What does Class 4 mean for GAF Timberline ArmorShield II?
Short answer. For Timberline ArmorShield II, now sold as Timberline AS II, Class 4 means the shingle passed the toughest level of the UL 2218 impact test: a 2-inch steel ball dropped twice on the same spot from 20 feet without cracking through. In practice that means better odds against Georgia's common 1 to 1.5 inch hail and possible eligibility for an insurance discount, but GAF does not warrant it against hail damage.
How the test works
In UL 2218, steel balls of increasing size are dropped from increasing heights onto shingle samples. After each pair of impacts on the same spot, technicians examine the shingle, including the back side, for cracks or ruptures. Class 4 requires surviving the largest ball, 2 inches, from 20 feet.
Why AS II passes
Its SBS modified asphalt is rubbery enough to flex under the blow. A standard shingle's stiffer asphalt and mat are more likely to crack at that energy.
What the rating gets you
- A better chance of no functional damage from typical Georgia hail.
- Possible insurance savings, since some insurers discount UL 2218 Class 4 roofs. Ask your agent what they require.
What it does not get you
- A hail warranty. GAF states it makes no warranty about impact performance against hail, and hail damage is not covered under its limited warranty.
- Protection from every storm. Very large or wind-driven hail can still break Class 4 shingles.
- A rating on every bundle. GAF says only products sold in packages bearing the UL 2218 Class 4 statement are rated.
Keep proof
Photograph a wrapper showing the Class 4 statement, and keep the invoice that names the product. Insurers may ask for both. To judge your hail exposure, check the North Georgia Hail Map and read impact-resistant shingles in Georgia and Georgia hail season.