Short-Term Roof Aging Farm
Conducted at 1- and 2-year intervals (with potential for additional short-term life-milestones), the Short-Term Roof Aging Farm evaluates how recently aged roofing materials respond to hail-impact testing. This work bridges the gap between new and naturally aged roof performance and deepens understanding of how roof cover materials evolve under real-world exposure before long-term aging occurs, strengthening the science behind IBHS’s hail performance testing.
Short-Term Roof Aging Performance of Impact-Resistant Products (Asphalt Shingles and Emerging Technologies)
In hail-prone regions of the U.S., reducing premature roof replacements (especially within the first 5 years of a roof’s life) remains a priority for both homeowners and insurers. Using the IBHS Hail Impact Protocol, researchers have identified asphalt shingle products that perform well against 2-inch, realistic laboratory-made ice hailstone impacts, offering meaningful potential for hail loss reduction.
Ongoing studies are evaluating how impact-resistant (IR) asphalt shingles and emerging materials, such as synthetic composite roof covers perform as they age. Early testing shows that natural short-term weathering can measurably reduce hail impact performance, and repeated hail exposure can accelerate this decline. These findings highlight the need for continued research to better understand material durability and long-term resilience.
