Flashings

Canada and U.S. standards become consistent

The National Building Code of Canada adopted the most recent version of CAN/ULC-S704-11, the Canadian polyisocyanurate standard specification, which references the CAN/ULC-S770-09 test method to determine the long-term thermal resistance (LTTR) of polyisocyanurate foam insulation. The adoption will help bring consistency to the test methods used for measuring LTTR between Canada and the U.S. The U.S. uses ASTM C1289, "Standard Specification for Faced Rigid Cellular Polyisocyanurate Thermal Insulation Board," to predict the LTTR R-values for a variety of polyisocyanurate insulation boards.

"Because our members make and ship products in the United States and Canada, it is critical polyiso insulation be subjected to the same criteria for measuring LTTR in both countries," says Jared Blum, PIMA's president. "Together, these standards provide more data for predicting the long-term thermal performance of polyiso insulation and further enhances the validity of PIMA's QualityMark^CM program."

PIMA's QualityMark program is the only third-party program for certification of polyisocyanurate insulation's thermal value. To participate in the QualityMark program, a Class 1 roof needs to have a design R-value of 5.7 per inch.

To learn more about the Canadian standard specification for polyisocyanurate, visit www.polyiso.org.

OSHA comment period extended

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced the comment period for the proposed rule to improve workplace safety and health through improved tracking of workplace injuries and illnesses has been extended an additional 30 days to March 8. The proposed rule would amend record-keeping regulations for tracking employee injuries and illnesses electronically.

Bill Good, NRCA's executive vice president, released the following statement Jan. 9 about OSHA's record-keeping rule: "NRCA has concerns regarding several items, assertions and potential implications in the new rule. NRCA is troubled that OSHA has not provided sufficient details regarding safeguards for the database required under the regulation to ensure that workers' personal information in records uploaded is secure as required under federal and state privacy laws.

No evidence has been presented by OSHA of its ability to use the information required to be uploaded in an efficient and effective manner to prevent injuries or illnesses, and it appears that the agency has not even considered the implications of unrestricted access to a database by those whose motivations have no connection to worker safety."

Comments may be submitted at www.regulations.gov, the Federal eRulemaking Portal, or by mail or facsimile. To read Good's entire statement, visit www.nrca.net/0114-Statement. For more information about the proposed rule and extended comment period, visit www.osha.gov.

NRCA comments on silica rule

NRCA has provided comments to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regarding its proposal to amend its existing standards for occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica. According to NRCA's comments regarding the rule: "OSHA's proposal is dangerously deficient with respect to the roofing industry's workforce and ignores the unique nature of roofing work."

NRCA does not believe there is enough space in a roofing work environment for the required engineering controls for working with silica proposed by OSHA. When performing roofing work, this would mean vacuuming silica dust during tile cutting and wetting the tiles before and during the cutting operation, presenting tripping and slipping hazards.

According to the proposed rule, respirators also would be required; respirators can impair vision and make breathing more difficult for workers. And in addition to safety harnesses and lifelines present on most roofing jobs, respirators could increase other risks exponentially for roofing workers.

Also, despite OSHA stating "the cost to a firm with fewer than 20 employees would average about $550 a year," NRCA stated in its comments that "the cost is vastly underrated, especially with regard to roofing operations involving the use of gas-powered hand-held masonry saws used to cut roofing tiles."

For these reasons, NRCA urges OSHA to withdraw the current proposed rule and collaborate with the roofing industry to develop effective silica exposure mitigation measures that will suit the roofing industry.

IRS creates YouTube videos for tax season

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has created a series of instructional YouTube videos for taxpayers to help with tax-filing season, which began Jan. 31. The tax-related videos are available in English, Spanish and American Sign Language. Video topics include Do-It-Yourself Free Tax Preparation; Do I Have to File a Tax Return?; How to Get 1040 Forms; Tax Scams; Record Keeping; Changed Your Name After Marriage or Divorce?; and Choosing a Tax Preparer. To view the videos, visit www.youtube.com/irsvideos; www.youtube.com/irsvideosmultilingua; or www.youtube.com/irsvideosasl.

The IRS uses social media to share the latest information about tax changes, initiatives, products and services. The IRS' social media platforms include the IRS2Go mobile app, YouTube, Tumblr, Twitter and Facebook. The social media platforms are used to share public information, not to answer personal tax questions.

In addition to the instructional YouTube videos, the IRS has announced Free File, a free way to file federal tax returns by using brand-name software or online fillable forms, now is available for taxpayers who earn $58,000 or less.

"Free File is just one of the many services available through IRS.gov to help people with their taxes," says John Koskinen, IRS commissioner. "Additional services include Where's My Refund for timely updates on refunds, YouTube videos with quick tax tips and many other ways of getting information."

The fastest way to get a tax refund is by combining e-filing with direct deposit. The IRS expects to issue more than 90 percent of refunds in less than 21 days.

The 14 companies participating in Free File are part of the Free File Alliance, which has partnered with the IRS for 11 years to make commercial products available for free to tax-payers who don't earn high incomes. The products must be accessed through IRS.gov to be eligible for the free offers.

For more information about the tax-related YouTube video series and Free File, visit www.irs.gov.