Project Overview
Facility: High-value facility for Fortune 500 company
Location: DeSoto, Kansas
General contractor: A.L. Huber
Architect: GBA
Services: LWIC roof deck system
Project Summary
In 2024, Nettles installed a lightweight insulating concrete (LWIC) roof deck system for a Fortune 500 client that regularly uses LWIC roof decks for their facilities. One of the biggest advantages of LWIC roof decks is their fire ratings–which was put to the test in 2025 when a fire broke out on the facility’s roof.
Fire Rating of LWIC Roof Deck Systems
A fire started due to a problem with the facility’s roof-mounted solar panels. The fire was quickly controlled and only about 100 square feet of the roofing membrane was damaged. None of the lightweight insulating concrete was damaged–in fact, the LWIC roof deck system was a primary reason the fire did not spread.
LWIC roof decks use low-density insulating concrete to fully encapsulate the roof insulation, which protects against fire and improves the overall building envelope performance. The LWIC roof deck kept the fire contained to a small area and prevented it from burning through to the interior of the building, giving first responders time to arrive.
Why This Client Specifies LWIC Roof Decks
The company we worked with has multiple locations and regularly uses LWIC roof deck systems for their buildings. “LWIC checks all the boxes for a roof system,” the architect said. “High durability, high R-values, higher gravity load to the roof structural system, low maintenance. Working with Nettles, we have completed over 100,000 square feet of LWIC roof system on multiple different building types. With their expertise and the durability of the system, there is very little chance that I will specify anything different for the foreseeable future.”
Over the years, this roof system has proven its value, withstanding wind, hail, snow, rain, ice, and now fire. Some of the biggest advantages of LWIC roof deck systems include:
- Added weight: The greater gravity load of LWIC systems compared to traditional roof decks allows their structures to meet higher wind loads and better resist uplift forces.
- Superior insulation: Unlike traditional ISO board systems, where multiple layers of insulation board must be stacked on top of one another, LWIC roof deck systems can more easily achieve and maintain required R-values.
- Durability: With LWIC roof decks, the roofing membrane is adhered to a monolithic concrete layer rather than gypsum cover board.
- No mechanical fasteners required: The insulation is encapsulated within the concrete rather than attached to the metal deck with screws.
- Simplified roof replacement: When it’s time for reroofing, only the membrane has to be removed and replaced.
Nettles is one of the largest and most respected subcontractors and installers of LWIC roof deck systems in the Midwest. We work across the Midwest, including Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Texas. To learn more, check out our other featured projects or get in touch with an expert.
