Often I am asked when did we start using Spray Polyurethane Foam in construction? and how long will Spray Polyurethane Foam last? Here is some information about the Superdome that answers those two questions. The information came from www.superdome.com if you want to read all about it.
The Louisiana Superdome was built with an SPF roof in 1974. In the late 1970’s a massive hail storm (with golf ball size hail) caused small dents in the roof, leaving 1mm wide circles of exposed foam. The damaged roof did NOT leak. In 1989 the Management Company finally decided to re-coat the foam to protect it from the sun. Although the roof had been damaged approximately 10 years before it did not leak and was not leaking when it was re-coated.
Later, in 2003, thinking perhaps the foam roof was getting ‘old’ the roof was torn off and replaced with EPDM (single ply roofing). The Management Company was assured the new EPDM roof would withstand winds up to 130 mph.
Hurricane Katrina struck on August 29th, 2005. With winds of 100 mph it completely blew off most of the EPDM roof membrane. SPF tested in a wind tunnel did not fail at any speed. The same foam is used on the fuel tanks of the space shuttle and can withstand tremendous wind shear.
The Management Company decided to re-roof with SPF! Today in 2011 the Superdome’s 9.7 acres of roof are again covered with foam and coating, providing a superior, self-adhering, waterproof, insulating membrane.