Briefings

Manufacturer news

Firestone releases sustainability report

Firestone Building Products Co. LLC, Indianapolis, has released its second annual sustainability report. The 2013 Sustainability Report reviews Firestone Building Products' manufacturing and business processes, as well as its product portfolio, to measure the effectiveness of the company's corporate social responsibility efforts.

To reach its goals of reducing energy consumption, waste and emissions, Firestone Building Products has adhered to more sustainable manufacturing processes, developed and manufactured more environmentally friendly products for commercial and industrial construction, and has been inspiring employees to adopt environmentally friendly practices at work and at home.

The annual report demonstrates Firestone Building Products' pledge to be more environmentally friendly and fulfills the requirements of the Global Reporting Initiative's (GRI's) Application Level C. GRI guidelines set out principles and indicators organizations can use to measure and report their economic, environmental and social performances.

The 2013 Sustainability Report is available at firestonebpco.com/about-us.

GAF partners with Habitat for Humanity^®

GAF, Wayne, N.J., has partnered with Habitat for Humanity to match its roofing material donations with installation services donated by GAF Master Elite^® and Certified™ Contractors. More than 460 contractors have signed up for the program and have worked with Habitat for Humanity affiliates to build more than 700 homes for families in need.

In addition, GAF has begun to ship materials from its new 541,000-square-foot plant in Cedar City, Utah. The plant will produce GAF's full line of TPO products and will manufacture polyisocyanurate roof insulation and residential sheathing. GAF began shipping TPO from Cedar City Aug. 1 and is expected to begin shipping polyisocyanurate products in early 2015. The plant includes a training center for GAF's Center for Advancement of Roofing Excellence, which offers educational programs to roofing industry professionals, and has created about 40 new jobs with an additional 10 to 15 jobs in the near future.

IKO Industries opens plant

IKO Industries, Kankakee, Ill., has opened a production facility in Sylacauga, Ala. The 300,000-square-foot plant will produce three-tab and architectural laminated shingles and position IKO Industries to better serve its customers in the southeastern U.S. market. The plant began producing and shipping products earlier this summer and has created about 50 jobs.

Quick Mount doubles warranties

Quick Mount PV, Walnut Creek, Calif., has doubled the length of warranties for several products. Products featuring Quick Mount's QBlock,^® QBase^® and QHook^® technologies now are covered by a 20-year limited product warranty. Previously, the only Quick Mount product with a 20-year warranty was the Classic Comp Mount.

Congressman visits Karnak facility

Karnak Corp., Clark, N.J., recently hosted Rep. Leonard Lance (R-N.J.) at its headquarters. The congressman met with Karnak President Sarah Jelin and Chief Operating Officer Chris Salazar to discuss the roof coatings industry and issues affecting roof coating manufacturers, including modification of language used in the homeowner energy efficiency tax credit to include roof coatings; the commercial building tax deduction; and the Environmental Protection Agency's potential proposal to lower the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Ground-Level Ozone.

Contractor news

Flynn America forms partnership

Flynn America LP, Toronto, has entered into a letter of intent with Traditional Roofing Inc., Flagstaff, Ariz., to combine operations. The partnership will assist Flynn America with its plans to expand its construction business in the U.S. and provide Traditional Roofing with broader opportunities to accelerate growth.

Commonwealth Roofing receives award

Commonwealth Roofing Corp., Louisville, Ky., received the 2013 Hercules Award from Twinsburg, Ohio-based North Coast Roofing Systems, a distributor of commercial roofing, residential roofing and waterproofing materials, in recognition of Commercial Roofing's support and commitment to the Kentucky Roofing Contractors Association and outstanding sales during 2013.

Distributor news

ABC Supply opens branches

ABC Supply Co. Inc., Beloit, Wis., has opened branches in Charleston, W.Va.; Nampa, Idaho; North Clarendon, Vt.; and Omaha, Neb.

The Charleston branch is the company's third location in West Virginia; the Nampa branch will serve the Treasure Valley-Boise area; the North Clarendon branch is the company's first location in Vermont; and the Omaha branch is the company's third location in the city. All locations will carry shingles and related roofing supplies.

