NRCA Resources

A note from NRCA's president

In my first note to you as NRCA president, I would like to thank you for this wonderful opportunity to help our association. I pledge to you, NRCA members and those who should and need to become NRCA members but don't know it yet, that I will work for your interests.

We are in trying times—an era unlike anything I have seen during my 32-year roofing and business career. We have gone through ups and downs in economic and business cycles before, but the ride this time is different. I am not telling you something new; each of you knows this because you are living it, as well.

In my humble opinion, one of the differences this time is the financial arena is being affected more than ever by global events. The reality is our markets, which include goods, services and finances, are affected by markets and economies around the world over which we have little control. Also, the U.S. has entered an era of more government intrusion into our businesses and personal lives. Unfortunately, the intrusion is not "potential" anymore; it is becoming reality. Tax rate increases are set for next year; additional taxes are being proposed, such as a value-added tax; and new health care regulations and mandates are now law. Occupational Safety and Health Administration activity is increasing. Financial reform legislation is here, which affects how we borrow money for business and personal use, as well as how we use our credit cards.

I'm afraid the politicians in Washington, D.C., are not done yet. On their plate are such issues as cap and trade (or cap and tax, as I call it), card check legislation, more new taxes that are disguised as fees, campaign finance reform, comprehensive immigration reform and who knows what other issues.

The purpose of mentioning these issues in my first note to you is to let you know NRCA also is aware of these issues. NRCA's Government Relations Committee, along with Duane Musser, NRCA's vice president of government relations; Bethany Field, NRCA's manager of public affairs; and Craig Brightup, chief executive officer of The Brightup Group LLC, Washington, D.C., are keeping up with these issues and speaking on your behalf. NRCA members received and will continue to receive information regarding what is happening in Washington, D.C. That is one of the many values of being an NRCA member.

However, this is where NRCA and I are asking for your help and guidance. We need to hear from you, and we need you to make your voices heard on the issues at hand with your local, state and national representatives. NRCA will continue to send information to its members and issue Action Alerts asking for your response, but we want to know more about what you think and need. Let us know the good and not-so-good news, as well as your thoughts about what is happening in our country and industry.

A new e-mail address has been set up for you to send me your thoughts, stories and beliefs regarding how NRCA can assist you with the critical aspects of your business.

You can e-mail me at president@nrca.net. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas.

T. Allen Lancaster

Make ROOFPAC contributions online

ROOFPAC, NRCA's political action committee, now is accepting contributions through NRCA's website, www.nrca.net.

ROOFPAC previously was able to accept cash, personal checks and personal credit cards only via mail; a new Web-based feature allows NRCA members to contribute online.

"Almost everyone uses the Internet to pay bills, bank and shop—it just makes sense for ROOFPAC to offer an online component," says Michael Johannes, chairman of NRCA's PAC Advisory Committee and president of Nations Roof LLC, Yonkers, N.Y. "ROOFPAC is an essential part of getting our voice heard in Washington, D.C., and we want to make contributing as easy as possible for NRCA members."

To contribute to ROOFPAC, log on to NRCA's website and use your member name and password to enter the Members Only section. Click on Government Advocacy, and follow the ROOFPAC link. Fill in the required information, including your contribution amount (personal credit cards only), and click "submit."

"ROOFPAC is working to encourage NRCA members to become more involved with NRCA's efforts on Capitol Hill," Johannes says. "This is just the first step. ROOFPAC encourages engagement at all levels—from small donations to participating in ROOFPAC events—and it will be done through a variety of media, from online contributions to member-to-member calls. We know how tough business has been, but every donation is important, and we want to make it as easy as possible by bringing ROOFPAC to members' computers."

For more information about ROOFPAC or contributing, contact Bethany Field, NRCA's manager of public affairs, at (800) 338-5765 or bfield@nrca.net.

NRCA updates handbook

NRCA has released Business Fundamentals for Roofing Contractors, an updated version of its Building Blocks for a Better Business that focuses on the major issues involved with operating a successful roofing contracting business.

Business Fundamentals for Roofing Contractors addresses business structure, contracts, risk management, insurance and bonds, marketing essentials, financial management, employee relations and government regulations. The publication is $40 for NRCA members and $80 for nonmembers.

For more information or to purchase the publication, visit shop.nrca.net or contact NRCA's Customer Service Department at (866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net.

NRLRC releases guides

The National Roofing Legal Resource Center (NRLRC) has released Comprehensive Guide to Wage and Hour Regulations Affecting Roofing Contractors, which addresses regulations governing minimum wage and overtime pay requirements, including a discussion about how to calculate the regular rate of pay. The publication also discusses Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) regulations that determine rules for travel time pay. FLSA's record-keeping requirements also are addressed.

In addition, NRLRC has released A Roofing Contractor's Guide to Construction Contracts, which provides roofing contractors with more effective ways to manage risk and reduce claims by addressing how to identify and understand contracts' critical clauses before signing. The guide also discusses rules for contract interpretation, payment terms and scheduling costs, as well as dispute resolution, mediation and arbitration versus litigation if roofing contractors become involved with contract disputes.

Each guide is $125 for NRCA members and $250 for nonmembers; NRLRC members receive the guides as a membership benefit.

For more information or to purchase the publications, visit shop.nrca.net or contact NRCA's Customer Service Department at (866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net.

NRCA offers guide to roof-mounted PV systems

NRCA has introduced its Building Owners Guide to Roof-mounted Photovoltaic Systems. Designed to assist building owners and their representatives who want to install roof-mounted photovoltaic (PV) systems on their properties, the guide provides explanations of why PV systems are used, methods to acquire PV systems, available types and technologies of PV panels, and important roof system considerations. The guide also explains why it is necessary to hire professional roofing contractors to perform rooftop PV work and some basic information about safety, insurance, financial models, rebates and incentives.

Building Owners Guide to Roof-mounted Photovoltaic Systems is best used with The NRCA Roofing Manual and NRCA's Guidelines for Roof-mounted Photovoltaic System Installations. The guide stresses that to properly construct and maintain a roof-mounted PV system, care is needed in the design, manufacture and installation of the roof assembly and roof-mounted PV system to ensure all components work together to create a roof assembly that not only produces electricity but also is weatherproof and reliable.

For more information or to order the guide, contact NRCA's Customer Service Department at (866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or visit shop.nrca.net.

Roof Wind Designer has been updated

NRCA has updated its online wind-load calculator, Roof Wind Designer. Available at www.roofwinddesigner.com, Roof Wind Designer is a Web-based application intended to provide roofing professionals with an easy way to determine roof systems' design wind loads for many commonly encountered building types subject to building code compliance. Roof Wind Designer is based on ASCE 7-05, "Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures," a widely recognized consensus standard method for determining design wind loads on buildings and other structures.

Roof Wind Designer previously was limited to low-slope roof systems with slopes equal to or less than 1 1/2:12 (2.4 degrees); the application has been updated to include buildings' roofs with slopes up to 12:12 (45 degrees) and hip roofs with slopes up to 6:12 (27 degrees). In addition, safety factors addressing steel and aluminum metal panel roof systems have been incorporated.

For more information about Roof Wind Designer, contact Joan Crowe, AIA, NRCA's director of technical services, at (800) 323-9545, ext. 7576 or jcrowe@nrca.net.