Industrial roofing glossary
Technical reference for industrial metal roofing terms — zip seam, standing seam, watertightness, retrofit, skylights and more.
Zip seam roof
- Industrial metal roofing system where two tiles are joined laterally by a continuous mechanical seam (zipping), without exposed screws on the sheet. High watertightness, no leak-prone points.
Standing seam
- International term for zipped roofing. Continuous metal panels fixed by hidden clips under raised seams, with no field-of-roof screws.
Watertightness
- Roof capacity to prevent water ingress. Depends on sheet continuity, fastening type (hidden vs exposed), joint geometry and sealing of penetrations.
Roof retrofit
- Technical modernization of existing industrial roofing — partial or full panel replacement, structural reinforcement, sealing improvement — without demolishing the warehouse.
Skylight
- Natural light entry through the roof via acrylic domes, monitors or polycarbonate panels. Reduces electrical energy cost and improves visual comfort in warehouses.
Natural ventilation
- Roof-driven hot air exhaust system without electrical energy, using wind turbines, monitors or louvers positioned per wind and thermal stratification.
Wind turbine
- Rotating roof device using wind and thermal differential to extract accumulated hot air from the warehouse, requiring no electrical energy.
Industrial louvers
- Metal elements with angled blades installed on warehouse facades. Allow controlled air intake while blocking rain.
Roof technical report
- Executive inspection report assessing watertightness, corrosion, fixings, structure and insulation of industrial roofing — recommends maintenance, retrofit or replacement.
Industrial warehouse
- Building with large free spans, high ceiling and continuous metal roofing — typically housing manufacturing, storage or logistics.
fbZIP®
- Friesen Braun standing seam system trademark. On-site rolled zip seam tile in continuous lengths with hidden fixing — proven watertightness for industrial warehouses.