roofing florida - april 2015

A Publication of the FRSA ◆ Florida’s Association of Roofing Professionals

April 2015

The 2014 Florida Building Code Fifth Edition, Energy Conservation Code

Drone Technology in the roofing industry

Going Green: Vegetative roofs, Solar and Daylighting

reflections On irE 2015

A Guide to Cool roofs

Assignment of Benefits

Celebrating 60 Years: FrSA Self insurers Fund

P.O. Box 497 • No. 2 Industrial Park Dr. • Morrilton, Arkansas 72110Fax (501) 354-3019 • Phone 800-535-8597 • www.bi-tec.comManufacturer of Advanced Technology Waterproofing Membranes

A white, non-toxic, fire retardant roof coating formulated from water-based, pure acrylic, self-curing latex polymers. IMPER-SOLTM contains

unique "bleed-blocking" polymers that make it ideal for use over asphaltic surfaces. Once cured, IMPER-SOLTM reduces under-roof temperatures, creating a more pleasant interior work environment that's less costly to maintain. IMPER-SOLTM is CRRC® listed and meets Title 24 requirements.

• Fire Retardant - Class A Fire rating• Energy Savings - can reduce roof

temps by 50°-80°F• Reduces Roof Degradation • Environmentally Friendly • Reduces Roof Life-Cycle Costs• Brush, Roller or Spray application

PREMIUM ROOF COATINGIMPER-SOl TM

MAC•300Premium Quality, Fibrated Aluminum Roof Coating

MAC•200Aluminum Reflective Roof Coating

PMA•2000Rubberized, All Weather Flashing Adhesive

PMA•186Polymer Modified Adhesive

Roofing Systems Componentfor Material Characteristicsin Accordance with ASTM D4586-0045P1

Look for other BITEC Coatings and Adhesives:

For display advertising inquiries and all feedback including Letters to the Editor and reprint permission requests (please include your full name, city and state) contact Lisa Pate at:

[email protected] (800) 767-3772 ext. 157RFM, PO Box 4850 Winter Park, FL 32793-4850View media kit at: www.floridaroof.com/roofing-florida-magazine

A Publication of the FRSA ◆ Florida’s Association of Roofing Professionals

FRSA Executive Director, Lisa Pate, CEM ◆ Editor

Any material submitted for publication in ROOFING FLORIDA becomes the property of the publication. Statements of fact and opinion are the responsibility of the author(s) alone and do not imply an opinion or endorsement on the part of the officers or the membership of FRSA. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without permission from the publisher.

www.is.gd/iroofing

On the iPad

Assignment of Benefits6

A Guide to Cool Roofs 7

Going Green: Vegetative Roofs, Solar and Daylighting

10

Celebrating 60 Years: FRSA Self Insurers Fund9


12

Reflections On IRE 20158

Drone Technology in the Roofing Industry

15

Now Available Online at www.floridaroof.com/roofing-florida-magazine

P.O. Box 497 • No. 2 Industrial Park Dr. • Morrilton, Arkansas 72110Fax (501) 354-3019 • Phone 800-535-8597 • www.bi-tec.comManufacturer of Advanced Technology Waterproofing Membranes

A white, non-toxic, fire retardant roof coating formulated from water-based, pure acrylic, self-curing latex polymers. IMPER-SOLTM contains

unique "bleed-blocking" polymers that make it ideal for use over asphaltic surfaces. Once cured, IMPER-SOLTM reduces under-roof temperatures, creating a more pleasant interior work environment that's less costly to maintain. IMPER-SOLTM is CRRC® listed and meets Title 24 requirements.

• Fire Retardant - Class A Fire rating• Energy Savings - can reduce roof

temps by 50°-80°F• Reduces Roof Degradation • Environmentally Friendly • Reduces Roof Life-Cycle Costs• Brush, Roller or Spray application

PREMIUM ROOF COATINGIMPER-SOl TM

MAC•300Premium Quality, Fibrated Aluminum Roof Coating

MAC•200Aluminum Reflective Roof Coating

PMA•2000Rubberized, All Weather Flashing Adhesive

PMA•186Polymer Modified Adhesive

Roofing Systems Componentfor Material Characteristicsin Accordance with ASTM D4586-0045P1

Look for other BITEC Coatings and Adhesives:

ROOFING FLORIDA (VOL. 6, NO. 4), April 2015, (ISSN 0191-4618) is published monthly by FRSA, 7071 University Boulevard, Winter Park, FL 32792. Periodicals Postage paid at Orlando, FL. POSTMASTER: Please send address corrections (form 3579) to ROOFING FLORIDA, PO Box 4850, Winter Park, FL 32793-4850.

New Metal Roofing Product

PREMIUM DESIGN FEATURES INCLUDE:

Panels are available from 4ʹ custom cut to the inch up to 45ʹ

16ʺ width coverage 1ʺ seam heightMinimum roof slope 2/12 pitchHemmed snap lock designAnti-siphon channel side lap designNail fin design with slotted holes for attachment26 and 24 gaugeAvailable panel finish: Acrylic-coated Galvalume

or Premium Kynar PVDF paintWide variety of colors with matched

accessories and trimsInstalls over existing shingles or on solid deckingLEED rated and Energy Star efficientMiami Dade County and Florida Building

Code Compliant

Minimize the effects of cross panel tensioning and oil canning

Create interesting shadow lines across the length of the panel

www.semetals.com

STRIATEDSEM-LOK PANEL

Technical Support 800.SE Specs • 800.737.7327

Trusted Quality. Tested Strength. ®®

Free Take Off Services Available

Three SEM-LOK profiles now available

www.floridaroof.com 5

Burt Logan ◆ President’s Column

Wow! Does time fly. This past week we had our last Board and Committee Meetings for the year at the Mission Inn Resort at Howey-in-the-Hills. As with all of our meetings this year, our attendance was outstanding.

One of our main focuses this year was revising our strategic plan to one of obtain-able goals, and I am very pleased to say that most of our committees are well on their way to com-pleting their tasks with new ideas being intro-duced every meeting. At this meeting we had a

very informative codes presentations from Dr. William Miller, Ph.D. from the Department of Energy, Oak Ridge National Laboratories and Dr. Forrest Masters, Ph.D. from the University of Florida, Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment. We received research updates on where the University of Florida is on fastener corrosion and then from Dr. Miller on his work with sealed attics. Both are big issues for the roofing industry, and we are lucky to have part-nered on these. The Codes and Regulatory Compliance Committee also made a request to the Educational and Research Foundation to see how we can support Dr. Miller’s research. The Board of Directors likewise ap-proved an Energy White Paper on the 2014 Florida Energy Conservation Code, which will go into effect on June 30, 2015. The complete Energy White Paper is available to FRSA members on the “Member Login” section of the website, www.floridaroof.com.

This month also marked an important milestone for FRSA and one of our staff members. Lisa Pate, our Executive Director, celebrated 30 years with FRSA! Lisa started with the Association in the accounting de-partment in 1985, moved on to Director of Convention and Trade Show, and for the past six years has been our Executive Director. We are so lucky to have Lisa with us and leading us into the future.

Just because we are done with Board Meetings for the current fiscal year, does not mean we don’t have a lot of work to do. There will be many subcommittee meet-ings between now and Convention, one being a group made up of members from the Young Professionals Council, the Educational Foundation, the Codes and

Finishing Strong

Regulatory Compliance Committee and the Executive Committee, partnering together to establish our own worker training program. The FRSA Educational Foundation Training Center will be a perfect location to establish such a program, as the Training Center is proving to be a tremendous asset to FRSA and the in-dustry already!

The work that has been done this year by our com-mittees is fantastic and we continue to move FRSA into the future. This is all accomplished by a group of remarkable volunteers and a wonderful staff. With Convention just three months away we will be busy making sure all details are taken care of so we can en-sure another great show! Online registration is now open for exhibitors and attendees; see page 17 for more information.

And finally, congratulations to Bruce Manson, Manson Roofing Inc., Bradenton, on his recent nomi-nation to the Executive Committee. We’re very proud to have you on board and know you’ll do a great job!

At the Howey-in-the-Hills Board of Directors meeting, Lisa Pate, CEM receives a plaque from FRSA President Burt Logan in grateful acknowledgement of 30 years of service to the Association.

