b'l\\\'IRCA and Insustry Stand Behind T&R Committee Efforts Continued from page 3 five-to-seven years.Type IV asphalt.The MRCA has aforfire ratings,UL Class Aresistance. Four fire Withtheadventof modifiedIf the MRCAlong-standingtheybelonginlarge roof samples had been taken bitumenroofing,asphaltroofis taking speci themodifiedfrom the field and forwarded to UL coatings have taken on arole,mens of weath reputation ofbitumenformu for compliance testing. Two alunew and this is where the MRCA pro ered,coatedconfronting technicallation. Even bet minumcoatedroofsamples gram focused. Uncoated modifiedmodifiedbitu ter,gowithapassedthetest;oneSBSroof bitumen systems should never bemensystemsgranulatedsur membrane coated with abase issues.Incase,clay this used.Heat andUV degradationfromthefieldfacingandyouemulsion failedasdid another are major design considerationsand finding thatwe are confrontinggetUVprotec SBSroof sample,whichhada withpolymer-modified asphalt,thesystemMr. Fricldas becausetion,durabilityweatheredfibratedaluminum and uncoated modified bitumendoesn\'tmeetand reduced heatcoating. Would recoating restore has two strikes against it from thethepub ishedof his inaccuraciesload allinone.the ULArating?That IClassfire start.firerating,and misunderstand Fireperfor is precisely the question MRCA Here\'s where Iwith theyou\'relookingmance?It\'sinasked. Logical thought tellsit disagreeus MRCAprogram.Onespeakeratthewronging regarding ourthemodifiedshould.TheMRCAandmost focusedonhowthealuminumculprit. It\'s thebitumenchem Contractors know coatings will coating, when it weathers away,modifiedbitu 1996 conventionistry.weather. We a know that coatlso may result in losing the fire ratingmenthat\'sinprogram on roofLet\'sgiveingsarenot createdequ and al for the roof assembly.trouble, not thecredit to asphalt many of them are not UL listed. Whoops,didIhearright?paint.coatings and firealuminumroofThe test results showed that two of Adding aluminum paint improvesIfyouthinkcoatingsforalltheweatheredcoatingshratings.ad or fireproofs abitumenthat recoveringthethingstheydiminished abilityresist flame modifiedto roof system?Ridiculous!Let\'swith more paintdowell.B tospread tomeet the UL C A utlass readthecontentsonthepail:will improve the fire rating, that isfireproof modified bitumen? Bah,test. asphalt, solvent, aluminum flakes,not onlyrrect, but dangerous.humbug!The MRCA ne statedtha inco ver some fiber,somefiller,a littleFresh bitumen will make the rat applying aluminum coatings to a activated silica to absorb mois ing worse. It is more likely that theMRCA\'s T&R Committeeroofwill"fireproof"itasMr. ture. No intumescent chemicals,modified bitumen system that wasRespondsFricklas insinu Mr. Fricklas ates. fire retardents and theNoth installed wasdifferent thantheDear Editor:definitely did not hearas he like.right ing in the pail to fireproof aonethatsqueakedbythefireIn the Apri 1 issue of RSI,asked incolumn byline. Furmodi 1997his fied bitumen system.tests.DickFricklas\'column"Onthether, M Fricklas apparently canr. Furthermore, as an asphalt roofLet\'s go back and rethinkRoof" contained inaccuracies.not differen b the term theMr.tiateetween system ages,fire ratings don\'tmodified bitumen situation. WhyFricklas attended the 1996 M "firerating" and"fireproof", or theRCA worsen,theyimprove.Asphaltare you putting the coating on inConvention,but hasob usly"coatings" and "paint."He refers viohardensastheasphalrenesthe first place?To enhance UVmisunderstood what hedtoroof coatingsaspaint.The hear or increase, andis less likely toresistance and reduce heat load.does not understand wh someMRCA has suggested that light at flow during exposure to flame.Ifthat\'swhatyouroof coatings contribute towardcolored coatings on unsurfaced Just compare the dif- want the aluminumtheULfireclassificationonmodified roofs will help reduce ferenceinf owto do, it happens toasphalticroofsystems.Thethe heat load andtheir serIextend between aIbewhatitdoesMRCA has atanding repu vicelife.This isbasedonthe Typelong-sand0best. Not durable,tationof confronting technicalresults ofjoint MRCA/NRCA the so recoat ii. But ifissues. In this case, we areField S dy of Modified Bcon tu itumens you are lookingfronting Mr. Fricklas because of his inaccuracies and misunder . it is wrong to standing regarding our 1996 con aloofly suggest that vention program on roof coatings and fire ratings.fire performance is ITheMRCAT&RCommittee addressed the effects of weather not or could not be \\ing on aged modified bitumensformulated into the and BUR m which had embranes, initially been coated to achieve aproduct. 4'