b'MRCA Responds to CEIR Document Kurt Baumgartner, Technical Advisor During the pastmonths, the MidwestDuring this time some indivduals with connections to MRCA and severaliRoofing Contractors Association has beenthe MRCA Technical and(T&R) C ittee offered Researchomm input: involved with the Center for EnvironmentalJay Crisp, aofT&R committee andPhD membertheRene Dupuis, Innovation in Roofing (CEIR}, offering input andPE, technical advisor for MRCA. The official esponse by r Kevin aiding in the development ofRoof Point LSGwaltney, which was approvededited by the T&R committee, theand document for low slope roofing. The purposewas also submitted to the CE/Ras awhich follows here. letter, ,JI.ofdocument is to have aThe response will allow the reader to follow the process Athisconsensus-~basedthe implementation ofandthe comments in theirto the actual guideline forunderstandcontext theconstruction.Point performance qualities over the life cycle ofroofdocument. MRCA believes the Roofdocument to be the Itprovides ameasure for whatafirst attemptto address the tidal wave alsousefulconstitutesby roofing professionals sustainable roofconstruction operation, andorofimpacting the roofing ind and a design,removalgreen advancementsustry renovation atend oflife cycle.much more comprehensive approach to the process than LEED, thethat ofinof aapproaches The initial draftthis document was producedFebruary.Green Globes, Energy Star, or anymyriad of thehttp./After the initial introduction ofdocument there was time forto sustainable roofing. Visitroofpoint. wikispaces.com/ comment, criticism, andchanges andlntroducing+Roofpoint+LS to read more about the CEIR guideline. proposedimprovements. Response to CEIR Documentsustainable low slope roofing. Tr sustain whenachievable,but withoutsacrificing ue Thank you for indentifying the Midwestability is more complex than this guidelinethe roof system. cancomprehensivelyaddress.T are Roofing Contractors Association (MRCA)hereSection E2: Best Thermal Practices addition important factors, such as climate, as astakeholder in the roofingal keyeconomics, and technical aspects of design Welike theideabehindthiscredit,and industry and for valuing our opinion. Weing aroof system to perform andweseethevalueinusingbest thermal recognize the difficulty in designing along-term meet the desired expectation. Many of thesepractices wheninstalling roof insulation. guideline and point system that can beissues canbe addressed only by having aHowever,theguidelineseemsto bea used for environmentally innovative lowknowledgeable professionalinvolved in thereflectionof commercialinterestsat the slope roofing, one that is free of marketingdesign and implementation ofroof system.tableanditequallycreditsthevarious and green washing and detailed enoughthe MRCA is deeply concerned that some rooftechniques.Also,insulating atticspace, to comprehensively address the issues.applications, which are carefully designed toinlieuof above theroof deck,couldbe theconsidered athermal practice. We supportCenter for Environmental be truly sustainable and that perform beyondbest Innovation in Roofing\'s (CEIR) leadership inexpectation, may not meet the required points producing this document because, as theas defined by this document and, therefore,Section E3: Cool Roof System "Contractor\'s Advocate," MRCA feels ourWe n toiously atviability of will be labeled not sustainable.eedlook ser the voice will be better received by CEIR thaninstalling white roofs in no climates MRCA T&RCommitteeofferstopart rthern by ASTM, UL, LEED, or other agencies.nerwithCEIRtosubstantiatetechnicalbeforemakingblanket statementsabout MRCA would like to make some overarch information as issues, failures, and compat puttinga whiteroofonevery structure. ing points about the fundamental design ofA black roofins led ina northerncliibility problems occur.talthe RoofLow Slope document.matesho beconsid ifitmakes Pointuldered Therearemanyvariablesinroofas Section E1: High Reconomicandenvironmen sense. Roof Systemtal semblies relating to different situations andAllconditionsdonotwarrantexcessiveNRCA\'s SpecRight calculator can be used conditions. The guidelines inRooftosubstantiateexpectedeconomicand thePointinsulation.Stackingupmanylayersof document are not broad enough to deal withabove-deckinsulationmayhavedetri environmental savings. allsituations.Werecommendanopeningmental impacts on the p of theWe suggest that it may be necessary to erformance statementinthedocument,which affirmsperform maintenance andto roof system and may sacrifice durability. Itcleaningwhite that it is meant to be primarily aline,roofs to maintain reflectivity. guide is important we recommend high R-value not aenvironmentally frienhandbook, todly 8Midwest ValuesBusinessResourcesNetworking'