New Metal Roofing Product

PREMIUM DESIGN FEATURES INCLUDE:

Panels are available from 4ʹ custom cut to the inch up to 45ʹ

16ʺ width coverage 1ʺ seam heightMinimum roof slope 2/12 pitchHemmed snap lock designAnti-siphon channel side lap designNail fin design with slotted holes for attachment26 and 24 gaugeAvailable panel finish: Acrylic-coated Galvalume

or Premium Kynar PVDF paintWide variety of colors with matched

accessories and trimsInstalls over existing shingles or on solid deckingLEED rated and Energy Star efficientMiami Dade County and Florida Building

Code Compliant

Minimize the effects of cross panel tensioning and oil canning

Create interesting shadow lines across the length of the panel

www.semetals.com

STRIATEDSEM-LOK PANEL

Technical Support 800.SE Specs • 800.737.7327

Trusted Quality. Tested Strength. ®®

Free Take Off Services Available

Three SEM-LOK profiles now available

[email protected]

FRSA President Burt LoganSenior Estimator at CORE Roofing Systems

6 ROOFING Florida April 2015

Cam Fentriss ◆ FRSA Legislative Counsel

A hot topic this legislative session is assignment of benefits or “AOB” which is the term used by those who incorporate this as part of their busi-ness model.

The purpose of AOB is to allow the contractor to step into the shoes of a property owner to negotiate, litigate, settle, and/or collect on a property insurance claim. It’s a great concept and can be a big help to a homeowner who is not equipped to fight a bully insurer. It is also a great way to turn a little inexpensive claim into a really big expensive claim. In fact, according to the statistics, it is beginning to look like AOB is all about really big expen-sive claims.

The use of AOB is growing very quickly and comes mostly from water damage companies. But the practice is spreading into roofing and is often associated with com-panies that, after studying weather records for evidence of hail, grab a hammer and a stack of contracts with AOB provisions and knock on doors up and down one street after another and say (before even getting on the roof) “you have hail damage, and if you have insurance, I can get you a free roof.”

The Legislature is looking at possibly prohibiting the use of an assignment of benefits after there is a loss. Is the problem so bad that we need yet another government mandate? Citizens Property Insurance Company has re-ported the following to Florida’s legislature:

For the years 2007-2010, water damage claims with AOB were less than 1 percent of all claims each year. In 2011, these claims were 2.32 percent, in 2012 they were 8.26 percent, and in 2013, they were 10.93 percent. This is not because we have so much more water or water damage.

In 2014, homeowner claims by cause of loss were:56 percent Water – non weather related

14 percent Water – weather related

2 percent Wind

2 percent Lightning

6 percent Theft

20 percent OtherSeventy five percent of all litigation was for water claims in 2013. By December 2014, water claims made up 91 percent of all new lawsuits with 86 percent of these

having attorney representation from the start (at the time of the first no-tice of loss).

As the legislation moves through the committee hearing process, vari-ous people stand up and express their opposition or support. In this case, most of the testimony is in opposi-tion, and this comes from (greatest to smallest number testifying in opposition):

♦ Water damage companies/contractors

♦ Trial lawyers ♦ Roofing contractors (mostly just two companies)

♦ Actual consumersThe number of water damage companies/contrac-

tors and trial lawyers testifying dramatically outnumbers any of the other categories. These people tell the audi-ence how much they need AOBs to help their customers. That’s absurd – no one needs an AOB to help a customer. You can just help a customer, if you feel that is your call-ing in life.

So what happens if there is an AOB, the contractor does an absolute ton of work, the insurance company will not pay for it all, the trial lawyer loses in court, and there remains an amount due for work performed? Well, in theory the customer still owes for that work, and in real-ity the contractor still has lien rights and may well be able to sue the customer directly for payment. How does that help the customer?

If you look at the structure and progress of this scheme and the language in one of these AOB contracts, it is very obvious that the leaders in this are the trial law-yers. It appears that, after mold claims dried up (no pun intended), they discovered the water damage gold mine and figured out how to use the AOB to back the insur-ance companies into a corner while waving a giant bill for repairs for damage that was never properly inspected or reviewed before work was done. It has worked so well with water damage claims that they are eager to get it all in place for roofing, and they seem to be working it very hard.

It’s as if these are the workers’ comp claimant law-yers who are using things like AOBs to pay their bills while they are waiting for the 2003 workers’ comp re-forms to be tossed out by the highest court so they can get back that exceptionally profitable business representing injured employees who may get $1,000 in benefits while the lawyer collects $20,000 in legal fees. You may laugh, but it is not all that far from a very real and likely scenario.

Assignment of Benefits

Continued on page 19


A cool roof is one that has been designed to reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat than a standard roof. Cool roofs can be made of a highly reflective type of paint, a sheet covering, or highly reflective tiles or shingles. Nearly any type of building can benefit from a cool roof, but consider the climate and other factors before deciding to install one.

Just as wearing light-colored clothing can help keep you cool on a sunny day, cool roofs use solar-reflective surfaces to maintain lower roof tem-peratures. Standard or dark roofs can reach tem-peratures of 150℉ or more in the summer sun. A cool roof under the same con-ditions could stay more than 50℉ cooler.

BENEFITS OF COOL ROOFSA cool roof can benefit a building and its occupants by:

♦ Reducing energy bills by decreasing air conditioning needs

♦ Improving indoor comfort for spaces that are not air conditioned

♦ Decreasing roof temperature, which may extend roof service life.

♦ Beyond the building itself, cool roofs can also benefit the environment, especially when many buildings in a community have them. Cool roofs can:

♦ Reduce local air temperatures (sometimes referred to as the urban heat island effect)

♦ Lower peak electricity demand, which can help prevent power outages

♦ Reduce power plant emissions, including carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, and mercury, by reducing cooling energy use in buildings.

Types of Roofs and How They Can Be Made CoolThere are many types of roof systems available, but the surface exposed to the sun is the one that determines if a roof is cool or not. You can usually make a new or existing roof cool by selecting the appropriate surface.

Cool roof coatings are white or special reflective pigments that reflect sun-light. Coatings are like very thick paints that can protect the roof surface from ultra-violet (UV) light and chemical dam-age, and some offer water protection and restorative features. Products are available for most roof types.

Low Sloped RoofsSingle-ply membranes are pre-fabricated sheets rolled onto the roof and attached with mechanical fasteners, adhered with chemical adhesives, or held in place with ballast

(gravel, stones, or pavers).How they can be made cool: Reformulate or coat

black membranes to make them reflective.Built-up roofs consist of a base sheet, fabric re-

inforcement layers, and (usually) a dark protective surface layer.

How they can be made cool: The surface layer can be made different ways, and each has cool options:

♦ Substitute reflective marble chips or gray slag for dark gravel in a flood coat of asphalt

♦ Use reflective mineral granules or a factory-applied coating rather than a dark coating on a mineral surfaced sheet

♦ Apply a cool coating directly on top of a dark asphaltic emulsion coating

♦ Modified bitumen sheet membranes have one or more layers of plastic or rubber material with reinforcing fabrics, and are surfaced with mineral granules or a smooth finish. These can also be used to surface a built-up roof—known as a “hybrid” roof.

How they can be made cool: Pre-coat with a cool roof coating at the factory.

Spray polyurethane foam roofs are constructed by

A Guide to Cool Roofs By The U.S. Department of Energy


White painted roofs have been popular since ancient times in places like Greece. Similar technology can be easy to adapt to modern homes and other buildings. | Credit: ©iStockphoto/PhotoTalk


Trent Cotney ◆ FRSA Legal Counsel

This year, I was fortunate enough to attend the International Roofing Expo (IRE) in New Orleans, Louisiana, as both a speaker and an exhibitor. I brought two of my attorneys with me, Tray Batcher and Anthony Tilton. During our three day stay at the Expo, we encountered hundreds of roofing contractors, suppliers, manufacturers and others in the industry. I wanted to take the opportunity to briefly write about the importance of attending functions like IRE, Best of Success, and FRSA’s upcoming Convention and Expo.On February 24, 2015, I presented a class on Crisis Management in Construction with a panel of contrac-tors which included: Scott Baxter with Interstate Roofing, Inc., Bruce McCrory with Kiker Corporation, Bob Pringle with Evans Roofing Company, Inc., and Brian Swope, CPRC, with Tampa Roofing Company. Topics discussed at this semi-nar included: employee injuries and fatalities, EEOC and ADA claims, Department of Labor Wage and Hour au-dits, IRS tax issues, ICE audits, and a variety of other topics which impact roofing contractors. In addition to presenting on the legal aspect of various topics, the pan-el provided information on their past experiences and self-help tips, which I believe the audience found useful.

