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Integral Condensation Control (I.C.C)

What is I.C.C?

I.C.C. stands for Integral Condensation Control. It provides drip prevention that is integral to the metal roofing and is aimed at saving builders time and labor. I.C.C. is comprised of a polyester fabric with an adhesive glue layer that allows it to be adhered to the washcoat of metal roofing panels. The fabric is attached to the sheet metal as it is being unwrapped from the coil and is roll formed with the panel, allowing the metal roofing to arrive on the jobsite ready for immediate installation.

Why Roof with I.C.C.?

Metal roofing with I.C.C. addresses drip prevention in a new way. By providing a wicking material to retain the mosture, condensation is no longer the enemy. This product works with the natural condensation cycle to prevent dripping and is far more durable than barriers. No additional products or inventory are necessary, and because I.C.C. is factory-applied, no additional jobsite labor is required. No need to worry about dragging around rolls of paper, plastic or fragile sheets of foam, just install the roof and get the job done.

Causes of Condensation

To better understand how this product works, we must first discuss why condensation and dripping happen in the first place. When atmosperic conditions reach the dew point, air contains the maximum amount of moisture it can retain at its temperature. This is known as 100% relative humidity. Since cool air is unable to retain as much moisture as warm air, any drop in temperature from contact with a cooler surface essentially "wrings" the moisture out of the air. This is why fogging (condensation) is caused by the warm, moist air in our breath hitting a colder pane of glass. As the glass cools the warm, moist air contacting it, the moisture in our breath is "wrung" out.

As noted above, where warm air meets cool surfaces, the moisture in that air will often condense to the surface and form droplets. When exterior air cools metal cladding below the building's interior temperature, the metal can provide this surface. Once condensation begins to take place, the droplets formed will combine as they contact one another, continuing to do so until they are tool large to be supported by the liquid's surface tension. At this point, dripping will occur, essentially raining on the structure's contents.

Because some people are unaware of this process, many owners are convinced that all metal roofing leaks - a fact that can deter them from an otherwise superior product as well as cause headaches for builders. In the past, the builder's solution to this has been to provide a barrier between the structure's interior and the metal roofing so that dripping moisture is routed to the eaves.

In theory, this is an excellent idea. In practice, it requires additional inventory and a large amount of additional labor. Meanwhile, the metal roofing waits to be installed. These problems are compounded by the fact that barrier products are generally hard to handle and install in even midly inclement weather.

Metal roofing with I.C.C. eliminates these delays, reduces inventory and simplifies construction without sacrificing drip-preventing performance.

How I.C.C Works?

The core of I.C.C. is a polyester fleece. When this material is adhered to metal panels, it greatly increases the surface area from moisture to cling to after condensing. The fleece provides hundreds of fibers per square inch for droplets to stick to, thereby greatly increasing the “grip” they have on the interior of the cladding. Because of this, a twelve foot panel can retain over half a gallon of condensed moisture.

Where Should I.C.C Be Used?

Metal roofing with I.C.C. is well suited for a wide variety of applications. Similar products have been available for over 15 years in Europe and have provided successful service on every continent and in nearly every climate in countless applications. Metal roofing with I.C.C. is well suited for self-storage, animal confinement, garages, grain storage, car ports, barns, aircraft hangars, stadiums and literally any other place where condensation and drip prevention are of concern.

Limitations of I.C.C.

The I.C.C. fabric requires contact with air to function properly, therefore it is not recommended for closed-decking applications. Also, it is not meant to function as insulation due to its low R-value.

In closed wall applications, any edges exposed to the exterior of a structure (i.e. the eaves), should be sealed to prevent moisture from seeping into the structure through the fabric. This is easily accomplished with an acrylic spray available from North Star.

The additional thickness of the I.C.C. fabric changes the roll-forming characteristics of metal panels, giving panels a slight "barrel-roll". This effect is limited to an inch of curl up at the sides when the panel lays color up on a flat surface and provides no additional challenges for the builder. Another effect is the reduction of smoothness at all bends in the panel. Again, this has no effect on performance of either panel or fabric. The barrel-roll is imperceptible after installation and the bend texture is indiscernible at distances greater than an arm's length. North Star feels that these are both non-issues, but wishes to provide straightforward and honest information to its customers.

Additional Advantages of I.C.C

Reduced Noise
A common concern for owners considering metal roofing is increased noise caused by rain and echoes. Metal roofing with I.C.C. offers significant sound deadening abilities, often decreasing rain impact and reflected noise levels by twenty percent.

Fire Rating
Most building codes require faced metal building insulation to have a flame spread rating of 25 or less and a smoke developed rating of 50 or less when tested according to ASTM E84 or UL 723. Metal panels with I.C.C. attached meet these standards.

Rot Resistant
The two components of I.C.C. are synthetic polyester fiber and rubber-based adhesives, neither of which is susceptible to decomposition from bacteria, mold or mildew. These materials are also well suited for cleaning with a hose or pressure washer in the event that they are soiled.

Additional Protection in Corrosive Environments
An unexpected benefit of this product is offered by its rubber adhesive membrane. The adhesive layer acts as a barrier that adds additional protection, isolating the washcoat of the panel from corrosive vapors often found in structures used for animal confinement. In light of this, an experiment was performed on bare galvanized and Galvalume ® steel to determine the actual amount of protection offered by the extra layer. The experiment consisted of a 1000 hour test that exposed the interior of panels (with and without I.C.C.) to condensation from heated liquid manure. The results, shown in the pictures below, show a clear indication that metal panels are in fact shielded from the corrosive compounds. These findings strongly suggest that panels with I.C.C. will offer a greatly extended service life in conditions that typically void the paint system warranties.

Learn more about I.C.C

Less Work. Better Performance. More Bottom Line

  • A factory applied solution.
  • Durable & tear resistant.
  • Impervious to bird picking.
  • Rot resistant with long lasting polyester fiber and rubber adhesive.
  • Smooth and wrinkle-free for better interior appearance.
  • Sound deadening for reduced echo and rain noise.
  • Pressure-washer safe.
  • A combined product for faster application.
  • Easily installed in inclement weather.
  • Safer to install than foram board or barriers.
  • A source of significant labor cost reductions.
  • A replacement for inventoried items.
  • Covered by a 15 year adhesion warranty.
  • A tool to save you money.
“I.C.C. is the best. My first experience with it was on a day that would have been too windy for vapor barrier, but I.C.C. installed quickly and easily despite the wind. On a different job we faced light drizzle and mild winds, but again, this product was easy to get installed. In fair weather (roofing with I.C.C) uses a third of the labor that we would have needed with other products, and it required no changes to our routine. The worse the weather gets, the greater the time savings. Also, it’s tough enough that the birds won’t tear it up. I will continue to use this product and always recommend it to my customers.”

– Doug, an Ohio builder
"I highly recommend that people try this stuff, they won't be disappointed. It saves time on the jobsite, it's easier to install and it's durable enough to perform just as well down the road as it does when it's new."

– Frank, an Ohio owner
"Metal Roofing with I.C.C. is a lot better than separate barriers for windy day installations. We will use the product in the future and will recommend that our customers try it. It performs better for the owner and saves time and work for the building erectors."

– Noah, an Ohio Builder