Steve Kruger By Jeanette Bottitta fter nearly five years of rig¬ orous production schedules, seemingly endless writing and rewriting, and intensive peer review, NRCA has released the fourth edition of its Roofing & Waterproofing Manual. For many in the industry, the wait was well worth it. RCI executive manager John Newark recently talked with two key participants of the rewrite. Robert Therrien Jr., chairman of NRCA’s Manual Update Committee, and committee member Steven Kruger described the new manu¬ al and summarized the scope of this massive undertaking. The new two-volume edition con¬ tains manuals for spray polyurethane foam, metal roofing, and energy (previ¬ ously a stand-alone document), in addi¬ tion to its standard manuals on steep and low- slope roofing and waterproofing. Users will appreciate the many detail drawings in both sectional and isometric views. These drawings will be available in CAD format for use in documents. The manual itself will be available on CD-ROM — a handy medium sure to gain favor in light of the fact that the hard copy consists of almost 1900 pages. Another change is in the format of the text, which carefully sequences pro¬ Robert Therrien Jr., who chaired NRCA’s Manual Update Committee, is currently executive vice president of Al Melanson Company, Inc., a roofing, metal fabrication, precision machining, acoustical and environmental contrac¬ tor located in Keene, New Hampshire. Therrien is a third generation roofing contractor and has over 18 years expe¬ rience in the field. He was serving as NRCA vice president at the time of this writing. Working with Therrien was Steven Kruger, president of L.E. Schwartz & Son, Inc., in Macon, Georgia. He is a fourth generation roof¬ ing contractor. His firm has been named by RSI magazine as national roofing contractor of the year and selected by Kennesaw State College and the Atlanta Business Chronicle as the Family Business of the Year in Georgia. Like Robert, Steve also has a long history of activity in NRCA and other associations. cedures step-by-step. The section on insulation has been expanded and includes more information about tapered insulation. There is increased focus on clear application specifics and construc¬ tion details. “The manual was written conservatively,” explained Therrien. “If a contractor follows the process and doesn’t try to short-cut it, he or she will achieve the desired roof performance.” The Editorial Process A select Manual Update Committee consisting of eight people wrote the bulk of the text. They were aided by two staff members: Jim Carlson, NRCA Deputy Director of Technology and Research, and Carol Maggio, Assistant Manager of Technology and Research. Several subcommittees joined in author¬ ing supplemental material. The entire manual underwent intensive scrutiny by still more committees and required mul¬ tiple revisions before the final version was approved. Rob Therrien Jr. “We were willing to take as much time as was needed,” said Kruger. “The commitment went past voluntarism and actually became a labor of love. We wanted to make this manual the best it could be, and we think we succeeded — but not without a lot of help from many, many people. We are especially grateful to Jim Carlson, who put in countless hours on this project and should be commended for his hard work and dedi¬ cation.” Intended Users It is understood that the NRCA man¬ ual presents a perspective of the roofing world through the eyes of professional roofing contractors. As well, it is a valu¬ able reference for everyone involved with the field of roofing. The authors labored hard to provide information that is helpful to owners and consumers, to include all segments of the industry, and to be fair. While writing, they kept in mind any person who might find the manual useful and tried to present facts squarely, so as not to mislead those who ultimately depend on the guidelines it contains. The roofing and waterproofing man¬ ual establishes protocol and procedures in a detail-oriented format; its main goal is to advance the roofing industry as a whole. To this end, NRCA has placed a 12 Interface comment page inside the manual. Roof consultants are especially encouraged to offer feedback, for they are acknowl¬ edged as having much to contribute. “We want this to be a living docu¬ ment,” said Kruger. “Our goal was to upgrade the industry through education, specifications, and quality design. If contractors, architects, owners, and consultants find it helpful, we’ve done our job.” NRCA Manual Update Committee Rob Therrien, Jr., Chairman Steve Kruger Dane Bradford Tom Tj elmeland Mark Jackson Scott King George Gaines Ed Ream Jim Carlson Carol Maggio Presentation Planned for Richmond RCI has invited NRCA to present its new roofing manual at the conven¬ tion this month in Richmond. NRCA has assured Headquarters that a rep¬ resentative from the Manual Update Committee will be on hand to dis¬ cuss the manual and answer ques¬ tions. 10 gears; Monti) … . RCI held its first National Convention in Dallas, Texas. Following ■ Members adopted three classifica¬ tions still used today: professional, industry, and associate. ■ Members sanctioned a written examination for the certification of roof consultants. The examination was planned for the following con¬ vention in 1987. ■ In a rare occurrence, the succession of officers was contested; after con¬ siderable debate the established order carried the day. Richard Canon was elected president in 1986. Elected officers were: Richard Canon, PE; president Robert Phillips Jr.; first vice president D. Ben Hales; second vice president George Kanz, PE; secretary James Magowan; treasurer are highlights of this convention. ■ D. Ben Hales was honored for his work in staging the convention. ■ RCI’s growth to over 120 members created a bittersweet moment for the Institute when executive director William Correll’s resignation was formally accepted. Mr. Correll had assumed the position in 1983 with the stipulation that he would stay on as manager until the Institute’s membership reached 100 ■ The first two Fellow of the Institute awards were presented to William Correll, AIA, and Bob Lyons. RCI Membership Comparison Table (as of February 10, 1996) Classification Totals Joined in Current Year Last Year 1994 1995 1996 Professional 602 509 96 91 7 Industry 355 292 81 75 3 Government Liaison 13 10 4 3 0 Associate 39 32 18 9 0 Quality Assurance 85 48 19 38 3 Other 13 1 1 3 0 Totals 1107 892 219 219 13 April 1996 13