After the seminar, I had the opportunity to speak to several contractors and learned that the same issues affecting Florida roofing contractors are affecting roof-ing contractors all over the United States and beyond. In other words, I heard the same complaints about OSHA, the lack of skilled labor, issues with immigration and the hiring and firing of employees.

Throughout the Expo, we had similar conversa-tions and were introduced to a variety of different ways to address potential problems. For example, to combat hypothermia, a roofing contractor in Alaska created a “hot box” using a covered, modified manlift and heater system. We saw innovative products like Roof Monitor™ which uses technology to provide active monitoring of live loads of water and snow on roofs and alert owners of potential roof failures. We spoke with one roofer in New Mexico who gives each of his laborers camelback water dispensers to prevent heat exhaustion. We also heard about the problems that overseas contractors have with obtaining materials, dealing with local government and enforcing good roofing practices.

Personally, I gained a tremendous amount of use-ful information and insight from the roofing contractors on the practical side of approaching problems and is-sues. To me, this gained insight is the most valuable

Reflections On IRE 2015part of attending things like the FRSA Expo, because it gives you an opportunity to brain-storm with other contractors, understand how they approach problems and learn from their past mistakes.

The beauty of our local af-filiates, FRSA, NRCA and other roofing associations, is that it provides a collective knowledge base that allows roofing con-tractors to obtain the critical information needed to prevent problems and be proactive rath-er than addressing issues as they arise. I encourage all members to attend the FRSA conven-tion this year and bring along a roofer that has never attended,

so that they can see how strong we are as a united group.We look forward to speaking and exhibiting at

FRSA’s Expo and hope to see you all there. –RFM–

Author’s note: The information contained in this ar-ticle is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not in-tended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.

Trent Cotney is Florida Bar Certified in Construction Law, General Counsel and a director of the Florida Roofing & Sheet Metal Contractors Association (FRSA), a director of the West Coast Roofing Contractors Association (WCRCA), and a member of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) and several other FRSA affiliates. For more information, contact the au-thor at 813-579-3278 or go to www.trentcotney.com.

Upcoming Seminars in the FRSA Educational Foundation Training Center

♦ May 1 – 8-Hour Lead Certification (RRP) training ♦ May 13 – 4-Hour Lead Recertification (RRP) training ♦ May 15 & 16 – OSHA 10-Hour Training for Construction – SIF members receive one free registration

♦ May 20 & 21 – Asbestos Training – Competent Person and Onsite Roofing Supervisor

Call Meghan at 800-767-3772 ext. 123 for more info


The year was 1955. Only about one half of U.S. house-holds had television sets. The longest playing western in TV history, Gunsmoke would debut on CBS. President Eisenhower would have the U.S. begin providing govern-mental aid to a largely unknown province called South Vietnam. A singer named Elvis was becoming known in the south, and a popular actor named James Dean would lose his life in a car accident. While the Brooklyn Dodgers were preparing to beat the New York Yankees in the World Series (4-3), Walt Disney was opening his risky amusement park way out in Anaheim California, called Disneyland. Rosa Parks would refuse to sit in the back of the bus, and Lee Meriweather would be crowned Miss America. What a year it was! But also for the FRSA.

There were other pioneers in the roofing and sheet metal industry that were also taking on the task of chang-ing history for contractors in Florida. In 1952, FRSA Legislative Committee Chairman Jack Tucker reported to the FRSA Board the concept of “self-handling insur-ance” for workers compensation coverage. The concept was further discussed at the 1954 FRSA annual conven-tion, led by Theodore Keiser. Later in 1954, then FRSA President A.C. Ferguson appointed a special committee to investigate the possibilities of cooperative membership self-insurance. By January 1955, the wheels were rolling, and at the 1955 annual convention in April, it was voted on to create the FRSA Self Insurers Fund for workers’ compensation.

The first Chairman of the Trustees, George D. Ferber, wasted no time in getting the message out to the FRSA Membership about the availability of the Self Insurers Fund. The Fund started doing business on July 1, 1955. The Fund would be controlled by a Board of Trustees composed of members of the Fund, and only members of the FRSA would be eligible for membership in the Fund. The Fund would contract with a service company called Robert F. Coleman Company who would serve as the Fund’s Administrator for the next decade. The Fund started with 10 pioneering members, and would grow to over 100 member companies over the next decade.

The mid-1960’s would bring controversy and a major challenge. The service company and acting Administrator, Robert F. Coleman Company would be accused of mishan-dling and absconding of funds. Its company owner, Laird Legg, would have criminal warrants issued for his arrest and he would flee jurisdiction. Legg had improperly taken money and had created a sham reinsurance organization that he solely owned. The Fund was in an apparent deficit of over $450,000. The Trustees, led by George Ferber and Bill Condermann would decide: “It is our decision. Shall we lash together our raft which has been torn apart, climb

aboard and pole together, or shall we flounder and many of us drown while trying to make our way to shore?”

Through strong leadership and membership com-mitment, the Fund would survive and would hire a new servicing agent, Marsh & McLennan, and would hire new Co-Administrators in Winter Park Attorney Fennimore Cooper, Jr., and the Association’s executive secretary, C.C. “Doc” Dockery. The Marsh & McLennan employee that would lead the Fund’s turnaround along with Cooper and Dockery was W.R. “Bill” Dorminy. Within two years, the Fund was back to returning dividends to its member-ship. Legg would later surrender to Orlando police, and would spend five years in Raiford Prison.

The 1970’s would bring Watergate, disco, high infla-tion, the oil embargo, and deterioration in the workers’ compensation law that would drive up rates dramatically. The Fund would grow to a high of almost 400 members, but would also be subject to lean years and heavy com-petition. In 1977, C.C. Dockery, the Administrator for the prior 10 years would decide to pursue other business in-terests. A long-term employee of the NRCA, Bruce Martin, would replace him as Administrator. Bill Dorminy would also move on to pursue his own business interests.

The Fund would continue to represent the indus-try well during the 1980’s. Group Self Insurance Funds would become the largest providers of workers’ compen-sation in Florida, as carriers were exiting the market. The FRSA Association and the Fund would go through a major restructuring, allowing each organization to stand alone from each other for financial clarity. The Trustees of the Fund would decide that a change would be needed to take the Fund in a new direction, and Tom Drake was hired in 1989 as Administrator. Drake and the Trustees would lead the Fund through year 2000 and into the next millennium. This writer would then take over for Drake as Administrator, and would continue to work with the Trustees in directing the future of the Fund to the success we enjoy today.

In the new millennium the Fund moved towards its most profitable years ever, returning dividends that aver-aged over 30 percent of premium. The Fund would also be instrumental in leading needed Legislative change for the Workers’ Compensation industry in 2003 that would save members countless millions of dollars through rate stabi-lization and rate reductions of over 60 percent that would hold at these historic levels for the past 12 years. The Fund’s success would happen during a time of Florida’s historic reconstruction from numerous hurricanes, to the economy then suffering the prolonged worst recession since the Great Depression.

Celebrating 60 Years: FRSA Self Insurers FundBy Brett Stiegel, FRSA-SIF Administrator



There are many reasons our clients choose to make eco-friendly improvements to their properties; to re-duce costs and to reduce impact on the environment around them are the two main reasons. It is now com-mon knowledge that “green” properties are highly attractive to developers, owners, operators, retailers, municipalities and consumers.

But there are many things to consider when go-ing green. Water systems, electrical systems, interior changes such as indoor air quality, exterior changes such as the roof and changing peoples’ behavior that utilize the property are just a few considerations. Our business focuses on the roof including cool roofs and increased roof insulation, vegetative roofs, solar roofs (both photovoltaic and thermal) and daylighting.

Vegetative Roofs Vegetative roofs, also called green roofs, include the deck, insulation, and membrane layered with soil me-dia and plants. A successful green roof isn’t necessarily about pretty plants. A successful green roof reduces the amount of storm water runoff on paved areas and sur-rounding ponds. It also reduces the urban heat island effect. The plants and soil protect the roof from the sun’s heat, which reduces the amount of air condition-ing required to keep the building cool. Plant selection should be native and adapted plants that can sustain the environment conditions on the roof with minimal maintenance. It should not require watering or pesti-cides or fertilizers to sustain. This is a great option for urban areas where land is in short supply and there are many buildings close together that create heat is-lands. The down side to green roofs is that they must be selected at the beginning of the project because they require more structural support than a typical mem-brane roof. They also require ongoing maintenance and the return on investment is not immediate. With a vegetated roof, the life expectancy of a roof system is approximately doubled due to protection from the harmful ultraviolet rays. This is a considerable savings to a facility capital expenditure.

