Briefings

Manufacturer news

The W.P. Hickman Co. launches hot line

The W.P. Hickman Co., Asheville, N.C., has launched its Installation and Field Measurement Hotline; the service is free to anyone using the company's products to install or measure roof systems.

The hot line is available from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (EST) Monday through Friday with the exception of holidays and is staffed by The W.P. Hickman Co. employees who have product and installation experience. The hot line's telephone number is (800) 892-9173, ext. 222.

Trimline® Building Products offers educational course

Minneapolis-based Trimline Building Products is offering Specialty Composite Roofing, a free online continuing education course for architects that provides The American Institute of Architects, Construction Specifications Institute and state credits.

The 10-hour course overviews specialty composite roofing, including how it compares with traditional roof coverings, its sustainable characteristics and what to look for when choosing a specialty composite. The course is available at www.aecdaily.com/sponsor/trimline.

Carlisle SynTec participates in a school project

On Oct. 3, 2009, members of Brownsburg, Ind.-based Brownsburg East Middle School's Global Impact and Awareness Club helped install a Carlisle, Pa.-based Carlisle SynTec Inc. GREENGRID® vegetative roof system on the school's media center.

The project was funded through a $5,000 grant from Project Learning Tree, an environmental education program, and local sponsors. Carlisle SynTec provided instruction and assistance throughout the process and will continue to work with students as the project moves into the testing phase. Some students who spearheaded the project are now in high school and will begin studying the roof system as part of their science class.

ATAS International is honored

ATAS International Inc., Allentown, Pa., received the Organizational Certificate of Merit from the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) Middle Atlantic Region (MAR) during the 2009 Middle Atlantic Region Conference in Charlottesville, Va.

The Organizational Certificate of Merit is presented to a firm or organization for distinguished accomplishments that have promoted the objectives of CSI MAR and CSI.

Additionally, ATAS International has received a 2009 Governor's Environmental Excellence Award from the state of Virginia. Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources L. Preston Bryant Jr. presented the award, which was granted for the Better Living Building Supply: Better Living Phase II project in Charlottesville. The project received a silver medal in the awards program's Environmental Project category.

The awards program is co-sponsored by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Virginia Manufacturers Association's Outreach Committee and Dominion Virginia Power. Twenty-three entries were recognized in the Environmental Program, Environmental Project and Land Conservation categories. The program recognizes the significant contributions of environmental and conservation leaders, and the awards are given to businesses and industrial facilities, nonprofit organizations, government agencies and individuals.

Sika Sarnafil awards projects

Sika Sarnafil, Canton, Mass., has announced the winners of its second annual Sika Sarnafil Roof Consultant Project of the Year competition, which recognizes and celebrates excellence in roof system design. SRI Consultants Inc., Middleton, Wis., won first place; INSPEC Inc., Minneapolis, won second place; and Simpson, Gumpertz & Heger, Los Angeles, won third place.

SRI Consultants won for its roof system rehabilitation at the Dane County Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Madison, Wis. INSPEC won for its work as a key member of the design team responsible for the 2 1/2-acre vegetative roof system installed on the Target Center arena in downtown Minneapolis. Simpson, Gumpertz & Heger won for its exterior renovations to the Hollywood Palladium, a historic music, dance and entertainment venue in Los Angeles.

The winners were chosen based on criteria including creative problem solving, project challenges, design solutions and unique skills employed to ensure the project's success.

Firestone Building Products launches energy division

Firestone Building Products Co. LLC, Indianapolis, has launched Firestone Energy Solutions, a division that provides products, systems and services to assist with conservation and energy production for commercial building envelopes.

Firestone Energy Solutions provides access to domed daylighting systems, FM-approved smoke hatch and daylighting systems, and crystalline and thin-film photovoltaic technologies from major manufacturers, as well as ballasted and penetrating racking solutions. The division will work with Firestone Building Products to provide a single source for roofing and roof-based solar systems that address renewable energy interests.

"Firestone Building Products is making a positive impact on the environment every day with its wide array of durable, sustainable, and recyclable products and processes," says Mike Vall, Firestone Building Products' president. "Firestone Energy Solutions enables us to expand our footprint, offering renewable energy solutions that meet emerging 21st century needs."

Bayer MaterialScience releases study

Bayer MaterialScience LLC, Pittsburgh, has released "Energy and Environmental Impact Reduction Opportunities for Existing Buildings with Low-Slope Roofs," a study that reportedly affirms building insulation materials' substantial potential for energy savings and carbon footprint reduction.

The study examines the energy, environmental and financial benefits of adding roof insulation to commercial buildings. According to Bayer MaterialScience, its findings show that substantial energy, carbon footprint and utilities cost reductions are achievable with energy-efficient roof system replacement.

The study indicates energy saved by adding insulation during roof system replacement to the 10 building types studied was 20 to 28 times greater than the one-time energy use required for making raw materials and manufacturing, installing and transporting the insulation; the calculations were based on a 30-year product life.

NASA chooses National Coatings

NASA chose Camarillo, Calif.-based National Coatings Corp.'s AcryShield® and RustShield products to use on the Ares I-X rocket.

According to National Coatings, NASA engineers chose National Coating's roof coating products because of their ability to shield against rust, maintaining the rocket's exterior integrity while it passes through the salty air above the ocean. National Coatings' products also were chosen because of their ability to reflect sunlight and ultraviolet rays, protecting the rocket's essential components from overheating.

"We are proud to be part of this successful rocket launch," says Matt Kolb, National Coatings' president. "Not many companies get to participate in space endeavors and contribute to NASA's success."

Distributor news

Allied Building Products expands division

Allied Building Products Corp., East Rutherford, N.J., has expanded its exterior products division by opening two new Connecticut branch locations.

