Tech Today

The new manual


Earlier this month, NRCA published The NRCA Roofing Manual: Membrane Roof Systems—2007. This new manual updates and replaces the membrane roof systems portions of The NRCA Roofing and Waterproofing Manual, Fifth Edition. With this new manual, NRCA introduces a new manual production schedule, organization of information and some major revisions.

New schedule

Since 1971, NRCA has published its technical manuals on a periodic basis. The most recent edition, the four-volume The NRCA Roofing and Waterproofing Manual, Fifth Edition, was published in 2001.

Beginning with The NRCA Roofing Manual: Membrane Roof Systems—2007, NRCA will publish an individual volume of the manual every year. Next year, The NRCA Roofing Manual: Metal Panel and SPF-based Roof Systems—2008 will be published. In 2009, The NRCA Roofing Manual: Steep-slope Roof Systems—2009 will be published followed in 2010 by The NRCA Roofing Manual: Architectural Sheet Metal, Moisture Control and Reroofing—2010. These four volumes will completely update and replace The NRCA Roofing and Waterproofing Manual, Fifth Edition.

Until the initial four-year publishing cycle is complete, portions of The NRCA Roofing and Waterproofing Manual, Fifth Edition, will remain applicable. The NRCA Roofing Manual: Membrane Roof Systems—2007 replaces the fifth edition's Low-slope Membrane Roofing and Design Guidelines sections in Volume 1 and the Low-slope Membrane Construction Details Section in Volume 4. However, the remaining sections of the fifth edition remain applicable.

NRCA intends for The NRCA Roofing Manual: Membrane Roof Systems—2007 to remain applicable at least through 2010.

Organization

The NRCA Roofing Manual: Membrane Roof Systems—2007 consists of six chapters and appendices.

Chapters 1 through 4 address membrane roof assembly components: decks, rigid board insulation, membranes and surfacings, respectively. Chapter 5—System Design Guidelines addresses how components are combined into complete roof assemblies. Guidelines for built-up, polymer-modified bitumen and single-ply membrane roof assemblies are provided. Chapter 6—Construction Details provides graphic depictions of typical detail conditions with most conditions depicted in section and isometric views.

Significant revisions

For some, the most significant revision incorporated into the 2007 edition is that NRCA has clarified the manual's intent. NRCA roofing manuals are intended to provide industry best practices and technical information concerning roof system design, materials and installation. Many have construed previous editions of the manual as a definition of roofing industry standard practice.

Another area where the 2007 edition has been revised significantly is in Chapter 6—Construction Details. Now, EPDM details have been differentiated from other single-ply membrane details. Twenty-seven EPDM-specific construction details are provided.

Also, the entire Construction Details chapter has been rearranged to identify NRCA's order of preference for addressing a specific detail condition. For example, Construction Detail EPDM-8 depicts NRCA's preferred method for addressing an expansion joint for EPDM single-ply membrane roof systems. Construction Details EPDM-8A, EPDM-8B and EPDM-8C now depict alternative details NRCA also considers acceptable based on limitations described in the details.

The Construction Details chapter also now includes 31 construction details specific to the use of torch-applied polymer-modified bitumen sheet membrane flashings over combustible substrates. These construction details are consistent with the best safety practices in the NRCA/MRCA Certified Roofing Torch Applicator program.

Numerous other additions and revisions from the fifth edition also are included.

Moving forward

A complimentary copy of The NRCA Roofing Manual: Membrane Roof Systems—2007 will be provided to all new NRCA members and those who renew their 2007 membership dues. Additional copies of the 2007 edition, a CD-ROM version of the manual and NRCA Construction Details on CD-ROM—2007 (AutoCad® files that can be ma­nipulated) are available from NRCA's InfoExpress by calling (888) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or accessing shop.nrca.net.

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

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