Shelter from the Storm: Is Your Roof Hurricane Ready?

For the 2025 hurricane season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted “above average” activity, with an anticipated 13-19 named storms, and 6-10 of those expected to be hurricanes.

Hurricanes are often catastrophic, bringing extreme winds, heavy rain, and many other challenges. For businesses that operate throughout the areas typically impacted by these storms, the season marks a critical time to evaluate the readiness of their facilities to handle these extreme conditions. While the entire building envelope can be at risk during a storm, one area is of particular concern: your roof.

During extreme weather events, commercial roofs must withstand high winds, heavy rain, flying debris, and more. With all the roofing options available, some roof systems and materials are proven to outperform others against the elements. In this article, we’ll explore how hurricane and tropical storm conditions can threaten roof systems; the measures you can take to minimize these threats; why different material options offer varying levels of performance; and the key codes and standards that govern hurricane performance for roof systems.

Common Stressors in Hurricane Conditions

Under hurricane conditions, flying debris can be one of the most significant risks for any building’s roof. This includes debris already on the rooftop, as well as items from nearby properties. Tree branches are an obvious concern, but hurricane- and tropical-storm-force winds have the potential to pick up all sorts of items—fencing, vinyl and metal siding, garbage cans, patio furniture, bicycles, sheet metal or scaffolding, or even vehicles and parts. The list goes on, and all these items provide real potential for damage.

Although flying debris is not preventable, building owners and managers can prepare for and minimize this threat by inspecting their roofs at the start of hurricane season and removing any existing unnecessary debris on the rooftop.

High winds can also directly impact roof performance. In many cases, the first area to fail in hurricane conditions is along the windward perimeters and corners of the roof. When wind pulls on the edge details of the roof system, any areas of the membrane that have not been properly installed and maintained may start to peel back and pull up, potentially leading to total roof failure. In addition, any sections of the roof that include equipment penetrating the membrane—be it a vent system, exhaust fan, or other rooftop units connected to interior operations—can be susceptible to the same form of failure.

Proactive inspection and preventive maintenance practices can help mitigate these risks. By addressing edge details before they are under attack from high wind, building owners and managers can uncover potential issues such as:

• Improper fastener installation or adhesion failure
• Loose or disconnected metal edge details
• Open seams

How Different Roof Membranes Perform in Extreme Weather

Roof membranes vary in how well they perform under extreme weather conditions. For operations in regions susceptible to these events, knowing the differences is key to proper protection.

Low-slope commercial roofs often include one of four types of single-ply membranes: thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), or ketone ethylene ester (KEE). EPDM and TPO are commonly used membrane options, typically due to their low initial costs compared to PVC or KEE. TPO, in particular, is now the most widely installed membrane in the U.S. due to its low purchase cost and broad familiarity among commercial roofing contractors.

Each option offers pros and cons, including performance under adverse conditions. For example, KEE-based membranes—specifically, those meeting American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards—tend to offer superior puncture resistance and wear and tear durability compared to TPO or EPDM. KEE membranes require a dense fiber reinforcement layer in their construction, where TPO does not.

These attributes can make a significant difference under severe weather conditions. A KEE membrane is more likely to resist puncture and excessive wear from flying debris or foreign objects moving across the roof. Along the roof’s perimeters and corners, KEE is less likely than TPO to tear or rip at the seams or at the point of fastening, reducing the chance for wind uplift and subsequent roof failure.

Relevant Codes and Standards for Hurricane-Rated Roof Systems

When in doubt, it can be helpful to look to codes and standards that define hurricane performance expectations.

For example, the FM Global 1-90 standard (commonly referred to as FM 1-90) is a widely recognized benchmark for wind uplift resistance in commercial roofing systems, especially in regions prone to hurricanes such as Florida and other coastal areas. While not a building code itself, the FM 1-90 rating is often referenced in local regulations, manufacturer specifications, and insurance requirements. Systems meeting this standard can grant building owners more confidence and peace of mind in their roof system’s performance in extreme weather.

Roof performance in hurricane conditions is dictated by law in Florida as part of the Florida Building Code (FBC). The FBC mandates all commercial roofing systems be capable of withstanding specific wind pressures based on the building's location, height and exposure category. For instance, areas designated as High-Velocity Hurricane Zones (HVHZ), such as Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, have more stringent requirements due to their higher risk of hurricane-force winds.

In addition, roofing materials and assemblies must undergo rigorous testing to verify their wind uplift resistance. Some accepted testing standards include:

• UL 580 and UL 1897, which evaluate the roofing system uplift resistance
• FM 4474, which assesses the roof assembly performance under simulated wind conditions

Finally, commercial roofing membranes in Florida typically must feature a valid Florida Product Approval or Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA), confirming they meet the necessary performance criteria. Because proper installation of edge securements and flashing is crucial, the FBC also specifies design and installation criteria to prevent failure at these critical areas.

While various roof membrane types can meet these requirements, evaluating your building’s specific needs and vulnerabilities and specifying a high-performance membrane can further improve storm readiness.

Hurricanes and other forms of extreme weather can significantly compromise any building, and thus, an organization’s operational security. Maintaining a resilient building envelope is one way to prevent such disruption even in extreme circumstances, and your choice of roof system plays a critical role. Understanding the risks associated with hurricanes and other extreme events, and how different roof membrane types perform in the face of them, ensures your facility is prepared for whatever the weather brings.