Florida Building Commission

Roofing Technical Advisory Committee

Minutes

June 27, 2014 at 9:01a.m.

The meeting was held via teleconference/webinar:

https://suncom.webex.com/suncom/j.php?ED=280371552&UID=492507407&RT=MiMxMQ%3D%3D

Teleconference: 1-888-670-3525  Code: 6062326940

public point of access: Department of Business and Professional Regulation

Northwood Centre, Suite 90A, 1940 North Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399

(850) 487-1824

TAC

TAC Members Present: Chairman; Brian Swope, Remington Brown, Jimmy Buckner, Karen Warseck, Mark Zehnal

Alternates: Robert Whitcomb for Chuck Goldsmith

TAC Members Absent: Bob Boyer, Billy Cone, Chuck Goldsmith, Lorraine Ross

Guests: Kurt Gurley- FSEC -University of Florida, Mike Innes-Single Ply Roofing Industry, Jaime Gascon-County of Miami-Dade, Dwight Wilkes, Sal Delfino, Jeff White-Palm Beach County

Staff Present: Mo Madani, Marlita Peters, Jim Hammers, Joe Bigelow, Zubeyde Binici, Robert Benbow, Norman Bellamy

Ø Objective: To accept Final report on the research project entitled: Survey and Investigation of Corrosion of Fasteners used to Secure Roofing Systems and discuss potential future research topics.

