Briefings

Manufacturer news

CertainTeed locations receive awards

CertainTeed Corp., Malvern, Pa., has announced its Oxford, N.C., and Ennis, Texas, locations received sustainability awards from its parent company, Saint-Gobain. The sustainability awards were presented as part of Saint-Gobain's Waste, Water and Energy Program, which is designed to highlight practical, effective solutions for increasing work site sustainability.

More than 130 Saint-Gobain manufacturing plants competed in various environmental, health and safety categories to win the titles of Waste Champion, Water Champion, Energy Champion, CO2 Champion and Overall Champion. CertainTeed's Oxford roofing shingle manufacturing facility received the CO2 Champion title for its substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions per unit of product made.

CertainTeed's Ennis roofing shingle manufacturing facility received the Overall Champion title for being a finalist in all four sustainability categories for its extensive focus on environmental impacts inside and outside the plant. The Ennis facility undertook several projects, including an LED retrofit, a program to recycle used wood pallets and a system that resulted in the reuse of 50 percent of processed cooling water.

Firestone Building Products facility receives safety recognition

Firestone Building Products Co. LLC, Indianapolis, has announced its Prescott, Ark., manufacturing facility completed 1 million man-hours without an injury involving days away from work.

In 2012, the Prescott facility underwent a $36 million expansion that increased its capacity to become the largest EPDM manufacturing facility in the world. The same year, the facility received a Million Work Hour Award from the Arkansas Department of Labor, an award given to plants that complete 1 million work-hours without a lost day away from work. In 2016, the facility reached the safety milestone for the sixth time.

Kemper System America acquires STS Coatings

Kemper System America Inc., West Seneca, N.Y., has acquired STS Coatings Inc., Comfort, Texas, a manufacturer of roofing products, wall products and single-component construction sealants.

The acquisition enables Kemper System America to offer a greater variety of liquid-applied waterproofing products to its customers.

Atlas Roofing helps launch training program

Atlas Roofing Corp., Atlanta, has partnered with 3M to launch the Shingle Sales Specialist Training Program that provides roofing contractors with the knowledge and tools necessary to explain the benefits of installing shingles featuring 3M's Scotchgard™ Protector technology. Atlas Roofing's asphalt shingles with Scotchgard Protector are said to resist algae growth.

The program includes a series of four e-learning modules in which 3M's experts explain the origins of black streaks in roofing, how algae thrive and the science behind copper ions, the basis of algae-resitance technology. The goal of the program is to enable contractors to show customers the benefits of selecting shingles with Scotchgard Protector for their houses. Additional information about the Shingle Sales Specialist Training Program is available at www.atlasroofing.com/pro.

Affiliate news

WRCA fundraises for local charity

The Wisconsin Roofing Contractors Association (WRCA) raised more than $11,000 in partnership with Spec Products Inc., Sun Prairie, Wis., during its annual Christmas party Dec. 3.

Guests at the event had the opportunity to donate toward WRCA's $5,000 goal. The goal was exceeded as donations reached $6,100, and for a second year Spec Products matched the $5,000 goal, bringing the total to $11,100. The money was donated to Variety—The Children's Charity of Wisconsin, a local charity that helps children by providing mobility assistance, communication assistance, and educational and recreational experiences.

Contractor news

Tecta America acquires JB Roofing

Tecta America, Rosemont, Ill., has acquired JB & Co. Inc., Tiffin, Ohio, a commercial roofing contracting company. The company will be known as JB Roofing, a Tecta America Company LLC.

JB Roofing, a Tecta America Company LLC, has been a part of the Ohio roofing industry since 1970. The company will continue to provide commercial roofing and roof asset management services to local customers.

Distributor news

SRS Distribution acquires Northeastern distributor

SRS Distribution Inc., McKinney, Texas, has acquired Metro Roofing Supplies Inc., Stamford, Conn., a distributor of residential and commercial roofing products, metal products, gutters, siding, windows and other related building products.

Metro Roofing Supplies has five locations in the Northeast region. SRS Distribution will operate Metro Roofing Supplies' three Massachusetts locations under the Heritage Wholesalers name. SRS Distribution will transition its existing location in North Haven, Conn., to the Metro Roofing Supplies name. All SRS Distribution's locations in the Northeast region will offer a variety of roofing products to local contractors.

Other news

Former RCI president passes away

Bush

Donald E. Bush Sr., former president of RCI Inc., passed away Dec. 27. He was 78.

After serving two tours of duty in Vietnam, Bush created his roofing consultation company, D.E. Bush & Associates, in McHenry, Ill., and later owned and operated Moisture Control Technologies, Volo, Ill. Bush was an active member of RCI and served as RCI's president from 1991-92. He received RCI's Herbert Busching Award in 2004 for his contributions to the roofing industry, and he was awarded RCI's Michael DeFrancesco Award in 2009 in recognition of his dedication to the association.

Bush was preceded in death by his wife, Carol, and is survived by five children, Donald Jr., John, Kerri Creutz, Mansoor Ghanavanti and Tammy Pugh; his siblings, Betty Ann, Bob, Jerry and Ray; nine grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Donations in Bush's name may be made to NorthPointe Resources at 3441 Sheridan Road, Zion, IL 60099 or www.northpointeresources.org, or to the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org.

