TPO is THERMOPLASTIC but THERMOPLASTIC isn’t TPO
Summary: There is more to thermoplastic roofing than just TPO. Also think about PVC, PVC alloys, and Chlorinated Polyethylene (although the last two are less common).
This is a very short post explaining a very simple (yet very important) thing all Enclosurists should know.
Table of Contents
What is Thermoplastic?
A thermoplastic, or thermosoftening plastic, is a plastic polymer material that becomes pliable or moldable at a certain elevated temperature and solidifies upon cooling, according to these people.
What is TPO?
TPO or Thermoplastic polyolefin is a thermoplastic material, however TPO is not the only thermoplastic material out there. PVC for example is a commonly used thermoplastic roofing material.
Why is this important?
Those less experienced in “The Ways of The Roofer” may hear “Thermo Plastic” and immediately associate it with “TP” like in “TPO”. So, should you find yourself in a conversation where the topic of Thermoplastic (or TPO) come up, make sure to think about all the Thermoplastic roofing materials out there and not just TPO.
Tell me more.
To learn more about this topic, refer to the following articles:
- How thermoplastic membranes changed the low-slope roofing market by Mike Ennis, RRC
- Single-Ply Roofing 101 by SPRI
- Thermoplastics 101 by NRCA Professional Roofing
- Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) Roofing Systems by Buildings.com
- Understanding Single Ply Roofing Systems by Building Enclosure Online (For a larger perspective on the topic)
