With the demand for electricity growing rapidly, solar energy production via photovoltaic (PV) modules installed on roofs is becoming a solution of choice for developers.

Prepainted steel roofing solutions are light, durable, and made from eco-friendly materials. They are also able to sustain the loads required for PV module installation. It's no wonder that installing solar PV systems on steel roofs is increasingly common.

However, some precautions should be taken with PV modules, such as ensuring enough space between the module and the organic coated steel surface to enable water drainage and ventilation. With this condition fulfilled, prepainted steels are the preferred material for roofs with PV modules - whatever the type of building.

Durability

Decision makers in construction projects agree that the durability of the prepainted steel should be at least equal to that of the PV modules - generally around 20 to 25 years minimum, depending on local environmental conditions.

ArcelorMittal's Granite® range of prepainted steel is the perfect answer with its long-term guarantee. Granite® HDXtreme is our best in class prepainted steel for solar roofs, with an automatic guarantee of up to 30 years when combined with PV modules.

Sustainability

With the electricity produced from solar PV roofs largely considered to be green energy, it is important that the chosen roofing solution offers the best sustainability performances throughout the life cycle of the building.

ArcelorMittal's Granite® prepainted steel products have already demonstrated their efficiency in terms of sustainability. Very thin steel substrate with high mechanical resistance and paint systems without heavy metals are just some of the features facilitating the low environmental impact of our Granite® range.

Thanks to XCarb® Recycled and renewably produced, breakthrough innovative solutions will soon be available for the Granite® range, including Granite® HDXtreme. The C02 footprint of Granite® HDXtreme will be more than halved, which will be certified by a third party and officially confirmed in an Environmental Product Declaration.

For solar roof projects, Granite® HDXtreme provides the best in class solution for durability, environmental impact, and the CO2 footprint – in addition to a large colour palette!

Text:
ArcelorMittal Europe - Flat Products

Images:
ArcelorMittal

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At ArcelorMittal, we always want to be close to people. With our Roofing configurator tool, your house plays the starring role in which visions can become reality. The protagonist of this stage design? Granite® organic coated steel from ArcelorMittal that gracefully wraps your roof - ensuring elegance, durability, and beauty.

Until now, this tool was only available in Polish. We are pleased to announce that the French version is up and running! Now you can design your dream roof in Polish or French.

Text:
Constructalia

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ArcelorMittal Europe

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Roofing configurator

ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products has an extensive offer of organic coated steels for roofing and cladding applications. Chief amongst them is the Granite® range which includes solutions for all types of buildings and climates – and an unmatched range of colours and finishes. Now Granite® HDX and Granite® HDXtreme are the first organic coated steels to be available with ArcelorMittal’s XCarb® recycled and renewably produced label. The label indicates that the steels are created with recycled content using renewable sources of energy. The environmental savings can reduce the carbon footprint of classic profiles by up to half. And at the end of their life, all Granite® coated steels can be fully recovered and recycled, making them an ideal solution for the circular economy.

Innovative and durable solutions

With sustainability top of the agenda in building and construction, ArcelorMittal’s organic coated offer provides architects, builders, and owners with a full range of innovative and durable solutions. When coupled with ArcelorMittal’s XCarb® recycled and renewably produced label, the carbon footprint of classic organic coated profiles can be reduced by up to 60%. For sandwich panels, the reduction is up to 36%.

“Combining ArcelorMittal’s XCarb® recycled and renewable label with products such as Granite® HDXtreme makes steel building systems both durable and sustainable,” notes André Lavaud, Organic Coating Product Coordinator for ArcelorMittal. “The advantages are very clear when you compare steel to other materials such as concrete and aluminium.”

Maximising energy efficiency

For owners who want to maximise the energy efficiency of their buildings, ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products can offer solutions which enhance the reflectivity of roofs and support solar structures. “Enhancing reflectivity is an easy way to reduce the amount of heat a roof absorbs and leads to lower cooling costs for the building,” says Patrick Le Pense, Segment Leader for Building Skins and Civil Engineering at ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products. “And it can lead to credits in building sustainability rating systems such as BREEAM and LEED.”

Reflectivity is calculated using the Solar Reflective Index (SRI). This industry standard considers a range of factors including location, the design of the roof, and wind loads to identify the right colour for the roof to maximise reflectivity. As SRI requires a complex set of calculations, ArcelorMittal can perform the calculation to identify the most appropriate roof colour for any building. And with more than 50 colours available for some of its organic coated solutions, ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products can provide the most suitable colour.

“Durability of the steel’s aesthetics is almost as important as its corrosion resistance,” notes Patrick Le Pense. “That is why all of ArcelorMittal’s organic coated steels are tested in a variety of real-life conditions around the world. This enables us to confidently guarantee that the paint layers won’t peel or discolour greatly over time.”

High strength solutions available

ArcelorMittal’s Granite® coatings can also be applied to high strength steel (HSS) substrates. “Organic coated HSS products can be thinner and lighter than our regular solutions,” notes André Lavaud. “They can be applied to roofs, facades, and structural elements to offer higher strength and lower weight. The use of HSS also reduces the amount of steel required which can have a positive impact on the building’s overall carbon footprint.”

Long guarantees support solar installations

Many building owners want to install solar installations during construction to reduce the energy use of the building during its use phase. To achieve this, they require roofing materials which can match the typical 25-year life of the solar structure. “Granite® is again one of the best options to meet this requirement,” says Patrick Le Pense. “Some Granite® products come with automatic guarantees of up to 40 years. With minor maintenance, that lifetime can exceed 50 years.”

Environmental Product Declarations

In some European countries, a life cycle analysis (LCA) is mandatory for residential and commercial constructions. The LCA measures the carbon footprint of the building from the production of materials to the building’s end-of-life.

“We are working to complete Environmental Product Declarations for our organic coated steels which take into account the XCarb® recycled and renewably produced label,” says Patrick Le Pense. “The EPDs will give customers all the information they need to calculate the carbon footprint of the building and its LCA. The EPDs for all products that can be purchased with an XCarb® recycled and renewably produced label will be available by the end of 2022. In the interim, ArcelorMittal can provide relevant information to customers for the LCA calculation.”

Text:
ArcelorMittal Europe Communications
Constructalia

Images:
Joris Ide
ArcelorMittal

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