Use of the TAS 106

The “Standard Procedure for Field Verification of the Bonding of Mortar or Adhesive Set Tile Systems and Mechanically Attached, Rigid, Discontinuous Roof Systems”, or TESTING APPLICATION STANDARD 106 (TAS 106), is referenced by the Florida Building Code as an uplift test protocol for tile roofs. The scope of this TAS is “…a product application quality control test to confirm: 1) sufficient bonding by the mortar or adhesive to the tile and underlayment in a mortar or adhesive set tile system; or 2) effective mechanical attachment of components within a rigid discontinuous roof system.”

Occasionally a TAS 106 test is conducted on an existing roof and a failed test result is cited as evidence of wind damage to the tested roof. However, the TAS 106 is not applicable for evaluating whether or not an existing roof has been damaged by wind for several reasons:

– Test data is rarely available to show what the uplift resistance of the tiles just after the roof was originally installed or just before the storm.

– The TAS 106 is referenced by the Florida Building Code and states “this test shall be carried out on all mortar and adhesive set applications after final completion of the application at a time as stated in the NOA or as specifically approved by the manufacturer of the mortar / adhesive”. This means that the test is to be performed on newly installed tile roofs shortly after the roof installation is complete.

– Roofs with potential roof damage are usually several or many years old and often installed under a significantly different code than exists today. It is not appropriate to apply today’s code standards to construction completed years ago.

Tile uplift tests and other roofing uplift tests, such as the bell chamber test, are applicable to newly installed roofs. These tests do not provide guidance regarding wind damage and they do not provide any information about the condition of the roof just prior to the wind event. There are no tests or other procedures, other than a visual inspection by a qualified professional, that can provide a determination as to whether or not a roof was damaged by wind. In addition, uplift tests conducted on older roofs may result in roof damage caused by the testing itself.