New Ideas

Vapor barrier provides stability

Carlisle SynTec Systems has updated its 725TR Air & Vapor Barrier/Temporary Roof.

The updated product features a woven polypropylene facer film that replaces the white summer-grade and black winter-grade films. The new woven film is gray and can be applied in warm and cold temperatures. It also reportedly provides increased dimensional stability, which is said to reduce the chances of wrinkles developing when used as a temporary roof system.

The 725TR Air & Vapor Barrier/Temporary Roof also features a nonskid surface said to be ideal for bonding subsequent layers. It can be used as a temporary roof system for up to 120 days.

Website: www.carlislesyntec.com
Telephone: (800) 479-6832

Mobile application helps manage projects

Joist has introduced its Contractor Estimating and Invoicing Tool available online and for the iPhone and iPad. Users can build on-site estimates for clients, email invoices, record payments and manage projects from any location. The app reportedly allows contractors to reduce accounting and bookkeeping costs and have more insight into their projects' profitability.

Website: www.joistapp.com
Telephone: (800) 976-9261

Roof membrane added to product line

Firestone Building Products Co. LLC has introduced its UltraPly TPO XR 135 to complement its full line of fleece-backed UltraPly TPO roof membranes and accessories.

UltraPly TPO XR 135 is a flexible, 80-mil-thick TPO roof membrane produced with a polyester weft-inserted reinforcement and an 8-ounce polyester fleece backing. The membrane is chlorine-free with nonhalogenated flame retardants, and it provides a low-volatile organic compound, low-odor application when adhered with XR Stick™ Adhesive or I.S.O.Spray™ S Adhesive. UltraPly TPO XR 135 is available in a 10-foot-wide by 50-foot-long roll.

Website: www.firestonebpco.com
Telephone: (800) 428-4442

Software designs lumber roof systems

Georgia-Pacific Wood Products and Calculated Structured Designs Inc. have introduced FASTSuite,® an engineered lumber software application that designs roof and floor systems for residential and commercial construction.

Using Calculated Structured Designs' iStruct™ platform, FASTSuite consists of FASTPlan® design layout software, FASTBeam® beam-sizing software and FASTOpt® material optimization software. The program uses an intuitive drawing interface with simple input methods to create faster designs.

The software can calculate load distribution throughout a structure, including stick-framed and trussed roof systems. It features 3-D modeling that allows a user to observe while drawing, live chats for training and support, auto placement of photorealistic bearing details, customizable user options and a project management module to keep files, take-offs and quotes organized. Designs feature Georgia-Pacific engineered lumber products, as well as dimensional lumber and metal connectors.

Website: www.gp.com/build/EngLum-software
Telephone: (877) 437-9759

Towels clean hands and tools

Henry Co. has introduced Henry Scrubbers™ for hand and tool cleaning. The pre-moistened towels are said to be safe on skin and can be used for cleaning asphalt or tar-based mastics, adhesives, coatings and sealants.

Henry Scrubbers can be used to clean hands, tools, equipment, boots, workspaces and other surfaces that get dirty during construction and repair projects. The towels contain a water-based, nontoxic formula, and they are solvent- and volatile organic compound-free and low-odor. They measure 7 by 10 inches, and each container comes with 40 towels.

Website: www.henry.com
Telephone: (800) 486-1278

Shingles available in multiple colors

CertainTeed Corp. has introduced Patriot,™ an asphalt roofing shingle that reportedly is easy to install.

Patriot is available in a six-color palette that includes shadow black, weathered wood, driftwood, colonial slate, graystone and prairie wood. The shingles are 13 1/4 inches by 39 3/8 inches with 5 5/8-inch exposures and can be used for residential and commercial applications.

Patriot shingles currently are available in Ontario, Canada, and the U.S. lake central region, which includes Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, western New York, western Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Website: www.certainteed.com
Telephone (800) 233-8990

Wind-uplift products are introduced

APEC-LLC has introduced the Quad-Pod, which helps determine whether shingles have been lifted by wind, and Spydr Dome, an uplift dome for testing low-slope roof system adherence.

The Quad-Pod measures sealant and mechanical fastener strength in addition to the amount of force required to separate a sealant layer. This reportedly allows insurance carriers and policy owners to confirm whether a shingle is damaged and needs to be replaced or whether it can continue to perform as designed by the manufacturer.

The Spydr Dome features removable legs and a foldable membrane, which improves portability. Vacuum battery power is said to eliminate the need for shore power, extension cords and generators, and travel cost reportedly is reduced.

Website: www.apec-llc.com
Telephone: (855) 647-9541

Cover boards are lightweight

GAF has introduced EnergyGuard™ HD and EnergyGuard HD PLUS polyisocyanurate cover boards, which can be used as a protective layer over board stock insulation or to re-cover an existing roof system.

EnergyGuard HD features more than 80 pounds per square inch (psi) and is a 1/2-inch-thick high-density polyisocyanurate cover board that weighs 11 pounds. EnergyGuard HD PLUS features more than 110 psi, and each 4- by 8-foot-thick board weighs 13 pounds.

The boards are said to offer protection from foot traffic, storms and hail, and they are lightweight, which is said to make them easy to install.

Website: www.gaf.com
Telephone: (973) 628-3000

Lifeline system is easy to install

Spider,® a division of SafeWorks LLC, has introduced its redesigned SpiderLine™ Temporary Horizontal Lifeline System, a fall-protection solution for workers on bridges, building construction, rooftops and other elevated surfaces.

SpiderLine reportedly is easy to install and engineered to fit multiple applications at height. It has a maximum length of 300 feet and features a wide clamp that connects to beams up to 36 inches wide with a 3 3/8-inch flange thickness. It also features standard pass-through stanchions that allow a wearer to move without needing to unhook the lanyard. SpiderLine's 12 1/2-degree vertical angle allows an open walkway for workers, and the low-profile chain eliminates trip hazards.

Website: www.spiderstaging.com
Telephone: (877) 774-3370

Roof boards are updated

Georgia-Pacific Gypsum has added new features to its DensDeck® Prime Roof Boards. Enhancements to the front and back facings reportedly provide compatibility and high performance with roof adhesives, including low-rise foam and low-volatile organic compound adhesives.

DensDeck Prime Roof Boards feature strong back mats, providing a strong bond between a roof board and insulation layer when low-rise adhesives are used. The roof board's mat overlaps on the board's backside, providing a clean joint and smoother, more uniform appearance when the membrane is laid over the cover board.

The new mats reportedly make the board easy to cut and handle during the application process and help reduce dust from scoring and cutting.

Website: www.densdeck.com
Telephone: (800) 225-6119

Brim provides sun protection

Ergodyne has added Chill-Its® 6660 Hard Hat Brim with Shade to its heat stress solutions products.

Chill-Its 6660 Hard Hat Brim with Shade fits around the outside of a hard hat, providing ultraviolet protection for the wearer's face and neck. The hat's elastic inner rim provides a universal fit for all hard hat styles and sizes, and it is made of quick-drying 100 percent polyester fabric.

Website: www.ergodyne.com
Telephone: (800) 225-8238