b'"Oneofourmajorroofingmanufacturersincludesthestatement,"We reservetherighttoalter,change,orrevisethesespecificationsto meetspecificjoband/orclimaticconditions."ForsometimeIhavesuggestedtomajormanufacturersthattheypublishtwosetsofspecificationsoneforthewarmerclimatesandoneforthecolderclimates.Roofingcontractorsfromthesouthdemandmaterialswhichwillweatherunder extremelyhighrooftemperatureconditions,whilethenorthernroofing contractorsrequirematerialsthat willperformandarecapableofbeing appliedatcoldtemperatures. "Sometimeduringeachyear,manufacturerswillpresentanewroofing systemthathasshownsomepotentialbysuccessfultest marketinginthe southorwarmerclimates.It isthendeterminedthatthesewarmweather fieldsuccessesshouldbeconsideredforthenorthernorcolderareas. Thefailuresofthese"new"systemsfaroutnumberthesuccesseswhenused inthecoldareas.Ibelievethatthispoorexperiencerecordshould causethemajorroofingmanufacturerstoconsiderseparatespecifications forthenorthandseparatespecificationsforthesouth. "Thepredominantuseofcoatedsheetsbymostmanufacturers,without givingcompleteconsiderationtothe\'strength\'and/orcoldweatherapplicationproblems,willonlyresultinthedowngradingoftheroofingindustry,bothroofingcontractorandmanufacturer,ratherthanthegradual upgradingmostofushaveexperiencedinthepasttenyears.Nottobe misunderstood,coatedsheetsdohaveaplace,possiblyinthesouthoras afirstplyoverthedeckorinsulation,butcanonlycauseproblemswhen appliedduring\'cold\'weatherandattemperaturesin whichthe\'cold weatherroofer\'isexpectedandobligatedto work.Theuseofthreeor fourNo.15asphaltfelts,whenproperlyappliedandprotectedeitherby immediateglazingorgraveling,doproduceanextremely\'strong\'roofwith orwithouttheuseofthecoatedfirstply.Irecommendtheuseofa coatedsheetasthefirstplypossiblyaNo,30coatedsheet. "Somethoughtshouldbegiventotheuseofdead-levelasphaltasan inner plymoppingofcoatedsheetsusedinthenorthratherthansteepor flatasphalt.The\'north\'roofer,whenapplyingaroofonnear-level surfaces,shouldusearoofingmaterialthathastheopportunitytoresealitslf duringtheseveralwarmermonthsoftheyear.Wit-houtcomepleteadhesionbetweenpliesofaroofmembrane,problemswilloccurto thedetrimentoftherooferandmaterialmanufacturer. "Maytheaboveobservationshelpproduceabetterroofingindustry?" OSHACHECKLIST TheChicagoRoofingContractorsAssociationhaspreparedauseful worksitesafetychecklist whichweenclosewiththisissue.Wesuggestyoufurnishyourforemenwithcopiesofthechecklist andmakethem useit.'