Fm Global RoofNav Roof Risk Assessment and Management Guide

FM Global RoofNav Is A Web-Based Tool Designed To Help Building Owners And Risk Managers Assess Commercial Roof Risk, Choose Appropriate Roofing Systems, And Prioritize Maintenance To Reduce Losses From Weather And Age.

Feature	Benefit
Risk Rating Scores	Quickly Identify High-Risk Roofs
Roof System Recommendations	Suggests FM Global-Approved Assemblies
Inspection Checklists	Standardizes Condition Assessments
Maintenance Prioritization	Focuses Budgets On Highest Impact Repairs

What Is FM Global RoofNav

FM Global RoofNav Is An Online Resource From FM Global That Evaluates Roof Risk For Commercial Buildings. It Provides risk ratings, expected service life, and recommended roofing assemblies based on location, roof characteristics, and environmental exposure.

Key Features And Data Inputs

RoofNav Uses A Combination Of Geospatial Data, Roof Metadata, And Historical Weather To Produce Assessments. Core inputs include roof age, membrane type, slope, rooftop equipment, drainage, roof penetrations, and local wind/hail exposures.

Risk Rating And Scoring

The System Generates A Risk Score That Reflects Likelihood Of Failure And Potential For Water Ingress. Scores are intended to help prioritize inspections and repairs rather than act as a binary pass/fail metric.

Service Life Estimates

RoofNav Provides Expected Remaining Service Life Based On Material And Local Climate Stressors. This helps owners plan capital expenditures and replacement timelines more accurately than age alone.

Recommended Roofing Assemblies

Recommendations Favor FM Global-Approved Assemblies Known For Wind, Hail, And Ponding Resistance. The tool lists compatible membranes, flashings, insulation, and attachment methods aligned with FM Global loss prevention principles.

How RoofNav Supports Risk Management

RoofNav Turns Roof Condition Data Into Actionable Priorities That Align With Risk-Based Budgeting. It helps risk managers focus limited funds on roofs with the highest combination of failure likelihood and consequence of loss.

Inspection Prioritization

By Flagging High-Risk Attributes—Such As Poor Drainage Or Heavy Rooftop Loads—RoofNav Guides Where To Inspect First. Prioritized inspections reduce unexpected leaks and business interruption risk.

Maintenance And Repair Planning

The Tool Helps Define Which Repairs Are Tactical Versus When Full Replacement Is Economically Justified. This reduces repeated patching costs and improves long-term asset performance.

Typical Use Cases For US Building Owners And Managers

RoofNav Is Useful For Portfolio-Level Risk Assessment, Single-Building Studies, And Capital Planning Across Sectors Like Warehousing, Manufacturing, And Retail. It is particularly beneficial for large flat-roof inventories prone to ponding, wind uplift, and rooftop equipment interference.

Insurance And Loss Prevention

Insurers And Risk Control Engineers Use RoofNav To Validate Risk Mitigation Measures And Recommend Upgrades That Lower Insurable Risk. Using FM Global-approved systems can translate into more favorable underwriting outcomes.

Capital Expenditure Justification

Finance Teams Rely On RoofNav’s Service Life Estimates To Justify Replacements And Allocate Replacement Reserves. The objective data supports board-level decisions and budgeting cycles.

How To Use RoofNav Effectively

Accurate Inputs Are Critical—Precise Roof Measurements, Material Types, And Documentation Yield The Most Useful Outputs. Combined with periodic on-site inspections, RoofNav becomes a central element of a proactive roof management program.

Collect Complete Roof Metadata

Document Roof Age, Layer Counts, Membrane Type, Drainage Condition, Penetrations, And Any Past Repairs. Photographs and simple sketches improve assessment accuracy.

Integrate With Routine Inspections

Use RoofNav Risk Scores To Build An Inspection Calendar So That High-Risk Roofs Receive More Frequent Reviews. This reduces surprise failures and enables timely interventions.

Combine With Costing And Vendor Quotes

After RoofNav Identifies Candidates For Repair Or Replacement, Gather Contractor Quotes To Build A Total Cost Of Ownership Model. This supports decisions between patching, retopping, or full replacement with approved assemblies.

