Turbine Ventilator and Roof Fan Waterproofing in Saudi Arabia

Turbine ventilators and powered roof fans keep hot air moving out of warehouses and factories, but they never stop moving themselves. Whether wind-driven or electric, each unit vibrates constantly, and that vibration slowly works open the joints at its base. ETCE seals fan and ventilator bases by covering all four sides with EPDM, a rubber membrane flexible enough to absorb the movement instead of cracking.

Across Saudi ArabiaUp to 15-year warrantyFree roof survey

Get a free roof survey WhatsApp us

ATCO Group – East & West Factory – Dammam

Why vibration and ponding make fan bases leak

A rigid sealant around a fan base is being shaken every minute the unit turns. In summer, when ventilators work hardest to pull heat out of the building, the roof metal is also at its hottest and moving most, so brittle sealants and old flashings crack sooner here than almost anywhere else on the roof. The joints between the unit's base, its mounting plate and the roof sheets become the main leak points.

Like other roof-mounted units, a ventilator also blocks water running down the slope. Water collects on its upslope side, slips in through the adjoining side laps or the unit's own joints, and rusts the base as it stands. Covering the base fully on all four sides with 1.2 mm EPDM bonded by Promax Bonding Adhesive takes those joints out of the water's path, while the membrane's flexibility lets it ride out the vibration. In coastal Jubail and Dammam it also shields the base from salt-laden moisture.

Signs your roof fans are letting water in

Drips or damp patches directly below a ventilator
Rust around the base or mounting plate of the unit
Cracked or crumbling sealant around the fan kerb
Water or dirt pooling on the upslope side of the unit
A unit that rattles or wobbles on its base

How we waterproof turbine ventilators and fans

Unit surveyEach ventilator and fan is checked for open joints, rust and ponding, and any mechanical faults are noted for your maintenance team.
Safe isolationPowered fans are switched off by the site team while we work around them, and our crew ties off to lifelines.
Prepare the baseOld sealant, rust scale and dust are removed from the base, mounting plate and surrounding sheets.
Four-side EPDM cover1.2 mm EPDM is cut for each face and bonded with Promax Bonding Adhesive, lapping onto the roof sheet all round.
Seal and verifyCorners and edges are closed and checked so the cover stays watertight while the unit vibrates.

Materials & workmanship

1.2 mm EPDM, elastic enough to absorb continuous vibration
Promax Bonding Adhesive with a 120 °C surface rating, suited to hot summer roofs
Full four-side coverage against both leaks and rust from standing water
Up to 15 years warranty on the EPDM system, after-sales response in 24 to 48 hours

Photos from ETCE projects

Turbine Ventilators & Fan Units - ATCO Group – East & West Factory, Dammam

Turbine Ventilators & Fan Units - Alfa Laval, Riyadh

Turbine Ventilators & Fan Units - B&R Gulf, Dammam

Turbine Ventilators & Fan Units - Saudi Conduit Coating Company (S3C), Dammam

Site photos from ETCE projects in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Tap to enlarge.

Frequently asked questions

Does this work on both turbine ventilators and electric fans?

Yes. Wind-driven turbines and powered exhaust fans both vibrate, and both sit in the path of water running down the roof. The base treatment is the same; only the dimensions and access arrangements change.

Do the fans need to be turned off during the work?

Powered units should be isolated by your maintenance team while our crew works around them, for safety. Turbine ventilators can usually stay in place, because the EPDM goes on the fixed base, not the rotating head.

Will the EPDM crack with the vibration like the old sealant did?

EPDM is a rubber membrane that stretches and recovers, so it moves with the unit rather than fighting it. Because it is bonded over a wide area on all four sides, no single narrow line has to take all the strain.

Our turbine is noisy and wobbling. Will waterproofing fix that?

No, our work is waterproofing the base and its joints. If the survey finds a damaged bearing, a loose head or a seized turbine, we record it in the report with photos so your maintenance team or the supplier can repair it.