In October 2014, NRCA Safety Consultant Bill Steinmetz and I embarked on a 26-day journey through China to deliver a unique train-the-trainer program in partnership with the China National Waterproof Association (CWA). The knowledge exchanged and experiences gained during this journey reveal much about the Chinese culture and roofing industry.
CWA history
In 2014, CWA celebrated its 30th year. According to CWA President Zhu Dongqing, the organization was established in 1984 as the China National Waterproof Building Materials Industries Association. In 2009, it changed its name to China National Waterproof Association. CWA's website states the organization was approved by the China National Building Materials Industry Bureau under China's Civil Administration Ministry and is directed and supervised by the China National Economy and Trade Committee and the Society Registration and Management Institute of the Civil Administration Ministry.
CWA is similar to NRCA in its roofing industry role. It is a viable business league and society of like-minded professionals striving to advance the Chinese roofing industry, albeit housed within and perhaps more accountable to a governmental authority. CWA represents the single-ply, metal, tile and vegetative roof system sectors.
Unlike NRCA's contractor-focused membership base, CWA membership primarily is composed of roofing product manufacturers. It is important to understand Chinese manufacturers operate differently than their U.S. counterparts. Most Chinese manufacturers do much more than produce products. They work directly with building owners to design and specify roof and waterproofing systems for particular projects; directly distribute materials; hire, supervise and provide housing for installation workers; exercise quality control during installations; and provide direct project financing. In other words, they are in the business of manufacturing, engineering, distributing, contracting, installing, hospitality, consulting and financing all within one organization.
NRCA and CWA
NRCA's involvement with CWA began in 2000 when Zhu led a CWA delegation to attend NRCA's 113th Annual Convention. Two things impressed Zhu most about the U.S. roofing market.
"First, asphalt shingles were so widely installed on steep-slope roofs; second, single-ply systems were mostly installed on low-slope roofs, which is quite different in China," Zhu says.
Former NRCA President Dane Bradford, president of Bradford Roof Management Inc., Billings, Mont., says: "During these first meetings, the CWA leadership asked NRCA leadership to actively engage and communicate with CWA on a more frequent basis to help that country's roofing industry toward maturity."
Bradford recalls his early trips to China: "I remember how far behind in technology they were with seemingly no grasp of western roofing and waterproofing technologies. But I also was impressed by their tremendous enthusiasm and desire to learn. They demonstrated clearly an entrepreneurial spirit and a deep hunger to learn."
In 2000, CWA hosted its first industry trade show, the China International Roofing and Waterproofing Conference. NRCA co-hosted the event. A multitude of international material and equipment manufacturers, service providers and roofing professionals from around the world now attend this premier Asian industry event. Attendance by U.S. representatives to roofing industry events in China increased and continues today. The number of Chinese representatives attending U.S. roofing industry conferences also has steadily increased.
According to Zhu, attendance to U.S. events by CWA representatives during the years is in excess of 400, and another 32 will attend the 2015 International Roofing Expo.®
As trust between the two organizations grew, CWA leadership proactively began working with NRCA and other international organizations to improve commercial low-slope roof system performance. Through several in-person meetings, ideas were exchanged about roofing and waterproofing material standards, model building codes, workforce development, warranty programs and other industry topics. Job-site visits and tours of manufacturing facilities took place in each country.
In recent years, CWA began developing material standards and addressing workforce development. CWA invested about $11 million to construct a world-class materials testing and training facility near Suzhou, which opened in October 2014. CWA then collaborated with domestic industry partners and established an independent institute staffed with qualified engineers and scientists to conduct material testing, establish material standards and provide industry technical training.
Simultaneously, foreign material manufacturers began providing training in China to introduce workers to other roofing materials and proprietary installation methods. But CWA recognized the need for additional, nonproprietary training to adequately address overall workforce development needs. In 2013, CWA took steps to fulfill this vision by conducting the first China national roofing competition to identify five best-in-class applicators in China, each a manufacturer's employee. These top-five roof mechanics, together with other company project managers, technicians, system designers, engineers and architects and other top-tier installers, would be among the first Chinese roofing industry personnel to participate in NRCA's train-the-trainer program.
Training prep
Roof system performance in China currently is not on par with that in the U.S. For example, we were informed typical steep-slope roof systems perform in excess of 80 years with little or no maintenance, but low-slope roof systems only are expected to successfully perform three to four years. Concrete and clay tile dominate the steep-slope market. Asphalt shingles are a recent novelty in China and are being installed over concrete structural decks using gasoline-fired hand torches.
