcoat approval must be confirmed first.
+- Metal panels require degreasing, rust treatment or a rust-inhibitive primer at corroded areas, and fastener reset before coating.
+- Concrete decks must be cured, profiled, and free of laitance, with moisture and pH within the primer's limits.
+- Fresh SPF receives the matched topcoat directly, within the foam manufacturer's recoat window, with no separate primer.
+
+## Where coating is applied over an existing single-ply or warranted membrane, the Contractor shall obtain the existing-membrane manufacturer's written approval to overcoat before work begins.
+
+## Overcoating a still-warranted membrane without that approval voids the original warranty, leaving the owner with neither the old protection nor a clean transfer to the new coating warranty — a design-phase coordination item, not a field discovery. {note}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Existing substrate (restoration) / deck (new)
+type: select
+options:
+ - Built-up roofing (gravel-surfaced)
+ - Built-up / modified bitumen (smooth or mineral cap)
+ - TPO single-ply
+ - PVC single-ply
+ - EPDM single-ply
+ - Metal panel
+ - Concrete deck
+ - Rigid insulation (new construction)
+ - Spray polyurethane foam
+default: Built-up / modified bitumen (smooth or mineral cap)
+```
+
+## Reinforcing fabric shall be applied at every seam, lap, flashing, penetration, and drain, regardless of coating chemistry.
+
+## Undetailed transition points are the dominant failure location of fluid-applied roofs; fabric at those spots is not optional. {note}
+
+## Polyester mat or woven fabric embedded in wet base coat bridges movement at exactly the spots that flex and crack; omitting it there is, with ponding-acrylic mismatch, one of the two leading causes of premature failure. {note}
+
+## Full field-of-roof fabric reinforcement raises the warranty tier and is standard practice over SPF and over metal panels. {note}
+
+## Reinforcing fabric shall be embedded in the wet base coat at all seams, laps, flashings, penetrations, drains, and curbs, fully saturated with no dry spots, voids, or wrinkles.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Fabric reinforcement scope
+type: radio
+options:
+ - At seams, penetrations, and flashings only
+ - Full field-of-roof reinforcement
+default: At seams, penetrations, and flashings only
+```
+
+```datasheet
+label: Reinforcing fabric type
+type: radio
+options:
+ - Spun-bonded polyester mat
+ - Woven polyester fabric
+default: Spun-bonded polyester mat
+```
+
+# Dry-Film Thickness and Coverage {toc}
+
+## Dry-film thickness (DFT) is the primary determinant of warranty term; the specified DFT, the number of coats to reach it, and how it will be verified shall all be stated. {note}
+
+## For acrylic warranted systems, roughly 20 dry mils supports a 10-year NDL and 30 dry mils a 15- to 20-year NDL; silicone reaches the same tiers at similar thicknesses but at a far lower wet-mil and gallon rate because of its high solids content. {note}
+
+## Specifying a DFT without specifying the field QC that proves it is a frequent path to a voided warranty. {note}
+
+## The installed system shall achieve the specified minimum dry-film thickness across the entire roof, confirmed by post-cure dry-mil readings.
+
+## Coverage shall be controlled in the field with a wet-mil gauge on each coat so that the cured film reaches the specified DFT, with the wet-mil target set for the product's solids content.
+
+## Because acrylic is about 60% solids, roughly 34 wet mils yields about 20 dry mils; because silicone is 90%-plus solids, roughly 22 wet mils yields the same 20 dry mils. {note}
+
+## The crew confirms wet mils as it applies each coat and the inspector confirms dry mils after cure; both checks are required. {note}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Specified minimum dry-film thickness
+type: range
+unit: mils
+min: 15
+max: 35
+step: 5
+default: 20
+```
+
+```datasheet
+label: Number of field coats (excluding primer)
+type: radio
+options:
+ - One coat
+ - Two coats (base + top)
+ - Three coats (base + intermediate + top)
+default: Two coats (base + top)
+```
+
+```datasheet
+label: Minimum application rate per coat
+type: range
+unit: gal/100 sf
+min: 1.0
+max: 2.5
+step: 0.1
+default: 1.5
+```
+
+# Slope and Drainage {toc}
+
+## Positive drainage of not less than 1/4 inch per foot is required for all low-slope roofs per IBC Section 1503.4, and shall be verified before coating. {note}
+
+## Slopes below 1/4:12 require tapered insulation or fill to establish drainage; the coating contractor inherits whatever slope exists, and correcting a deficiency is design and re-roofing scope, not something a coating can fix. {note}
+
+## Roof slope shall provide positive drainage to all roof drains and scuppers, with no area ponding water longer than 48 hours after rainfall.
+
+## Low spots, dead-level areas, and ponding identified during the pre-coating survey shall be corrected with tapered fill or crickets shown on the drawings before coating begins. [[drawing: roof drainage plan]]
+
+## Drainage corrections, drain and scupper locations, and tapered-insulation extents are roof-plan geometry that a datasheet field cannot carry. {note}
+
+# Installation {toc}
+
+## Substrate Preparation {toc}
+
+### The substrate shall be cleaned of all dirt, debris, loose granules, failed coating, oils, and biological growth, and shall be dry, before primer or coating is applied.
