Roof Warranties – Moving Past Cliches May 15, 2011 The statements above list some of the more common clichés about roof warranties. Three years ago I attended an RCI meeting with two Registered Roof Observers who, at the time, had been with my company a little over two years. They heard multiple speakers espouse the above clichés to laughter and acceptance by the 80 […] Read More
Avalanche! Falling Ice from Steep Roofs is a Preventable Hazard! May 15, 2011 Death by icicle is not fun. Reports from such snowbound locations as St. Petersburg, Russia, bear this out, where falling ice killed five people and injured 150 more, including babies and children, in one recent winter. In 2001, 74 Moscow residents were victims of falling ice. In Chicago last winter, falling ice caused the closure […] Read More
Industry Takes A Close Look at Roof Fasteners Performance May 15, 2011 One of the primary concerns of roof consultants and designers is maintaining the integrity of the roof during high-wind events. Field research by both FM Global and the Roofing Industry Committee on Weather Issues (RICOWI) shows that the integrity of the roof and perimeter flashings is a critical first line of defense against roof failure. […] Read More
Inside Guide to Hiring a Professional Snow Removal Company May 15, 2011 40 • I N T E R FA C E OC T O B E R 2011 This man is breaking up ice with a rubber mallet on a log home at the base of the Mary Jane ski area in Winter Park, Colorado (elevation 9,052 feet), where the average annual snowfall is 450 inches. […] Read More
SIGDERS Enhances Roof Wind Instrumentation at Target Rialto Site April 27, 2011 True to expectations, gale-force Santa Ana winds greeted representatives of the Special Interest Group for Dynamic Evaluation of Roofing Systems (SIGDERS) at their January 25 and 26, 2011, meeting in Rialto, CA. As part of its Phase V activities, SIGDERS has fully instrumented two locations on the roof of a large Target distribution center in […] Read More
Better Design and Building Practices for Reducing Water and Moisture Problems in Wood-Framed Commercial and Multi-Family Buildings March 26, 2011 ABSTRACT Commercial building litigation surrounding water- and moisture-related problems has risen dramatically in recent years. Moisture damage contributes to 90% of all building and building material failures (ASHRAE). Some experts estimate that as much as 80% of construction defect litigation in the construction market segment is due to water- and moisture-related failures. The purpose of […] Read More
Back to the Future: Roof Decks Quickly Corroded by Insulation January 26, 2011 The roof industry potentially has another “phenolic foam” situation on its hands. Unlike the phenolic challenge from the 1980s and 1990s, today’s damage involves a different insulation corroding metal decks within a few years of original construction. For the corrosion to occur, leaks do not need to be present. The dynamics have been known for […] Read More
Self-Adhered PVC Membranes: Keeping Building Occupants and the Environment Safe January 26, 2011 The roofing industry is seeing an increase in environmental, health, and safety concerns. These issues may determine the type of products or components used in constructing roof systems. As an example, the use of solventbased adhesives in adhered roof covers is subject to ever more stringent environmental regulations and limitations. Some jurisdictions limit the use […] Read More
Self-Adhering TPO Membranes Evolve to Meet Industry Demands January 26, 2011 You’ve seen or at least heard about them for years. They go by a variety of names. They’re wide. They’re narrow. They’re smooth. They’re granulated. They save time. They’re “green.” “They” actually refer to three words that can make a roofer’s life much simpler: selfadhering membranes. Self-adhering membranes have been around for decades. Their “all-in-one” […] Read More
