Regular cement blocks absorb water, freeze thaw cycle destroys them. Paving blocks are made with silica fume, denser than cement,dont absorb water, don't suffer freeze thaw damage. They are designed for walkways and driveways. There are cement looking pavers , 12x12 x 2" ,also made with fume. Any block plant should be able to make balast blocks to the needed specs. Silica fume is a waste product of coal combustion ..ie cheap, but effective. Ken schaal
On Jun 30, 2018 6:29 PM, "cwarfel" <cwar...@entech-engineering.com> wrote: I am pretty sure it is the freeze-thaw cycle that the blocks are exposed to. I have inspected hundreds of system in the Northeast and this is a recurring problem. It has to be part of the maintenance protocols or there will be insufficient weight to resist the wind uplift forces. Chris On 6/30/2018 6:17 PM, Chris Schaefer wrote: Kirk, Had the same thing happen to me on a commercial ballasted system installed back in 2004. Had to be moved around to allow installation of a new roof system. Replaced all the ballast in 2017. I'm located in Western NY, thus the same weather you see. The blocks were on a stainless steel pan of which the array was attached to. I've plenty of ideas as to why they broke down but no real evidence. I expect it to happen again. Does make me wonder about the new ballast systems that still call out for the blocks as ballast. Perhaps poly sand bags? Christopher On Wed, Jun 27, 2018 at 4:20 PM, Kirk Herander <vtso...@icloud.com> wrote: > All, > > I have a 6 year old ballasted roof system in which about 50% of the solid > cap blocks(16”L x 8”w x 4”D) are cracked and crumbing, some are close to > rubble. I assume it was a bad batch, but has anyone seen this before? What > might be the preventive remedy in the future? A coating of some sort? > > > > *Kirk Herander* > > *Owner|Principal, VT Solar, LLC * > > *Celebrating our 27th Anniversary 1991-2018* > > *www.vermontsolarnow.com <http://www.vermontsolarnow.com>* > > dba Vermont Solar Engineering > > NABCEPTM 2003 Inaugural Certificant > > VT RE Incentive Program Partner > > 802.863.1202 > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.or > g/maillist.html > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > > -- Chris Schaefer’s <http:www.solarandwindfx.com> *Tel/Fax 585-229-2083 or Cell 585-748-1870 * *5115 South Hill Road ~ Canandaigua New York 14424 **www.solarandwindfx.com <http://www.solarandwindfx.com> ~ E-mail: ch...@solarandwindfx.com <ch...@solarandwindfx.com>* Thomas Jefferson, the author of our great Constitution, once said, "democracy" will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change listserver email address & settings:http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html List rules & etiquette:www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out or update participant bios:www.members.re-wrenches.org -- Christopher Warfel, PE ENTECH Engineering, Inc. PO Box 871, Block Island, RI 02807 (401)466-8978 [image: EEI logo] <http://entech-engineering.com> _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches. org/maillist.html List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out or update participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
_______________________________________________ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out or update participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
