The Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) recently completed a thorough multi-year scientific study to determine the performance of impact-resistant shingles.
Shingles labeled as “impact resistant” were purchased and put through a series of in-lab tests that simulated the effects of hail impacts.
Through research and testing, IBHS was able to manufacture hailstones that replicated the properties of hail produced naturally. Hailstones that would bounce, shatter, or turn to slush were used for the tests in order to simulate different densities and strengths found in natural hailstones.
Three types of damage were documented: Dents/Ridges, Granule Loss, and Tears. The results showed a wide range of effectiveness from shingles labeled as impact resistant.
The manufacturers/brands used in testing were:
Atlas StormMaster Shake
CertainTeed Landmark IR
CertainTeed NorthGate
GAF Timberline ArmorShield II
IKO Cambridge IR
Malarkey Legacy
Malarkey Vista
Owens Corning TruDefinition WeatherGuard HP
Here is a summary of the IBHS hail impact testing results:
More about the results can be found here: https://ibhs.org/hail/shingle-performance-ratings/
The standards for testing can be found here: https://ibhs.org/hail/shingle-performance-ratings/