Two overarching training program goals were established: to introduce the Chinese workforce to U.S. best practices as presented in The NRCA Roofing Manual and increase the effectiveness of Chinese roofing industry trainers.
The specific training objectives designed for the program included:
The technical topics to be covered included:
CWA and NRCA staff agreed the program content would require a minimum of four eight-hour days composed of 25 percent classroom theory, 10 percent practical application demonstrations and 65 percent supervised hands-on practice.
Preparations for the training classes began in mid-2014 and included communicating with our CWA translator about mock-up designs, materials, tools and equipment needed for the hands-on demonstrations and student exercises. Additionally, all training materials required internal technical and editorial reviews and translation from English to Mandarin by CWA staff.
CWA staff arranged all logistics for the training, including classroom and hands-on shop facilities; all student and instructor lodging, meals and ground transportation; classroom handouts; hands-on shop materials and supplies, tools and equipment; and all other relevant details. The enormity of detail required to conduct four training classes in four locations in another language cannot be overstated.
Oct. 5-7, 2014
We arrived in Beijing Oct. 6, 2014, and were greeted by CWA staff and our translator for the next month, Henry. To help ease our anxieties, we requested to be driven directly to the training facility to observe the classroom and shop area setups and arrangements. The Beijing Oriental Yuhong Waterproof Technology Co. Ltd. (Oriental Yuhong) had agreed to host the first two classes in Beijing's Chaoyang District. Oriental Yuhong is the largest manufacturer of roofing and waterproofing materials in China, holding a reported 35 percent of market share.
To our delight, the classroom facility was spacious, well-lit and perfectly set up. The shop facilities were fully constructed and exceeded our requested designs, and there was a well-organized and readily available full inventory of all necessary roofing and waterproofing materials, tools and equipment.
Before the trip, we had requested to visit job sites in China to observe the actual work environments of those we would be training.
Following our arrival, we were taken to projects being installed by Oriental Yuhong. The first project was a TPO waterproofing application for residential high-rise buildings. Our visit provided opportunities to speak directly with workers, foremen, superintendents and project managers and observe their work practices and construction details. We exchanged ideas about methods for applying adhesives and hot-air welding techniques and discussed nuances such as texture and feel of different materials. Our hosts unfurled a welcoming banner and posed for a group photo.
The second project was a unique torch-applied SBS polymer-modified bitumen waterproofing application being installed on a curved four-story structural foundation wall for what would soon be a national cultural museum. The handheld torches being used were fueled by unleaded gasoline rather than propane tanks. We observed a highly synchronized team effort to unroll and apply the materials by workers perched vertically in-line through a tubular-framed scaffold. This inventive method was demanded by job conditions and executed efficiently.
We also observed safety precautions being implemented, including fire safety measures, fall protection and hazard-specific personal protective equipment. All workers were willing to share their work practices, and we gained invaluable insights to use in the training sessions.
Oct. 8-11, 2014
The first class began with a rousing welcome address to attendees from Zhu. His message seemed to inspire all attendees as he shared the importance of the training and CWA's vision for growth and future of the Chinese roofing market. Attendees of this first class represented several Chinese material manufacturing firms in various roles and ranged in experience from 10 days to more than 20 years. We completed the program content and allotted plenty of time for hands-on demonstrations and student practice.
What impressed us most was the high degree of collaboration between trainees as they frequently broke into smaller groups during the shop exercises to discuss how to apply the theory learned in the classroom to solve problems and achieve correct results.
For example, before cutting inside or outside corner flashing pieces, three students spontaneously grabbed a piece of chalk and sketched a mockup as they discussed precisely where, how and at what angle they should make their cuts. They then practiced making cuts using scissors and scraps of paper and only then did each proceed to cut and install perfect corners. They also coached and encouraged each other during their attempts.
From a trainer's perspective, this is an example of adult learning at its finest. Seeing this kind of collaboration in various forms helped us realize social interaction among peers is an essential aspect of Chinese culture. All we did as trainers was share with them a small bit of information and provide the opportunity to prove themselves. We looked forward to class No. 2.
