Roofing Is a 'Wild Ride': Q&A with Mark Rutherford of Atlanta Roofing Specialists

A low-slope commercial roofing system is responsible for keeping the elements out of the building. During heavy rain, water with nowhere else to go may pond on the roof. A roof drain prevents water from ponding by providing a way for it to leave the roof, and regular commercial drain maintenance ensures its continued performance.Although commercial buildings may appear to have flat roofs, some roofs have slopes built into the structure or require added slopes, typically achieved with tapered insulation to facilitate water drainage. This slope is designed to guide water to a drain, so it doesn't sit on the roof and damage the roofing system or structure. Standing water can slowly deteriorate certain roofing materials and cause premature degradation, failure, or damage. It can also promote algae and plant growth and attract nuisances such as birds and insects.Guiding Water off the RoofResidential roofs have gravity on their side—water flows down the slopes into gutters that transport it away from the home. Commercial buildings with low-slope roofs have to work a little harder to remove water, which is where roof drains come into play.The roofing system design can help guide water toward the drains. It often involves using tapered insulation such as GAF EnergyGuard™ tapered polyiso insulation. The two most popular tapered boards deliver a 1/8-inch or 1/4-inch per foot slope. This slight slope prevents water from standing on the roof, forcing it toward a drain strategically installed at various low points on the roof with crickets and saddles.Drain placement is particularly essential when the parapet wall sheds water. To help water arrive at the drain line or gutter, tapered crickets are typically installed in corners and between drains to direct the flow and alleviate ponding. This water must flow down the roof side of the parapet wall and follow the roof slope to reach the drain.3 Common Types of Roof DrainsInner DrainsInner drains are connected to sloped pipes under the roof that carry water off the roof and away from the building. They typically rely on gravity and the roof's slope to get water to the drain.ScuppersScuppers are found at the roof's edge, usually installed through a hole in the parapet wall. They're designed to drain water from the roof into a downspout or may extend out from the building to shed water.Siphonic DrainsSiphonic drains feature a baffle that keeps air out and allows water to fill the pipes. Once the pipes are full, the lack of air creates a vacuum that siphons water from the roof at a high velocity. The baffle also keeps leaves and debris from gathering in the drain and causing a blockage.Caring for and Maintaining Roof DrainsInspecting and maintaining roof drains should be part of your regular roof inspections. Because roof drains are located at low points on the roof, it's easy for debris or leaves to build up in these areas. Clearing debris is essential for the drains to function properly. Clogs encourage pools of water to form on the rooftop, which can cause structural issues for the building. Even just an inch of standing water can add thousands of pounds of weight to the roof, reinforcing the need for regular commercial drain maintenance.Advancing Roof Drain Maintenance with TechnologyGAF recently introduced the Steely Drain™. This is a roof drain solution that leverages technology allowing contractors to build their maintenace relationship by setting up building maintenance reminders to contact building owners or facility managers. This contractor-inspired drain is made of 316L marine-grade stainless steel, making it ideal for tough environments that require exceptional corrosion resistance.Steely Drain™ features a QR code etched onto the top that you can scan with your smartphone to instantly view information about the roofing system. This data can include the contact information of the contractor who installed the system, the architect and consultants for the project, and the roofing system details if all information is inputted.This critical data is managed from a convenient GAF-hosted dashboard and plays an important role in the roof's maintenance plan. Contractors can set up and receive email reminders when it's time to perform scheduled roof and drain inspections. The dashboard also eliminates the need for core cuts since every detail of the roofing system is available through the QR code—from the deck type to the cover board, underlayment, insulation type and thickness, to the final membrane.Knowledge Is Key to SuccessWhen properly installed and maintained, roof drains can keep the rooftop free of standing water for many years. Curious to learn more? Explore how the Steely Drain™ can help you with your ongoing maintenance programs. You can also visit the GAF CARE Contractor Training Center to gain additional tips and access valuable training courses that allow you to learn at your own pace.

