ROBERT B. TAFARO ELECTED ARMA PRESIDENT

The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) elected and installed their new officers and Executive Committee members at the 2005 Fall Meeting of the ARMA Board of Directors.

ARMA’s new president is Robert B. Tafaro, Chief Operating Officer (COO), GAF Materials Corporation. Tafaro’s term, as are the terms of all ARMA officers, is for a two year period November 2005 to 2007. Tafaro also serves on the ARMA Executive Committee and Board of Directors.

“I am very proud to serve ARMA during what I am sure will be a very interesting time in our industry,” he said. “My goal is to look behind in two years at an association made more responsive, proactive and inclusive. An association that very clearly represents the value brought forth by asphalt roofing manufacturers.”

Tafaro succeeds Richard A. Nowak, president and COO, Elk Corporation. Nowak will continue to serve on the Executive Committee, of which he was subsequently elected Chairman, and on the Board of Directors.

Other ARMA officers elected and installed at the ARMA Board of Directors meeting are Vice President – Sheree L. Bargabos, president, Roofing and Asphalt, Owens Corning; and Secretary-Treasurer – John K. Donaldson, president, Roofing Products Group, CertainTeed Corporation.

In related action at the ARMA Board of Directors meeting, out-going President Richard Nowak was elected as the Chairman of the ARMA Executive Committee. Incumbent members re-elected to the Executive Committee are Sheree L. Bargabos, president, Roofing and Asphalt, Owens Corning; Gregory T. Faherty, president, Siplast Inc.; David C. Humphreys, president/CEO, Tamko Roofing Products Inc.; Kenneth R. Hunt, vice president, Performance Roof Systems; David Koschitzky, president, IKO Productions Inc.; David J. Lucchetti, president/CEO, Pabco Roofing, Pacific Coast Building Products; Richard Nowak, President/COO, Elk Corp.; and Robert B. Tafaro, COO, GAF Materials Corp. Newly-elected to the ARMA Executive Committee are: John K. Donaldson, president, Roofing Products Group, CertainTeed Corp.; Pat McEvoy, senior vice president/general manager, Johns Manville Corp.; and Steve A. Ratcliff, president and CEO, Tarco.

NEW, FREE SERVICE MAKES FM APPROVALS’ ROOFNAV®
MORE ACCESSIBLE AND CONVENIENT FOR ROOFING PROFESSIONALS

With several RoofNav features already available for free to roofing professionals, another one has just been added free of charge to FM Approvals’ web-based RoofNav. The new “Assembly Number Tab” search engine function gives users more freedom to choose their desired roof assemblies.

Users simply submit their initial roof assembly criteria to RoofNav’s plan reviewers. If that initial assembly doesn’t meet FM Approvals’ thorough loss prevention guidelines, the plan reviewers will give users a number to enter into the Assembly Number Tab feature. This allows users to search RoofNav’s vast database for the roofing components of their choice that meet both FM Approvals’ criteria and are closest to the users’ original assemblies.

“Selection of roofing components is completely up to the registered RoofNav user now,” said FM Approvals’ George Smith. “This new feature not only allows users to have more control over their assemblies, but also improves the lines of communication between users and RoofNav plan reviewers. And the service is free. It’s a win-win for the user – increased convenience without any increased cost.”

A unique, password-protected, RoofNav was unveiled in February 2005 at the International Roofing Expo. It offers roofing professionals step-by-step guidance on how to identify, configure and install various roofing assemblies and components that comply with FM Approvals’ standards. RoofNav is designed to save users significant time, reduce human errors and increase their productivity.

For more information, contact 1-877-364-6726 or visit www.roofnav.com.

ROOF CONSULTANTS INSTITUTE 2006
CONVENTION TO ADVANCE ROOFING KNOWLEDGE

The Roof Consultants Institute’s 21st International Convention will be held in Phoenix, Ariz., Mar. 23 to 28, 2006 at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix & Phoenix Civic Plaza. The annual event’s 2006 theme is Seeking Adventure… Advancing Knowledge. The program will feature over 15 hours of educational seminars, live product demonstrations and a two-day trade show.

Education programs will include:

• Roofing Industry Durability & Life Cycle Cost Survey.

• The Fabric Roof of the Denver Airport: 10 Years Later.

• Condensation in Metal Roofing: Design and Installation Resolutions.

• Art vs. Architecture.

• Roofs of the World.

• Quality Control in Your Office (vs. on the Roof).

• Cool Roofs & Code in California: The First Six Months.

• World Class Marketing That Works for Main Street Consultants.

• The Weakest Link in a Mechanically-Attached Roof Assembly.

• Condensation Control Mechanism in Exterior Wall Assemblies.

• Equivalent Uniform Annual Cost (EUAC): A New Approach to Roof Life Cycle Analysis.