Oct. 14-17, 2014
Class No. 2 was sponsored by the Oriental Yuhong company expressly for its employees. And it began with a surprise. Weiguo Lee, the company's chairman, provided an inspiring speech to open the class and then proceeded to lead all 41 employees in a team rally cry, pounding the backs of seats in front of them, clapping their hands and yelling: "For our motherland; for our province; for our city; and for Beijing Oriental Yuhong Waterproof Technology company … HOORAY!" And then they proudly made a powerful thumbs-up thrust into the air. In my 25 years of roofing industry training, I had never experienced such excitement in a class.
We discovered these employees worked in different manufacturing plants and office locations across China, and similar to the first class, there was significant disparity in experience between participants. The rally cry was repeated at the start of each day for this class. We quickly recognized it was serving to galvanize attendees into one cohesive team, and its effect was palpable.
We had a fast-paced four days, witnessing again extremely high levels of engagement and collaboration. The only glitch in maintaining the schedule occurred during the classroom presentation on day four. Students participated to such a high degree they continued discussions and engaged in the designed activities well beyond the allotted time.
Finally, after nearly two weeks in Beijing, we were anxious to see other parts of the country and leave behind the intense smog, propagator of the infamous "Beijing cough."
Oct. 18-19, 2014
Rather than fly directly from Beijing to our next training class in Guangzhou, we accepted an invitation to visit CWA's new training and testing institute.
We were welcomed by the institute's president and chief professor, Xian Yongbiao, in a grand lobby area. Xian is a 40-year veteran of the Chinese roofing industry, was instrumental in establishing CWA and is highly respected in the industry. He described the future plans and vision for the institute's campus that included converting an adjacent building into staff offices and a new testing lab on the adjacent empty lot.
Workers were putting the finishing touches on this new lab and training center in preparation for its grand opening scheduled for the following week. A well-equipped and highly organized hands-on lab area featured numerous small-scale flashing mockups, and it was well-ventilated. It also featured an outdoor rooftop shop area protected from the elements by a tension-fabric canopy structure still being constructed.
After the tour, we returned to the Shanghai airport for our flight to Guangzhou. We were greeted at the airport by our host for the next training class, David Yu. Yu spoke English and had attended the first training class in Beijing. He had taken meticulous notes and photos of the setup, materials and equipment in the first class and had replicated the training environment in every detail.
Oct. 20-23, 2014
Training class No. 3 was sponsored by the Guangdong Keshun Chemical Industry Co. Ltd. and was held at its new facility located in the Shunde District of Foshan City. The attendees, all company employees, again represented a wide range of experience and job responsibilities. Two attendees were among the best and most experienced mechanics in China, each a winner of the CWA national competition.
We again observed a high-degree of collaboration between students during the training. The four days of training flew by, and we learned an important cultural lesson. Apparently, the fact that we facilitated hands-on demonstrations while on our knees, putting ourselves "lower" than our students, was viewed as a sign of high respect for students and, likewise, a high degree of respect and appreciation by students for the instructors.
Oct. 24-25, 2014
Departing our hotel at 5:15 a.m. Oct. 24, 2014, proved to be the most challenging day of our trip. The first obstacle was airport security, which gave us some difficulty checking our luggage that contained the various tools we brought with us from the U.S. The tools had never been a problem at other airports, but they finally cleared security. We barely boarded the plane before the doors closed. Our destination was Tianjin; we then had a two-hour drive to Tangshan.
Our departure was delayed because of unnamed conditions at our destination, but we lifted off within one hour. As the plane approached the Tianjin airport, the pilot announced conditions still were backing up air traffic and we would be circling for at least another hour until our slot opened for landing. Two hours later, the pilot announced our flight was being redirected to a remote airport located in the Inner Mongolian Province, another two hours away because we would run out of fuel (the math did not add up in my head).
We eventually landed in Tianjin around 10:30 p.m. where we discovered the cause of our delay was smog had reduced visibility to zero for most of the day. Visibility still was low, and we arrived at the hotel around 1 a.m.
Oct. 26-29, 2014
Class No. 4 was sponsored by the Tangshan Desheng Waterproof Co. Ltd. located in the Fengrun District of Tangshan in the Hebei Province. Known simply as Desheng Waterproofing, this company began operations only 10 years ago and has grown to the third largest roofing and waterproofing material manufacturing firm in China. The training began with another profound rally cry led by a young woman who was their marketing director. With fists lifted high, students shouted the cry. The room was outfitted with state-of-the-art high-definition projector screens, an advanced audio system, and an elevated stage from which all training and other company ceremonies took place.
