Waterproofing is Not Below-Grade Roofing May 15, 2010 When a person is unfamiliar with something, it’s human nature to relate it to something similar with which he or she is more familiar. Unfor – tunately, this can result in minimizing or even ignoring subtle but important distinctions between the two. Such is the tendency with many architects and other design professionals today with […] Read More
Stormwater Management Within Green Roofing May 15, 2010 ABSTRACT Typical roof design focuses on removing water from roofs as efficiently and quickly as possible. While this design benefits the roof and building, it often adversely affects the surrounding ecology, stormwater collection, and treatment systems. Increased building density has also reduced areas of natural soils that absorb rain with the resultant increase in the […] Read More
Roof Hatch Safety: Meeting OSHA Fall Protection Regulations May 15, 2010 Throughout the world, roof hatches provide access to roof areas for the maintenance of HVAC and other roof-mounted equipment, as well as facilitate the installation or removal of large pieces of equipment in commercial buildings. Although roof hatches offer great convenience to building owners and maintenance personnel, if left open, they can pose a potential […] Read More
Lessons Learned From Leakage Through a Subgrade Slab Geotextile/Bentonite/ Geotextile Composite Waterproofing Membrane May 15, 2010 ABSTRACT To protect a basement from high groundwater flooding during spring snowmelt runoff, a geotextile/bentonite /geotextile composite waterproofing liner (membrane) was installed on drainage rock prior to pouring footers, stem walls, and floor slab. Nevertheless, leakage occurred between slab and stem wall. Bentonite rope and grout sealant were placed in the gap, but leakage still […] Read More
Intolerable Tolerances May 15, 2010 At two recent roofing forums, presenters have observed and commented that the roofing industry certainly has “ma – tured.” These presenters re – ported that even upstart organizations like RCI and the Single-Ply Roofing Industry (SPRI) have recently celebrated 25-year anniversaries, and the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) has been in existence for 124 years. […] Read More
Using GPS Technology and Web Imagery In Roof Consulting May 15, 2010 In the late 1990s, this author watched an interview of a military satellite expert on television. The man stated that the government no longer needed to send people to observe gatherings of individuals; instead, they could use satellites to watch. He went on to say that he could not divulge the extent of the technology, […] Read More
Slab-Edge Insulation Completes The Line Of Defense Against Heat and Energy Loss In Homes and Buildings May 15, 2010 Inspired by current federal tax incentives for energy conservation, today’s home and building owners have a heightened interest in making their structures more energy efficient. As a result, there is a growing demand for greater amounts of insulation in both new construction and retrofit projects. Typically, this insulation is installed where the need for it […] Read More
Osmosis and the Blistering of Polyurethane Waterproofing Membranes May 15, 2010 ABSTRACT Cold-applied, asphalt-modified, elastomeric polyurethane waterproofing membranes (polyurethane membranes) have been popular for roofing and waterproofing applications in the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia for at least the past 15 years. Relative low cost and easy application resulted in their widespread use in inverted roofing and waterproofing membrane assemblies (IRMA) applied to concrete decks. However, […] Read More
