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Disclaimer

Although the information contained in this Code has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, New Zealand Metal Roofing Manufacturers Inc. makes no warranties or representations of any kind (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, currency or completeness of the information, or that it is suitable for the intended use.

Compliance with this Code does not guarantee immunity from breach of any statutory requirements, the New Zealand Building Code or relevant Standards. The final responsibility for the correct design and specification rests with the designer and for its satisfactory execution with the contractor.

While most data have been compiled from case histories, trade experience and testing, small changes in the environment can produce marked differences in performance. The decision to use a particular material, and in what manner, is made at your own risk. The use of a particular material and method may, therefore, need to be modified to its intended end use and environment.

New Zealand Metal Roofing Manufacturers Inc., its directors, officers or employees shall not be responsible for any direct, indirect or special loss or damage arising from, as a consequence of, use of or reliance upon any information contained in this Code.

New Zealand Metal Roofing Manufacturers Inc. expressly disclaims any liability which is based on or arises out of the information or any errors, omissions or misstatements.

If reprinted, reproduced or used in any form, the New Zealand Metal Roofing Manufacturers Inc. (NZMRM) should be acknowledged as the source of information.

You should always refer to the current online Code of Practicefor the most recent updates on information contained in this Code.

Scope

This Code of Practice provides requirements, information and guidelines, to the Building Consent Authorities, the Building Certifier, Specifier, Designer, Licensed Building Practitioner, Trade Trainee, Installer and the end user on the design, installation, performance, and transportation of all metal roof and wall cladding used in New Zealand.

The calculations and the details contained in this Code of Practice provide a means of complying with the performance provisions of the NZBC and the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

The scope of this document includes all buildings covered by NZS 3604, AS/NZS 1170 and those designed and built under specific engineering design.

It has been written and compiled from proven performance and cites a standard of acceptable practice agreed between manufacturers and roofing contractors.

The drawings and requirements contained in this Code illustrate acceptable trade practice, but recommended or better trade practice is also quoted as being a preferred alternative.

Because the environment and wind categories vary throughout New Zealand, acceptable trade practice must be altered accordingly; in severe environments and high wind design load categories, the requirements of the NZBC will only be met by using specific detailing as described in this Code.

The purpose of this Code of Practice is to present both Acceptable Trade Practice and Recommended Trade Practice, in a user-friendly format to ensure that the roof and wall cladding, flashings, drainage accessories, and fastenings will:

  • comply with the requirements of B1, B2, E1 E2 and E3 of the NZBC;
  • comply with the design loading requirements of AS/NZS 1170 and NZS 3604 and with AS/NZS 1562;
  • have and optimised lifespan; and
  • be weathertight.

COP v24.03:Durability; Compatibility

4.9 Compatibility 

Materials comprising the building envelope should not be considered in isolation, as their performance can be affected by contact with or run-off from other materials.

This reaction is caused by either their relative places in the electro-chemical series or by the mineral composition of their surface moisture.

4.9.1 Dissimilar Metals 

A component which may appear suitable may prove unsatisfactory in service because it is incompatible with another material or substance in contact with it.

This incompatibility can occur when the metals are in electrolytic contact or when water from one metallic surface discharges onto another. When a noble metal dissolves in water and flows over a less noble one, the more noble metal deposits on the less noble metal and create corrosion conditions.

4.9.1A Galvanic Series

Galvanic Series
MagnesiumActive (Anode)
Zinc 
Galvanised Steel 
Aluminium 
Mild Steel 
Cast Iron 
Lead 
Brass 
Copper 
Bronze 
Monel 
Nickel (passive) 
Stainless Steel 304 (passive) 
Stainless Steel 316 (passive) 
Silver 
Titanium 
Gold 
Graphite 
PlatinumNoble (Cathode)
The similarity of metals is indicated by their relative position in the galvanic series. The more dissimilar the metals, the greater the corrosion potential in a galvanic circuit

 

Generally, run-off from metals higher on the table to those lower will not cause corrosion, but run-off in the other direction may do so.

Metals such as aluminium, stainless steel, and Zincalume® form an inert surface that does not produce soluble salts and run-off from them will not result in dissimilar metal corrosion. However, because these surfaces are inert, potential for run-off to create inert catchment corrosion on unpainted zinc or galvanised steel must be considered.

 

4.9.1B Lead in Contact with AZ

Lead in contact with coated or uncoated AZ will cause premature corrosion.

 

4.9.1C Cladding in Contact with Stainless Steel Rivet

Stainless rivets will cause corrosion to Z AZ and ZA coated products.

Where the use of dissimilar metals is unavoidable, a non-absorbent inert material can be used as an electrolytic separator. Long-term corrosion resistance depends on the separation remaining effective.

Examples of separation materials are inert plastic tapes, polythene or silicone sealant, and in the case of fasteners an EPDM sealing washer.

Where gutters and spouting are made from materials incompatible with roof the cladding, there can be contamination from immersion of the sheet ends if the gutter is poorly drained. Special provisions, such as ensuring there is a 10 mm drainage gap between spouting and fascia should be made to avoid immersion of coated steel roofing into copper gutters. Discharging the gutter into a rain head with leaf deflector can also help. Low front spouting can be considered, but that creates aesthetic issues and may contribute to early corrosion in marine areas. No part of copper gutters should be in contact with coated steel roofing or flashings.

 

4.9.2 The Electrochemical or Galvanic Series 

The electrochemical tables or galvanic series scales, often quoted in technical literature as a measure of corrosion, show the electro-potential between pure metals, not between their oxides, carbonates or chlorides.