Up the ladder

The Bilco Co. has named Tom Crowley president; Roger Joyce vice chairman and executive vice president; and Robert Lyons Jr. chairman and CEO.

Malarkey Roofing Products has named Gary Collins government accounts representative; Greg Maechling commercial sales representative; and Ben Michiels regional commercial sales manager.

The industry online

DaVinci Roofscapes^® has updated and re-launched its website, www.davinciroofscapes.com. The new site features an image gallery; a quote tool for roofing contractors that provides steps of items to consider when developing quotes for customers; a section to help homeowners choose colors for their roof systems; and a guide to help homeowners choose a roofing contractor.

CertainTeed Corp. has launched its Academy of Continuing Education, www.continuinged.certainteed.com, an online learning resource for building professionals. Online content is accessible 24/7 and courses help establish a connection between current industry topics and relevant products and solutions from CertainTeed. Continuing Education Unit courses are accredited by The American Institute of Architects, and many are certified by the Green Building Certification Institute.

Other news

New institute is established

The Synthetic Roof Underlayment Institute (SRUI) has been established to educate the roofing and building industries about the benefits of synthetic roof underlayments. SRUI's goal is to promote the overall use of premium synthetic roof underlayments through education, design and engineering performance while working with industry associations.

SRUI plans to address the recent proliferation of low-cost synthetic underlayments that potentially fail to meet code requirements by educating the marketplace and addressing the problems of such products. The organization also plans to create performance-based standards for synthetic roof underlayments that match primary roofing materials, such as asphalt shingles, metal, tile and slate, leading to heightened integrity of a roof system. For more information, contact Jeff Henry, SRUI's executive director, at (847) 375-6402 or jhenry@srui.org.

Copper association receives AIA accreditation

The Copper Development Association has received accreditation from The American Institute of Architects (AIA) for its introductory copper course. The course addresses mining, processing, material properties and typical copper uses.

The course was launched as part of the association's new Copper Learning Center, a virtual classroom providing students and industry professionals with access to extensive information about copper and its uses. Students who complete the course will receive one Learning Unit credit from AIA.

NRCA news

NRCA offers free classes

NRCA is offering free Roofing Industry Fall Protection from A to Z classes in English and Spanish. The interactive, one-day class focuses on fall-protection systems and includes up-to-date, state-specific Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements.

Classes will be held in 2015 Jan. 15 and 16 in Fairfax, Va.; Jan. 29 in Chicago; April 9 in Dallas; April 16 in San Jose, Calif.; and April 28 in Providence, R.I. Classes will be offered in English and Spanish in all locations except Providence.

For more information and to register, contact NRCA's Customer Service Department at (866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722).

Events

November

11-14
NRCA's Fall Committee Meetings
NRCA
Chicago
Contact: Bennett Judson, NRCA's associate executive director of meeting services
(800) 323-9545, ext. 7513 or bjudson@nrca.net
www.nrca.net

20
NRCA University Webinar: Economic Update
NRCA
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net
www.nrca.net

December

5
Creating or Improving a Service/Maintenance Center
NRCA
Rosemont, Ill.
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net
www.nrca.net

10-12
MRCA's 65th Annual Convention
Midwest Roofing Contractors Association (MRCA)
Grapevine, Texas
Contact: MRCA's Customer Service Department
(800) 497-6722
www.mrca.org

11
For Foremen Only, Level 1
NRCA
Fairfax, Va.
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net
www.nrca.net

18
NRCA University Webinar: Technical Roofing Industry Update
NRCA
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net
www.nrca.net

January 2015

15
Roofing Industry Fall Protection from A to Z
NRCA
Fairfax, Va.
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net
www.nrca.net

16
Roofing Industry Fall Protection from A to Z in Spanish
NRCA
Fairfax, Va.
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net
www.nrca.net

29
Roofing Industry Fall Protection from A to Z in Spanish
NRCA
Chicago
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net
www.nrca.net

29
Roofing Industry Fall Protection from A to Z
NRCA
Chicago
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net
www.nrca.net