Technology Today

To provide roofing professionals and building owners with a consensus opinion from roofing industry professionals about aspects of successful, long-term performing roof systems, NRCA is undertaking an initiative to develop and maintain meaningful performance standards for roof systems.

The reasons

Currently in the United States, a relatively large number of roofing-related standards exist. These standards are promulgated by a number of organizations, including ASTM International, American National Standards Institute, FM Global Research and Underwriters Laboratories Inc. A majority of the roofing-related standards these organizations develop address particular test methods and material definitions applicable to specific roofing products.

NRCA actively has taken part in and supported most of the roofing-related efforts of these standards-setting organizations—and intends to continue that participation and support. However, through NRCA's involvement, it has realized the values established in many of these standards are not necessarily based on what is required to achieve satisfactory field performance.

NRCA's roof system performance standards initiative is intended to enhance and build on existing standards by developing and maintaining suitable performance standards that apply to complete roof systems, not just individual products.

How

NRCA intends to develop and maintain its roof system performance standards by using a number of committees consisting of volunteer roofing industry professionals who are recognized for their expertise.

NRCA's Technical Operations Committee (TOC) will serve on behalf of NRCA in a general oversight capacity for the initiative. TOC's primary responsibility will be to ensure adequate NRCA resources are dedicated to its roof system performance standards initiative and work is carried out in a timely manner.

TOC will appoint a Standards Council to administer, develop and maintain NRCA's roof system performance standards. Once it determines the roof system types that need performance standards, the Standards Council will appoint individual Standard Development Groups (SDGs) for each.

An SDG will research and develop a performance standard for a specific roof system type. An SDG also will be responsible for obtaining public comments about its draft standard and successfully resolving those comments to obtain a consensus. Upon reaching a consensus, an SDG will forward its draft performance standard to the Standards Council for final action and publication by NRCA.

Participation

Voting membership of the Standards Council and SDGs will consist of a limited number of knowledgeable roofing professionals representing specific industry sectors, such as manufacturers; contractors; and designers, consultants and building owners. No single interest category is intended to be more than 50 percent of the voting membership on the Standards Council or SDGs.

In addition to those serving on the Standards Council and SDGs, NRCA encourages active involvement from anyone interested in participating. Roofing professionals who are interested in constructively participating in NRCA's roof system standards development process are welcome to attend meetings of the Standards Council and SDGs and provide comments during the public-comment periods.

Getting involved

If you are interested in NRCA's roof system performance standards initiative, I encourage you to participate.

Currently, NRCA is accepting applications for voting members in the Standards Council. Applications and additional information regarding NRCA's roof system performance standards initiative are available by contacting NRCA's Technical Services Section at (800) 323-9545. Applications for initial appointments must be received by NRCA by Oct. 15. Applications for membership in the SDGs will be sought in early 2003.

Mark S. Graham is NRCA's associate executive director of technical services.