Solar RoofsSolar roofing refers to two systems, thermal and pho-tovoltaic. A thermal system heats the water within a building. This system has a very quick return on in-vestment because the heated water from the thermal system does not use electricity, rather natural resourc-es. This is a great idea for residential homeowners that require heating for dishwashers, washing machines,

Going Green: Vegetative Roofs, Solar and Daylighting

By Nicole Eisenhardt, Tecta America Southeast, LLC

showering and pools. Commercial buildings may re-quire a larger thermal system installation but the return on investment is still strong.

Photovoltaic (PV) systems are systems installed either on the roof, ground or on car canopies/shade structures. Most PV systems are net metered mean-ing they first offset the building electricity usage, and any excess power generated is fed back to the grid. For-profit business owners are eligible to take a 30 percent Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) on the cost of solar installations and many utilities have re-bates or performance based incentive mechanisms for the owners of solar systems. There are many types of photovoltaic systems such as polycrystalline or thin film modules, lightweight laminate and even building integrated PV systems.

PV return on investment is dependent on a vari-ety of factors including: the customers’ current cost of electricity (i.e. the higher customers’ current util-ity costs, the better the return on PV), site conditions (system size, tilt, shade, and location), available state energy rebates, local utility rebates, and the total price of the system chosen. Tecta has completed PV projects in 16 states, and the payback period typically ranges from 3-10 years. In some markets, solar paybacks are currently less than 5 years even without the presence of any state or utility incentives – primarily because of the rapidly decreasing cost of PV, and the rapid in-crease of utility electricity rates.

DaylightingDaylighting is the use of natural light to illuminate an area and to reduce energy cost by keeping light bulbs off. Interior lighting makes up approximately 33 per-cent of a business’ energy costs so it might make sense for a client to consider a daylighting system – sky-lights or light pipes integrated with an energy efficient lighting retrofit/upgrade. Daylighting systems can cut down on or even eliminate the need for electric lights during daylight hours, saving thousands on energy costs and earning additional LEED points. Return on investment is greatest in buildings such as manufac-turing facilities where they have many shifts operating throughout the day and require 24 hours of lighting to manufacture their products. Structural consider-ations must be made when selecting the appropriate daylighting system.

Florida Businesses Walk the Walk


In the last ten years, Going Green has become an im-portant concept to homeowners, building owners, business owners, politicians, hotels, and municipali-ties, all the way down to our children in school. Reasons to be green are very different across this spectrum of people and there are many ways each group chooses to go green. However, there are basic standards es-tablished by the USGBC (US Green Building Council) to measure and take action to be green. LEED, or Leadership Energy & Environmental Design, is a cer-tification from USGBC that certifies a building has met certain green standards. From new construction to the redesign of buildings, there are credit categories that a building is rated on such as water efficiency, energy usage, location and transportation, indoor air quality, materials and resources, and being a sustainable site.

Some of our Florida clients that have taken a strong stance on green initiatives include Headquarter Honda in Clermont and the Global Retailer Florida Portfolio. In their building designs, they have incor-porated a variety of green solutions that best suit their needs.

Client: Headquarter HondaLocation: Clermont, FLProject Type: PV Solar/Vegetative/Daylighting

Headquarter Honda has both solar PV and vegetative roofing systems. Their PV panels offset over 12 percent of their overall energy cost. They also reduce their ener-gy cost with smart lighting systems that turn off lights in unoccupied rooms, individual temperature controls throughout the building, and using daylighting rather than lights in 75 percent of regularly occupied areas. They built their facility to also conserve and reuse water by capturing rain water and using that for irriga-tion and washing vehicles. Headquarter Honda is the first and only LEED Platinum certified dealership in the country.

Client: Global Retailer Florida Portfolio Location: Orlando, Tampa, Sunrise FLProject Type: SolarInstallation Type: Hybrid Mounted/Ballasted Crystalline Solar PanelsCapacity: 3,136 kWp

In partnership with REC Solar, Tecta America Southeast, LLC supported Global Retailer’s national solar initiative by providing stand-off installations along with roof-related improvements and repairs. Tecta was contracted by REC Solar to carry out the Carlisle SynTec required pre and post construction maintenance, repairs and penetration flashings. Tecta provided the manpower and service to install a total of 832 stand-offs and penetrations needed for the solar

power system. The three Florida stores will total 3,136 kWp of solar generating capacity. The projected an-nual electricity output is 5,000,000 kilowatt hours. The installation of solar power systems is estimated to offset approximately 3,250 tons of carbon dioxide, roughly equivalent to the emissions output of 650 cars.

While we have described impressive and effective building changes that reduce energy, going green also means changing behaviors to be more aware, such as reminding employees to turn off lights and computers when not in use, not watering the grass every day, and not using harmful products that run off into ponds and rivers on our properties. It’s awesome that a building owner installs a thermal system on their roof but if the occupants of the building don’t turn the water off in the bathroom after washing their hands, there is no gain.

I challenge our industry to grow in understanding green initiatives to help our clients reduce their energy consumption, therefore directly impacting their bot-tom line. We don’t need to encourage our customers to spend money on ineffective green products or systems, but partner with them to evaluate their overall energy consumption and how to make changes one step at a


Headquarter Honda in Clermont features both solar photovoltaic and vegetative roofing systems.



By Mark Zehnal, CPRC, FRSA Director of Technical Services

The 2014 Florida Building Code Fifth Edition, Energy Conservation Code (FECC), takes effect on June 30, 2015 and roofing contractors need to familiarize them-selves with the significant changes in the content of this code from the 2010 FECC. Included in the 2014 FECC are separate sections relating to residential and com-mercial energy efficiency and design criteria.

During a recent FRSA Codes and Regulatory Compliance Committee meeting, the 2014 FECC was reviewed in an effort to assist members with language found in the FECC. The committee is providing the following information about the subject matter to be considered carefully with the code sections related to roofing issues.

This information is being provided to the FRSA community for your own use in conjunction with the 2014 Florida Energy Conservation Code Fifth Edition. This document is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a code interpretation. Remember that only the Building Official can interpret the code and if you have any questions or are unclear about your responsibilities regarding energy compliance you should check with the authority that has jurisdiction in your area and/or where roof work is to be installed.

The same methods used to achieve compliance with the 2010 FECC, prescriptive and whole building perfor-mance, are again the paths to energy compliance in the 2014 FECC. Probably the most significant change from the 2010 FECC is the absence of Table 101.4.1 for ex-isting buildings. Additionally, four counties (Collier, Hendry, Lee and Palm Beach) have been reclassified to the Climate Zone 1 designation found in Tables C301.1 and R301.1, along with existing Zone 1 counties Monroe, Dade and Broward. The other 61 counties are designat-ed Climate Zone 2. The roof insulation requirement for residential new construction is R-30 for Climate Zone 1 and R-38 for Climate Zone 2.

– New Construction –

Commercial Prescriptive MethodMinimum thermal resistance requirements of the insu-lating material installed between the roof framing or if continuously on the roof assembly shall be as specified in Table C402.2 (insulation entirely above deck R-20ci minimum). The U-factor alternative can be used for an assembly with a U-factor (U-0.048) equal or less than that specified in Table C402.1.2 and shall be permitted as an alternative to the R-value in Table C402.2

C402.2 Specific insulation requirements (Prescriptive). Opaque assemblies shall comply with Table C402.2. Where two or more layers of continuous insulation board are used in a construction assembly, the continuous insulation boards shall be installed in accordance with Section C303.2. If the continuous insulation board manufacturer’s installation instruc-tions do not address installation of two or more layers, the edge joints between each layer of continuous insu-lation boards shall be staggered.C402.2.1 Roof assembly. The minimum thermal re-sistance (R-value) of the insulating material installed either between the roof framing or continuously on the roof assembly shall be as specified in Table C402.2, based on construction materials used in the roof as-sembly. Skylight curbs shall be insulated to the level of roofs with insulation entirely above deck or R-5, whichever is less.Exceptions:Continuously insulated roof assemblies where the thickness of insulation varies 1 inch (25 mm) or less and where the area-weighted U-factor is equivalent to the same assembly with the R-value specified in Table C402.2.C303.2 Installation. All materials, systems and equipment shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions and the Florida Building Code, Building.

