Glossary
The terms on a Caribbean roofing spec.
Plain definitions of the language that shows up in submittals and specifications.
- Miami Dade NOA
- Notice of Acceptance. A product approval issued after rigorous testing. Widely respected as a benchmark, though not required across the Caribbean.
- Single ply membrane
- A flat roofing system built from one layer of manufactured membrane, such as FiberTite, seamed together on site.
- Standing seam
- A metal roof profile where panels join at raised, interlocking seams with no fasteners exposed to the weather.
- Concealed fastener
- A fastening method with no screw heads exposed on the surface, which removes common points of leakage and uplift failure.
- Wind uplift
- The upward force wind exerts on a roof. Resistance depends on the whole assembly, not the material alone.
- Galvalume
- Steel coated with aluminum and zinc for corrosion resistance. Suitable for some applications, though aluminum is preferred at the coast.
- Aluminum gauge (.032 / .040)
- The thickness of aluminum roofing sheet. Heavier gauges suit higher wind exposure.
- HVHZ
- High Velocity Hurricane Zone, a designation used in parts of Florida for the strictest wind requirements. An industry reference point, not a Caribbean requirement.
- Submittal
- The package of product data and documentation an architect or engineer reviews and approves before a material is used.
- Takeoff
- The measured quantity of material a project needs, calculated from plans or measurements.
- Cistern
- A tank that collects roof runoff for water storage, common in the Caribbean, which affects which roofing materials are appropriate.
- Salt-air corrosion
- The accelerated breakdown of metals near the ocean. The reason coastal projects favor aluminum and coated finishes.
- Class A fire rating
- The highest roofing fire-resistance classification.
- Wallaba (Eperua)
- A dense tropical hardwood used for natural shingles that resist rot, insects, and salt air without chemical treatment.
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