• Topics in Underground Parking Structure Repair.

• Breathable Roofing Under-layments.

• Restoration & Repair of Historic and Contemporary Brick Masonry.

• Performance Evaluation of Unexposed and Field-exposed Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) Membranes.

• Roof Gardens: The Waterproofing Challenge.

• Auxiliary Seminar – EIFIS.

• Auxiliary Seminar – Waterproofing.

At 2000 members strong, the Roof Consultants Institute is an international not-for-profit association of professional roof consultants, architects and engineers who specialize in the specification and design of roof systems. From sprayed polyurethane foam to cedar shakes, RCI has an expert for every type of roof system used in the world today. RCI regularly hosts education programs designed to demystify and explain the application of roofing and building envelope technologies and theory.

For more information, contact RCI at 1-800-828-1902 or visit the organization’s web site at www.rci-online.org.

FLIR LAUNCHES NEW OPEN HOUSE SERIES IN 2006
SHOWCASING LATEST INFRARED TECHNOLOGY

FLIR Systems, a leader in infrared cameras and technology, has announced a series of Infrared Open House Events for 2006. Billed as “The Most Important Infrared Industry Event in 45 years,” these gatherings are designed to inform infrared users and those newly-interested in the subject, about the latest advances in the field.

The series of events will be held across North America throughout 2006 - giving everyone interested in infrared an opportunity to attend. Admission is complimentary, but registration is required as space is limited. Topics covered will include: the latest in thermal imaging technology, the newest in high-quality affordable infrared cameras, and the ABC’s of selecting the best IR camera to meet specific application requirements.

Infrared professionals who attend one of these events will gain valuable knowledge about how investing in infrared can help them advance their careers, increase their productivity, save time and money, enhance worker and facility safety, and gain a competitive advantage to increase both their marketability and revenue.

“We’re very excited to be rolling out this series of events,” said David Francoeur, director of marketing, FLIR Systems. “We’ve continued to make great progress in adapting technological advances into products for market and are constantly striving to inform the public about not only the latest product and technology innovations, but the real-world application experiences as well. These Open Houses allow us to share the latest breakthroughs with the public as well as get feedback for future direction.”

Open House details along with complete registration information may be found at www.flirthermography.com/news/seminars.asp.

EPDM ROOFING ASSOCIATION PUBLISHES
LEED ROOFING BULLETIN

An interpretation of the guidelines for the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® Rating System as applied to roofing standards, is now available on the EPDM Roofing Association’s (ERA) web site at www.epdmroofs.org.

The bulletin explains how roofing systems can impact the types of voluntary green building standards for commercial applications that are available from the USGBC, including: LEED-NC Version 2.1 for New Construction and Major Renovations; LEED-EB for Existing Buildings; and LEED-CS for Core and Shell Development.

Templates for reporting the attributes of an EPDM roofing system can also be found online at the site’s LEED information area. The bulletin additionally explains to building owners, architects and contractors why the ballasted EPDM roofing system is considered to be a long-term sustainable roofing option.

Studies show that an EPDM roof consisting of a waterproofing system and insulation material is proven to provide long-term high performance, making EPDM an acceptable membrane for LEED or any other performance based sustainability guideline.

Information about ERA, EPDM case studies and specifications are available at www.epdmroofs.org.

GREEN ROOF OF THE YEAR COVERED WITH SARNAFIL MEMBRANE

Italian architects Dr. B. Centola and Prof. Dr. M. Pozzoli designed an extraordinary green roof for the newly-built European Investment Bank building in Luxembourg. For the design, the members of the trade association Bauwerksbegrünung e.V. [Green Roofing] in Germany named the architects winners of the “Green Roof of the Year 2005” competition.

The roof surface covers an area of 37,675 sq. feet distributed on three levels:

• Upper Level – On this level are large planted areas, a croquet field, tennis courts, access roads and parking spaces. The isolated trees in the green areas are accented with spotlights. As if strewn across the lawns, oversized letters made of steel protrude from the substrate. These were designed by Hungarian artist Tamas Trombitas especially for this green roof. Three ponds with fountains complete this usable roof area.

• Inner Court – The building is designed such that one level below, the windows face a green interior court – which is actually another green roof, featuring two ponds with fountains as visual focal points.

• Piazza – The focal points of this large space are the specially-designed circular raised planting beds.

“Sarnafil waterproofing membranes are one of the few systems that have passed the demanding German FLL and Swiss SIA 280 roof penetration tests,” said Gary Whittemore, waterproofing product manager, Sarnafil Inc. “Green roofs that demand absolute system integrity, like the European Investment Bank building, have been relying on Sarnafil for the waterproofing component for green roof systems for over 35 years.”