Although theoretically correct, these tables can give a misleading indication of the performance of different materials in contact.

This series only applies to pure metal. Under certain conditions, some metals react with the environment or chemicals to form a passive surface, which renders them less active, so that any ranking can be misleading. "Passivity" becomes an important phenomenon in controlling corrosion rates.

However, the Electrochemical series table is still a useful indicator of electrode potential. The further apart two metals are in the electrochemical series, the greater the potential difference between them.

Metals termed anodic, active, negative, or less noble corrode in preference to metals that are deemed more cathodic, noble, positive or less active. The less noble metal becomes the anode and is subject to corrosion. The greater the potential difference, the more corrosion there will be of the less noble metal; i.e., on the anode.

The difference in nobility is why zinc can protect a steel substrate.

Different electrolytes can lead to different rankings, and metal alloys may display more than one potential than that which applies to their "active" state.

The exposed surface ratio of anode and cathode determines the rate of dissimilar metal corrosion. For instance, if a fastener which has a small surface compared to the cladding becomes the anode, its current density will be high, and the fastener will corrode quickly; e.g., an aluminium rivet in a copper sheet. When the opposite is the case, the effect is not so great.

The 4.9.2A Electrochemical table shows zinc is more active than steel. Contact between steel and zinc, in the presence of moisture, will cause the zinc to corrode or sacrifice itself, to protect the steel.

 

 

4.9.3 Compatibility with Non-Metallic Substances 

Timber is generally acidic, although some timbers—such as cedar—are more acidic than others. The interaction between preservative treated timber and metal depends on the moisture content of the timber, the time of wetness and the type of treatment. The corrosion rates of metal in contact with wet CCA-treated timber and with untreated radiata are similar.

Neither AZ coated steel nor aluminium should be used as a flashing embedded in concrete or masonry.

4.9.3A Butyl Rubber in Wet Contact with Cladding

Butyl Rubber contact
Butyl rubber in wet contact with coated aluminium and steel has been found to accelerate corrosion.

4.9.4 Compatibility Table 

The compatibility table should be regarded as indicative only, due to the many permutations of the environment, the amount of moisture present and the relative size of the components.

The indicator for “use with caution in moderate environments” should be interpreted as a warning that it could be unsuitable when there is a risk of continued moisture or other contaminants.

 

4.9.4A Interactive Material Compatibility Tool

This online tool interactively provides an interpretation of the information in the 4.9.4B Material Compatibility Table.  Simply select the two materials in use to view compatibility.

The Code of Practice Online provides an interactive tool to interpretation of the information in the 4.9.4B Material Compatibility Table Table, by simply selecting the two materials in use to view compatibility. This tool is only available online at www.metalroofing.org.nz/cop/durability/compatibility#compatibility-table...

 

 

4.9.4B Material Compatibility Table

Material water flows from
Aluminium
prepainted aluminium
AZ Coated Steel
zinc
Galvanised steel
Painted Galvanised Steel
Pre-Painted Steel
Copper/brass
Stainless steel
Lead
Plastic/glass
concrete/plaster
Wet timber
Cedar
Butyl rubber
AluminiumContactYYYYYYYNCNYNNNC
 Run ontoYYYNNYYYYYYYYYY
prepainted aluminiumContactYYYYYYYNNNYNNNN
 Run ontoYYYNNYYYYYYYYYY
AZ Coated SteelContactYYYYYYYNNNYNNNN
 Run ontoYYYNNYYYYYYYYYY
ZincContactYYYYYYYNCYYCNNN
 Run ontoYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
Galvanised steelContactYYYYYYYNCYYYNNN
 Run ontoYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
Painted Galvanised SteelContactYYYYYYYNNNYNNNN
 Run ontoYYYNNYYYYYYYYYY
Pre-Painted SteelContactYYYYYYYNNNYNNNN
 Run ontoYYYNNYYYYYYYYYY
Copper/brass*ContactNNNNNNNYYCYCYYY
 Run ontoNNNNNNNYYCYYYYY
Stainless steelContactCNNCCNNYYYYYYYY
 Run ontoYYYNNYYYYYYYYYY
Lead*ContactNNNYYNNCYYYYNYY
 Run ontoCNNYYNNYYYNCYYY
Plastic/glassContactYYYCCYYYYYYCYYY
 Run ontoYYYNNYYYYYYYYYY
Concrete/plasterContactNNNCCNNCYYYYYYY
 Run ontoNCNYYNNYYYYYYYY
Wet timberContactNNNNNNNCCNYYYYY
 Run ontoYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
Steel*ContactCNCNNCCNNCYCNNY
 Run ontoYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
Cedar*ContactNNNNNNNYYYYYYYY
 Run ontoYYCCCYYYYYYYYYY
Butyl rubberContactCNNNNNNYYYYYYYY
 Run ontoCCNNNCCYYYYYYYY
 

 

4.9.4C Material Compatibility Key

YSuitable
NNot suitable
CMay need separation. Use with caution in severe or moist environments
*May cause staining, but not corrosion
Note:
  • Runoff and contact effects may vary according to the relative size/area of the two materials.
  • Most incompatible materials will not react if moisture can be eliminated from area of contact.
  • Use with caution - may mean separation required, or unsuitable in severe environments, or when in wet contact.
  • Wet concrete includes uncured concrete, fibre-cement, or within plaster walls.
  • Dry concrete includes cured concrete not exposed to rain.