Briefings

Manufacturer news

GAF named Brand Leader

GAF, Parsippany, N.J., has received the title of "Brand Leader" from the 2015 Remodeling Brand Use Study conducted by Farnsworth Group, Indianapolis.

The survey was completed by 721 professionals who classified themselves as remodelers, general contractors or replacement contractors. GAF ranked No. 1 in all four categories for Ridge Vent Systems: Brand Familiarity, Brand Used in the Past Two Years, Brand Used the Most and Highest Quality Brand.

In addition, GAF has partnered with Nancy Fire, HGTV HOME design director and founder of Design Works International, New York City, to continue connecting style and design elements with quality roofing materials. Fire's industry insight and extensive background in design and emerging trends will enable GAF to create exciting products that help homeowners express their unique styles.

CertainTeed supports Homes for Our Troops

CertainTeed Corp., Valley Forge, Pa., has strengthened its commitment to Homes for Our Troops, a nonprofit organization that builds specially adapted houses for severely injured veterans.

CertainTeed expanded its donations to become the exclusive provider of all roofing, insulation and gypsum products used to build Homes for Our Troops houses. The company also encourages its employees to participate in Homes for Our Troops' volunteer days that take place throughout the U.S.

All houses built by Homes for Our Troops comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and accommodate injured veterans by providing roll-in showers, roll-under cooktops and sinks, and other standard accessibility items.

Atlas Roofing sales manager passes away

Weller

Eric Weller, Atlas Roofing Corp.'s former sales manager in the roof insulation and wall continuous insulation division for the U.S. northwest region, passed away Aug. 15. He was 56.

Weller was a dedicated professional who worked in the roofing and construction industries for more than two decades. In addition to Atlas Roofing, Weller worked for Duro-Last Roofing, Saginaw, Mich.; DOW Building Solutions, Midland, Mich.; Johns Manville Roofing Systems, Denver; and Pioneer Builders Supply, Tacoma, Wash. Weller is survived by his wife, Paula; his parents, Jessica and Carl; his brother, Karl; his sister, Karla; and many nieces and nephews.

Donations may be made in Weller's name to the Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit organization that provides programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members, at support.woundedwarriorproject.org.

Contractor news

Former NRCA committee member passes away

Hall

Sig Hall III, former general manager of Western Pacific Roofing Corp.'s location in Palm Springs, Calif., passed away Sept. 2. He was 68.

Hall was a respected leader within the roofing industry and served on several NRCA committees, including the Spray Foam and Spray Foam Quality Control committees. Hall completed two terms as president of the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) and received SPFA's 2014 Workhorse Award for his contributions within the spray polyurethane foam industry. He also was a Vietnam War veteran and an avid golfer. Hall is survived by his wife, Nancy; his children; his grandchildren; and extended family members.

Donations in Hall's memory may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit organization that provides programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members, at support.woundedwarriorproject.org.

Distributor news

ABC Supply acquires distributor

ABC Supply Co. Inc., Beloit, Wis., has signed a definitive agreement with Saint-Gobain Delaware Corp., Valley Forge, Pa., to acquire Norandex Building Materials Distribution Inc., Hudson, Ohio, a distributor of windows, siding and other exterior building products, including several roofing products. The acquisition will enable ABC Supply to operate more than 600 locations in 49 states. The transaction is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2015.

Additionally, ABC Supply has opened a new location in Logan, Utah. The new store will offer low- and steep-slope roofing products and serve contractors in the far northern part of the state. It is ABC Supply's fourth location in Utah.

Other news

PIMA releases mineral fiber report

The Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA) has released "The Effect of Roof Traffic and Moisture on Roof Insulations," a report suggesting low-slope roof systems using single-ply roof coverings may not be suitable for the use of mineral fiber board insulation when subject to roof traffic and moisture accumulation.

The report suggests moisture vapor significantly may reduce the compressive strength of mineral fiber insulation, which can lead to roof system failure. The reduction in walkability resulting from moisture vapor was slightly mitigated when the thickness of a single-ply roof covering was increased during testing, but the improvement was minimal.

PIMA recommends exercising great care when mineral fiber insulation is used anywhere a significant level of roof traffic or internal moisture is anticipated. The full report is available at www.polyiso.org/news/247334/PIMA-Releases-Research-Report-on-the-Effect-of-Roof-Traffic-and-Moisture-on-Roof-Insulations.

