Ontario Roofing News - Fall 2007.
(click here for full magazine in Adobe pdf format).

ON THE COVER:  Heritage Restoration Challenges
New Materials Can Mirror Original Design Features
By TOM SHREEVE, B. Tech. (Bldg. Sc.), Manager Re-Roofing Division, Semple- Gooder Roofing Ltd.
New St. James Presbyterian Church in London, Ont., has been a landmark structure in the community for the past 110 years. In 2002, the congregation undertook a renewal and replacement of the slate and associated metal-work on the church’s two towers, which rise some 120 feet above grade.    Read more...

Perimeter Edge Flashing and Wind Resistance
By PETER KALINGER, CRCA Technical Director
According to the insurance industry’s Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction, damage due to hurricanes and other windstorm events has increased dramatically in recent years, incurring losses of life and property around the world. With the exception of a few abnormally severe storms, most of Canada was considered immune to the devastation caused by the major win events that routinely rip through southern and Midwestern regions of the United States. This is no longer the case. Just in the past few years, severe storm systems have battered all regions of Canada, from the Atlantic through to the Pacific coasts. Early in the new year, winds gusting to more than 80 km/h tore through Atlantic Canada. Downed power lines in New Brunswick left an estimated 200,000 business and homes without electricity. More recently, Alberta experienced a storm with shearing gusts and sustained winds clocked as high as 120 km/h that damaged homes, pushed transport trucks off highways and spread debris throughout southern Alberta. Early this November, a major storm swept through British Columbia’s lower mainland blowing roofs off of buildings and bringing down hydro lines. Damaging winds in excess of 100 km/h toppled a four storey steel frame building under construction.    Read more...

Inside The OIRCA
By Don B. Marks, Executive Director, OIRCA

Labour Unrest
The start to the 2007 roofing season was disrupted by the first industry strike in over twenty-five years.  In essence, the entire month of May was lost.  Combine that with the fact that we enjoyed outstanding weather throughout the entire month and I think that it is safe to say, roofing contractors became so far behind that they may never makeup for the loss.    Read more...

What is Installation Insurance?
By SIMON FENN, President, Fenn & Fenn Insurance Practice Inc.

A widely misunderstood yet very important coverage to roofing contractors is Installation insurance, often referred to on most trade contractors’ property insurance policies as an Installation Floater. Although the coverage forms differ to some degree from insurer to insurer, it is What is Installation Insurance?
really the trade contractor’s equivalent to Builder’s Risk Insurance required in most CCDC contract property insurance specifications.   Read more...

Double N Earthmovers Ltd. v Edmonton (City of) (S.C.C)

In the recent case of Double N Earthmovers Ltd. v Edmonton (City of), the Supreme Court of Canada considered the scope of an owner’s obligation to treat all bidders fairly during the tender process.    Read more...

The National Roofing Contractors Association Offers Green Roof Systems Manual – 2007 Edition
The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) has released (itals)The NRCA Green Roof Systems Manual – 2007 Edition (enditals). The manual provides in-depth technical information regarding the design and installation of quality green roof systems. The focus of the manual is waterproofing aspects of green roof systems.    Read more...

President’s Message
By Marc Jamieson, President, OIRCA 

Green Roofing Systems and the Building Code
I recently read an article authored by Mr. Mark Graham, the Associate Executive Director of Technical Services for the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) in the US regarding code compliance for green roofing systems.  He notes that although the popularity of these systems is increasing, their conformity with building code requirements is a concern, particularly regarding resistance to exterior fire exposure and wind uplift.    Read more...