High traction roofing underlayment

Abstract

A high traction underlayment includes a high friction layer on a surface side that is configured to provide higher friction for walking traction on a roof. The high traction underlayment includes a barrier layer to prevent water leakage through the high traction underlayment and an adhesive layer that is configured to bond to the roof and to an overlap area of another high traction underlayment. The high friction layer may be a fabric, such as a woven or non-woven and may be a fleece. The high friction layer may be configured to bond to the adhesive of an adhesive layer of an overlapped high traction underlayment to secure the overlapped pieces together.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A high traction roof underlayment comprising:
 a) a barrier layer;   b) a traction layer configured on a surface side of the high traction roof underlayment and comprising:
 i) a friction layer comprising a friction material configured in a discontinuous pattern on said surface side; 
 wherein the friction layer has a coefficient of friction of at least 0.35 according to ASTM D1894. 
   
     
     
         2 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive layer on a roof side of the high traction roof underlayment. 
     
     
         3 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 1 , wherein the traction layer further comprises a fabric layer and wherein the friction layer is bonded to the fabric layer. 
     
     
         4 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 2 , wherein the fabric layer comprises a non-woven fabric; and
 wherein the non-woven fabric has raised areas and recessed areas and wherein the friction material is configured on the raised areas of the fabric layer.   
     
     
         5 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 4 , wherein the raised areas form discontinuous raised areas. 
     
     
         6 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 4 , wherein the raised areas are discrete raised areas. 
     
     
         7 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive layer on a roof side of the high traction roof underlayment and comprising a release liner configured over the adhesive layer. 
     
     
         8 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 1 , wherein the friction layer comprises bands of friction material; wherein the bands of friction material have a length and a width and wherein the length is at least five times said width of the band of friction material. 
     
     
         9 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 8 , wherein the bands of friction material extend from a position proximal to a top edge of the high traction roof underlayment towards a bottom edge of the high traction roof underlayment. 
     
     
         10 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 8 , wherein the bands of friction material extend along a length axis of the high traction roof underlayment. 
     
     
         11 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 8 , wherein the bands of friction material are configured in grid of friction material. 
     
     
         12 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive layer on a roof side of the high traction roof underlayment; and
 wherein barrier layer comprises a structural component and a water barrier component;   wherein the structural component is a woven fabric; and   wherein the water barrier component is a polymer film coupled to the barrier component.   
     
     
         13 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 1 , wherein the friction material is a varnish. 
     
     
         14 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 1 , wherein the friction material is an elastomeric material and is selected from the group of silicone, rubber and urethane. 
     
     
         15 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 1 , wherein the friction material has coverage area of no more than 50%. 
     
     
         16 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 1 , wherein the traction layer further comprises a hydrophobic coating. 
     
     
         17 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 1 , wherein the friction layer of the traction layer comprises a fabric material. 
     
     
         18 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 17 , wherein the fabric material is a fleece fabric. 
     
     
         19 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 17 , wherein the fabric material is a non-woven fabric. 
     
     
         20 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 17 , wherein the fabric material is a discontinuous fabric layer, having gaps between the fabric material. 
     
     
         21 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 20 , wherein the discontinuous fabric layer comprises bands of fabric material having a length that is at least five times greater than the width. 
     
     
         22 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 21 , wherein the bands of fabric material have a width of 10 mm to 50 mm. 
     
     
         23 . The high traction roof underlayment of  claim 19 , wherein the high traction roof underlayment is a roll of high traction roof underlayment having a length of at least 5 m, and wherein the bands of fabric material extend along a length of said roll of high traction roof underlayment.