ASTM D6878/D6878M-13

Standard Specification for Thermoplastic Polyolefin Based Sheet Roofing

ABSTRACT
This specification covers flexible sheet made from thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) as the principal polymer, intended for use in single-ply roofing membranes exposed to the weather. The sheet shall contain reinforcing fabrics or scrims. The sheet shall be formulated from ethylene and higher alpha-olefin polymers, copolymers, and mixtures thereof, in amounts greater than 50 %, by weight of the total polymer content suitably compounded to satisfy the physical requirements specified. The sheet shall be capable of being heat welded, fused, or adhesively bonded to itself for making watertight field splices and repairs and shall be reinforced with fabric or scrim. Different tests shall be performed in order to determine the following physical properties of thermoplastic polyolefin sheets: dimensions, sheet overall thickness, coating thickness over scrim, breaking strength, elongation at break, tearing strength, brittleness point, ozone resistance, heat aging, linear dimensional change, water absorption, factory seam strength, and weather resistance.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers flexible sheet made from thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) as the principal polymer, intended for use in single-ply roofing membranes exposed to the weather. The sheet shall contain reinforcing fabrics or scrims.  
1.2 The tests and property limits used to characterize the sheet are values intended to ensure minimum quality for the intended purpose. In-place roof system design criteria, such as fire resistance, field seaming strength, material compatibility, and uplift resistance, among others, are factors which should be considered but are beyond the scope of this specification.  
1.3 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.  
1.4 This standard may involve hazardous materials, operations, and equipment. This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory requirements prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 14-Dec-2013
• ICS: 83.080.20 - Thermoplastic materials
• Technical Committee: D08 - Roofing and Waterproofing
• Drafting Committee: D08.18 - Nonbituminous Organic Roof Coverings

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D6878/D6878M-11a - Standard Specification for Thermoplastic Polyolefin Based Sheet Roofing
• Effective Date: 15-Dec-2013
• Replaced By: ASTM D6878/D6878M-17 - Standard Specification for Thermoplastic Polyolefin Based Sheet Roofing
• Effective Date: 15-Jul-2017
• Referred By: ASTM E2785-14(2022) - Standard Test Method for Exposure of Firestop Materials to Severe Environmental Conditions
• Effective Date: 15-Dec-2013
• Referred By: ASTM D6630/D6630M-16(2022) - Standard Guide for Low-Slope Insulated Roof Membrane Assembly Performance
• Effective Date: 15-Dec-2013

