Evidence before claims
Current research and recognized test methods for North Texas heat, hail, wind, UV exposure, moisture and complete roof assemblies.
Laboratory ratings help compare products under defined conditions. They do not prove that a particular storm damaged a particular roof, guarantee field life, determine insurance coverage or replace project-specific engineering. We document observed conditions, verify the exact assembly and follow current manufacturer instructions and applicable code.
Finding: NIST documents how heat, ultraviolet exposure, humidity and thermal cycling can change shingle mechanical properties and adhesive strips.
Field use: Roof age and environmental exposure must be considered alongside hail and wind observations.
Read NIST source ↗Finding: IBHS found that aged wind performance varied markedly between shingle products. Most declined between years five and ten, and loss of sealing was the strongest driver of wind vulnerability.
Field use: For North Texas inspections and estimates, record roof age, product when identifiable, orientation and unsealed or lifted tabs. The original wind classification alone does not prove current performance.
Read IBHS source ↗Finding: Naturally weathered shingles experienced greater granule loss after repeated sub-severe hail exposure than protected specimens.
Field use: Inspection records should separate observed conditions from causation and document age, slope, granules, bruising and alternative causes.
Read Frontiers in Materials source ↗Finding: IBHS compares retail-purchased products using laboratory-made hailstones and evaluates dents, tears and granule loss.
Field use: A test classification is one input; exact product, installation and complete-system compatibility still matter.
Read IBHS source ↗Finding: On September 16, 2026, the Texas Department of Insurance urged home insurers to offer premium discounts when homeowners reduce storm and wildfire risk, citing roofs that meet the IBHS FORTIFIED Home standard as an example.
Field use: This is policy guidance—not a guaranteed discount. Ask the insurer to confirm eligibility, documentation and any savings in writing before selecting a roof system for that reason.
Read Texas Department of Insurance source ↗Finding: IIBEC explains UL, FM and assembly-level impact classifications for steep- and low-slope roofs.
Field use: TPO, PVC, EPDM, modified bitumen, coatings, SPF and metal must be evaluated with the deck, insulation, cover board, attachment and perimeter details.
Read IIBEC source ↗Finding: A 2026 EPDM Roofing Association report combines a 569-person industry survey with cited laboratory-aging studies and concludes that properly installed and maintained EPDM can remain serviceable for at least 38 years.
Field use: Useful for life-cycle planning, but it is not academic peer review or a promise for a specific roof. Thickness, seams, attachment, exposure and maintenance history still control the decision.
Read EPDM Roofing Association source ↗Finding: A 2026 IIBEC technical article reports that demand-controlled mechanical ventilation dried its modeled mineral-wool assembly faster and with less modeled mold risk than passive underpressure ventilation.
Field use: The study used a cold-climate model, so its timing should not be transferred directly to North Texas. Its practical lesson is sound: map and sample moisture before coating or recovering, and do not assume trapped water will dry safely.
Read IIBEC source ↗Finding: FM guidance uses calculated vertical and horizontal resistance and approved edge systems.
Field use: Edges and corners require specified fascia, coping, cleats, nailers, fasteners and substrates—not a generic metal allowance.
Read FM Data Sheet 1-49 source ↗Product-level evidence
These are the five highest overall scores in the IBHS 2025 impact-resistant shingle scorecard, rechecked September 22, 2026. All received an overall “Good” classification; none of the 24 tested products received “Excellent.” Equal overall scores can hide different damage patterns, so the three component scores matter.
| Product | Overall | Dents / ridges | Tears | Granule loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GAF Grand Sequoia Designer Lifetime | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.8 | 7.2 |
| Owens Corning TruDefinition Duration | 8.0 | 7.6 | 8.1 | 8.3 |
| GAF Timberline AS II ArmorShield SBS Modified IR | 7.9 | 6.0 | 9.6 | 8.0 |
| Malarkey Legacy with Scotchgard Protector | 7.8 | 8.6 | 7.6 | 7.3 |
| CertainTeed NorthGate ClimateFlex | 7.7 | 4.5 | 8.9 | 9.7 |
This is a transparent laboratory comparison, not a “hail-proof” claim, warranty promise or insurance-coverage decision. Confirm the exact current product, score and installation system before selection. Open the IBHS comparison ↗
Commercial product evidence
Published radiative values can help compare cool-roof surfaces, but they measure solar reflectance and thermal emittance rather than overall durability, hail resistance or suitability for a building.
