Prosecutors Studying Building Alterations Following Taiwan Earthquake March 29, 2018 The public prosecutor’s office in Hualien, Taiwan, is conducting a probe into possible human errors in design, construction, or modification of four of the worst-hit buildings after a 6.4-magnitude earthquake shook the east-coast city on February 6. The quake killed 12 people and injured 275. Some of the buildings were left leaning at more than […] Read More
RICOWI Holds Spring Conference March 28, 2018 By David J. Balistreri, RRC, CDT, BECxP, RCI Liaison to the RICOWI board of directors and Chair of RICOWI The Roofing Industry Committee on Weather Issues (RICOWI) held its spring conference just prior to the RCI International Convention and Trade Show in Houston, Texas. Nearly 100 people attended educational seminars during the first day of […] Read More
Hail & Hailstorm Workshop Planned; Abstracts Sought March 20, 2018 The National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), and the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) are organizing the first North American Workshop on Hail and Hailstorms, to be held August 14-16, 2018, in Boulder, CO. Across North America, hailstorms are responsible for over $10 billion in annual property […] Read More
Irma’s Cost on Florida January 30, 2018 Costs to the state of Florida from the effects of Hurricane Irma are staggering: The insurance industry is facing $6.55 billion in property damage claims. Utility customers may be asked to pay more than $1 billion for power restoration. Agriculture officials estimate a $2.5 billion hit on crops and facilities. The Florida Division of Emergency […] Read More
Misconceptions of Wind Damage to Asphalt Composition Shingles December 28, 2017 By Carlos R. Lopez, PhD, PE; Jonathan S. Goode, PhD, PE; and Scott R. Morrison, PE The topic of wind-lifted shingles remains a controversial subject in the roofing industry. There are many misconceptions and a number of issues with asphalt shingles that are commonly incorrectly attributed to wind effects. Some of the current and most […] Read More
Hurricanes Pose Inflation, Labor Threats November 28, 2017 The natural disasters that hit the United States and its commonwealths and territories in the third quarter of 2017 threaten to cause construction material and labor costs to rise. The costs associated with Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria are estimated at $295 billion, according to Moody’s Analytics. Contractors bidding on work starting in 2018 may […] Read More
Florida Roof Technology Classes Offered in December; Hotel Block Open November 13, 2017 The date has been set for Roof Technology & Sciences I and II on December 12-15, 2017. Both classes will be offered at the Hilton Orlando in Lake Buena Vista, FL. Roof Technology & Science I (RTS I) will take place on December 12 and 13, and attendees will be eligible for a possible 16 […] Read More
Florida Relaxes Roofing License Laws After Irma October 25, 2017 Due to catastrophic building losses following Hurricane Irma, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) has suspended certain regulations concerning contracting of roofing work. The suspension applies to the 37 counties under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) Disaster Declaration. Roofing work under the emergency order includes flat roofs and roofs made with […] Read More
