Cool Roof Systems for Commercial Buildings

Cool roofs are designed to reflect the sun's rays more efficiently and reduce absorption of heat. In general, roofs that are darker in color will absorb more heat than those with lighter colors. CentiMark can install industrial cool roof systems that are highly reflective and that protect against the buildup of heat inside facilities. Commercial cool roof installations can be achieved in three primary ways:

• ✔ White or reflective roofs are naturally cool.
• ✔ Coatings can be applied to roofs to increase their reflectiveness and to reduce the amount of heat absorbed through shingles, tiles and other roofing materials.
• ✔ Green roofs are designed to reduce the absorption of heat by creating an organic barrier of vegetation between outside air and the commercial roof.

Each of these types of roofs can provide added help in managing indoor temperatures during the hottest days of summer. This can also lower cooling costs for commercial buildings.

Cool roof systems can help combat the urban heat island phenomenon. To explain, the urban heat island effect is when severe temperature increases are observed in city centers. These urbanized areas, known as heat islands, experience higher temperatures than the surrounding areas because buildings and roads absorb and re-emit the sun’s heat more than natural areas. This dome of heat then creates an unhealthy environment of polluted air and smog. To help reduce this effect in urban areas, it is important to install a proper roofing system such as a cool roof system.

Solar reflectance and thermal emittance are at the heart of nearly all cool roof technology. These terms refer respectively to the ability of roofing materials to reflect solar light and heat away from their surfaces and to the ability to release heat effectively after it has been absorbed. Combined, these two characteristics of cool roofs account for their ability to maintain cooler temperatures inside your commercial buildings.