+
+### Power washing, and on some substrates a cleaner or rinse, is the universal first step; gravel-surfaced BUR additionally requires spudding or embedment of loose aggregate, and a wet or contaminated substrate is the direct cause of blistering and adhesion loss. {note}
+
+### The existing assembly shall be surveyed for trapped moisture by infrared scan or nuclear gauge, and all wet insulation or saturated membrane shall be cut out and replaced before coating.
+
+### Coating over wet insulation traps the moisture and drives blistering, bubbling, and delamination from below — defects no surface preparation can prevent. {note}
+
+### All blisters, splits, fishmouths, and open seams in the existing membrane shall be cut, dried, and patched, and all fasteners reset, before coating.
+
+### Adhesion shall be verified on the prepared substrate by ASTM D4541 pull-off testing, achieving the manufacturer's minimum pull-off strength before full application proceeds.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Minimum pull-off adhesion (ASTM D4541)
+type: range
+unit: psi
+min: 100
+max: 300
+step: 25
+default: 200
+```
+
+## Application {toc}
+
+### Coatings shall be applied by spray, roller, or squeegee as required by the product, at uniform thickness, without holidays, pinholes, or dry spray, and within the product's recoat window between coats.
+
+### Airless spray gives the most uniform film and the fastest production on open field area, while roller and brush are used at edges, penetrations, and detail work; the applicator must match method to the product's requirements and observe the minimum and maximum recoat times so coats bond. {note}
+
+### Each coat shall be allowed to cure per the manufacturer's instructions before the succeeding coat is applied.
+
+### Flashings, penetrations, curbs, and drains shall be detailed with reinforcing fabric and additional coating thickness before or in conjunction with the field application.
+
+### Coating shall be terminated at edges, drains, and penetrations as detailed, and shall not be applied over expansion joints, which shall be flashed separately.
+
+### Expansion joints accommodate building movement that a continuous coating film cannot, so they are detailed as separate flashed assemblies rather than coated through. {note}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Primary application method
+type: radio
+options:
+ - Airless spray
+ - Roller
+ - Squeegee and back-roll
+default: Airless spray
+```
+
+# Testing {toc}
+
+## Wet-film thickness shall be checked with a wet-mil gauge at a documented frequency during application of each coat.
+
+## Dry-film thickness shall be verified after full cure, and any area below the specified DFT shall receive additional coating to bring it into compliance.
+
+## Final inspection shall confirm a continuous, fully adhered film free of pinholes, blisters, fishmouths, dry spray, and unreinforced transitions, and shall confirm positive drainage with no new ponding introduced by the coating.
+
+## Where required, in-service solar reflectance shall be field-verified per ASTM E1918 and emittance per ASTM C1371 to confirm cool-roof compliance.
+
+```datasheet
+label: Field quality-control checks
+type: checkbox
+options:
+ - Wet-mil gauge readings per coat
+ - Post-cure dry-mil verification
+ - Visual continuity / holiday inspection
+ - ASTM D4541 adhesion confirmation
+ - ASTM E1918 / C1371 reflectance and emittance
+default: [Wet-mil gauge readings per coat, Post-cure dry-mil verification, Visual continuity / holiday inspection]
+```
+
+# Delivery, Storage, and Handling {toc}
+
+## Coating materials shall be delivered in the manufacturer's original sealed and labeled containers showing product name, batch number, and shelf-life expiration.
+
+## Materials shall be stored protected, off the ground, and within the manufacturer's temperature range, and water-based acrylic coatings shall be protected from freezing.
+
+## Freeze damage to a water-based acrylic is irreversible and not always visible in the pail — a frozen-then-thawed acrylic can fail to film entirely — while moisture-cure silicones and polyurethanes are damaged by humidity intrusion into opened or unsealed containers. {note}
+
+## Containers opened but not used shall be resealed promptly, and partially used moisture-cure products shall be discarded where the manufacturer prohibits reuse after air exposure.
+
+# Warranty {toc}
+
+## The manufacturer shall warrant the system for the specified term against leaks caused by deterioration of the coating, on the dry-film thickness and configuration submitted and verified.
+
+## The warranty tier the owner receives is set by the dry-film thickness, the presence and extent of fabric reinforcement, and — for an NDL warranty — the use of a manufacturer-approved applicator; a coating applied below its specified DFT, without required fabric, or by an unapproved contractor does not earn the warranty even if it looks complete. {note}
+
+## The Contractor shall provide the manufacturer's executed system warranty for the specified term and type before final acceptance.
+
+## The warranty shall not be diminished by application that fails to meet the specified DFT, fabric reinforcement, or applicator-approval requirements.
+
+# Spare Parts {toc}
+
+## The Contractor shall furnish to the Owner a quantity of the field top coat and reinforcing fabric, in the original containers, sufficient for future maintenance touch-up of penetrations and minor repairs.
+
+## A recoat performed years later must use a compatible product, so turning over sealed top-coat and fabric from the original batch gives the maintenance crew a chemistry-matched starting point — most important for silicone systems, where only silicone bonds to silicone. {note}
+
+```datasheet
+label: Maintenance top-coat to be turned over
+type: range
+unit: gal
+min: 0
+max: 25
+step: 5
+default: 5
+```