Commercial Performance MethodA requisite to utilize the total building performance method is compliance with section C407.2. Energy compliance is based on total building performance using approved software to demonstrate building com-ponent characteristics of the proposed design as listed in Table C407.5.1(1). With that said, energy modeling trade-offs may allow the minimum R-values found in C407.2.1 (see below). Additionally, when considering a new construction project, always follow the design professionals approved roofing systems specifications in conjunction with Florida Product Approval or NOA. Avoid any deviation from the energy efficiency require-ments of your work without specific approval from your design professional. It may be in your best interest prior to installation to obtain written assurance from the design professional that energy compliance has been attained with the roofing system selected for the project. Ask for technical assistance from the specified materials manufacturer for methods to achieve energy and code compliance. Ask questions.


C407.2 Mandatory requirements. Compliance with this section requires that the criteria of Sections C402.4, C403.2, C404 and C405 be met.C407.2.1 Roof/ceiling thermal envelope. The roof or ceiling which functions as the building’s thermal en-velope shall be insulated to an R-value of at least R-10. Multiple family residential roofs/ceilings shall be insu-lated to an R-value of at least R-19, space permitting. Where cavities beneath a roof deck are ventilated, the ceiling shall be considered the envelope component utilized in the Florida Building Commission approved compliance software tools.

Residential Prescriptive MethodMinimum requirements can ei-ther be computed component values found in Table R402.1.1 for compliant insulation R values or meet the U-factor alternative found in Table R402.1.3.R402.1.1 Insulation and fen-estration criteria. The building thermal envelope shall meet the requirements of Table R402.1.1 based on the climate zone speci-fied in Chapter 3.R402.1.3 U-factor alter-native. An assembly with a U-factor equal to or less than that specified in Table R402.1.3 shall be permitted as an alternative to the R-value in Table R402.1.1.

Residential Performance MethodA requisite to utilize the simulated building performance method in compliance with section R401.2. Demonstrate compliance based on simulated energy perfor-mance using approved software to demonstrate building com-ponent characteristics of the proposed design as listed in Table R405.5.2(1). With that said en-ergy modeling trade-offs may allow the minimum R-values found in R405.2.1 (see below). Additionally, when considering a new construction project, as always, follow the design profes-sionals approved roofing systems specifications in conjunction with Florida Product Approval or NOA. Avoid any deviation from the energy efficiency requirements of your work without specific

approval from your design professional. It may be in your best interest prior to installation to obtain writ-ten assurance from the design professional that energy compliance has been attained with the roofing system selected for the project. Ask for technical assistance from the specified materials manufacturer for methods to achieve energy and code compliance. Ask questions.R401.2 Compliance. Projects shall comply with Sections identified as “mandatory” and with either sec-tions identified as “prescriptive” or the “performance” approach in Section R405.R405.2.1 Ceiling insulation. Ceilings shall have an insulation level of at least R-19, space permitting. For

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the purposes of this code, types of ceiling construction that are considered to have inadequate space to install R-19 include single assembly ceilings of the exposed deck and beam type and concrete deck roofs. Such ceil-ing assemblies shall be insulated to at least a level of R-10.

– Reroofing –

Reroofing is regulated by the Florida Existing Building Code as an Alteration Level 1. Section 707.1 directs you to the FECC for energy conservation compliance. Keep in mind that the term reroofing in the FECC is referred to as a renovation and not alteration. Based on the FECC definition for a renovated building it is clear that if the cost of a building alteration such as a reroof is 30 percent or less than the assessed value of the struc-ture, the building would fall into the Exempt Building category. However, if the cost of the alteration exceeds the 30 percent threshold than the requirements found in C101.4.3 and R101.4.3 would apply. Additionally, there is an exception found in C101.4.3 and R101.4.3 number 6 that only applies if neither the insulation or sheathing are exposed (which would most likely be a roof-over-roof) and the energy use of the building is not increased. On the other hand, when removing the roof covering and exposing the insulation or sheathing, the second sentence in exception number 6 is asking if there is any insulation in the cavity directly below the sheathing. If the answer is yes there is insulation (only asking if there is existing insulation, not how much is there) no need to go any further, the requirements have been met. If there is no existing insulation, the roof in-sulation requirement of the appropriate climate zone is applicable to additions and reroofs which exceed or are part of the work cumulative value, of which equals or exceeds the 30 percent renovation threshold, and then only if pursuing the prescriptive compliance path.

FRSA’s position is that the intent of the code is that the current level of energy efficiency may not be reduced, and that the reroof is ex-empt from further compliance with the FECC if the 30 percent assessed value threshold is not equaled or exceeded. If in this case the in-sulation R-Value is to be increased beyond the existing R-value then please see the Tables for Climate Zones 1 and 2. These tables are avail-able to FRSA members on the “Member Login” section of the website, www.floridaroof.com.

2014 FBC[A] 101.3 Intent. The purpose of this code is to es-tablish the minimum requirements to safeguard the public health, safety and general welfare through structural strength, means of egress facilities, stabil-ity, sanitation, adequate light and ventilation, energy conservation, and safety to life and property from fire and other hazards attributed to the built environment

and to provide safety to fire fighters and emergency responders during emergency operations.

2014 FEBC[B] 401.2 Building materials and systems. Building materials and systems shall comply with the require-ments of this section.[B] 401.2.1 Existing materials. Materials already in use in a building in compliance with requirements or approvals in effect at the time of their erection or installation shall be permitted to remain in use unless determined by the building official to be unsafe.[B] 401.2.2 New and replacement materials. Except as otherwise required or permitted by this code, ma-terials permitted by the applicable code for new construction shall be used. Like materials shall be permitted for repairs and alterations, pro-vided no hazard to life, health or property is created. Hazardous materials shall not be used where the code for new construction would not permit their use in buildings of similar occupancy, purpose and location.

Code ReferencesC101.4.8 and R101.4.8Exempt buildings. Buildings exempt from the provisions of the Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation, include existing buildings except those considered renovated buildings, changes of occu-pancy type, or previously unconditioned buildings to which comfort conditioning is added. Exempt build-ings include those specified in Sections C101.4.8.1 through C101.4.8.4.

C202 and R202 GENERAL DEFINITIONSRENOVATED BUILDING. A residential or nonresi-dential building undergoing alteration that varies or changes insulation, HVAC systems, water heating sys-tems, or exterior envelope conditions, provided the estimated cost of renovation exceeds 30 per-cent of the assessed value of the structure.

C101.4.3 and R101.4.3Additions, alterations, renovations or repairs. Additions, alterations, renovations or repairs to an existing building, building system or portion thereof shall conform to the provisions of this code as they relate to new construction without requiring the un-altered portion(s) of the existing building or building system to comply with this code. Additions, altera-tions, renovations or repairs shall not create an unsafe or hazardous condition or overload existing building systems. An addition shall be deemed to comply with this code if the addition alone complies or if the exist-ing building and addition comply with this code as a single building.

Exception: The following need not comply pro-vided the energy use of the building is not increased:

6. Reroofing for roofs where neither the sheathing nor the insulation is exposed. Roofs without insulation



From deliveries by Amazon drones to nightly news stories of drone col-lisions, as a society we are moving rapidly towards the use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). In roofing, there have been companies in the past who have sold the idea of photograph-ing homes using drones, air balloons and all sorts of devices but the concept has never really been functional, scal-able, sustainable or even legal.

First it’s important to understand the terminology. What is a drone versus an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) versus an unmanned aerial system (UAS)? From a strict defini-tion, a drone is an unmanned aircraft that, while flying, does not have a human in control. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) are those aircraft controlled by an operator on the ground. An Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) is the entire system – aircraft, con-troller, camera systems and software.

It’s pretty exciting to think that someday you might be able to send a drone up to check out a property prior to bidding or even get a first, quick look at roof damage that might be causing issues for the property owner - without ever leaving the office! The possibility for UAS to be used as building inspection tools is very appeal-ing considering the software potentially being able to turn video into CAD files. There is a strong use case for drones in field inspections for warranties, repairs and insurance claims. The time savings alone by utilizing drones could be huge, but the technology needs to be safe and sustainable in order to scale.

Is it legal to use UAS?Currently, the use of UAS in commercial applications is only allowed with an exemption from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (FMRA). So technically, the answer is no, it’s not legal to use in the course of your everyday business.

Remember that drone you bought online and have been flying around the jobs you are working on? You might want to consider grounding it until the FAA regu-lations are worked out – or at least only operate it as a hobbyist (currently allowed) and keep it separate from your business activities.