Meeting Agenda
Objective	Review of objectives will included the following: Description of issue, discussion by TAC, public comment, Commission action.
1)	Welcome and Opening Remarks: Meeting began at 9:01am with instructions regarding meeting protocol.
2)	Roll Call: Roll was taken a quorum was present.
3)	Review and Approval of Meeting Agenda: Motion by Robert Whitcomb, seconded by Jimmy Buckner to accept the Agenda as posted for today’s meeting. Unanimous vote of approval.
4)	Approval of Minutes of April 3, 2014: Motion by Jimmy Buckner, seconded by Robert Whitcomb to accept the previous Minutes of April 3, 2014. Unanimous vote of approval.
5)	Accept Final Report: Research project entitled: Survey and Investigation of Corrosion of Fasteners used to Secure Roofing Systems. Mr. Kurt Gurley provided an online presentation via webinar. The presentation included the survey results and Mr. Gurley explained the methods used for obtaining those survey results (i.e. survey questions were established via the assistance of a professional survey group, University of Florida Survey Research Center, along with input from [Codes and Standards] staff and Roofing TAC members. The surveys were mailed with renewal forms via the Board of Construction and Building Code Administrator’s Licensing Board. The same survey questions were provided in the membership packet at the most recent Building Officials Association of Florida Conference held in Clearwater, Florida in June, 2014. Also, Mark Zehnal, Director of Technical Services with FRSA, notified its membership of the survey and encouraged their participation. All of these methods combined resulted in 385 responses out of 1500 solicitations. Breakdown: 88%-Roofing Contractors, 6.5%-Roofing Inspectors, 1.2%-Building Officials, and 4.5%-Other with an average of 19 years of experience in the field. Of the 385 respondents 10% worked in the Miami-Dade County, 85% worked within 10 miles of the coast and 80% reported observing corrosion. The survey results included a look at types of fasteners, installation processes and location in proximity to the coast. Many indicated that the installation process could be a major factor, as well as, quality control in the manufacturing/distribution processes and the difference between class 1 and 2 grade fasteners. Several future research aspects were suggested. All of which to be discussed after a review by the Florida Building Commission, should the Commission approve future research and testing. After discussion, motion was made by Mark Zehnal, seconded by Karen Warseck to accept the final report as presented. Unanimous vote of approval.
6)	Discuss and recommend potential research topics for consideration by the Commission Two recommendations by Mark Zehnal were presented. First to move ahead with the next phase of research [regarding the fastener corrosion issue] to possibly include field inspections and to seek input from Professor Gurley as to what direction the next phase should take. And second to research the results of using spray polyurethane foam on the underside of plywood decking as insulation in both residential and commercial structures in non-vented attic spaces and the resulting deterioration it may be causing. Mr. Zehnal remarked that Dr. Miller of the Oakridge National Testing Laboratory has some research, but it has been suggested that Florida conduct a survey to see if it an issue here, as well. In response to the first suggestion, Professor Gurley stated that he would issue a ‘white paper’ description of the next steps forward for consideration by the Roofing TAC and the Commission as part of the final report regarding corrosion of fasteners which will include some of the suggestions made during this meeting. Regarding the second issue (spray polyurethane in non-vented attic spaces) suggested by Mr. Zehnal, Professor Gurley recommended research already conducted by Dr. David Pravatt of the University of Florida Research Office as a starting point. Chairman Swope confirmed that more than one recommendation could be forwarded to the Commission for consideration and suggested the TAC make a motion to move ahead with the research on the corrosion issue and move into the testing phase and also to look into the spray polyurethane issue, as well. TAC member, Jimmy Buckner, indicated that these projects should be considered separately and made the TAC aware that [Dr. Pravatt] has three years of research on the spray polyurethane issue and holding moisture which would be a strong starting point for this issue and should not be considered together with the project concerning the corrosion of fasteners. Motion was made by Mark Zehnal, seconded by Karen Warseck to request of the Florida Building Commission to move to the next phase of testing and research regarding the corrosion issue. Vote was taken with unanimous approval. Motion was made by Mark Zehnal and seconded by Brian Swope to request of the Florida Building Commission, future research on the use of polyurethane foam as insulation in both residential and commercial non-vented attic spaces causing degradation in the decking. Karen Warseck suggested that a review of the research already conducted should be completed prior to moving ahead with any future research. Mr. Madani suggested that Professor Gurley could discuss this possibility with Dr. Pravatt. Mr. Gurley added that Mr. Madani should speak directly to Dr. Pravatt for clarity on the research that has already been completed and from that conversation glean information that would determine if packaging those results and making recommendations is warranted or further research is necessary to provide a full report. Chairman Swope asked that TAC indicate a priority of issues. Mr. Zehnal suggested that the corrosion issue was already started and should be completed and the second issue is new regarding the polyurethane foam in unvented attics and will possibly create a lot of testimony. Ultimately, the Commission will make the final determination as to how the monies will be spent and the priority of these issues. Mr. Madani agreed that this would be relayed to the Commission with these priorities in mind and suggested that, if anyone else has more information to provide on either issue, they should relay it to him to be carried forward to the Commission. Mr. Buckner agreed. Also, Mr. Zehnal confirmed that the ‘white paper’ on the corrosion issue would be made available soon so it could be presented to the Commission along with the TAC recommendation to move forward on the future research and testing. Vote was taken with a vote of 5 yes – 1 no with Karen Warseck indicating that adding a second issue would dilute their proposal to the Commission. With a majority rule, this vote stands approved to move ahead.
7)	General Public Comment Mr. Dwight Wilkes would like to applaud the TAC for moving forward on the corrosion fastener issue and would like to suggest that they hone in on the coastal regions stating that, “There is something in the code we came across when doing the hurricane response back in the mid-‘90’s to [Hurricane] Opal. The exposure of not only fasteners but to clips along the coast and their corrosion. Unfortunately, because the code says that it is up to the building official, most of the building officials will not mandate a higher corrosion resistant fastener or clip because of the costs. So I feel that this is something that needs to come from this study. Whether it’s1500 feet, a mile, or the entire state of Florida, it needs to be set-in and, hopefully, part of the future codes when certain type fasteners are required, or the location of them. And would really support the real-world testing that was presented here today and the suggestion that they actually build and utilize the guns and see how these fasteners, the result of these fasteners, once they are installed. I think that is definitely needed and I applaud the TAC for pushing this forward. Thank you.” Doug Wise of Palm Beach County, “echoed Mr. Wilkes statement. This issue was brought to us almost two years ago and the failures we were seeing were not surface corrosion and I just want to make that really clear. Particularly, with ridge vents and ridge connections where the side of the nail was exposed to the weather. The things had basically rotted out to nothing and it was like a think wire holding the ridge vent on. So I think this really is an important issue and I appreciate the TAC’s willingness to look at it and also say that it is important. So again, you have my appreciation to Mo and everybody for working on this.” Mark Zehnal stated that, “I appreciate what Dwight said and it’s a heavy burden on the building official to be put in a position like that and I think that’s something that we should focus on as a TAC to come up with some type of guidance through the code to give to the building officials so there is certainty, not just for them, but for the contractors. And this will give some reassurance to the public, as well. And just like the gentleman from Palm Beach County said, we have a lot of asphalt shingle roofs put on in this state. Basically, because it is a lot more affordable for a lot more people. However, there are the tile roofs and the metal roofs that are put on, as well, for residential and it’s something we need to do as a TAC to help prevent these issues from occurring in the future. So I think that’s the important thing and I appreciate what Dwight had to say.”
8)	General Member Comment
9)	Adjournment: 10:23 A.M.

Staff Contacts: Marlita Peters, marlita.peters@myfloridalicense.com, (850) 717-1831;

Mo Madani, mo.madani@myfloridalicense.com, (850) 717-1825.

Note: This document is available to any person requiring materials in alternate format upon request. Contact the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Office of Codes and Standards, 1940 N. Monroe Street, Suite 90, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0772 or call 850-487-1824 or call 850-487-1824.