50 years of durability, proven in the field
Most roofing manufacturers claim long service life. Few can prove it. Derbigum is one of the only ones to back its durability with independent field evidence — real roofs, real conditions, across Belgium, France and Denmark, over five decades.
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evaluated
BE / FR / DK
Field evidence. Not theory.
Most durability claims in the roofing industry are based on laboratory testing, computer simulations, or theoretical projections. Derbigum’s Durability Performance Study takes a different approach entirely.
Between 2016 and 2022, Derbigum conducted multi-site field evaluations of waterproofing membrane installations dating back to 1973 — across industrial, commercial and civic buildings in Belgium, France and Denmark.
Each site was assessed for watertightness, surface condition, joint integrity, dimensional stability, blistering behaviour and maintenance history. No climate modelling. No lab simulation. Only observed, in-service performance.
Why flat roof membrane service life matters more than you think
A longer service life is not just a performance advantage — it is the single most effective way to reduce the environmental footprint and total cost of a building over its lifetime.
Standard lifecycle assessments assign generic flat roofing systems a service life of 20 to 30 years. Every replacement cycle adds new raw materials, production energy, transport, installation work — and the embodied carbon that comes with all of it.
A Derbigum membrane with a BBA-certified service life of ≥50 years eliminates at least one full replacement cycle. The roofs evaluated from the 1970s have avoided two cycles entirely. That is not a projection. That is documented field evidence.
Fewer replacements. Less impact. Lower costs.
Frequently asked questions
Everything specifiers, building owners and contractors ask about Derbigum’s durability and the study behind it.
What is the Derbigum Durability Performance Study?
It is a multi-site, in-service evaluation of Derbigum roofing membranes installed between 1973 and 1983, across buildings in Belgium, France and Denmark. Sites were inspected twice – in 2016 and 2022 – and assessed for watertightness, joint integrity, dimensional stability, surface condition and maintenance history. No laboratory simulation was involved; all findings reflect real field performance.
Download it nowIs the 50-year service life independently certified?
Yes. The 50-year service life is confirmed by the British Board of Agrément (BBA) under Certificate 86/1593 (Issue 6, 2023). The BBA is an independent UK certification body. In addition, Derbigum’s Durability Performance Study provides corroborating real-world evidence from multi-site field evaluations across three countries.
Download the BBA certificate hereHow does a longer service life reduce carbon footprint?
Every roof replacement involves the production of new materials, transport, site operations and associated waste – all of which carry embodied carbon. A roof that performs for 50+ years eliminates at least one full replacement cycle compared to systems with a 20–30 year service life. This directly reduces cumulative material demand and embodied carbon over a building’s lifespan, supporting whole-life carbon assessments and circular economy goals.
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