The FAA is developing the regulatory framework on a five-year roadmap to safely integrate small UAS into routine National Airspace System (NAS) opera-tions. Under this section, the FAA Secretary can decide

whether to grant an exemption if the UAS will not pose a hazard to users of the NAS or pose a threat to the public or national security.

This roadmap is probably not fast enough with the popularity, use and sophistication of UAS significantly increasing at a rapid pace with little compliance or oversight. For example, the manned aircraft industry is subject to standardized design specifications to ensure safe operations whereas the unmanned industry does not have any design or safety standards. This makes it challenging to apply basic FAA guidelines to the civil UAS industry.

Interpretation of regulations and standards needs to be reviewed and addressed by the FAA with the input and support of the commercial user community. It is critical for the FAA to understand the various implications and different uses for each

Drone Technology in the Roofing IndustryBy Karen L. Edwards, Marketing Director at EagleView Technologies

Top: There are many types of UAV on the market. A tricopter UAV is pictured here. Bottom: A researcher from the Property Drone Consortium prepares the UAV for testing.

Karen Edwards


segment and it can only do so by working closely with potential users and understanding the applications.

This is where industry collabo-ration groups, such as the recently formed Property Drone Consortium (PDC) play an important role not only as a conduit to federal govern-mental agencies such as the FAA, but by also investing in research and de-velopment of commercial solutions that meet strict standards for safety, privacy, operations and technology. Chaired by EagleView Technology Corporation CEO and President Chris Barrow, the PDC represents a collaboration among insurance car-riers, construction industry leaders (including the National Roofing Contractors Association) and sup-porting enterprises that have agreed to work together to promote research, development and the establishment of regulations for the use of UAS technology across the construction and insurance industries.

As an independent, third-party technology provid-er and industry innovator in the capture of Pictometry aerial imagery, EagleView has agreed to provide its research and development expertise and patented tech-nologies to the consortium. “With over twenty years of developing aerial solutions that capture property in-formation, EagleView believes it can utilize patented Pictometry image technologies to further the safe, effi-cient and scalable use of drone technology for property inspection and data collection,” stated Barrow. “When we look at the current state of the industry and where we are going, drones are already a major source of dis-cussion. It’s likely that in the not-too-distant future they will also have a place in the back of contractors’ trucks.”

Not all UAS are Created Equal It is more important than ever that a reference platform be established to provide approved standards for hard-ware and software specifications in the manufacture of UAS. There are no current guidelines for their design and construction.

The systems must have ease of use with the ability to fly programmed flight paths. There must be signifi-cant consideration behind safety requirement to ensure that the technology supports collision avoidance and offers the ability to bring the system down for a safe landing in the event of program errors or in low bat-tery situations. Battery life will be an important aspect to the reference platform as it relates to UAVs.

Imagery acquisition is the main purpose for using UAS in commercial applications and not all image ac-quisition systems are sufficient to allow for accurate inspection or property evaluation. Many of you have probably seen hobbyists’ video footage on the intranet

Remember that drone you bought online and have been flying around the jobs you are working on? You might want to consider grounding it until the FAA regulations are worked out – or at least only operate it as a hobbyist (currently allowed) and keep it separate from your business activities.

where the imagery appears to have a fish-eye or distorted effect and flight paths are not smooth, result-ing in unreliable information and images.

For this reason there needs to be minimum camera and lens rec-ommendations established and, in addition, the need for image storage and upload capabilities has to be addressed.

Another concern is security and privacy. While a real threat could exist if the UAV were to be stolen, the everyday security of the data and imagery is just as important. Who will have access to the im-ages or video captured by the UAS? What are the guidelines for secure storage and backup? How will the

images be accessed by those determined to have usage permission? How will personal, identifying informa-tion be protected?

When does this become a reality?So when will we see UAS being used effectively in the roofing industry? At the rate the technology is devel-oping this industry should see some very real solutions developed in 2015. The wild card at this point is being held by the FAA. If they stick to their original roadmap, final standards and regulations should be issued by December 31 of this year.

If you are interested in staying informed on advancements the PDC is making in developing solu-tions for the use of UAS in commercial applications, visit www.propertydrone.org to sign up for the email newsletter.

–RFM–

Karen L. Edwards has been a marketing professional for more than 20 years and has focused the past 12 years on marketing for the construction industry. Since 2010, Edwards has been marketing director at EagleView Technologies, leading corporate mar-keting initiatives for the company’s EagleView and Pictometry brands and services.

Edwards serves as the chair of the Florida Roofing & Sheet Metal Contractor’s Association Public Relations and Marketing Committee. She has been published in many industry publications including Western Roofing, Siding & Insulation Magazine, ROOFING FLORIDA Magazine, Midwest Roofer Magazine, Remediation & Restoration Magazine and Roofing Contractor Magazine. Edwards has a Bachelor of Science degree in communications with a concentra-tion in public relations from Millersville University, Millersville, PA.


FRSA’s claim to fame for the Annual Convention & Expo has always been that the show is the largest regional expo of its kind in the country. For FRSA’s 93rd Annual Convention and the Florida Roofing & Sheet Metal Expo, we’re making sure that the largest regional expo is also the most innovative expo showcasing the latest in event technology.

With the launch of the all-new event registration web-site sponsored by Allied Building Products, Convention and Expo attendees can expect to see FRSA’s latest technological upgrades before they ever step foot on the show floor. Hand-written, paper forms sent via fax and email are a thing of the past. Instead, attendees can visit www.floridaroof.com and select “Register today” to be connected directly to the new site. From there, you can simply log in using an email address, add the events you would like to attend to your virtual shopping cart and check out using a credit card. Need to pay by check? No problem – select the pay by check option on the payment screen and an invoice will automatically be sent to you.

Attendees will find it is easy to register for all events, including sports tournaments, seminars, kids’ programs, ladies’ programs, and even full registrations. For those in-dividuals that wish to attend the Florida Roofing & Sheet Metal Expo only, online registration is still required. As always, the Expo and the Thursday Night Welcome Reception will be free to attend, but you will need a badge to enter the events. To limit wait times onsite, you are strongly encouraged to register online in advance.

After completing your registration, be sure to down-load FRSA’s mobile Convention and Expo app sponsored

by Southeastern Metals Manufacturing Co Inc. The app will offer a complete schedule, exhibitor list, maps and important information right at your fingertips. Attendees will have the opportunity to view an expo floor plan, read seminar descriptions and link directly to FRSA’s social media sites. The app is still under construction, but can be downloaded at www.eventmobi.com/frsa. Additional information will be added to the app as the event approaches.

In the coming months, you’ll notice FRSA’s registra-tion and event app websites highlighted with a URL link and a square-shaped symbol known as a QR code. If you have a smart phone equipped with a camera, QR codes are the quickest way to link directly to a specific website. Newer phone models often have a QR code reader pre-installed. If you don’t find one within your phone’s apps, visit your app store and search for QR code reader. Once you have the reader installed, simply open the app, snap a photo of the QR code you wish to visit, and your phone will go directly to the information stored within the code.

With technology ever-changing, be sure to stay up-to-date on all the latest Convention and Expo information by liking flroof on Facebook and following @FRSAExpo (#FRSAExpo15) on Twitter. While you’re at it, why not stay in touch by using your new QR reader to snap the Facebook and Twitter QR codes at the bottom of this article?

Need help registering or downloading the mo-bile event app? Call 1-800-767-3772 ext. 100 or email [email protected].

FRSA’s Convention & Expo – Leading the WayBy Cheryl Sulock, CMP, FRSA Director of Convention and Trade Show

facebook.com/flroof

twitter.com/flroof

...stay in touch by using your new QR reader to snap the Facebook and Twitter QR codes...

To register for FRSA’s Convention and the Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal

Expo, visit www.floridaroof.com.


In January of 2010 I wrote an article titled “Commercial Roofing Trends, Success in the Essence of Change” for the inaugural issue of FRSA's ROOFING FLORIDA Magazine. I did receive several emails and phone calls that it was well received. When asked to write another article for ROOFING FLORIDA I decided to benchmark off that article and update what has hap-pened in the past five years.

Single Ply – The Price is Definitely Right!(TPO) Thermo Plastic Olefin has gained more market share than I had predicted. In 2010 manufacturers that supply both TPO and modified bitumen reported 70 per-cent modified bitumen sales and 30 percent TPO sales. In 2015, I hear this has done a 360º turn with 70 percent TPO and 30 percent modified bitumen. The difference may be the very economical cost of TPO, which has not changed much in the past five years, or perhaps it’s due to all the additional manufacturing plants that have been built in the past five years to keep up with demand. One manufacturer built six new plants with plans for an addi-tional six more in the near future. Some manufacturers that sell modified bitumen exclusively have added TPO to their product line. Other manufacturers are talking about doing the same thing. TPO is here to stay for a while.