FIRESTONE BUILDING PRODUCTS MOVES TO NEW FACILITY

Firestone Building Products has moved to a new facility located at 2835 Argentia Rd., Unit #2, Mississauga, Ont. L5N 8G6. Tel: 1-800-428-4442, ext. 77663, Fax: (877) 666-3022.

HIGH WINDS AND ROOF SHINGLES: WHAT CONSUMERS NEED TO KNOW
NEW INFORMATION CLASSIFIES ASPHALT SHINGLES ACCORDING TO WIND ZONES

Consumers ready to re-roof their home or choose a roof for a new home, typically have to decide on materials, colours, styles and price. But back-to-back years of unprecedented hurricane seasons have added urgency to another consideration homeowners should not overlook when buying shingles: wind resistance. Asphalt shingles are not only available in numerous colours, shapes and textures – they now also meet new high-wind standards.

A simple-to-use Layman’s Paper titled, “New Wind Standards for Asphalt Shingles,” makes clear what consumers need to know when buying wind-resistant shingle products. It includes a new wind-resistance classification system developed by the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA), based on 14 years of research and wind tunnel testing. This classification system is now incorporated in the International Code Council’s International Building Code 2004 supplement, used by builders and municipal inspectors.

According to ARMA, consumers and builders alike need to know the following before purchasing asphalt shingles:

• The wind zone location of the building being roofed. This can be obtained from town or country building code enforcement offices. For most of the continental U.S., the wind zone classification is 90 mph (maximum average wind speeds). Some coastal and inland regions, however, may have wind zone designations of up to 150 mph.

• The wind classification of the shingle proposed for the building. Shingles are classified by letter corresponding to their wind zone ratings. The classifications are as follows:

- Up to and including 90 mph = Class D

- Up to and including 120 mph = Class G

- Up to and including 150 mph = Class H

It is critical that shingles are properly installed to withstand occasional or sustained high winds, whether a contractor is doing the job or consumers are doing the work themselves. ARMA notes that in order to assure maximum wind performance, asphalt shingles must be applied to a properly installed deck following manufacturers’ requirements for number, type and placement of nails.

“These new wind standards are important for not only preventing hurricane damage, but also to protect homes everywhere from more common high-wind situations like storms and winter weather,” said Russell Snyder, ARMA executive vice president. “Wherever you live, it is important to have the proper wind-classified shingles on your roof and asphalt shingles offer proven performance in high winds.”

The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association is the North American trade association representing the manufacturers and suppliers of bituminous-based residential and commercial fibreglass and organic asphalt shingle roofing products, roll roofing, built-up (BUR) roofing systems, and modified bitumen roofing systems.

For more information, contact ARMA at (202) 207-0917 or visit the association’s web site at www.asphaltroofing.org

FOURTH ANNUAL GREENING ROOFTOPS FOR SUSTAINABLE
COMMUNITIES CONFERENCE AND TRADE SHOW

The Fourth Annual International Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities conference and trade show is being held May 11 and 12, 2006 at the Hynes Convention Centre/Boston Sheraton Hotel in Boston, MA.

Co-hosted by the City of Boston, the conference is organized by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC) a not-for-profit industry association working to promote the green roof industry in North America.

The two-day conference will consist of plenary and specialized sessions focusing on three main topic areas:

1. Policies and programs to support green roofs.

2. Green roof design and implementation.

3. Research and technical papers on green roof performance.

The 2006 full registration package includes the following:

• Access to over 50 presentations by green roof industry leaders;

• Free pass to the trade show featuring more than 75 exhibitors showcasing green roof products and services;

• Access to the Exhibitor Presentation Theatre;

• One ticket to the Mayor’s Opening Night Reception on the Exhibition Floor (May 10);

• One ticket to the Exhibitor Reception on the Exhibition Floor (May 11);

• One copy of the Official Conference proceedings CD-ROM featuring the peer-reviewed Speaker Papers (retail value $75);

• One boxed lunch on the Trade Show Floor (May 11);

• One invitation to the Awards of Excellence Luncheon (May 12).

Conference rates are $295 (USD) for full delegate with all privileges; $150 – Student delegate with all privileges; and $125 for a one-day pass (Thursday or Friday) which does not include any hospitality functions or the speaker CD-ROM.

All delegates at the 2006 Conference will receive a complimentary, one-year individual membership in Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, effective Jun. 1, 2006. This membership entitles delegates to a host of benefits, including a two-line description on the searchable online membership database, membership listing on the GRHC Members Directory in the Conference CD-ROM, a $25 discount on CD-ROM conference proceedings from the 2004 Chicago, 2004 Portland and 2005 Washington conferences, and a hard copy subscription to GRHC’s semi-annual Green Roof Infrastructure Monitor.

For more information, contact Green Roofs For Healthy Cities at www.greenroofs.org.

If you would like to read other articles like these Subscribe to Canadian Roofing Contractor & Design here!