In commercial construction, each roofing system is made using different types of metal decking. One example is a lightweight insulating concrete roof deck system, also referred to as an LWIC roof deck. In this article, we will discuss the elements of an LWIC roof deck system and the benefits of its use.
What Are the Components of an LWIC Roof Deck System?
A lightweight insulating concrete roof deck system is made up of four elements: metal form deck, expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation boards, lightweight insulating concrete, and finish membrane.
LWIC systems are made by pouring a thin layer of lightweight insulating concrete over a sheet of metal form deck, which serves as the structural deck. Next, EPS insulation boards are embedded in the insulating concrete. The concrete is then left to harden, which keeps the EPS insulation boards in the right place.
Once the first layer of concrete has hardened, another layer is poured over it. After the second layer of lightweight concrete is in place, the finish membrane can be attached to it, and the roof deck system is ready for use.
Benefits of an LWIC Roof Deck System
An LWIC roof deck system has a number of benefits compared to other roofing systems.
First, LWIC systems are incredibly durable, easily resisting wind, rain, and other natural elements. They also have additional fire resistance capabilities compared to other roof deck systems. This can save builders money because they will not need to replace LWIC systems as often as others.
Second, re-roofing with an LWIC system is typically much quicker and more cost-effective. In a typical roofing system, both the finish membrane and insulation will need to be replaced if there is damage or after a certain number of years. Because the insulation in an LWIC system is embedded in layers of concrete, roofers do not have to tear it out along with the finish membrane, saving on time and costs during re-roofing projects.
Lastly, LWIC roof deck systems take less time to install than traditional roofing systems. EPS insulation boards can be cut in a variety of thicknesses to quickly construct sloped systems, while typical iso boards take a lot of time and thought to engineer for sloped systems.
How Is CSM Form Deck Used In Lightweight Insulating Concrete Systems?
CSM can supply 1″ or 1 1/2″ Galvanized Form Deck that is used in LWIC applications. The form deck can be manufactured with vents, which help to speed up the concrete drying process.
We stock deck for prompt shipment to locations across the United States. To give you the best value on large orders, we manufacture metal deck in our Houston facility. Contact us today to get started on your order of form deck for lightweight insulating concrete systems.