As a roofing contractor, you know how noisy roofing projects can get. And when repairing or replacing roofs on institutional properties, like schools and healthcare centers, it's often not possible to remove occupants during the project's duration.Accordingly, minimizing disruption at these facilities is key, as students need to be able to concentrate and patients must be protected as they recover. Here are common disruptions to consider and how to reduce them, with insight from GAF Building and Roofing Science Research Lead, Elizabeth Grant.Common Disruptions on Construction SitesYou have several challenges to consider when working on schools or other facilities with ongoing operations, including noise, odors, and occupants' safety.Elevated VolumeHeightened noise levels can affect both students and patients. At schools, loud sounds can affect students' ability to learn and concentrate. Likewise, construction noise can impact patients' ability to rest and recuperate in healthcare facilities.Strong OdorsWhen using certain roofing materials on big job sites—like powerful adhesives or hot-mopped roofing systems—odors may infiltrate the building. This may be distracting and affect the comfort of students and patients.Heavy MachineryUnloading and staging material can also cause disruption, as materials must be staged onsite to be ready for installation as the job progresses. This often involves using heavy equipment, such as cranes and lifts. Proper safety protections must be in place to ensure worker and occupant safety.Roofing Products That Minimize DisruptionUnfortunately, there's no good time for a roof repair or replacement at a medical facility. You may be able to complete school projects when school is out of session, but that isn't always the case if a leak or storm damage occurs.The best (and most proactive) way to minimize disruption is to use durable, long-lasting materials, as this reduces the number of times crews need to work on the roof.Single-Ply MembranesGrant recommends a robust single-ply membrane or a system with some redundancy, such as a multi-ply modified bitumen. She also suggests leveraging a hybrid system, composed of a multi-ply modified bitumen system with a single-ply top sheet for reflectivity.Cover and Substrate BoardsFor resiliency against noise-causing conditions such as hail and foot traffic, Grant suggests using cover and substrate boards. Cover boards are installed on top of the insulation and provide sound insulation, while substrate boards are installed directly on the roof deck under the insulation."If you have a really noisy location, and you want to keep people inside from hearing a lot of disruption, having cover and substrate boards included in the system can be really important," says Grant.Adhesives and FastenersAnother change you can make to reduce disruption is using adhesive to attach roofing products instead of mechanically fastening them. This helps avoid the noise from driving fasteners into the roof deck—and enables a faster installation.Grant notes that, depending on the FM and wind ratings required, it may be possible to adhere all the system components, including the insulation, cover boards, and membrane. An adhesive like GAF EverGuard® TPO Quick-Spray Adhesive can effectively adhere TPO and PVC roofing materials. The product has a high initial tackiness, allowing for faster installation than traditional adhesives. You can also opt for self-adhering products (vapor retarder, pipe boots, TPO roofing, etc.), which can further reduce installation time by eliminating adhesive application from the process.Materials That Shorten Project TimelinesA creative and efficient way to minimize disruption at school and hospital job sites is to reduce the time crews are on the roof. By taking advantage of time-saving materials, you can reduce the risk to workers and occupants, increase productivity, and ultimately take on more work.In addition to the Quick-Spray Adhesive, GAF offers several materials designed to cut installation time and labor:Wider rolls of TPO (12 feet instead of 10 feet) can help crews to spend less time installing systems on wide-open roofs.Insulation installation is easier with lightweight Ultra HD Composite Insulation, and it eliminates the need for one full application of adhesive in adhered systems.TPO self-adhered membrane can cut installation time by as much as 60% compared to installation using traditional bucket and roller adhesives.Experienced Support That Streamlines WorkIn addition to product and material selection, you can minimize disruptions by having GAF professionals from the Tapered Design Group help design the tapered insulation system. These professionals can help you with a variety of services, such as:Tapered insulation designTapered insulation Inventory management and orderingBudget friendly alternativesTapered insulation systems are designed to improve the drainage slope on roofs with substrate damage or without enough slope. The tapered design team at GAF "balances suitable slope with the least amount of material," Grant says. "To help with saving money, saving material, and saving time."This group designs tapered insulation systems that can be loaded and labeled strategically to minimize material handling and time spent looking for and transporting materials. Products are bundled by roof area, and a color-coded plan distinguishes areas for each bundle. Materials are precut and specifically designed for each project.Additional Tools to Save Time and LaborTwo other GAF tools can help you reduce the time spent on projects: GAF QuickSite™ and GAF QuickMeasure™.GAF QuickSite™GAF QuickSite™ provides the information you need before approaching a potential customer. It gives you a snapshot of local codes (important if you're working in an unfamiliar location), a 10-year wind and hail history, historical photographs documenting changes over time, and parcel information (including size and sales dates).GAF QuickMeasure™GAF QuickMeasure™ provides complete roof measurements including parapet wall lengths, heights and widths to help create estimates, past views showing how a roof may have changed over time, grid-lined paper for buildings with predominate pitch of 0 or 1, and a DXF file output for CAD.With the help of GAF QuickSite™, GAF QuickMeasure™, and the Tapered Design Group, you can confidently give your healthcare clients and school customers accurate estimates for suitable roofing products to meet their needs. These tools can also minimize disruption to building occupants and help building owners select durable, long-lasting products that will protect their investments for years to come.Leveraging GAF Professionals' ExperienceWhen working on schools, hospitals, and other important institutions, you're working to satisfy not only your clients but the individuals visiting these locations. By minimizing disruption, you can help ensure everyone involved experiences minimal disruption while you complete the project.For more insight into time- and labor-saving products and services, explore GAF School Rooftop Resources.

