In October 2023, several configurations of Anchor Products’ U-Anchor line became the first-ever grouping of products to be certified to FM Approvals Standard 4481 for Anchors for Roof Mounted Equipment. Anchor Products’ U-Anchors are designed with the strength and flexibility to attach nearly anything to a roofing system – from light duty applications (such as lightning protection systems) to extreme duty applications (such as industrial cooling towers) – quickly and effectively, while maintaining a watertight seal.
In January 2024, OMG Roofing Products gained FM Approval for two versions of their PowerGrip product – a commercial roof mount designed to secure equipment to buildings covered with thermoplastic (TPO & PVC) roof covers. A properly installed PowerGrip product provides a secure anchor to the roof deck and remains watertight.
FM 4481 applies to all anchors intended to secure roof mounted equipment to a substrate, except those used for rigid photovoltaic (PV) modules. Performance requirements fulfilled during the testing of all U-Anchor’s and OMG Roofing Products’ variations include; wind uplift resistance, lateral load resistance, water leakage resistance, and corrosion resistance.
Inadequate securement of roof mounted equipment exposed to inclement weather, seismic events, differential movement from thermal expansion or equipment vibrations could result in damaging, hazardous conditions caused by the displacement of devices and structures. This displacement inherently leads to damage to a facility’s roof, making both its interior and exterior elements susceptible to property loss. Anchor Products’ founder and CEO Joel Stanley remarked, “Knowing that the FM APPROVED mark is recognized and respected worldwide, this certification is exciting news for our organization and supports our overall pursuit of excellence. The independent, third-party validation of our products’ performance is extremely valuable as we engage with existing and prospective customers.”
As the first FM Approved solutions for roof mounted equipment, installers and users of U-Anchors and PowerGrip now have confirmation that these products have successfully completed testing to globally-recognized certification requirements backed by scientific-based research. According to Joanna Blaney, FM Approvals’ AVP, Technical Team Manager, Building Materials, “FM Approvals’ testing has verified that the U-Anchors and PowerGrip products that were tested meet the rigorous loss prevention standards of quality, technical integrity and performance and – based on the evaluation – are designed to perform as expected under the toughest conditions.”
FM Approvals encourages the development and use of tested and certified products to support the improvement and advancement of property loss prevention practices. Continued acceptance of the FM APPROVED certification mark around the world supports expanded distribution for manufacturers of loss prevention products and increases the availability of these important products to end-users everywhere.
For a complete listing of roofing system configurations that are compatible with U-Anchors, visit RoofNav. If your organization manufactures or is in search of property loss prevention solutions, please access the Approval Guide and RoofNav or contact Phil Smith (Vice President, Manager, Building Materials) at phillip.smith@fmapprovals.com.