This study investigates the wind-induced pressures for both Australian and North American roofing tile systems using full-scale testing at the IBHS Research Center. This research is a collaborative effort between IBHS and the Cyclone Testing Station (CTS) at James Cook University to investigate wind loads on tiles and implications to the wind design standards in both regions.

Key Findings

• Water intrusion on tile roofs can occur at wind speeds as low as 50 mph. IBHS strongly recommends sealing the roof deck for all roof cover types.
• Post-event surveys after the 2017-2018 hurricane seasons indicate that hip and ridge tiles are vulnerable despite lower wind forces in this region. The cause is likely poor attachment during installation.
• Vented bird-stops can make edge tiles more susceptible to wind uplift forces. Gutters or sealed bird-stops help to mitigate this vulnerability.
• Tiles are very susceptible to accidental damage from foot traffic or poor installation. IBHS recommends using contractors with extensive tile roof experience.
• Current code methods for calculating wind loads are not representative of the actual wind interaction with tile roofs. IBHS will propose an alternative method during the next building code cycle (2021).