New Ideas

System features 30-year warranty

Firestone Building Products has made available its Firestone RubberGard Platinum® roof system, which features a 30-year warranty. The roof system consists of Firestone HailGard® composite insulation, Firestone IsoGard® underlayment and a 90-mil-thick EPDM membrane. The system is seamed with the Firestone QuickSeam® Tape System. The membrane is said to withstand 19 pounds of force, natural weathering and occasional foot traffic. The warranty protects against incidental punctures, 100-mph winds and hail up to 2 inches in diameter.

In addition, the company has released its Firestone QuickRoller that workers can use to install 3-, 6- and 7-inch Firestone QuickSeam® splices while standing. The 23-pound product is said to require less user pressure while rolling seams and features a 42-inch steel handle that is attached to a rubber-sleeved steel roller. QuickRoller reportedly does not require battens, seam plates or other products.

The company also made available its 3- and 4-inch drain inserts that feature an aluminum drain assembly and red strainer. The inserts use an EPDM sealing device to reportedly form a watertight seal as water pressure increases. The products can be used with the company's EPDM, thermoplastic and asphalt-based roof systems.

Standard explains the metric system

ASTM International has released IEEE/ASTM SI-10-2002, "Standard for the Use of the International System of Units (SI): The Modern Metric System." The standard helps users understand and apply the metric system in terms of mass, force, weight, temperature, pressure, angle, inertia and kinetic energy. IEEE/ASTM SI-10-2002 contains information about unit classes, prefixes, conversion factors, rounding, system development and other topics.

Anchor points are reusable

Miller® has released its Miller® Grip™ Anchorage Connectors, portable, reusable anchor points for fall-protection and nonfall-protection applications.

The fall-protection anchor points are sold with a temporary horizontal lifeline kit that can protect up to two workers from falling. The nonfall-protection anchor points, which feature a 1,000-pound maximum safe working load and 2,000-pound maximum workload, can be used to anchor scaffolding to structures and in material-handling and demolition functions.

Insulation protects roof systems

Atlas Roofing Corp. has made available its ACFoam® Composite/GB roof insulation that protects roof systems from foot traffic. The insulation is made of closed-cell polyisocyanurate foam that is bonded to a 1/4-inch-thick glass-mat gypsum board and fiber-reinforced felt facer. The product, which is chlorofluorocarbon- and hydrochlorofluorocarbon-free, is available in 4-square-foot and 4- by 8-foot panels.

2003 international codes are available

The International Code Council (ICC) has released its ICC International Codes that have been adopted in several code jurisdictions. The 14 codes include the International Existing Building Code, International Building Code, International Residential Code, ICC Performance Code for Buildings and Facilities, International Property Maintenance Code and International Energy Conservation Code.

Shingles feature three layers

TAMKO® Roofing Products Inc. has made available its Heritage® Declaration™ shingles that feature three layers for reported durability. The shingles include a self-sealing asphalt strip for wind resistance and 10-year Algae Relief limited warranty. The products are available in several colors, including weathered wood, harvest gold, slate-tone gray, olde English pewter and thunderstorm gray.

Spikes can deter birds

Bird-B-Gone Inc. has released Bird Spike 2000 to deter birds from roosting and nesting on ledges, parapet walls and other roof areas. The nonconductive spikes are made of ultraviolet-resistant polycarbonate and reportedly are not affected by extreme temperatures. The spikes are available in several colors.

Nailer is designed for shingles

Paslode has released its Roofer's Choice Roofing Coil Nailer—Model R175-C—for use with asphalt and fiberglass shingles. The 6-pound nailer features a carbide tip, hardened steel driver blade and housing-wear plates. The product, which is said to drive up to eight 7/8- to 1 3/4-inch-long fasteners per second, includes an adjustable shingle guide that is said to properly align shingles during installation.

Tape measure has magnetic tip

Klenk® Industries Inc. has made available its Magnetic-tip Tape Measure to help users measure lengthy objects. The 25-foot-long tape's tip attaches to metal surfaces, and its blade is acrylic-coated for reported durability. Measurements are printed in 1/8-inch fractions.