The company also implemented rather unique marketing strategies we had not yet experienced at other venues. For example, on each of the four training days, the company invited a few of its customers to attend the training to learn about the company's products alongside the designers and applicators who would be installing them. Some guest attendees even participated in the hands-on exercises, which generated much excitement when a woman was spotted using a hot-air welder while wearing sparkly pink shoes. Additionally, Desheng Waterproofing invited media to shoot video of the training and conduct on-camera interviews with the company leadership and NRCA trainers for broadcast during their local nightly news.
During lunch breaks, we were given a tour of the company's SBS polymer-modified bitumen and PVC single-ply membrane production lines. At the end of the final day of training, 36 students, the NRCA instructors and Henry posed beneath the "Welcome NRCA" banner over their main entrance for one last celebratory class photo.
Oct. 30-31, 2014
The three-hour drive from Tangshan back to Beijing was spent reminiscing about all we learned about the China roofing and waterproofing industry and the application techniques, tools and products. We began discussing ways we would improve the training and the higher levels of technology we could bring to the next round of training. But mostly, we were missing the many terrific students who showed us such deep appreciation and enthusiasm.
The first evening back in Beijing, we met Zhu for dinner and discussed the successes and shortcomings of the training events, ways to increase the effectiveness of future classes and different delivery methods. We agreed this series of classes was a successful venture and next year we would return to do it again.
A global reach
Delivering excellent roofing industry education and training is a core competency of NRCA. As its industry involvement in China and around the globe continues to grow, more education and training opportunities will emerge.
The success of the China train-the-trainer program is proof that when the leadership of two international organizations focuses on sharing ideas and technologies delivered through effective education and training, both organizations win. Doing so advances roofing industry technologies and best practices; opens doors for new, bilateral market opportunities; and propels the NRCA brand as an international roofing industry leader in the global economy.
John Schehl, CAE, RRC, is executive director of Roof Integrated Solar Energy Inc.™
A changing China
Previous trips to China during the past 10 years had confined NRCA to conference centers and trade show booths. But this trip was much different, allowing NRCA staff to experience much more of the roofing industry and Chinese society. Needless to say, we were overwhelmed by the advancements and progress of China's economy and society.
NRCA Immediate Past President Nelson Braddy, president and chief executive officer of King of Texas Roofing Co. LP, Dallas, also recognizes the fast changes in the China roofing industry during the past few years: "I was aware China's roofing industry had a strong polymer-modified bitumen market. But I had no idea how fast TPO and PVC increased in recent years. U.S. and European companies are trading products back and forth quickly; it's obviously now a global economy."
Former NRCA President Dane Bradford, president of Bradford Roof Management, Billings, Mont., also recognizes the incredible pace of change in the Chinese roofing industry.
"I think the Chinese industry has grown more in the past 10 years or so than the U.S. roofing industry did in the previous 100 years," Bradford says. "They embraced our technologies. And though some barriers remain, the growth is providing opportunities for us to operate in that marketplace like never before."
After discussing these changes with our translator, Henry, we began to see China through his eyes and only then began to understand the changes. Henry and his younger generation have high optimism about the future. Henry shared with us a TED Talks video facilitated by Eric Li, a venture capitalist, political scientist and a Fellow of the Aspen Institute. The video discusses meritocracy and the Chinese culture's emphasis on learning and excelling.
According to Li: "In the next 10 years, China will surpass the U.S. and become the largest economy in the world, and per capita income will be near the top of all developing countries."
For its part, CWA continues on its path to develop materials standards and building codes for its roofing industry. The voids created by the lack of these standards and codes in the past resulted in poor quality materials and underperforming waterproofing systems. By adapting the processes used in the U.S. for developing standards and codes such as those used by FM Global and the International Code Council, the bar is raised.
Bradford and Braddy agree that had NRCA not helped CWA with the standards and codes development process early in the relationship, the void would have been filled by other countries and left U.S. materials manufacturers at a big disadvantage.
The technical information developed by NRCA has emerged as the gold standard in the international roofing marketplace.
"Our involvement with China is a great example of how the U.S. Chamber of Commerce model of sharing technologies internationally leads to increases in business opportunities for both countries actually works," Bradford says. "Builders in China have requested U.S. technologies. Now, many U.S. manufacturers and, in some cases U.S. roofing contractors, are operating there. As fast as they innovate and advance, we also will eventually learn better ways to do things. And new opportunities to provide education and training also emerge."
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