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:D6878/D6878M −13
Standard Specification for
1
Thermoplastic Polyolefin Based Sheet Roofing
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6878/D6878M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the
year of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last
reapproval. A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope D1204Test Method for Linear Dimensional Changes of
Nonrigid Thermoplastic Sheeting or Film at Elevated
1.1 This specification covers flexible sheet made from
Temperature
thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) as the principal polymer,
D2137TestMethodsforRubberProperty—BrittlenessPoint
intended for use in single-ply roofing membranes exposed to
of Flexible Polymers and Coated Fabrics
the weather. The sheet shall contain reinforcing fabrics or
D5538 Practice for Thermoplastic Elastomers—
scrims.
Terminology and Abbreviations
1.2 The tests and property limits used to characterize the
D7635/D7635MTestMethodforMeasurementofThickness
sheet are values intended to ensure minimum quality for the
of Coatings Over Fabric Reinforcement
intended purpose. In-place roof system design criteria, such as
G151PracticeforExposingNonmetallicMaterialsinAccel-
fire resistance, field seaming strength, material compatibility,
erated Test Devices that Use Laboratory Light Sources
andupliftresistance,amongothers,arefactorswhichshouldbe
G155Practice for Operating XenonArc LightApparatus for
considered but are beyond the scope of this specification.
Exposure of Non-Metallic Materials
1.3 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
3. Materials and Manufacture
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
3.1 The sheet shall be formulated from ethylene and higher
each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each
alpha-olefin polymers, copolymers, and mixtures thereof, in
system shall be used independently of the other. Combining
amounts greater than 50%, by weight of the total polymer
values from the two systems may result in non-conformance
content suitably compounded to satisfy the physical require-
with the standard.
ments in the specification (see Practice D5538).
1.4 This standard may involve hazardous materials,
operations, and equipment. This standard does not purport to 3.2 The sheet shall be capable of being heat welded, fused,
address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its or adhesively bonded to itself for making watertight field
use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to splices and repairs, and the supplier or fabricator shall recom-
establish appropriate safety and health practices and deter-
mend suitable methods and materials.
mine the applicability of regulatory requirements prior to use.
3.3 Sheet shall be reinforced with fabric or scrim.
2. Referenced Documents
4. Physical Properties and Tolerances
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
4.1 Each sheet specimen shall meet or exceed the physical
D471Test Method for Rubber Property—Effect of Liquids
requirements prescribed in Table 1.
D573Test Method for Rubber—Deterioration in an Air
4.2 The tolerance for time conditions (aging, weathering,
Oven
and so forth) is 615 min or 61% of the period, whichever is
D751Test Methods for Coated Fabrics
greater, unless otherwise specified.
D1149TestMethodsforRubberDeterioration—Crackingin
4.3 The tolerance for temperature conditions (aging,
an Ozone Controlled Environment
weathering, and so forth) is 62°C [64°F] of the specified
temperature, unless otherwise specified.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D08 on
5. Dimensions and Permissible Variations
RoofingandWaterproofingandisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeD08.18
on Nonbituminous Organic Roof Coverings.
5.1 The width and length of the sheet shall be agreed upon
Current edition approved Dec. 15, 2013. Published December 2013. Originally
between the purchaser and the supplier.
approvedin2003.Lastpreviouseditionapprovedin2011asD6878/D6878M–11a.
DOI: 10.1520/D6878_D6878M-13.
5.1.1 The width and length tolerance shall be +3%, −0%.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
5.1.2 The thickness tolerance shall be +15%, –10% of
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
thickness agreed upon by the purchaser and supplier, but in no
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. case shall it be less than the minimum in Table 1.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D6878/D6878M−13
TABLE 1 Physical Requirements for TPO Sheet
7.8 Ozone Resistance—Te
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D6878/D6878M − 11a D6878/D6878M − 13
Standard Specification for
1
Thermoplastic Polyolefin Based Sheet Roofing
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6878/D6878M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the
year of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last
reapproval. A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This specification covers flexible sheet made from thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) as the principal polymer, intended for use
in single-ply roofing membranes exposed to the weather. The sheet shall contain reinforcing fabrics or scrims.
1.2 The tests and property limits used to characterize the sheet are values intended to ensure minimum quality for the intended
purpose. In-place roof system design criteria, such as fire resistance, field seaming strength, material compatibility, and uplift
resistance, among others, are factors which should be considered but are beyond the scope of this specification.
1.3 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each
system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the
two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.
1.4 This standard may involve hazardous materials, operations, and equipment. This standard does not purport to address all
of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate
safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory requirements prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D471 Test Method for Rubber Property—Effect of Liquids
D573 Test Method for Rubber—Deterioration in an Air Oven
D751 Test Methods for Coated Fabrics
D1149 Test Methods for Rubber Deterioration—Cracking in an Ozone Controlled Environment
D1204 Test Method for Linear Dimensional Changes of Nonrigid Thermoplastic Sheeting or Film at Elevated Temperature
D2137 Test Methods for Rubber Property—Brittleness Point of Flexible Polymers and Coated Fabrics
D5538 Practice for Thermoplastic Elastomers—Terminology and Abbreviations
D7635/D7635M Test Method for Measurement of Thickness of Coatings Over Fabric Reinforcement
G151 Practice for Exposing Nonmetallic Materials in Accelerated Test Devices that Use Laboratory Light Sources
G155 Practice for Operating Xenon Arc Light Apparatus for Exposure of Non-Metallic Materials
3. Materials and Manufacture
3.1 The sheet shall be formulated from ethylene and higher alpha-olefin polymers, copolymers, and mixtures thereof, in
amounts greater than 50 %, by weight of the total polymer content suitably compounded to satisfy the physical requirements in
the specification (see Practice D5538).
3.2 The sheet shall be capable of being heat welded, fused, or adhesively bonded to itself for making watertight field splices
and repairs, and the supplier or fabricator shall recommend suitable methods and materials.
3.3 Sheet shall be reinforced with fabric or scrim.
4. Physical Properties and Tolerances
4.1 Each sheet specimen shall meet or exceed the physical requirements prescribed in Table 1.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D08 on Roofing and Waterproofing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D08.18 on
Nonbituminous Organic Roof Coverings.
Current edition approved June 1, 2011Dec. 15, 2013. Published June 2011December 2013. Originally approved in 2003. Last previous edition approved in 2011 as
D6878 – 11.D6878/D6878M – 11a. DOI: 10.1520/D6878_D6878M-11A.10.1520/D6878_D6878M-13.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D6878/D6878M − 13
TABLE 1 Physical Requirements for TPO Sheet
Thickness, min, mm [in.]
Sheet-overall 1.0 [0.039]
Coating over fabric or scrim, weathering side only 0.38 [0.015]
Breaking strength, min, N [lbf] 976 [220]
Elongation at reinforcement break, min, % 15
Tearing strength, min, N [lbf] 245 [55]
Brittleness point, max, °C [°F] -4
...