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2010 Spring Seminar

The Roofing Industry Committee on Weather Issues, Inc. invites you to join us Friday, March 26, 2010 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, FL for our 2010 Spring Seminar.

Major Changes in the ASCE 7-10 Wind Provisions: Hot Air or a Fresh Breeze?
Jay Crandell / ARES Consulting / ARMA
The ASCE 7-10 standard contains major changes in the presentation and technical content of the wind load provisions. Format changes include a breakdown of the wind provisions into separate chapters for various wind load applications and calculation methods. The intent is to present the information in a format such that the user can more quickly find and apply relevant information to specific projects or interest, including simplified methods when appropriate. Major changes in technical approach include the development of new wind maps that are based on the "ultimate" (i.e., 700-year return period) wind speed, thus requiring a wind load factor of 1.0 instead of 1.6 for strength-based design and a wind load factor of 0.6 instead of 1.0 for traditional allowable stress design. In theory, these coordinated changes do not change the wind load and only affect a coordinated factoring of wind load with the ultimate wind speed map which serves as a better means of ensuring a more uniform wind risk in design. However, the revised wind map also includes improved analysis of wind hazard which tends to reduce wind loads along hurricane coast lines. But, such reduction is offset at the immediate coastline by reinstating the wind exposure D classification for coastal exposures in hurricane prone regions. The new wind speed map also results in a reduction in the geographic extent of the wind borne debris regions. These and other changes and their significance will be addressed in this presentation.

Improved Roof Design Learned From Four Hurricanes
David A. Roodvoets / DLR Consultants
Each of the four hurricanes investigated by RICOWI has had its own signature and distinctive damage patterns, as well as some common elements of damage. Causes of damage will be reviewed and ways to avoid the damage are suggested.

1. HURRICANE CHARLEY 2004
   • Our first investigation Charley was a narrowly focused hurricane with extremely high winds at landfall. Some roofs were undamaged by 140 mph winds and others were destroyed. Key characteristics of the surviving roofs are explored, as well as information from roofs that were significantly damaged.
2. HURRICANE IVAN 2004
   • This investigation quickly followed Charley, and RICOWI passed on investigating two other hurricanes that hit Florida in 2004. Ivan covered more area. It had a storm surge that created damage and loss of life, but its peak winds were less than in Charley. The effect of pressurization was very evident from this storm.
3. HURRICANE KATRINA
   • Hurricane Katrina is considered the most destructive natural disaster in US History. The wind field was large and the storm surge was powerful, but the strongest winds were less than Ivan & Charley. Damage patterns seen in the first two hurricanes were repeated on a large scale.
4. HURRICANE IKE
   • The storm covered a vast area and high winds from the storm proceeded all the way to Ohio, however the wind speeds were not as great as from the previous three storms. Although power outage was a major problem, roof damage was more isolated and generally less severe. In this storm there were many cases of buildings that had several roofs with nearly no damage, to buildings with roofs that had been severely damaged.

• WHAT NEXT?
  What will RICOWI investigate next? The presentation concludes with some options being considered for future hurricane investigations.

Roof Ventilation - How You Can Avoid Design & Installation Errors
Gary Urbanski / Diversi-Plast Products (Trimline Building Products)
Paul Scelsi / Air Vent
This presentation will explain why roof ventilation is a natural "green" choice for the steep slope property owner and is a low cost method of maximizing energy efficiency. Design professionals should be able to educate property owners on the importance of ventilation for the performance of their roofing system and what purposes roof ventilation serves. From being an integral part of moisture control in the attic space and roof system to ice dam protection and reducing heat build-up, the use of natural convection through proper roof ventilation can be an important part of any steep slope roofing system. This presentation will take the attendee through the basics of roof ventilation and the associated calculations that should be understood by the roofing contractor and then through a "not-to-be-missed" review of the top installation errors that can easily be avoided through education of their field personnel.

Making Mitigation Fun For Everyone
Joe Tankersley / Imagineer, Disney
Without a public understanding and commitment to mitigation and safety efforts all the science and technology in the world will do little good. So how do we help the general public see the value of new safety technology, enhanced codes and improved building practices? For the past few years a group of creative designers have been tackling that very problem at a most unlikely place, Walt Disney World. Their efforts have results in award winning public experiences and exhibits that are starting a new conversation around building safety and disaster mitigation. Joe Tankersly, Sr. Show Writer and Producer, will talk about the work being done and share with the audience the techniques used by Walt Disney Imagineering to create fun, compelling and meaningful public experiences.

WUFI - A Useful Forensic Tool / Three Roof-Related Disputes
André Desjarlais / Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Phil Dregger / Technical Roof Services, Inc.
Computer simulation has seen increasing acceptance in the building science community as a means of understanding heat, air, and mass transfer through building envelope components. Simulation tools such as WUFI are now routinely used in the design, investigation, and remediation of roof and wall systems. This presentation will review the capabilities and limitations of these models and demonstrate how they were used to help resolve disputes involving roof-related moisture questions, including:

• If lightweight structural concrete decks, containing relatively high amounts of moisture, could cause mold growth on insulation boards with organic facers installed over them as part of a re-roof project.
• If replacement of an aggregate surfaced built up roof with a highly reflective roof covering caused mold growth observed on paper-faced gypsum board ceilings inside.
• If plywood decks, saturated by rain immediately before installation of built up roof coverings, caused condensation and deterioration on the plywood decks up to three years later.

Learning How to Design Your Roofing Envelope in the World of Cool / Green Roofing Requirements
Richard Olson / Tile Roofing Institute
This presentation will touch on the latest information for designing with LEEDS, BEES, Energy Star, Cool Roof Ratings and the various Energy Rebates that can be found in the roofing community today. We will try and provide a "what we know as of today" for the design of both low and steep slope roofing assemblies.