GAF’s May 26, 2026 ratings compilation reports initial/aged solar reflectance of 0.81/0.75* for white EverGuard TPO and 0.86/0.78 for white EverGuard PVC KEE. The asterisk identifies an interim CRRC Rapid Rating, not three-year field aging.
Review the current technical table ↗The same compilation reports initial/rapid-rated solar reflectance of 0.72/0.68* for Ruberoid EnergyCap Torch Granule FR in ultra-bright white. Surfacing, plies, substrate and attachment still must be specified as a complete assembly.
Verify active CRRC products ↗DensDeck StormX Prime and USG Securock Weather Defense are published as components in FM Very Severe Hail assemblies. The approval belongs to the exact RoofNav assembly—not to a cover board used with any membrane, insulation, deck or attachment.
Quality-control checklist
Use the exact IBHS score and current UL 2218 listing; also verify wind classification, starter, hip/ridge, underlayment, deck and fastening.
No public evidence supports one universal product leader. Specify panel profile, gauge, finish, clips or fasteners, substrate, wind-uplift assembly and whether denting or water entry is the design concern.
Verify membrane thickness and reinforcement, seam method, attachment, insulation, cover board, edge securement, fire classification, drainage and the exact warranty terms.
Confirm APP or SBS chemistry, reinforcement, ply count, surfacing, application method, substrate and tested assembly.
Inspect moisture and substrate condition; verify adhesion, foam density, coating compatibility, reinforcement, application rate and finished dry-film thickness. Reflectivity is not proof of hail resistance or service life.
R-value, compressive strength, facer compatibility, attachment and hail classification apply within the complete tested assembly—not to a board in isolation.
Confirm intended substrate and exposure, transition details, tested crack movement, UV protection and positive drainage. Product-launch claims are not a substitute for current reports or field evidence.
For FM-insured or high-hazard work, confirm the exact roof assembly in RoofNav. For reflective products, confirm the active product and substrate in the CRRC Rated Products Directory.
Before approving a proposal
A product name or “Class 4” label is not a complete specification. These six records make residential and commercial proposals easier to compare and help preserve the basis for the selection.
Record the manufacturer, product line, thickness or gauge, color or surface, reinforcement and every accessory that affects the tested assembly.
Request the active UL, FM RoofNav, ICC-ES, CRRC or Miami-Dade record when that credential is relevant. Save the report number, assembly number and revision date—not just a logo on a brochure.
Confirm whether the evidence addresses impact, wind uplift, fire, radiative properties, material properties or a complete assembly. One result does not prove the others.
Use the current application instructions and obtain the written warranty terms, exclusions, maintenance requirements and eligibility conditions for the proposed project.
Match deck, slope, drainage, perimeter and corner pressures, insulation, cover board, penetrations, rooftop traffic and interior use to the selected assembly.
Keep substrate and moisture findings, fastening or adhesion records, seam checks, wet-film and dry-film measurements where applicable, progress photos and final drainage observations.
Common questions
No. It describes performance in a defined steel-ball test. IBHS testing shows that products carrying the same classification can perform differently under laboratory-made ice impacts.
Not by itself. IBHS found substantial differences after natural aging even though all tested products carried the highest current wind classification. Roof age, climate exposure, orientation and whether the shingle tabs remain sealed also matter.
No. It reports measured radiative properties for a product and substrate. It does not rate wind, hail, fire, waterproofing, installation quality or warranty coverage.
No. TDI is urging insurers to recognize documented storm-resilience improvements, but a discount is not automatic. Confirm the carrier’s current eligibility rules, required documentation and savings in writing before relying on a discount.
Only after the assembly is investigated. Moisture mapping, probes or core samples may show areas requiring removal. A coating should not be used to conceal trapped moisture or an unsound substrate.
There is no universal winner. Building use, deck, slope, drainage, foot traffic, wind zone, hail exposure, insulation, fire requirements, installation quality, maintenance and warranty terms change the answer.
Practical roof decisions