Keeler said over 50 competitive synthetic underlayment products were tested in creating the standard. “It’s definitely a positive step for the roofing industry and for homeowners because it provides a lot better product choices in the market.” “We wanted to level the playing field and get everybody on the same page and give the customers a product that we feel confident will perform,” Keeler said. ASTM D8257 accounts for those requirements that current ASTM standards don’t, including liquid water transmission, accelerated weathering, and thermal cycling. “There wasn’t any real objection to creating the standard, but there were a lot of objections along the way with respect to what we wanted to incorporate into the standard and the levels of performance that the standard would require,” Keeler said.Ĭurrent felt standards test for unrolling, tensile strength and pliability, but don’t include other important aspects. Along with the associations previously mentioned, various underlayment manufacturers, third-party test labs, and general interest (architects, engineers, and roof consultants) played a role as well. Kal Kooner from Intertek was Keeler’s co-chair on the Task Group. Various industry stakeholders have been involved in the process. With that in mind, Owens Corning has spent the last eight years spearheading the creation of ASTM D8257, titled “Standard Specification for Mechanically Attached Polymeric Roof Underlayment Used in Steep Slope Roofing.” Roofing associations like the National Roofing Contractors Association, Western States Roofing Contractors Association and Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association have encouraged the industry to adopt new standards for synthetics.