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ASPHALT ROOFING MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION
(www.asphaltroofing.org)
This organization has some very good detail sketches of closures and sound practices, but you must purchase the documents; they are not available online. Some technical bulletins are available onlineat no cost.
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AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING OF MATERIALS - now called ASTM International, due to expansion of their scope.
(www.astm.org)
The specifications at roof-consultant.com call out ASTM standard numbers for materials and practices tests, so to get the referenced ASTM document you must pay ASTM, or go to the public library.
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U. S. D. O. E. BUILDING ENERGY CODES
(www.energycodes.gov)
It is not necessary to retrieve this data, but it may be wise to review it. Building codes do partly cover these requirements, but designers know economically what is wise for a property, based on its use and location.
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INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL
(www.iccsafe.org)
Building codes vary everywhere, yet are also somewhat consistent. CODE is a starting point; to get exact requirements, you may have to visit, in person, the code official having jurisdiction where your property is located. All specifications at roof-consultant.com require the roofing contractor to obtain a building permit, or a letter from the official stating that a permit is not necessary; thus a review and code enforcement will be done.
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COOL ROOF RATING COUNCIL
(www.coolroofs.org)
This site lists many products and their reflectance sun performance. The rating is good, but remember roofs get dirty, based on the material's tendency to hold dirt, and the slope of your roof. This site is free information reference.
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CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATION INSTITUTE
(www.csinet.org)
CSI has a wealth of information, but is not needed if a specification from roof-consultant.com is used. Format is not followed closely. Roof-consultant.com takes the liberty of using format that best gets the message/job across/completed.
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CEDAR SHAKE & SHINGLE BUREAU
(www.cedarbureau.org)
CSSB is a resource if these materials are to be used; be sure to use the fire resistance treatment.
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FACTORY MUTUAL F.M. GLOBAL
(www.FMglobal.com)
This is an insurance industry testing laboratory like Underwriters Labs (U.L.); both have fire and wind test results on products, but F.M. also has set "Loss Prevention Design Standards." These standards change as loss experience shows a need, which is a unique feedback loop, being slow to non-existent elsewhere. All roof-consultant.com specifications follow F.M. guidelines. These requirements are often criticized as overly stringent but, in fact, add only a small cost to a project. When a peril is sustained without loss, or if a loss is fully honored by the claim adjuster, the value of this conformance to F.M. guidelines is then appreciated and truly the lowest cost. If you are insured by a F.M. affiliated company, there is no cost to obtaining documents; otherwise you must pay. The "APPROVAL GUIDE" for roofing products and the "LOSS PREVENTION DATA SHEETS" for roofing are the main documents.
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MIDWEST ROOFING CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION
(www.mrca.org)
This organization has a history of speaking out, which garners much criticism from the roofing industry. MRCA is a reference in some roof-consultant.com documents.
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NORTH AMERICAN INSULATION MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION
(www.naima.org)
This association has a lot of literature available on line, often free; so it can be a resource. Roof-consultant.com often tells property owners that on a roofing project "The thermal insulation is probably the only thing that will pay for itself in a short time."
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NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH
(www.cdc.gov/niosh)
This agency has a great amount of data on health hazards. Roof-consultant.com has attempted to digest the data and, where appropriate from a property owner's responsibility, create requirements in specifications for the health and safety of all involved. Other agencies (EPA, OSHA, etc.) promulgate regulations where NIOSH is a base source.
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NATIONAL ROOFING CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION
(www.nrca.net)
NRCA has much information and documents that form the bulk of knowledge on roofing. Roof-consultant.com has created standard detail drawings similar to those prescribed by NRCA, in addition to removing ambiguity and prescribing a more definitive requirement; some positions NRCA takes are not best for property owners. Roofing contractors, who are even members of NRCA, often don't conform to NRCA requirements and execution. There is a charge for all documents from NRCA.
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NATIONAL TILE ROOFING MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION
(www.tileroofing.org)
The WRCA and Roof Tile Institute have an excellent "Concrete and Clay Roof Tile Design Criteria/Installation Manual for Moderate Climate Regions" that is free from a member manufacturer, or it may be downloaded as PDF file from RTI. RTI has other good publications. Roof-consultant.com tends to increase mechanical securement and underlayment requirements beyond those of RTI.
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
(www.osha.gov)
Regulations, regulations, and more regulations that are imposed on the roofers, but should the roofer fail to conform, the property owner is held responsible as well so you must know about this. Roof-consultant.com has covered the key safety items in specifications.
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ROOF CONSULTANTS INSTITUTE
(www.rci-online.org)
(www.rci-mercury.com)
RCI is a place to look for a roof consultant, but beware! Purchase document #202 first. The Mercury file can aid in overall roofing research and it is online and free.
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ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE
(www.rmi.org)
RMI is a non-profit organization that tries to help spread design integrative solutions for protection and enhancement of natural and human capital (green/efficient design). Their library can be a resource online.
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SHEET MEMBRANE and COMPONENT SUPPLIERS to the COMMERCIAL ROOFING INDUSTRY - commonly called the SINGLE PLY ROOFING INSTITUTE
(www.spri.org)
SPRI offers design criteria and data in support of this product sector. Roof-consultant.com usually follows other criteria, but SPRI is a valid resource.
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SHEET METAL AND AIR-CONDITIONING CONTRACTORS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
(www.smacna.org)
SMACNA has some good design guides for sale, but the details often are not clear and complete. Overall SMACNA is a valid resource.
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SOCIETY FOR PROTECTIVE COATINGS - formerly STEEL STRUCTURES PAINTING COUNCIL
(www.sspc.org)
A wealth of specifications/standards and other related information is available. It is not directed toward roofs-just everything. Documents are for sale. Roof-consultant.com has an appendix which calls out SSPC standards for painting.
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UNDERWRITERS LABORATORIES, INC.
(www.ul.com)
This is a testing laboratory with follow-up, in factory verification of labeled product inspection and consistency. U.L. publishes the most fire test data on roofing products/systems. The directories are inexpensive, but difficult to interpret. Most building codes require test results from U.L., F.M., etc. Roof-consultant.com verifies test results on products, before accepted in specifications/usage. It costs little to have a Class "A" rated roof, even though building codes usually accept lesser ratings. In-field observation of U.L. and F.M. identification on packaging of products is the only way of being sure that the products on-site are the same as those that were tested. Manufacturers often make a lot of same name, but different product (buyer beware).
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U.S.ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
(www.epa.gov)
Regulations, regulations and more regulations that must be followed. Unlike OSHA regulations, where the contractor is first in line for responsible conformance, the property owner is first in line on USEPA regulations, even if there is contract language to make the contractor responsible. Roof-consultant.com covers prescribed practices in specifications that the contractor must do to meet/satisfy EPA regulations; these are easy to do and should not cost the owner extra. Dust control and waste disposal are the main areas. Local authorities are usually the enforcers, not the USEPA.
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U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL
(www.usgbc.org)
This site is a resource to guide design toward more efficient and environmentally friendly objectives. Roof-consultant.com incorporates this concept into specifications, but not at a cost penalty beyond a rapid payback.
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Find out the weather now and when it changes, by regular update from:
(www.weather.com)
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WESTERN STATES ROOFING CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION
(www.wsrca.com)
WSRCA is active on regional specific topics, so this site is a place to keep up to date, if you are in the West.
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4 SPECS - covers manufacturer web sites and their details
(www.4specs.com)
4 SPECS opens up the majority of manufacturer web sites for your use; click and browse to most manufacturers.
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