EcoWhite EPDM

EcoWhite EPDM, sold as RubberGard EcoWhite, is a white ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) roofing membrane in the Elevate RubberGard family. The membrane has a highly reflective white surface and is listed for commercial low-slope roofing.

It is manufactured at the Elevate plant in Prescott, Arkansas, a 254,000 square foot facility that is ISO 9000 certified. The membrane does not contain hazardous materials. It can contribute to USGBC / CAGBC LEED certification.

Properties follow ASTM D 4637 and are reported for the 60 mil and 90 mil sheets. The ASTM minimum is shown first.

• Thickness (D412): ASTM value 2.286 mm +0.356 mm / -0.229 mm (0.090 inch +0.014 / -0.009); typical 0.061 inch (1.549 mm) for the 60 mil sheet and 0.088 inch (2.235 mm) for the 90 mil sheet.
• Tensile strength (D412, Die C): minimum 9.0 MPa (1305 psi); 9.2 MPa (1336 psi) at 60 mil and 11.0 MPa (1597 psi) at 90 mil.
• Ultimate elongation: minimum 300 percent; 420 percent and 495 percent.
• Tear resistance (D624, Die C): minimum 26.27 kN/m (150 lbf/in); 32.757 kN/m (187 lbf/in) and 33.97 kN/m (194 lbf/in).
• Brittleness point (D2137): maximum -45 °C (-49 °F); pass on both.
• Dynamic puncture at 5 J (D5635) and static puncture at 20 kg (44.1 lbf) (D5602): pass on both.
• Ozone resistance with no cracks (D1149): pass on both.

Heat aging is run for 166 hours at 240 °F (116 °C). After heat aging the 60 mil sheet has a tensile strength of 10.0 MPa (1445 psi), ultimate elongation of 380 percent and tear resistance of 32.9 kN/m (188 lbf/in), and linear dimensional change of -1.00 percent. The 90 mil sheet passes each test. Water absorption by mass is 2.00 percent at 60 mil against a limit of +8 / -2 percent.

Xenon-arc weather resistance follows ASTM G151 and G155 with daylight filters, a 176 °F (80 °C) black panel temperature and 50 percent relative humidity, in cycles of 690 minutes of light and 30 minutes of light plus water spray. The 60 mil sheet reaches 31 percent retained PRFSE against a 30 percent minimum, and 210 percent ultimate elongation against a 200 percent minimum.

The declared weighted average composition of the membrane family is:

• EPDM polymer: 20.0 to 35.0 percent.
• Process oil and other aids: 10.0 to 35.0 percent.
• Carbon black: 0.0 to 35.0 percent.
• Inorganic filler: 10.0 to 50.0 percent.
• Cure package and other additives: 1.0 to 10.0 percent.
• Polyester scrim: 0.0 to 5.0 percent.

Raw EPDM and additives such as accelerators, fire retardants and pigments are mixed in large batches into uncured rubber, which is slabbed onto pallets for quality control testing. The rubber is extruded into a top layer and a bottom layer and calendered together. The sheet is dusted with mica and vulcanized with heat from steam and pressure. It is then trimmed, rolled onto a cardboard core, wrapped and labeled.

For sheets wider than 10 feet, calendered sheets pass through an automated sheet building machine that makes sheets up to 50 feet wide before vulcanization.

EPD number 902 is dated February 21, 2025 and is valid for 5 years. It is a cradle-to-gate with options declaration under ISO 21930, ISO 14025, ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 and the ASTM International Product Category Rules for Single Ply Roofing Membranes (2019). ASTM International is the program operator and Climate Earth, Inc. developed the declaration, with an external third-party review. The declared unit is 1 m² of membrane.

Global warming potential for production (A1-A3) is 5.80 kg CO2 eq per m² at 60 mil and 7.90 kg CO2 eq at 90 mil. Transport (A4) is 0.28 and 0.39. Installation (A5) is 1.27 when adhered with bonding adhesive and 0.92 when adhered with Jet Bond products. The installation scenario assumes mechanical installation of non-reinforced EPDM on a 20,000 square foot roof with 8,200 pounds of membrane.

The EPD reports the production, transport, installation and end-of-life stages; use stage modules are not declared.

The EcoWhite EPDM roof system listed with the declaration comprises the EcoWhite EPDM membrane, EcoWhite QuickSeam Splice Tape, Elevate EPDM Bonding Adhesive, Elevate metal insulation plates and fasteners, optional ISOGARD HD Cover Board, ISOGARD GL or ISOGARD CG insulation, and a steel deck. Brochure listings also show an EcoWhite PT version with factory-applied tape in widths up to 25 ft and thicknesses up to 90 mil, and EcoWhite in 60 mil and 90 mil Platinum. These sit within the EPDM membrane range.