Tech Today

Earlier this month, NRCA updated The NRCA Roofing and Waterproofing Manual, Fifth Edition. This update is intended to incorporate new and additional information into the manual since the fifth edition was published in 2001.

New information

The 2006 update consists of 388 new and replacement pages for insertion into the manual's print version. The pages are available free of charge by accessing the manual section on NRCA's Web site, www.nrca.net.

Specific changes and additions include the following:

• Updated or new ASTM International material standards for polyisocyanurate insulation, TPO membranes, concrete roof tile, and silicone and Hypalon™, roof coatings (The following ASTM standards have been added to the manual: ASTM C1289, "Standard Specification for Faced Rigid Board Cellular Polyisocyanurate Thermal Insulation"; ASTM D6878, "Standard Specification for Thermoplastic Polyolefin Based Sheet Roofing"; ASTM C1492, "Standard Specification for Concrete Roof Tile"; ASTM D3448, "Specification for Liquid-Applied Neoprene and Chlorosulfated Polyethelene Used in Roofing and Waterproofing"; and ASTM D6694, "Specification for Liquid-Applied Silicone Coating Used in Spray Polyurethane Foam Roofing.")
• Updated architectural sheet-metal and metal roofing section (The structural metal panel roof systems portion of this section has been completely rewritten, reformatted and updated, making it more consistent with accepted quality roofing practices for structural metal panel roof systems.)
• Replacement of the previous waterproofing and dampproofing section with a new section based on The NRCA Waterproofing Manual, which was published in 2005
• Replacement of the previous quality-control guidelines for the application of built-up and polymer-modified bitumen with updated guidelines based on Quality Control Guidelines for the Application of Built-up Roofing and Quality Control Guidelines for Application of Polymer-modified Bitumen Roofing which were published in 2004
• Thirty-two updated construction details for spray polyurethane foam- (SPF-) based roof systems with new construction details incorporating an option omitting metal counterflashings (For more information, see "The updated SPF manual," page 26.)
• Replacement of several construction details for structural metal panel roof systems, designated as S-MTL, with 27 updated and 16 new construction details for structural metal panel roof systems

CD-ROM versions

For those who use the manual on CD-ROM, NRCA produced a new CD-ROM that includes the previous 2003 update and 2006 update. Also, because the 2006 update involved revising and adding details to the manual's Construction Details section, NRCA has published an updated version of its construction details in AutoCAD™ format, NRCA Construction Details, Fifth Edition—CD-ROM Version.

Stand-alone versions

Because the 2006 update involves a large-scale revision to NRCA's guidelines applicable to architectural sheet metal, metal roofing and SPF-based roof systems, NRCA also published stand-alone versions of its guidelines applicable to these roof systems.

The NRCA Architectural Sheet Metal and Metal Roofing Manual, 2006 Edition, consists of the architectural sheet-metal and metal roof, moisture-control and glossary sections. The NRCA Spray Polyurethane Foam-based Roofing Manual, 2006 Edition, includes the SPF-based roofing, SPF application quality-control guidelines, moisture-control and glossary sections.

Both stand-alone documents include the applicable construction details from The NRCA Roofing and Waterproofing Manual, Fifth Edition, as well as the 2003 and 2006 updates to the manual.

Staying current

NRCA is committed to maintaining its manual and related publications as up-to-date authoritative technical references concerning the design and installation of quality roof systems. For this reason, NRCA has issued the 2006 update to the manual, updated its construction details, and published new editions of the architectural sheet-metal and metal roofing and SPF-based roofing stand-alone documents.

All products are available by contacting NRCA InfoExpress at (866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or shop.nrca.net.

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