Last time, I talked about TPO and all single ply man-ufactures adding thicker membranes to their lines. 60 mil has become the most common thickness used and comes with a 20-year NDL Material and Labor Warranty and is outselling 45 mil with 90 percent of the market

share. In reference to 80 mil or thicker single ply membranes, the jury is still out. Some minor delamination of these thicker membranes has been observed. The problem with field seams is that roofing crews are used to running the welding machines at a faster rate on 60 mil than the 80 mil+ membrane. The welding machines need to be slowed down to accommodate fusing the thick-er membranes properly. This has been a learning curve for roofing crews. These thicker membranes have not taken off as originally anticipated, however, they are definitely recommended in IRMA Roof designs where concrete topping slabs, pavers or tile are being installed

over the finished roof. Per manufacturers recommen-dations these systems should have 24 to 48 hour water tests performed prior to the overburden being installed.

Foam Adhesive – This Stuff Sticks Real Good!Adhering roofing insulation and cover boards are set/adhered in foam more than hot asphalt. This procedure continues to grow more in popularity every year. Roofing crews are becoming more efficient in installation of size of beads, spacing of beads and coverages. Please note compound pressure of the boards to the substrate is re-quired. Rolls of roofing and five gallon pails already on the roof typically can work as ballast. One manufacturer in 2010 was installing their membrane in foam. Now, several have systems where their fleece-back membranes are installed in foam adhesive. The newest installation technique is the “Spatter Application,” where a special tip is used that spatters the foam adhesive in lieu of the traditional bead application.

Commercial Roofing Trends – Success is Keeping Up with Technology & Change

By Danny Stokes, Advanced Roofing, Inc.

Jim Brauner407-403-3959

[email protected]

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Danny Stokes


Foam continues to dominate the clay and concrete tile market. Hurricanes 10 years ago proved they can stand the test of high winds. Testing is being conducted on foam for use as an insulation adhesive over metal decks, lightweight concrete, gypsum and tectum. Some systems of this nature are already approved. Foam as an adhesive for insulation and roofing is the way of the future and will continue to grow. I have heard some pre-liminary testing is being performed in connection with modified bitumen membranes.

Hot Asphalt / Torch AppliedTorch continues to have a 70 to 80 percent market share over hot mopping in asphalt, due to continued cost in-creases in mopping asphalt, as well as the advantages of applying the asphalt at the factory. Applying the asphalt to the roll in ambient conditions make it the choice of most consultants and roofing contractors. Hot is not going away yet, however torch applied is the way of the future.

Coal tar pitch is back with two manufactures selling the product and writing warranties again. This is a small niche market; however, coal tar pitch is one of the oldest and best roofs out there. We recently bid on a 200,000 square foot facility with a 62 year old coal tar roof still in service.

Resins / PMMA’sWell now here is the latest technology in roofing. These are Fluid Applied Systems installed with a fiberglass or polyester mat introduced in to the PMMA. An addition-al layer of PMMA is squeezed or sprayed over the mat/fleece to complete the systems. These systems are typi-cally used as Plaza Decks where overburden is installed on top of them. They are breaking into the parking ga-rage and conventional type roof markets as well. These systems are very expensive, however a PC used to cost $2,000 and now you can get a nice laptop for $500 or less. I think the same will happen with resin and PMMA’s as supply and demand for the product drives the cost down. These systems have some of the highest and best technology put into them and are definitely the way of the future in roofing.

Pitch pockets, cylinder flashings, pipe wraps and boots are all becoming obsolete. The same Resin/PMMA are being used for penetrations in lieu of the standard

details. Advantages are many; most manufacturers warrant these products and include them in their guar-antees. Another technique is eliminating two-ply base flashings on modified bitumen roofs by substituting them for Resin/PMMA and matt. As the crews become more efficient with this, the labor savings can overcome the cost of the PMMA materials. Note, this membrane base flashing is self-flashing, typically the manufacturer does not require termination bar and counterflashing. Check with your local Codes or your Consultant as they still may require them.

Solar, Reflective Roof RebatesSolar roof top and ground mount installations are still growing at 10-20 percent every year in revenue. A 30 percent tax credit from the Federal Government and tax deduction on depreciation are helping this business to grow. Florida Power and Light (FPL) announced that this years $50,000 to $100,000 dollar rebates might be the last rebates for years to come. This is a result of Florida legislation placing solar rebates on hold and the FPL $.45 square foot reflective roof rebate program is about to end as well. FPL has gotten an approval and is starting a new program called “Community Solar,” and has committed to 3-75 Megawatt sites; locations are still to be determined. FPL has intentions of spending these funds on updating their Nuclear Power Plants, building more Natural Gas Plants and updating all their Power Plants with the latest technologies.

In closing, I believe that if you want to be a success-ful roofing contractor in 2015 as I stated in 2010, you will need to embrace change and move forward with it. Unbelievably, during the majority of my roofing career I’ve used a lot of hot asphalt, thought it was a great roof and still do. However, the success of our company in-creased when we started embracing new technologies. I love working with renewable energy products, it’s some-thing new that I had to go out and learn about and it put some excitement back into my work life. I encourage you to do the same and to enjoy the changes, not resist them.

–RFM–

Continued from page 6

So why would we want to support this lawyer liveli-hood? We would not. It seems to make a good amount of money for lawyers, make some good money for a very small number of questionable contractors, and make for a whopping increase in property insurance rates, and that affects us all.

If you have any good information about this, please do share. I can be reached at [email protected].

–RFM–

Anna Cam Fentriss is an attorney licensed in Florida since 1988 representing clients with legislative and state agency interests. Cam has represented FRSA since 1993, is an Honorary Member of FRSA, recipient of the FRSA President’s Award in 2002 and received the Campanella Award in 2010. She is a member of the Florida Building Commission Special Occupancy Technical Advisory Committee, President of Building A Safer Florida Inc. and past Construction Coalition Chair (1995-1997).


mixing two liquid chemicals together that react and ex-pand to form one solid piece that adheres to the roof. Foams are highly susceptible to mechanical, moisture, and UV damage, and rely on a protective coating.

How they can be made cool: The protective coat-ings are usually already reflective, and offer cool roof performance.

Steep Sloped RoofsShingle roofs consist of overlapping panels made from a variety of materials such as fiberglass asphalt, wood, polymers, or metals.

How they can be made cool: Buy cool asphalt shingles, which use specially coated granules that pro-vide better solar reflectance. (Coating existing asphalt shingles to make them cool, however, is not normally recommended or approved by shingle manufacturers.) Other roof shingles can be coated at the factory or in the field to make them more reflective.

Tile roofs can be made of clay, slate, or concrete. Tiles can be glazed to provide waterproofing or coated to provide customized colors and surface properties.

How they can be made cool: Some are naturally reflective enough to achieve cool roof standards, and surface treatments can transform tiles with low solar reflectance into cool roof tiles.

Low and Steep Sloped RoofsMetal roofs are available with natural metallic finishes, oven-baked paint finishes, or granular coated surfaces.

How they can be made cool: Unpainted metals are typically good solar reflectors but poor thermal emitters, so they rarely satisfy low slope cool roof re-quirements. Painting a metal roof can increase its solar reflectance and thermal emittance, allowing it to achieve cool roof status. Alternatively, you can apply cool reflective coatings.

Deciding Whether to Install a Cool RoofWhen deciding whether to install a cool roof, you’ll

need to determine whether the cost will justify the en-ergy savings. How much energy you will save depends on several factors such as your home’s climate and en-vironment, how well insulated your current roof is, the type of roof you have, and the efficiency of your heating and cooling system.

If you are building a new home, you can decide dur-ing the planning phase what type of roof to install and whether it should be a cool roof. If you want to convert an existing roof into a cool roof, you have three basic options:

Coat the roof ♦ Re-cover it with a new waterproofing surface ♦ Tear off the existing roof and replace it with a new one.

♦ If your roof is in poor condition or near the end of its life, it is usually best to re-cover, replace,

or retrofit the roof.

Cost and Energy SavingsA cool roof does not necessarily cost more than a non-cool roof, especially if you are installing a new roof or replacing an existing one. However, converting a stan-dard roof that’s in good condition into a cool roof can be expensive. Major roof costs include up front instal-lation (materials and labor) and ongoing maintenance (repair, recoating, and cleaning). Additional cool roof costs include specialized materials and labor.