Melvin Kruger scholarship applications are available

The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress is accepting applications for its 2016-17 Melvin Kruger Endowed Scholarship Program. The merit-based scholarship program is available to NRCA contractor or supplier member employees and their families to assist with furthering their education in pursuit of careers in the roofing or building construction industries.

Applicants must be full-time employees of an NRCA member company or dependent children or spouses of employees of an NRCA member company with a minimum of one year of full-time employment with their companies as of the application deadline date. High school seniors or graduates who plan to enroll or who already are enrolled in a full-time undergraduate course of study at a two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school for an entire academic year also are eligible.

Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of academic record; potential to succeed; leadership and participation in school and community activities; honors; work experience; a statement of career goals and aspirations; and an outside appraisal. Each recipient will receive a $5,000 award renewable for up to three years of undergraduate study or until a bachelor's degree is earned, provided the awards are renewed annually and recipients maintain at least a 3.0 GPA.

In addition, the Alliance has announced it is accepting nominations for its 2015-16 Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards program. The MVP Awards program honors up to 10 outstanding roofing workers. One winner will be chosen as Professional Roofing's Best of the Best, an honor co-sponsored by OMG Roofing Products, Agawam, Mass., and will be featured in an article in Professional Roofing.

The MVP Awards program recognizes leadership in the field. Roofing contractor firms can nominate any field roofing worker, foreman or superintendent; no more than three nominations per company branch will be accepted. Distributors and supplier firms may nominate up to five warehouse employees, warehouse foremen, drivers or equipment operators. Self-nominations are not accepted. Nominees will be evaluated based on the following criteria: outstanding on-the-job performance; on-the-job safety performance; contributions to a team effort; community service and volunteerism; and other noteworthy contributions and activities.

Entries may be submitted by completing an official entry form, providing detailed descriptions of specific attributes, activities and other factors that make individuals noteworthy or unique. All entries must be submitted by Nov. 20. Visit www.roofingindustryalliance.net/programs/mvp for more information or to submit a nomination.

Up the ladder

ABC Supply Co. Inc. has promoted the following to managing partner: Scott Adams; Bryan Banks; Chris Bartle; Jim Boudreau; Michael Burnett; Fred Ellis; Carey Jobe; Jeremy Newberry; Martin Piller; Sam Shearer; Jamie Steinhoff; Greg Stock; Josh Townsend; Joseph Tozer; Chris Wagner; and Rick Zuniga.

EagleView Technologies has named Antony Parchment vice president of drone product strategy.

The industry online

DEWALT has released its Tool Connect™ App. The app allows users to remotely control any tool that uses DEWALT's 20V MAX* 2.0 Amp and 4.0 Amp lithium ion batteries with Bluetooth^® capability. The app features battery diagnostics; out-of-range alerts; the ability to disable an out-of-range tool; high-temperature alerts; and charge completion alerts. The app is available from Google Play and the Apple App Store.

Events

November

3
CERTA Train-the-trainer Authorization and Reauthorization at CRSMCA
Carolinas Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (CRSMCA) Inc.
Charlotte, N.C.
Contact: CRSMCA headquarters
(704) 556-1228
www.crsmca.org

4
Roofing Industry Fall Protection from A to Z
NRCA
Charlotte, N.C.
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net
www.nrca.net

10-13
Midwest Roofing Contractors Association (MRCA) Convention
MRCA
Kansas City, Mo.
Contact: MRCA headquarters
(800) 497-6722
www.mrca.org

17
For Foremen Only, Level 1
NRCA
Portland, Ore.
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net
www.nrca.net

18-19
Greenbuild International Conference & Expo
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
Visit the NRCA booth
Washington, D.C.
Contact: USGBC headquarters
(800) 795-1747 or info@greenbuildexpo.com
www.greenbuildexpo.com

20
For Foremen Only, Level 2
NRCA
Rosemont, Ill.
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net
www.nrca.net

December

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

15-17
China International Roofing and Waterproofing Expo 2015
China National Waterproof Building Materials Industry Association
Visit the NRCA booth
Beijing
Contact: China National Waterproof Building Materials Industry Association's Customer Service Department
+86 10 88415069
www.chinaroofexpo.com

17
NRCA University Webinar: Technical Roofing Industry Update
NRCA
Online
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net
www.nrca.net

January 2016

21-22
CRCA's 33rd Annual Trade Show and Seminars
Chicago Roofing Contractors Association (CRCA)
Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.
Contact: CRCA's Customer Service Department
(708) 449-3340
www.crca.org