b'T&R UpdateT&R Reflectivity StudyRandy AdamsMatt Dupuis, PhDT hrough many decades, the MRCA Technical(FRSA) undertook a field reflectivity study of these and Research Committee has taken onsingle-ply membranes in 2015. challenging research projects. In the spring ofThe CRRC S-100 standard identifies three climates 2015, the Committee identified an industry concernthat the membrane samples need to be exposed in; surrounding highly reflective roof membranes. Thisincluding Hot/Humid climate, Cold/Temperate led to a late summer 2015 research project that wasclimate and a Hot/Dry climate. The standard gives national in scope, and is described below.examples that meet these zones such as Chicago, IL, Miami, FL and Phoenix, AZ. Because of the In the past several decades the use of highly reflective roof membranes has gone from novelty in the 1990slarge geographic area required for the research, the to code requirement in many locales today. TheMRCA sought to collaborate with other roofing T&R committee has, for years now, suspected thatorganizations. From each of these cities 30 roofs the 3 year aged reflectivity numbers publishedwere sampled, for a total of 90 roofs. On each of the in manufacturers data have been optimistic.roofs 30 readings were taken with the Solar Spectrum Understand that the methodology used to produceReflectometer (SSR). This device has been in use these reflectivity numbers can be found in the Coolfor decades; and is essentially the basis for all of our Roof Rating Councils CRRC/ANSI S-100 (formerlypublished reflectivity values. CRRC-1) standard. This standard specifies aIn the end the research team, led by one of MRCAs methodology of exposing samples of a manufacturersTechnical Advisors Dr. Mathew Dupuis, has membrane in three different yet specific climates.produced a paper on this study. This paper will be However, this methodology uses relatively smallpresented at the 2017 Winter Conference for the samples, placed in a rack out in a field. The T&RAmerican Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Committee would offer that this process doesConditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). ASHRAE is a provide the public an objective measure of agedseminal and influential group in the realm of energy reflectivity. However, we have seen in past studies,codes and energy conservation. It is hoped that such as the MRCA reflective modified bitumenpresenting this important research to an influential survey conducted in 2013 (Highly Reflective,group outside the tight knit roofing community Professional Roofing 2013), that these 3-year agedmay inject some reality in energy use discussions, reflectivity values did not directly correlate to roofand dampen some of the tunnel vision ideology the top reflectivity numbers. building and energy codes sometimes represent. In the current United States roofing market,The MRCA is able to fund significant research single-ply membranes dominate a large majority ofthrough the MRCA Foundation, a 501 c (3). Please installations. Specifically, Thermoplastic Polyolefinconsider coming to this years Foundation Auction, (TPO), Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomerand support the MRCAs ability to fund college (EPDM) and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) are the majorscholarships, and important research to improve single-ply membranes installed. The MRCA withour industry. This years Auction will have on-line assistance from the National Roofing Contractorscapability.Please take a look at www.MRCA.org Association (NRCA), Western States Roofingto see the exciting activities at this years Annual Contractors Association (WSRCA), Chicago RoofingConference.Contractors Association (CRCA) and the Florida Roofing and Sheeting Metal Contractors Association www.mrca.orgMidwest Roofer 31'