The Role of the Manufacturer’s Inspector

20 • Interface July 2003
Amanufacturer’s inspector is an integral member in the roofing
process. Roof inspections are performed to assure that
the materials and workmanship of the contractor meet or
exceed the expectations presented to the buyer. These inspections
can fall under three categories:
(1) interim inspections,
(2) final inspections to determine warranty issuance, and
(3) warranty claim investigations.
Interim inspections usually occur at specified times during the
progress of a project and are intended to ensure that the contractor’s
personnel are installing the materials to the manufacturer’s
specifications. This type of inspection should catch installation
errors before the repair costs are incurred. The interim inspection
is generally limited to smaller areas of roofing membrane and to
questionable details. Areas inspected as well as subjects discussed
during an interim inspection should be well documented
on a roof plan. Manufacturers and contractors also view this visit
as an excellent opportunity for roofing crew training; however,
interim inspections should not be construed as a substitute for
the contractor’s quality control and designer’s project quality
assurance. The manufacturer is not a substitute for those functions.
A common misconception is that the manufacturer also
inspects for compliance with building codes or other specifications,
but this is not the case. Given the complexities of local code
issues as well as requirements in contract specifications,
it would be impossible for a manufacturer to be knowledgeable
enough to perform inspections of such issues. A
manufacturer provides final inspections only to determine
if the installation meets that manufacturer’s warranty criteria.
Typically, contractors already approved by the
manufacturer are involved with projects in which a
manufacturer’s warranty is required. Also, many contractors
have developed a track record with their primary
membrane manufacturer through repetitive, successful
installations such that inspections for warranty find “No
Repairs Required.”
Inspections for warranty usually follow a well-defined
procedure prescribed by the manufacturer. For all roof
systems, details such as the perimeter flashing, penetration
flashing, drains, and terminations are carefully examined
to ensure correct installation. Many inspectors
develop a routine wherein they inspect the entire perimeter
of the roof system first and then begin to inspect the
interior penetrations and other details. The field of the
Seams on full-adhered EPDM system. roof is left for the end of the inspection.
July 2003 Interface • 21
With exposed systems, such
as fully adhered and mechanically
attached single-ply, and
smooth or granular-surfaced
asphalt systems, inspection of
the field of the roof means
checking the integrity of the
laps. This can be done carefully
with a probe in the case of thermoplastic
membranes, or visually
in the case of others.
With ballasted, single-ply
systems, inspection of field
seams is usually performed at
random locations with the
inspector removing small areas
of ballast to expose and determine
the quality of the seam
installation. With gravel-surfaced
asphalt systems, visual inspection of the membrane is all but
impossible. As with the rest of the roof details, deficiencies in the
field are marked and repaired with a properly installed patch or
other approved repair. Many times, the installing contractor will
provide workers to accompany the inspector on these inspections,
so that any deficiencies found are repaired before the inspector
leaves the job site.
The goal of an inspection due to a warranty claim is to identify
the cause of the roof leak or other problem. If the repair is covered
by the written manufacturer’s warranty, an outline for the proper
repair is derived, and the repairs are executed to keep the warranty
in force. Contractor personnel can perform these types of
inspections when authorized by the manufacturer to respond to
warranty claims. The manufacturer can also send a representative
for this type of inspection if the problem is complicated, hidden,
or large in scope. This inspection generally starts on the interior
of the building to plot the location of the roof leaks. Those locations
are found on the roof, and possible causes of water
penetration are identified through visual investigation,
probing, destructive testing, water testing, or other means.
This work can be done by the inspector or in conjunction
with a contractor’s workers.
Once the cause of the problem is discovered, the
inspector then determines why the problem occurred so
that the issue of warranty coverage can be resolved.
Manufacturers’ warranties are limited in scope and are not
repair contracts for any active building leaks. Warranties
typically cover the repair of roof leaks only and then only if
the leak was caused by the manufacturer’s supplied materials
or the workmanship used to install those materials.
Despite whether the repair is covered by a warranty or
not, the inspector will outline a scope of work to remedy
the problem. This may be as simple as instructing the
contractor to install a patch over an open flashing or as
complex as a specification being written, bid, and the work
performed to replace a roof area.
Roof inspections are
an essential element of
customer satisfaction.
Roof inspections can be
performed by many
people, and each has
his own goal and purpose.
Manufacturers’
inspections are intended
to ensure that the
roof system meets the
manufacturers’ specifications
(or approved
deviations from those
specifications) so that
long-term performance
of the roof system during
the warranty period
can be expected. 
George Furman is division manager
of contactor services for Firestone
Building Products Co. Prior to this
position, he worked as a warranty
claims engineer and manager for
Firestone. Before his employment by
Firestone, Furman worked in the
roofing trade as a mechanic, foreman,
superintendent, and estimator.
He has a bachelor of arts degree in
economics from Eastern Illinois
University.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
GEORGE FURMAN
Flashing of a skylight on a thermoplastic roof.
Ballasted EPDM roof.