A specific provision of NRCA's strategic plan calls for NRCA to work with other industry segments to further develop existing performance models and, if necessary, establish new models for measuring roof system performance. To achieve this objective, NRCA is facilitating an industrywide initiative to develop such performance criteria (see "New council, new standards," July 2003 issue, page 15).
The initiative, the performance criteria for constructed roof systems (PCCRS), was discussed in the July 2003 issue in general and as it was envisioned to proceed. But much progress has been made since then. Following are the highlights.
A review
The objective of the PCCRS initiative is "to provide building owners and the roofing industry with conservative and dependable criteria for constructed roof systems that achieve cost-effective, long-term performance relative to the roof system type. PCCRS is intended to provide guidance. It is not an approval or certification of individual companies' procedures, products or services nor is it intended to supplant warranties or other representations or perceptions of roof system service life."
PCCRS is managed by a Criteria Council. The Criteria Council is responsible for implementing a consensus process (based on processes used by other trade groups). The council's chairman is Conrad Kawulok, president of B & M Roofing of Colorado Inc., Boulder. The other council members are David Bailey, principal investigator for the U.S. Army Research and Development Center Construction Engineering Research Laboratory, Champaign, Ill.; Rene Dupuis, principal of Structural Research Inc., Middleton, Wis.; Kevin Coughlin, director of sales for Johns Manville Roofing Systems, Denver; Steven Kruger, president of L.E. Schwartz & Son Inc., Macon, Ga.; Frank Lawson Jr., president of The Lawson Roofing Co. Inc., San Francisco; and Jim Mollenhoff, vice president and national sales manager of Siplast, Irving, Texas.
The council selects criteria development groups (CDGs) for specific roof system types. The seven-member CDGs are charged with the actual development of performance criteria. The criteria, once developed, will address roof system design, materials, installation and maintenance issues and are intended for use by building owners, roofing contractors, roof system designers and other industry professionals.
CDG members represent a cross-section of the roofing industry: users of roofing materials, manufacturers of roofing materials and those who have a general interest in the roofing industry. The council selects a chairman for each CDG. Representation on the CDGs is balanced—no representative group will be a majority on a CDG. CDG members have extensive technical knowledge of the roof system type they are assigned. The CDGs may solicit additional input about specific topics and issues from recognized industry experts and organizations. Also, interested individuals who are not specific voting members on a CDG are encouraged to attend and take part in CDG meetings.
Each CDG is assigned a liaison from the council to guide them through the criteria-development process. The council member does not have a voting voice on the CDG.
It is important to note adherence to PCCRS criteria will not be mandatory for roofing materials manufacturers or roof system installers and will not be code-driven. The criteria developed through the CDGs will build on and enhance existing standards issued by the American National Standards Institute, Underwriters Laboratories Inc., FM Global, ASTM International, etc. However, to achieve a PCCRS designation, products need to meet or exceed the baseline established by the criteria. Installers must implement installation guidelines set forth in specific roof system criteria.
The current situation
Currently, two CDGs have been formed—one for built-up roof (BUR) systems and one for spray polyurethane foam- (SPF-) based roof systems.
Members of the BUR CDG are as follows: Chairman David Scheirer, education manager for Johns Manville Roofing Systems; Scott Baxter, vice president of CRS Inc., Monroe, S.C.; Michael D. Blanchette, vice president of Amtech Roofing Consultants Inc., Dallas; Jay Keating, engineer for Trumbull/Owens Corning, Summit, Ill.; Helene Hardy Pierce, corporate director of GAF Materials Corp., Wayne, N.J.; Bruce McCrory, secretary-treasurer of Kiker Corp., Mobile, Ala.; and Thomas Smith, president of TLSmith Consulting Inc., Rockton, Ill.
Members of the SPF CDG are Chairman Jamie McAdam, president of F.J. Dahill Co. Inc., New Haven, Conn.; Jim Andersen, vice president of marketing for Foam Enterprises Inc., Minneapolis; Sig Hall III, regional manager for Western Pacific Roofing Corp., Palmdale, Calif.; John Hatfield, principal engineer for Penta Engineering Group Inc., Atlanta; Don Lenaker, vice president—national construction products manager, Resin Technology Co., Ontario, Calif.; Edward J. Lundin Jr., president of Lundin Roofing Co. Inc., Port Allen, La.; and Thomas A. Sparks, chief executive officer of Polythane Systems Inc., Spring, Texas.
Lawson is the council liaison for the BUR CDG; Dupuis serves as the liaison for the SPF CDG.
These CDGs first will meet Sept. 22-23 in Chicago and are expected to meet quarterly thereafter. The goal is for performance criteria to be developed within about 18 months to two years. After that, there will be a six-month period for public comments before the criteria are published. The criteria will be re-evaluated three years after publication.
The basis the CDGs will use for developing roof system criteria will be technically supported performance data; historical field performance; and recognized industry documents/publications for design, materials, application, inspection and maintenance.
The criteria will consist of prudent design considerations; quality material based on suitable test methods and/or existing standards; proper workmanship practices and quality-assurance methods; and recommended inspections, maintenance practices and repair procedures.
The future
A third CDG regarding metal roof systems has been established, and the Criteria Council now is seeking applicants to serve on the CDG. Those interested in participating should contact Mark Graham at NRCA's office at (847) 493-7511 or mgraham@nrca.net for an application. Applications are due Dec. 1.
"During the next 10 years, we anticipate developing performance criteria for at least six to eight roof system types," Kawulok says. "Owners who desire long-term performance will have useful documents they can refer to with respect to proper application methods, sound design and planned preventative maintenance."
Ambika Puniani is editor of Professional Roofing magazine and NRCA's director of communications.
Performance Criteria for Constructed Roof Systems (PCCRS)
Vision
To provide performance criteria that effectively optimizes the service lives of long-term constructed roof systems.
Defining principles
Roof system performance criteria developed under PCCRS will include consideration of the following:
Purpose
The purpose of PCCRS is to provide building owners and the roofing industry with conservative and dependable criteria for constructed roof systems that achieve cost-effective, long-term performance relative to the specific roof system type.
PCCRS is intended to provide guidance. It is not an approval or certification of individual companies' procedures, products or services, nor is it intended to supplant warranties or other representations or perceptions of roof system service life.
Methodology
The basis for developing roof system performance criteria is as follows:
The criteria will include the following:
These criteria will be based predominately on existing industry practices. In situations where existing practices are inadequate, development of new criteria may be necessary.
Through this effort, all interested parties will have available for their use published, system-specific, roof system performance criteria.
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