Architectural Flashing Supply
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Basic flashing profile identification · Lesson 2 of 4

Basic flashing profile identification: materials, standards and design constraints

Why a profile's shape comes from the job and its documents, the 2018 IRC drip edge and valley numbers, SPRI and Drexel edge systems, and the AFS limits and standard lengths every profile must fit.

You will be able to: State what decides a profile's shape: the job and the governing code, the maker's tested system and AFS's own limits, and say which number belongs to which document.

14 min · 12 slides · 11 questions

All lessons in this module
Slide 1 of 12

Shape, material and job are separate

A profile records shape only: AFS's FAQ asks for the profile type, material, gauge or thickness, dimensions, linear footage and quantity as separate items.

The job and the documents that govern it decide which shape is needed; the library offers starting shapes with every leg editable.

Sources

Videos for this lesson

What this video shows: A manufacturer's installation video for a low-slope drip edge system with an extruded aluminum anchor bar that terminates EPDM or TPO membrane: a reminder that "drip edge" is also a maker's tested edge system. The maker's own claims in its description are not taught here.

Video: Anchor-Tite Drip Edge Fascia Installation by Metal-Era (Official), on YouTube. Chosen from the video's published description.

Glossary

Perimeter edge metal
Metal at the edge of a low-slope roof, such as coping and fascia. SPRI says the International Building Code requires it to be tested to ES-1, except gutters and counterflashing, on low-slope membrane roofs. In the 2021 edition, external gutters that secure the membrane edge are tested to GT-1.
Drip edge overlap
In the 2018 IRC as reproduced by Pacific, Missouri, adjacent pieces of drip edge overlap at least 2 inches.
Open valley
A valley whose lining is left exposed; the 2018 IRC (Pacific reproduction) calls for a metal lining at least 24 inches wide in an open valley lined with metal.
Dimensions to confirm
A FlashDraft flag on a library shape whose legs are drawn to a drawing's proportions rather than published numbers, so every leg must be measured.
Standard piece
AFS's usual piece length, 10 ft, as distinct from the longest piece AFS can make, 126 in.
ES-1
The ANSI/SPRI/FM 4435/ES-1 test standard for low-slope perimeter edge metal other than gutters, as SPRI describes it.