An answer to fluttering roofs everywhere, Rhinobond is a mechanical attachment system for thermoplastic roof membranes that allows the roofing material to be spot-welded without penetrating the membrane. At the center of the system is an induction welding technology called Sinch that heats a PVC-coated plate through the membrane. The Sinch process generates enough heat to seal between the plate and the underside of the thermoplastic roof without using direct heat, which would create a hole. (Magnetic cooling weights are placed on the site of the weld until the material has bonded.) The plates are laid out in a grid and fastened to the roof surface using the same clamps that hold the insulation in place. Remembering horror stories from their own projects, the jury was immediately on board with the concept. “This is just an idea whose time has come,” juror John Ronan said. “We have this problem when we use thermoplastic roofs. They start bubbling up and it is always a fight.” Factory test results for standard applications show that a 1-120 uplift rating can be achieved with welds laid out in a 2-foot-by-2-foot grid.
Rhinobond Roof Attachment System
Manufacturer Sika Sarnafil, Canton, Mass.—Michael DiPietro (product development specialist); Joe Schwetz (director of technical services)