Cool roofs can save money several ways, including energy savings, rebates and incentives, HVAC equip-ment downsizing, and extended roof lifetime. One way to estimate how much energy you would save by install-ing a cool roof is by using a cool roof calculator, available at DOE Cool Roof Calculator, www.roofcalc.com.

Climate and EnvironmentYour climate is an important consideration when de-ciding whether to install a cool roof. Cool roofs achieve the greatest cooling savings in hot climates, but can in-crease energy costs in colder climates due to reduced beneficial wintertime heat gains.

Moisture ControlIn warm, moist locations, cool roof surfaces can be more susceptible to algae or mold growth than hot roofs. Some roof coatings include special chemicals that prevent mold or algae growth for a few years.

In cold climates, roofs can accumulate moisture through condensation, and it is possible that cool roofs might be more susceptible to accumulating moisture than dark roofs of the same design. Condensation can be avoided using proper design techniques.

Learn More ♦ Department of Energy, www.energy.gov ♦ Department of Energy Software Tools Directory: www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/tools_directory

–RFM–

Cool Roofs... continued from page 7

Today, the Fund is one of the oldest and most suc-cessful Group Self Insurance Funds in the country. It is with confidence that I predict another writer will be put-ting pen to paper in the year 2055 about the continued success the Fund members would enjoy, when they will be celebrating 100 years!

The Fund will be celebrating its 60th anniversary with a reception for its Membership on Thursday evening, July 16, at the FRSA Annual Convention. The Trustees and staff would like to extend an invitation to all FRSA Self Insurers Fund members to join us for this wonderful celebration.

–RFM–

SIF... continued from page 9


FECC... continued from page 14

© 2015 EagleView Technologies, Inc. *Limit one free report per company

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in the cavity and where the sheath-ing or insulation is exposed during reroofing shall be insulated either above or below the sheathing.

2014 FEBC, SECTION 707, ENERGY CONSERVATION

707.1 Minimum require-ments. Alteration subject to this chapter shall comply with the re-quirements of the Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation.

U-factor (Thermal Transmittance). The coefficient of heat transmission (air to air ) through a building component or assembly, equal to the time rate of heat flow per unit area and unit temperature difference between the warm side and cold side air films ( Btu/h·ft2·°F) [W/(m2 . K)].

U‐factor = 1/R-valueTotal of components between

(warm side and cold side) = R-Value: R- 38 or R-30

Values calculated R-38 (1/38 = 0.0263157) U-Value: U 0.027

Values calculated R-30 (1/30 = 0.033) U-Value: 0.033

–RFM–

time. In Tecta America’s Central Florida office, they have gone beyond the talk to walk the walk. Not only do they have a cool white roof on their building, but at just over 40,000 square feet, their roof structure was engineered to hold a vegetative roof system, a thin-film laminate solar photovoltaic system with a capacity of 25.4kW and solar thermal and daylighting technolo-gies including solar tubes.

Our industry isn’t known for being green or en-vironmentally friendly, but we can set a new tone. How we dispose of tear off material, what we use to coat a roof with, and the products we use to make repairs are counter-green. How we move forward from this day requires our manufacturers to re-view their products and processes to be greener and less harmful to the environment. It requires roof-ing contractors to evaluate their roofing practices and recommend the solutions for our customer that are environmentally smart as well as cost effective. It requires a part-nership between manufacturers,

vendors, contractors and consumers to understand the total building impact and devise solutions that will make a difference today, tomorrow and in years to come.

–RFM–

Please go to www.tectaamerica.com for more information or contact Nicole Eisenhardt [email protected] or Ben Paredes [email protected] if you are interested in learning more about green roof solutions.

Going Green... continued from page 11


The majority of my clients over the years have believed that there is some mystique to their financial statements. They feel that they must keep them secret not only from the out-side world but also from their own management group.

Are your financial statements really that confidential? If one of your competitors knew your financial results for the past three years, would that give them any competitive advantage? The answer to both of those questions is “no”. There are, however, compelling reasons to distribute the monthly financial statements for your company to all of your managers and to your bankers, outside accountants, and in-dependent directors.

The first of those reasons is to align the objectives of your managers with your own objectives. If you want to maximize the revenues, profits, and enterprise value of your company, you can’t do that without the assistance of your various man-agers, but how can those people judge the success of their efforts if they can’t measure the results. My father told me years ago, “You can’t achieve any goal you can’t measure.”

If you believe a 20 percent increase in profits during the coming year is realistic, that increase might require some decrease in direct costs as well as lower G&A expenses as a percent of sales. In addition, that 20 percent profit increase might also require an increase in revenues. For each of those functions, the manager in charge should know well in ad-vance what the goals are. More importantly, however, he or she should be given the rationale for setting the goals, the historical perspective on which the goals are based, and the

tools needed to judge their progress toward the goals as the year progresses. Those tools are the financial statements of the company.

If during the mid-part of the year, the goal set for one de-partment does not look feasible or perhaps will be exceeded, that change should result in a change not only in that specific performance goal but also in others which might be effected. The principal measure for the initial result and for any ap-propriate change is financial.

I am a great believer in incentive bonuses for all man-agers in virtually any company. If the managers benefit directly from their own efforts, those efforts and the related performance for the company will improve. A bonus will be an incentive for improved performance, however, only if it is based on a specific formula known in advance. Each man-ager should be given not only the formula but also sufficient financial information needed to calculate their progress to-ward achieving the bonus. Passing out annual bonus checks that are an arbitrary portion of unknown profits with no di-rect relationship to individual performance does not act as an incentive.

Many of my clients have some fear that their manag-ers shouldn’t know how profitable their company is. They believe that knowledge might result in demands for higher salaries or give the managers some information that could be detrimental to the company. It won’t. If the company per-forms well, the managers responsible for that performance should participate in the results, not with higher salaries but

Is This Any Way to Run a Company? Lee Rust, Florida Corporate Finance


with incentive bonuses. If the company does not perform well, it is particularly important that all managers know the deficiencies and understand how they might be corrected. For that, they need the financial statements as the measure of performance.

Many of my clients also feel that the managers should not know what the company owners are paid. Fine, don’t show those payments as a single line item on the financial statements. What other information could be hidden in you financial statements that could be harmful if disclosed? I don’t know of any.

As to competitors, customers, or suppliers possibly see-ing your financial results because you distribute them to your entire management group, what could they possibly do with that information to harm your company? If your financial performance is better than that of your competitors, can they use that information to improve their results? Probably not. If your customers know that your company is highly profitable, will they demand that your lower your prices? Probably not. And if your suppliers know that your company is highly profitable, won’t they be more likely to extend bet-ter terms for their products or services? If your company is not profitable, your suppliers might even help you correct the problems.

After all, each of the thousands of publicly owned com-panies throughout the U.S. publish their detailed financial results each quarter for all to see. It doesn’t seem to hurt them.

In regard to distributing your monthly financial to your bankers, this timely interim information gives them a bet-ter understanding of your company. They will more readily respond to a request for additional financing. If performance is low, they can often offer advice that might be helpful. As to your outside accountants, they should review your financial performance not only on a yearly basis but also each month.

They should be considered and treated like a part of your management team.

I recently represented the sellers of a company for which the Letter of Intent from the buyers had the following pro-vision: “The Buyer will allow a representative of the Sellers to review the Buyer’s financial statements provided that the representative will be prohibited from sharing the details of the financials with the Sellers or the Sellers’ employees.” Wow! That provision raised immediate and substantial ques-tions as to the ability of the Buyer to finance the transaction. It also resulted in protracted discussions as to what the buyer needed to hide and almost resulted in the termination of the entire transaction.

What was that buyer thinking? In addition to placing the transaction in jeopardy, after reading that provision, the sellers knew that their managers would lose their previous access to the financial performance of their departments and their company as a whole. The incentive bonuses that had worked well in the past would no longer be incentives. And the attitude of the buyer toward their own executives and managers was suspect.

Your financial statements are the best measure of your company’s performance. That performance should be under-stood by all members of your management team and used to both control and improve that performance. The financial statements should be easy to understand, distributed widely within fifteen days of each month close, and discussed in regular monthly meetings with all managers.

That won’t hurt your company; it will make it stronger.–RFM–

Lee Rust, Florida Corporate Finance. Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate Sales, Strategic Planning, Financings and Operations Audits – (407) 841-5676

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