Tech Today

New information for a new year


The International Roofing Expo,® which will be held Feb. 22-24 in Orlando, Fla., is where many in the U.S. roofing industry, including NRCA, introduce new products and information. NRCA, in addition to publishing The NRCA Roofing Manual: Metal Panel and SPF Roof Systems—2012, published two new technical documents that will be useful to roof system designers and installers.

Asphalt shingle guidelines

NRCA Guidelines for Asphalt Shingle Roof Systems is a compilation of NRCA's recommendations applicable to asphalt shingle roof systems.

This new document includes the roof decks, underlayments, asphalt shingles and construction details chapters from the Asphalt Shingles Section of The NRCA Roofing Manual: Steep-slope Roof Systems—2009; the condensation control for steep-slope roof assemblies chapter from The NRCA Roofing Manual: Architectural Metal Flashing, Condensation Control and Reroofing—2010; and appendices addressing referenced organizations and metric conversions. The 85-page document has 61 figures and 23 construction details illustrating specific project conditions.

The document is intended to be a single source for NRCA's best-practice guidelines for designing and installing asphalt shingle roof systems. Used with NRCA's Quality Control Guidelines for the Application of Asphalt Shingle Roof Systems, NRCA Guidelines for Asphalt Shingle Roof Systems serves as a basis for defining quality, long-lasting asphalt shingle roof systems.

Energy code compliance

Because compliance with energy code requirements has become more complex and buildings' required insulation levels are increasing, NRCA developed Guidelines for Complying with Energy Code Requirements for Roof Assemblies to help roofing professionals comply with energy code requirements.

This new NRCA document, co-published with the International Code Council,® which publishes the International Energy Efficiency Code® (IECC), consists of more than 160 pages and provides guidelines for complying with IECC's 2009 and 2012 editions.

Criteria also are provided for complying with the 2007 and 2010 editions of ASHRAE 90.1, "Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings," which are referenced as alternative compliance paths in IECC 2009 and IECC 2012, respectively.

The document includes a flowchart for navigating the codes' multiple compliance paths for commercial and residential buildings. It also provides step-by-step instructions for using the codes' building envelope (prescriptive) minimum R-value determination procedures, including the codes' provisions for roof openings, such as skylights, that may result in the need for additional R-value in the roof assembly.

The codes' provisions for addressing energy code requirements for building alterations (reroofing) and the use of tapered insulation systems also are addressed. Appendices include extensive tables showing minimum thermal insulation requirements for roof assemblies in each U.S. state, county and territory; allowable solar heat gain coefficients and visible light transmittances for unlabeled skylights; and conversion procedures from R-values to U-values.

Guidelines for Complying with Energy Code Requirements for Roof Assemblies is not intended to replace the energy code but rather to guide roofing professionals as they navigate IECC 2009's and IECC 2012's minimum R-value requirements for roof assemblies in particular jurisdictions.

NRCA maintains a list of each state's jurisdiction energy code adoption information on its website, www.nrca.net; users can search the term "energy codes" using the website's search function.

The document is best used with NRCA's EnergyWise Roof Calculator Online (available at energywise.nrca.net) and The NRCA Roofing Manual for designing thermally efficient roof assemblies.

Getting them

For more information or to purchase NRCA Guidelines for Asphalt Shingle Roof Systems and Guidelines for Complying with Energy Code Requirements for Roof Assemblies, contact NRCA's Customer Service Department at (866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or visit shop.nrca.net.

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

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