Located in Bridgeport and South Windsor, the new locations will expand overall product distribution channels and allow the company to store all its building materials indoors.

"We are pleased to announce the opening of our new Bridgeport and South Windsor branch locations," says Donald Toth, president of Allied Building Products' exterior products division. "These new branches will increase Allied's overall presence in Connecticut, fill distribution gaps statewide and help us provide our customers with the highest quality windows, siding, roofing materials and service in the building supply industry."

Contractor news

Commercial Roofers is honored

Commercial Roofers Inc., Las Vegas, has been named one of the best places to work in Las Vegas by In Business.

Commercial Roofers was honored in the Medium category, which is reserved for companies that employ between 100 and 500 employees. Commercial Roofers employees completed surveys for the contest, answering questions about the company.

"It meant so much to Scott and me because this award was about our staff and how they felt about their employment with us as a company—not only from the office staff but also from the guys putting on roofs all day," says Dennis Conway, who co-owns Commercial Roofers with Scott Howard.

Other news

ERA names officers

The EPDM Roofing Association (ERA) has named Michael DuCharme, director of product marketing for Carlisle, Pa.-based Carlisle SynTec Inc., chairman of the association's board of directors. He replaces John Geary, vice president of marketing for Indianapolis-based Firestone Building Products Co. LLC, who will remain on the board.

"I look forward to fulfilling my duties as chairman of ERA in the coming year and working to enhance EPDM's leadership role in today's challenging marketplace," DuCharme says. "EPDM has an outstanding record of proven sustained performance and plays a vital role in environmentally responsible building construction. Our continuing educational efforts regarding EPDM's green building attributes will help this product maintain its top position in the commercial roofing sector."

In addition, Alicia McMahon, brand marketing manager for Firestone Building Products, has been named chairwoman of ERA's Communications Committee, and Scott Long, EPDM product manager for Carlisle SynTec, has been named chairman of the association's Technical Committee.

RCI calls for abstracts

RCI Inc. is seeking abstracts for consideration for the 2010 Symposium on Building Envelope Technology, which will take place Nov. 8-9 in San Antonio.

Abstracts should be 200 words long and must be received at RCI headquarters by April 16. RCI's Building Envelope Symposium Committee will review the abstracts, and authors will be notified regarding acceptance of abstracts by May 3. If accepted, papers should be received at RCI headquarters by July 9 for peer review by the Building Envelope Symposium Committee.

For more information, contact Karen McElroy, RCI's director of conventions and meetings, at (800) 828-1902 or kmcelroy@rci-online.org.

The industry online

Lyons Roofing has updated www.lyonsroofing.com to include information about residential and commercial roofing and roof system repair, as well as customer testimonials, employee biographies, and a list of the company's awards and other recognitions.

Petersen Aluminum Corp. has launched a blog to provide industry news and address topics of interest regarding metal roofing and wall applications. The blog can be accessed at www.standingseammetal.com or www.pac-clad.com.

Atlas Roofing Corp. has launched www.greenpolyiso.com, which provides information about the energy-efficiency benefits of the company's polyisocyanurate insulation products.

MetalTech-USA has redesigned www.metaltech-usa.com to include the company's new identity, as well as an expanded product section; downloadable brochures, specification sheets, installation guides and Division 7 materials; a project gallery; and an online quotation form.

Up the ladder

Gary DeFerrari has been named Tarco's western regional sales manager.

ATAS International Inc. has named Matt Collins customer service representative for southeast Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, northern New Jersey, southern New York and Ohio; Renee Williams, CSI, has been named territory manager for northern New Jersey and southern New York. In addition, Scott C. Miller has been hired as a process and quality engineer, and Brett Barker has been named territory manager for Alabama and Tennessee.

Firestone Building Products Co. LLC has named Chris Mincey director of corporate accounts.

Affiliate news

Virginia association changes name

The Virginia Association of Roofing Contractors has changed its name to the Virginia Association of Roofing Professionals. The change was initiated by a membership vote July 17, 2009.

The Virginia Association of Roofing Professionals' membership includes contractors, suppliers and associate categories.

MRCA announces award winners

The Midwest Roofing Contractors Association (MRCA) has awarded its James Q. McCawley Award to David J. Tilsen, president of Tilsen Roofing Co., Madison, Wis., and Kim Swartzendruber, MRCA's executive director. The award is the association's highest honor.

Tilsen has been Tilsen Roofing's president since 1993. He has served on numerous MRCA committees and as MRCA president in 2000. Tilsen also has served as the MRCA Foundation's director and Wisconsin Roofing Contractors Association's president and currently serves on NRCA's board of directors.

Swartzendruber has been involved with MRCA for the past 10 years and has served as its executive director since 2007.

MRCA also has named Ronnie McGlothlin, co-owner of Empire Roofing Ltd., Fort Worth, Texas, the association's 2010 president.

McGlothlin has served on MRCA's board of directors since 2003 and has served as an officer since 2007.

In addition, James Ramser, vice president of Highland Roofing Co. Inc., Louisville, Ky., has been named first vice president; Randy Adams, president of R. Adams Roofing Inc., Indianapolis, has been named second vice president; and Michael Miller, vice president of sales and project manager of Henry C. Smither Roofing Co. Inc., Indianapolis, has been named secretary/ treasurer.

FRSA changes publication name

The Florida Roofing, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors Association (FRSA) has changed the name of its official publication from Florida Forum to Roofing Florida, A publication of the FRSA—Florida's Association of Roofing Professionals.

FRSA leadership decided to redesign the magazine and change its name to update the publication's image and more accurately represent the purpose and interests of the magazine's readership.

In addition, FRSA's trade show has been renamed the Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Expo. The event and the association's annual convention will be held June 16-19 in Orlando, Fla.