PIMA names new president

Koscher

The Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA) has announced Justin Koscher, director of polyurethanes markets at the American Chemistry Council's Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI), Washington, D.C., succeeded Jared Blum as PIMA's president Jan. 1. Blum served as PIMA's president from 1990-2016.

At CPI, Koscher held a leadership role on the Sustainability Committee, which represents the U.S. polyurethanes industry regarding building codes and standards, blowing agents, fire safety and environmental issues. He also directs CPI's Spray Foam Coalition, an organization of spray polyurethane foam producers, raw material suppliers and equipment manufacturers.

Before joining CPI in 2014, Koscher served as vice president of public policy at the Center for Environmental Innovation in Roofing, Washington, D.C., where he worked with trade association members to develop policy priorities from local through federal levels, including building codes, product standards and renewable-energy legislation.

ICC votes on adoption of ASCE 7-16

The International Code Council (ICC) announced its governmental members voted to adopt ASCE 7-16, "Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures," as an ICC reference standard in early December 2016. The voting results are preliminary, and the ballot must be certified by ICC's governing rules before it becomes official.

After the vote is official, ASCE 7-16 will be included as a reference standard in the 2018 International Building Code, which is adopted nationally as a state and local jurisdiction building code, as well as in the 2018 editions of the International Residential Code and International Existing Building Code.

ASCE 7-16, the American Society of Civil Engineers' signature standard, is scheduled for publication in early 2017 with a user-friendly online version available for the first time. It features several important updates from the 2010 edition, including new wind-speed maps that result in reduced wind speeds for much of the U.S. and clarification of the special wind-study zones; updated seismic site coefficient tables; and a new chapter with tsunami design provisions.

ASTM International develops new standard

ASTM International has announced its Committee D08 on Roofing and Waterproofing developed a new sustainable roofing standard to reduce the amount of used roofing materials sent to landfills.

The standard, available for purchase as D8013, "Guide for Establishing a Recycle Program for Roof Covers," was designed to help building owners who want to minimize their environmental impact by eliminating the amount of waste sent to landfills during a roof system replacement process. The standard enables building owners and contractors to compare the costs for waste disposal versus recycling. In addition, manufacturers can use the standard to determine whether recycled roofing materials could be a cost-effective ingredient when creating new roofing products.

Additional information about the standard is available on ASTM International's website, www.astm.org.

The industry online

Atlas Roofing Corp. has launched its Asphalt Life™ blog. Dedicated to addressing all aspects of the roofing lifestyle, the blog features articles about business issues and industry updates, as well as weekend activities and hobbies. The blog can be accessed at www.asphalt-life.com.

NRCA news

NRCA has updated its NRCA and Professional Roofing apps with new designs. The apps automatically will update for iPhone and iPad users. Android device users will need to delete the NRCA app and reinstall it for the most current version. The Professional Roofing app automatically will update for Android users.

The NRCA app gives members free access to NRCA's electronic publications. The Professional Roofing app is free to anyone in the roofing industry and allows users to view magazine issues on tablet devices and smartphones. Both apps offer exclusive content.

For more information about the NRCA and Professional Roofing apps, contact NRCA's Customer Service Department at (866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net.

Events

February

27-March 3
NRCA's 130th Annual Convention
NRCA
Las Vegas
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net
www.nrca.net

28
CERTA Train-the-trainer Authorization
NRCA
Las Vegas
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net
www.nrca.net

28
Roofing Industry Fall Protection from A to Z
NRCA
Las Vegas
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net
www.nrca.net

28-March 1
Future Executives Institute (FEI-7)
NRCA University
Las Vegas
Contact: Janice Davis, director of NRCA University, at (800) 323-9545, ext. 7505 or jdavis@nrca.net
www.nrca.net

28-March 1
Future Executives Institute (FEI-8)
NRCA University
Las Vegas
Contact: Janice Davis, director of NRCA University, at (800) 323-9545, ext. 7505 or jdavis@nrca.net
www.nrca.net

March

1-3
2017 International Roofing Expo^®
Informa Exhibitions U.S.
Visit the NRCA Booth
Las Vegas
Contact: Informa Exhibitions U.S.
(800) 684-5761
www.theroofingexpo.com

3
For Foremen Only, Level 1
NRCA
Las Vegas
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net
www.nrca.net

3
16-21
32nd RCI International Convention and Trade Show
RCI Inc.
Anaheim, Calif.
Contact: RCI
(800) 828-1902 or rci@rci-online.org
www.rci-online.org

23
Intersolar Summit USA East
Intersolar Summit North America
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Contact: Barbara Pilz, project manager, at +49 7231 58598-214 or pilz@solarpromotion.com
www.intersolarglobal.com

29-30
NERCA's 91st Annual Convention & Trade Show
North East Roofing Contractors Association (NERCA)
Atlantic City, N.J.
Contact: NERCA
(781) 849-0555
www.nerca.org