b'CERTA UpdateBeing CERTA CertifiedGreg Sprague - Sprague Roofing Co.I t was a nice fall morning in 1983 when I answeredprogram available.In 2003 to address those insurance the phone at my office.On the line was one ofindustry concerns the MRCA and the NRCA partnered my repair technicians who was out on a servicetogether to revise the CERTA program and bring it to call.I could tell by the intonation in his voice thatthe roofing industry on a nationwide basis.Since that something was wrong as he explained to me that hepartnership the MRCA and NRCA have made CERTA had apparently started a fire while making a flashingthe largest roof torch safety applicator program in the repair at the parapet wall on a BUR roof while usingworld with over 26,000 roof mechanics having been CERTA trained and property damage losses caused by I could tell by the intonationroof torch fires have dropped dramatically. in his voice that somethingThe MRCA T & R committee and the NRCA TOC was wrong committee have been working together to edit and review a new updated CERTA training video.It should be ready in the near future. CERTA Train-the Trainer a roofing torch.My heart went to my throat as IAuthorization Class will be offered this September 21st jumped in my pickup and drove to the site of theand CERTA Train-the-Trainer Reauthorization Class fire.As I approached I could hear the sirens of thethis September 22nd both of those classes being held firetrucks wailing and the thick dark smoke billowingin Rosemont, Illinois.MRCA will be sponsoring a into the morning autumn sky.I had to pull over to theCERTA Train-the-Applicator Class in conjunction with side of the road to vomit and compose myself beforeNorth Texas Roofing Contractors Association in the proceeding to face my customer, the fire chief and theDallas/Ft Worth Area on October?The MRCA will local news media.It was probably the lowest point inonce again offer CERTA Train-the-Train Authorization my entire 40 plus year career as a roofing contractor. Class and CERTA Train-the-Applicator Classes at the All because my repairman was not adequately trainedMRCA Conference and Expo in Saint Louis, Missouri in safe roof torching practices.He was unaware of howthis coming October 21st through the 23rd.For negative air pressure in a building could suck the flamemore information concerning these upcoming CERTA of a roofing torch down in and behind the flashing ofTraining courses you can contact MRCA Staff at 800-the parapet wall and cause a fire! 497-6722 or visit MRCAs website at WWW.MRCA.Because of fires such as the one I just described inORG1986 the Midwest Roofing Contractors AssociationYou never want to experience a fire as a result of one introduced the CERTIFIED ROOFING TORCHof your employees not being CERTA trained!The APPLICATOR safety program better known as CERTACERTA program is one of the great success stories of to the roofing industry.From 1986 until 2003the roofing industry and the MRCA is committed to CERTA was an exclusive MRCA program. Due tothe MRCA/NRCA CERTA the increasing number of roof fires and large dollarprogram.MRCA and will amount of fire property loss claims the Insurancecontinue to promote and Industry was on the verge of no longer underwritingprovide CERTA training liability coverage to contractors who used an opento its membership and the flame torch in their roofing operations.Fortunatelyroofing industry now and for the roofing industry the MRCA had the CERTAinto the future. www.mrca.orgMidwest Roofer 31'