Flashings

ARMA, ERA and PIMA fund research project

The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA), EPDM Roofing Association (ERA) and Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA) have formed a coalition to sponsor the continued analysis of a reroofing project at the Onondaga County Correctional Facility in Jamesville, N.Y.

When the facility needed a new roof in 2009, Onondaga County realized an opportunity to evaluate water retention and energy-efficiency performances for different roof covering assemblies and installed a field-monitoring system to collect data regarding thermal performance, weather conditions and roof runoff from four buildings at the Jamesville facility.

With the original field-monitoring system still in place, the coalition decided to continue evaluating the roof coverings during a longer period of time to better see how roof coverings interact with weather conditions. Of particular interest is the effect of accumulated snow on roofs that may affect buildings' thermal performance.

"Roof insulation is an integral part of the design strategy for a building's energy-efficiency footprint, and this study will help building owners, contractors and architects assess a roof's performance from a broader basis and ensure the best energy-efficient components are used," says Jared Blum, PIMA's president.

The Onondaga County reroofing project includes an analysis of the comparison of cool roof technologies consisting of reflective roof surfaces and high-performing well-insulated roof covering assemblies.

"Our members produce reflective and absorptive roof coverings; this study will provide meaningful data that can help designers select the right products for their particular project regardless of where in the country the roof will be installed," says Ellen Thorp, ERA's associate executive director.

The project is expected to run through 2015.

NRCA issues immigration statement

NRCA Executive Vice President Bill Good has issued the following statement in response to President Barack Obama's recent executive action on immigration.

"For many years, NRCA has consistently supported immigration reform that increases border security, improves workplace enforcement without burdening employers, provides an avenue for workers to enter the U.S. legally when our economy needs them and addresses the problem of the existing illegal workforce in a balanced manner. NRCA believes immigration reform that addresses all these components is needed to fix our broken immigration system, end illegal immigration, protect U.S. workers and meet the economic needs of employers in the 21st century.

NRCA believes that for immigration reform to be successful in meeting the needs of the roofing industry, it is imperative Congress be the deliberative body that addresses this issue. NRCA is disappointed the House did not take up immigration reform legislation in the 113th Congress and urges the new 114th Congress to move expeditiously on immigration reform measures in 2015.

NRCA also is disappointed President Obama decided to move forward with unilateral executive action which can, at best, provide only a temporary and partial solution to fixing our broken immigration system. NRCA is further concerned the president's executive action could cause significant difficulties for employers with respect to employment eligibility verification compliance and will be reviewing the executive order to determine potential effects on employers.

NRCA urges Congress and the Obama administration to work together to pass immigration reform legislation that meets the needs of employers and workers in the roofing industry as soon as possible."

ARMA and ASTM International develop Product Category Rule

The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) has partnered with ASTM International to develop a Product Category Rule (PCR) for asphalt roofing in North America. The new PCR, "Asphalt Shingles, Built-Up Asphalt Membrane Roofing, and Modified Bituminous Membrane Roofing," will provide consistent methodologies for asphalt roofing manufacturers to measure and report their products' expected environmental effects.

"This PCR is a significant, universal resource for the asphalt roofing industry," says ARMA Executive Vice President Reed Hitchcock. "It provides asphalt roofing manufacturers with a way to collect, measure and communicate data pertaining to expected product environmental impacts through an Environmental Product Declaration [EPD] and will give consumers and industry professionals new insight into asphalt roofing materials. Developing these guidelines helps further ARMA's commitment to transparency and environmental sustainability."

PCRs provide guidelines for the development of EPDs for a specific product group. PCRs streamline the process through which products are measured and their environmental effects communicated, creating globally consistent documentation. Asphalt roofing manufacturers can use the PCR guidelines to review their products and develop an EPD that reports the expected environmental performance of a product based on its expected life cycle.

To view the PCR, visit www.astm.org/certification.

NRCA and union issue joint safety alert

NRCA and the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers have released a joint Safety Alert to increase awareness among roofing workers of possible radio frequency (RF) hazards. Rooftop telecommunications transmitters that emit RF radiation can pose serious and potentially immediate risks to roofing workers.

According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the potential harm that can come from exposure to RF energy can vary according to power level, length of exposure and distance from the source. Sources of RF energy on rooftops are not always obvious and usually are improperly marked or defined. In some cases, RF energy-emitting antennae or transmitters are hidden for aesthetic reasons with building elements that can obscure their presence but not reduce the risk of harm.

The FCC notes high levels of RF energy may heat tissue and increase body temperature. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health states the thermal effects may produce "potentially damaging" changes to cell tissue. Additionally, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine reports studies indicate exposure to RF energy also may produce nervous system and immune system dysfunction, cancer, kidney damage and neurological effects.

To view the Safety Alert, visit www.nrca.net/1114-Safety-Alert.