b'-;-:~ ,,,::.,:-, -Ato "Ignorance:"FM4490 is not a Simple Accreditation Program Response Approval of R ng C tractors,contractor,provides the ch benefit to be gained from an addioofi on ecks Draft/Rev.5.0,ClassN bernecessary tore that this hap tional layer of record keeping and um ensu490,nariorojects 4 November 1998) is not apens. This sce leaves designinspection, especially on psimpleaccreditationprogramresponsibility forroof assem that are not FMIC insured. the wherebycontractors ch tobly and roofing system with theTheMRCA doesnot oppose oose participate voluntarily in continu architect/specifier a responsi FMRC\'s right to require that roofnd ing education. Theal Roof bility forinstallation withing contractors p work Nation propererforming ingContractorsAssocia on thecontractor asit sh ld be.onFM-insu properties meet ti \'sou red oo er isrequir tanda(NRCA)AcademyforR fingTh eno real additional cost totheements of the s rd. If Contrac (a program thatthe owner involvedat ofthis were simply the case, then torswasasresulJohn D. Stephenson,cond Se never fully developed or imple the use of these other standardscontractors wishingto perform V eid , MRCA ic Pres ent mented) would have been, and theand codes.suchworkcouldmakea conSpray Polyurethane Foam However, as cost is an impor scious decision to meet the criteria DiviTheMRCAappreciatesDicksion\'s (SPFD) accreditationtantfactor tocon shouldof the standard. The vast majority pro sider, commen contraFricklas\'ts with respect togramis,a voluntaryprogramFM4490 be incorporated into allof professional roofingctors the MRCA\'s position onFbased on continuing education. Inspecifications,thenall roofingpresently involved in this type of theactory Mutual Research Corporationstark contra FM4490 is acontractors bidding such projectsworkvery qua ified and have st,testingareI (FMRC) FM4490Stan standard that wim ate that awould have no choice but to com a eady demonstrated thisity ApprovalIIand lr abildardforR ingContractors.roofing contractor andhis fieldply with thedard, even whento the owners, architects and oof stan spec\\Unfortunately, itthat Mr.supervisorsdem theirth may oth ch notifiers inir own commun If appearsonstrateeyerwiseoose tothe ities. F las has missed the point alto ability to complyastrin work on proje that areatractor decides to not bid on rick withveryctsinsuredconand gether onthisissue.Itis alsogentandevenunfairsetofby Factory Mutual Insurance Cor FMIC-insured projects,thus apparent that he has probably notrequirements. FMRC will assessporation (FMIC). Not only wouldnot subject himself toeireth requread the standard.this ability based on the resultsthis certainly lead to additionalments ofldr ofFM4490, shou thiselIn basic terms, therea atests, inspectionscosts to theractor, it unfairlyegateas "inept" or unqualified mainnumber ofandcont him sons (as outlined in"MRCAaudits, a d whether or notsubjects owners who do not su torform work on other projects? thendecideb peBulletin" dated May 1 1999) forthe contractor qu ThescribetoinsurancepoliciesOf course not. 0,alifies.stanMR intendsMICcontrathe MRCA\'s opposition to the pro dard indicates that F Cunderwrittenby F toaddi The MRCA remains actor posed FM4490 Approval Standardto offer training,the trainingtional costs. It most certainly willadvocacygroup,committedto butis forRoofingContractorsrelatenot mandatory. Continuing edu not lead to all contractors havingprovidingits\' m with embership specifically to the issue ofcationis, infact,a very minorthe sameead factor, or to acurrent information relating to all protect overhingtheindividualcontractor\'srequirementofFM4490(threemorereflection of projectaspects of theirIn the accuratebusinesses. right to make decisions affectingCEU every five years).costs. Do we really need toacaseofFM44 theMRCA \'senter90, his business. T facts are thatIt is true that other FMdiscussionofbasicbusinessintends to ensure that the standahestan rd significantand there is aamount ofdards, as wellas UL andcodemanagementandaccountingis as fair as possiblethat our ambiguous and onerous lan requirements, are routinely incor principles to proveis?individual members not only have guagethin the standard that can have ap into specifications. TheseWith respect to the commentsthet, but a ofacts necesoratedrigh ls the profoundly negative impact on theother standards and codes are sig regardingGERTA,thereissary, to make an informedidecroofing contractor in terms of lia n icantly different from FM4490absolutelynocomparisontosion regarding their participation ifb ty, responsibility and cost Theand are intended to ensu thatFM4490. GERTAstrictlyin work-insured projects. ili reissafetyon FMICMRCA\'sition haS\' absolutelyproposals are based on the use oftraining(not workmanship), isOn behalf of the MRCA Board posnothingdo with an o ositionapproved manufacturer\'s roofingvery inexpensive, does not r reof D ectors, topp equi irto education.systemsa materials thataudits or inspections, doesnotJohn D. Stephnd/orenson Theincipal clarification thatmeet the design requirements ofrequire training in other applicaprneeds to be made is that the pro the specification. The submittal,tionsthatarenotinvolvedin posed FM4490 Approval Standardreviewandapprovalprocess,torch-appliedng systems and roofifor Roofing Contractorswhich typically includes the archi participation is voluntary. (Factory MutualResearchCorporation,tect/specifier, manufacturer andFinally, thereisnopossible'