When developing a new roofing product, it's important to ensure it meets the local roofing codes and requirements in multiple jurisdictions. These standards are often regionally similar, but some may require additional testing or the use of certain raw materials. The product development team at GAF works hard to ensure products meet some of the strictest codes, so they can provide years of protection no matter where they're installed.Jeremiah Hershberger, GAF product manager of residential accessories, recently discussed the role codes and standards play in residential roofing product development, specifically concerning roof vent code requirements.Why Are Product Codes and Standards Important?The main purpose of building codes and standards is to maintain public health, safety, and welfare in all structures. They do this by ensuring that buildings are constructed in such a way as to minimize potential hazards, like fire, structural failure, or storm damage.Building codes exist to improve the safety and livability of buildings. They set minimum requirements for the materials and systems installed, as well as their installation methods. In the US, building codes are upheld and enforced by state, county, and city governments through the permitting and inspection processes.Standards also provide minimum design and performance metrics for products and systems. However, unlike local building codes, they are often universally upheld (nationally or worldwide). Organizations like ASTM International and the National Fire Protection Association are responsible for creating, updating, and communicating these standards. Local building codes often use these standards to set minimums for product and installation quality.How Do Roofing Codes and Standards Affect Product Development?"The goal of product development at GAF is to provide enhanced value for our customers and contractors," Hershberger explains. Ultimately, customers need to be confident in the performance of GAF products and building codes and standards provide a minimum threshold for product performance. Accordingly, they must be taken into consideration when designing products.Codes are prescriptive performance requirements for buildings. They include both the materials used to construct the building and how they're installed. All products used in a particular building must meet the local code requirements for that county or city.Standards are used as bases of comparison. Types of standards include:Testing standards that define methods and minimum acceptable resultsRating standards that provide a way to fairly compare productsDesign standards that set the criteria for specific roof system designsWhen products are developed for use in many geographic areas, they must meet several locations' requirements. For instance, when developing a new off-ridge ventilation product, GAF considers not only how much net free area (NFA) the unit will have, but also the performance characteristics required to meet Florida Building Code, Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), and Miami-Dade standards so the product can be used in areas that adhere to those codes.Why Does GAF Pay Attention to Codes and Requirements?"We want our customers to be confident in the performance of our products not based solely on our word but also on the basis of third-party standards that level set the industry," notes Hershberger. "Codes and testing requirements provide customers with that outside assurance that our products will hold up to the environmental rigors of a specific region or location."For example, TAS-100(A) tests a product's performance in wind-driven rain. The test provides information on how well a ventilation product will perform in such an environment and helps the product development team learn how likely it is that a ventilation product might leak, so we can then mitigate that risk.How Do Codes Affect Product Quality?Codes may specify what raw materials can be used to make a product or how it will perform in certain standardized tests. For instance, ASTM E108 or ANSI/UL790 Class A roofing fire ratings require a high degree of fire protection to the roof deck, which directly affect the materials used to produce these products. Similarly, the UL 2218 Class 4 impact test or the ASTM E330 Uplift Pressure Test show how a product performs under naturally occurring forces (e.g., hail or wind)"GAF strives to find the balance between performance, strength, and ease of installation (or handleability)," Hershberger says. "This often leads us to develop products that use higher grade materials (better performance over time), are simpler to manufacture with fewer points of potential failure, and are easier to install correctly (ensuring repeatability)."How Codes Affect the Development of High-Quality Roof VentsCreating high-quality roof vents and rooftop accessories didn't occur by accident. The GAF development team focuses on roofing codes and requirements through an intentional design process to drive innovation. From product ideation to design, development, and launch, the team ensures products meet or exceed several codes and standards, including:Florida Building CodeSets minimum performance standards for roof construction, such as wind resistance, fire performance, and roof ventilation requirements. Products must be approved by the state before being installed.Miami-Dade CountyThis county in Florida has some of the strictest building codes in the country due to its classification as a High-Velocity Hurricane Zone. Products used there must also be approved by the county as meeting not only Florida Building Code, but the stricter county requirements.Texas Department of Insurance (TDI)Regulates insurance companies and the insurance/claims process in the state of Texas. Roofing products are evaluated based on TDI-adopted building specifications regarding products used and installation methods.Other tests performed to ensure product performance include:TAS-100(A). Determines the water infiltration resistance of a ridge area ventilation system (ridge vents, static vents, turbines, or powered vents).Simulated snow/ice dam. Ice dams can form when a roof is not properly ventilated, leading to snow melting and refreezing along the lower edge of the roof.UL2218 Class 4 impact test. The UL2218 test is a steel ball drop test that evaluates the impact resistance of roof coverings. Class 4 products are shown to withstand the 20-ft drop of a 2-inch diameter steel ball without cracking through significant damage.Ensuring Roofing Products Are Up to the TaskThe product team at GAF routinely performs these tests to ensure roofing materials meet local roofing code requirements. The company then makes the results publicly available, helping customers nationwide rest assured that they can rely on GAF roofing products to perform as expected.For more information on the GAF ventilation products that meet or exceed code requirements, explore the ridge and off-ridge ventilation offerings.