November 2016

Roofing professionals always must comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s safety regulations. But roofing professionals may not be aware of additional regulations such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE's) "EM 385-1-1 Safety and Health Requirements Manual" that contains 34 topic sections specifying safety requirements for construction projects managed by USACE and backed by law.

Roof coating applicators are responsible for ensuring a coating adheres to a desired surface, and a properly adhered coating begins with a properly prepared surface. Coatings adhere best to a surface with many contact points. Applicators should be aware of common bond breakers that interfere with the continuity of a coating-surface interface, reducing contact points and negatively impacting a coating's adhesion.

After two of its buildings suffered storm damage, the YMCA of the Treasure Coast, Stuart, Fla., selected Venture Construction Group of Florida Inc., Stuart, to complete necessary roof repairs. When learning insurance payments covered only a fraction of the costs for necessary repairs, Venture Construction Group of Florida helped donate materials and labor to successfully repair and replace metal panel, silicone and TPO membrane roof systems.

Controlled insurance programs (CIPs) are being used for a wider range of construction projects. If you perform public or private new construction work, you likely will encounter CIPs and should become familiar with the benefits and risks of using them. In particular, understanding the details of a CIP before committing yourself to a project can help protect your company from unwelcome surprises.

Roofing contractors located in northern climates almost certainly have responded to calls of ice dams on roofs. Many explanations for ice dam formations exist, including solar radiation and poor ventilation, but ice dams can be prevented when insulation is properly installed, air leakage does not exist and all sources of heat are located within the thermal boundary.