System retrofits metal roof systems

Duro-Last® Roofing Inc. has made available its Duro-Shield™ metal retrofit roof system. Once insulation is applied on an existing metal roof system, the product—a prefabricated PVC membrane—is mechanically fastened to the roof deck over the insulation. Flashings are heat-welded to the membrane. The system does not require heavy equipment or chemicals during installation and is available in white, tan and gray.

Roof curb offers options

Roof Products Inc. has made available its isolation roof curb that features several options, including seismic calculations, wood nailers, duct supports, pitched configurations and others. The curb includes 1- to 3-inch deflection isolations and external spring access for field adjustment. The product is said to have a maximum wind load of 120 mph.

Service reports hail locations

Weather Decision Technologies Inc. has released its HailExpress™ e-mail service that reports hail paths and size estimates for users' specific regions. The daily report provides information from the previous 24-hour period and produces regional and city color maps in PDF form with a zoom feature for closer inspection. The service uses National Weather Service, NEXRAD Doppler Radar Data and hail data technologies.

Self-adhered products available

CertainTeed Corp. has released several products as part of its new Flintlastic™ SA self-adhering SBS-modified bitumen roof systems. New products include Flintlastic SA Cap, Flintlastic SA Base and Flintlastic SA Mid Ply, which can be used in new construction and reroofing applications.

In addition, the company has introduced FlintBoard™ polyisocyanurate and expanded polystyrene roof insulation boards, which are available as standard panels, tapered insulation and composite boards; FlintPrime™ SA water-based primer, which can be used with self-adhered membranes; FlintBond™ SBS Modified Bitumen Adhesive, which is available in brush, trowel and caulk varieties; FlintFlash™ SA precut flashing rolls; FlintCoat™ emulsion; FlintCoat™ fibered and nonfibered aluminum roof coatings; and FlintCoat™ ENERGY STAR®-rated aluminum and elastomeric white roof coatings.

In addition, the company has introduced its Color Companion Products,™ which have been designed to help contractors, specifiers and building owners color coordinate low- and steep-slope roof areas. The company's Flintlastic® Modified Bitumen product lines now are said to complement all shingle colors within CertainTeed's steep-slope lines.

To help contractors improve their businesses, CertainTeed is offering Secrets to Success, an audio program that is available on cassette and compact disc. The program teaches contractors how to attain leads without advertising, distinguish themselves from their competition, train employees and write job proposals. The program also gives an overview of the company's Master Shingle Applicator Manual.

For steep-slope contractors, CertainTeed has released its Patriot™ AR three-tab shingles, which weigh 235 pounds per square. The algae-resistant products, available in nine colors, reportedly are more durable than standard three-tab shingles. The company also released SBS-modified bitumen high- and medium-profile hip and ridge accessories—ElevationRidge™ and ContourRidge,™ respectively. ElevationRidge is available in 8- and 10-inch widths, and ContourRidge is available in a 12-inch width. Both accessories feature 8-inch exposures.

The company's new WinterGuard™ HT waterproofing shingle underlayment features a higher tack for use under shingle, metal and tile roof systems. The underlayment is available in 3- by 97 1/2-foot and 3- by 195-foot rolls.

Steep-slope products are rustic

MonierLifetile LLC has made available its Barcelona roof tiles that are designed to resemble Old World Spanish roof systems. The one-piece S tiles feature center shadow lines, and cap tiles can be installed as decorative tiles.

In addition, the company released its English Thatch product, which resembles wood shakes. The product features a textured nose and can be staggered during installation.

Report discusses structural features

The American Society of Civil Engineers has released The Pentagon Building Performance Report, which explains the Pentagon's structural performance during and after the Sept. 11, 2001, attack. The report illustrates how the Pentagon's continuity, redundancy and energy-absorbing capacity helped it withstand the attack and how those features can be incorporated into building designs to prevent collapses.

In addition, the organization has revised SEI/ASCE 7-02, "Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures." Revisions have been made to several sections, including wind loads, load combinations, atmospheric ice loads and others. The standard provides minimum load requirements for buildings and structures that are subject to building codes.