Benefits And Limitations

RoofNav Provides Standardized, Proven Guidance That Aligns With FM Global Loss Prevention Standards, But It Is Not A Substitute For On-Site Professional Assessment. Users should treat results as decision-support, not an absolute diagnosis.

Benefits

• Standardized Risk Metrics: Consistent scoring across properties improves portfolio comparisons.
• Proven Assemblies: Recommends tested roofing systems that reduce wind and hail losses.
• Planning Support: Service life estimates and inspection checklists streamline budgeting.

Limitations

• Dependent On Input Quality: Incomplete or inaccurate data reduces reliability.
• Not A Replacement For Field Surveys: Subsurface issues, structural defects, and hidden damage require hands-on inspection.
• Geographic Variability: Local microclimates or unique exposures sometimes need bespoke engineering beyond RoofNav outputs.

Case Example: Warehouse Portfolio Prioritization

A Nationwide Warehouse Operator Used RoofNav To Evaluate 200 Facilities, Identifying 12 High-Risk Roofs That Accounted For 60% Of Portfolio Risk. Concentrating repairs on that subset lowered short-term capital needs while reducing potential business interruption exposure.

Integration With Facility Management Systems

RoofNav Outputs Can Be Exported And Mapped Into CMMS Or GIS Platforms To Maintain Continuous Tracking Of Roof Condition And Work Orders. Integrations enable automated reminders, budgeting updates, and consolidated asset reporting for stakeholders.

Best Practices For Implementing A RoofNav-Based Program

Establish Standard Data Collection Protocols, Schedule Periodic Re-Assessments, And Align RoofNav Recommendations With Contracted Maintenance Providers. Clear governance ensures consistent, repeatable outcomes.

1. Standardize Data Capture: Use a consistent checklist for age, materials, and rooftop equipment.
2. Train Inspectors: Ensure field teams understand RoofNav inputs and how to document defects.
3. Set Review Cadence: Reassess high-risk roofs annually and lower-risk roofs every 2–3 years.
4. Link To Budgets: Translate service life estimates into multi-year capital plans.

Costs, Access, And Support

Access To RoofNav May Require Registration With FM Global And Could Be Provided As Part Of FM Global Services For Clients And Insureds. Some features may be limited to FM Global policyholders or professional subscribers.

FM Global Also Offers Technical Support, Field Engineering Services, And Standards Documents To Help Implement Recommendations. Engagement with FM Global engineers can include site visits, detailed forensic analysis, and specification writing.

How RoofNav Fits Into Overall Building Resilience

Effective Roof Management Reduces Water Damage Risk, Preserves Building Envelope Integrity, And Protects Business Continuity. RoofNav contributes to resilience by transforming qualitative roof knowledge into prioritized, measurable actions.

Alternatives And Complementary Tools

Other Tools Provide Drone Inspections, Thermal Imaging, Or Predictive Analytics That Can Complement RoofNav’s Risk-Based Guidance. Combining RoofNav with aerial imagery, moisture scanning, and structural assessments gives a fuller picture of roof health.

Practical Tips For Users

• Keep Documentation Current: Update entries after repairs, equipment changes, or severe weather.
• Use Photographs: Attach images to clarify conditions and reduce subjectivity.
• Engage Contractors Early: Share RoofNav reports with vendors to get accurate quotes aligned with FM Global recommendations.
• Monitor Storm Impact: Reassess roofs after significant wind or hail events to capture newly elevated risks.

Further Resources And Learning

FM Global Publishes Technical Bulletins, Approved Roofing Assembly Lists, And Loss Prevention Data That Complement RoofNav Guidance. Users are encouraged to reference FM Global Property Loss Prevention Data Sheets and contact FM Global engineers for complex or high-consequence assets.

Industry Associations—Including NRCA And RCI—Also Provide Best Practices That Can Be Used Together With RoofNav Outputs. Combining industry standards with FM Global guidance strengthens roof management programs.

Action Steps To Get Started

Gather Existing Roof Records, Register For RoofNav If Eligible, And Run An Initial Portfolio Scan To Identify High-Priority Targets. Use the results to schedule inspections, request contractor proposals, and build a multiyear capital plan informed by RoofNav service life predictions.