Hot-Air Welding - icopal Monarplan Series Installation Manual

6.2

Hot-Air Welding

6.2.1 General
Monarplan® roofing membranes are hot air welded to each other
and the compatible range of PVC ancillaries in a homogeneous
manner. The welding zone must be clean (free from dust) and
dry. All welds shall be a minimum continuous width of 20 mm.
Hot-air welding is possible without further measures at ambient
temperatures of at least +5 °C.
The roofing membrane must be unrolled without tension and free
of wrinkles. The endlap area between sheets is 50 mm minimum.
To achieve a good weld, the following criteria should be considered:
• The ambient temperature and possible wind
• The temperature of the substrate and
• The temperature of the roofing membranes
• Welding speed / traction of the welding machine
• Volume and temperature of hot-air
• Humidity (water absorption)
All joints in the Monarplan® Roofing System are hot air welded.
It is recommended that welding machines are used for all field
joints. Manual hand held welders should be used for details and
inaccessible areas only. The welding machines should be well
maintained and yearly calibrated.
Welding temperatures will vary dependent upon the weather
conditions of the day. Test welds should always be carried out
before commencing work, adjusting the temperature settings as
necessary to achieve the proper weld.
Deficiencies
Wrinkles, capillaries and fish-mouths are to be avoided. When
these deficiencies occur they shall be repaired immediately.
Notice
Complete all roofing work and flashing each day to prevent water
from getting under completed roof sections. Any areas where
water has penetrated the completed roof must have any moisture
and wet insulation removed. Temporary sealing of the edge of the
roofing membrane is the responsibility of the contractor. The tie-
off must be higher than the drain, and slope to the drain.
6.2.2 Hot-air welding with welding machines
Position the automatic hot air welding machine with the pressure
wheel approximately 3 mm over the weld edge to ensure a sealed
edge. Lift the overlapping membrane sheet and insert the blower
nozzle between the overlap. Immediately begin moving the
machine along the lap to prevent scorching of the membrane. The
seams are welded in one operation usually at a speed of 2.0 to 3.0
m/min. At the end of the run, remove the nozzle first and then
stop the machine's forward motion.
When the welding machine moves over an insulation plate,
insulation step off, lap crossover, etc., these areas should
immediately be hand-rolled to ensure a complete weld.
Metal tracks may be used over the deck membrane and under the
welding machine to minimize or eliminate wrinkles.
Monarplan
® Installation manual
062014V1
16