Low-slope roofing systems require careful planning, material selection, and detailing to ensure long-term performance and weather resistance. This course covers everything from wind design and insulation to membrane systems, coatings, and moisture control. Participants will gain hands-on insights into roofing codes, warranties, and maintenance strategies to avoid common failures and extend roof life.

• Contractors, architects, and materials specifiers involved in roofing design and construction.
• Commissioning authorities, product manufacturers, and owner’s representatives overseeing roofing projects.
• Anyone responsible for the maintenance, repair, or re-roofing of low-slope roofing systems.

• Identify and apply best practices for designing and installing bituminous, single-ply, and liquid-applied membrane systems.
• Understand insulation types, moisture control strategies, and code requirements for low-slope roofing.
• Evaluate roofing details, warranty provisions, and maintenance programs to ensure long-term system performance.

Day One

Welcome and Student Introductions

Building Owner Responsibilities - Warranties, Maintenance, and Repair

• Roof warranties
  • Types
  • Exclusions
  • Owner responsibilities
  • Cautions and take-aways
• Roofting system maintenance and repair

Roof Decks and Wind Design

• Roof deck types and design
• Steel roof deck profiles
• Concrete roof decks
• Wood roof decks (e.g., plywood, OSB, wood plank, wood boards)
• Wind load calculations
• ASCE 7 wind load design
• FM Global and FM Approval wind design methods

Roof Insulation

• Purpose of insulation
• Above-deck insulation vs. below-deck insulation
• Insulation types:
  • R-values
  • Properties
  • Limitations
• Insulation attachment
• Insulation coverboards
• Energy Code requirements
  • IECC 2024 for insulation above-deck configurations

Asphaltic Roofing Systems

• History
• Evolution of available systems
  • The Build-Up Roof (BUR)
  • Modified Bitumen roofs
  • Detail considerations
• Feature / Benefits (why)
• Challenges
• Uses with other system types

Liquid-applied Membrane Systems

• What is a liquid membrane?
• Membrane chemistry
• General installation
• Construction details and liquid flashings
• Surfacings
• Repair and maintenance

Day Two

Single Ply Roof Systems

• History
• Membranes
  • Types
  • Features / benefits
  • Standards
  • Cautions
  • Seaming
• Attachment
  • Mechanically attached
  • Adhered
  • Ballasted
  • Induction welded
• Surfacing and overburden
• System performance
  • Performance parameters
  • Key considerations
• Repair and maintenance
  • Inspections
  • Routine maintenance
  • Repairs
• Detail considerations
• Innovations in single ply options

Codes and Standards

• History of code and standards
• Standard organizations (e.g., ASTM, FM, UL)
• Fire testing and classification ratings
• International Code Council (ICC)
• International Building Code, 2021 Edition:
  • Wind
  • Fire
  • Prescriptive requirements
  • Reroofing
• Other codes applicable to roofing

Moisture Mechanics and Air and Vapor Control

• Introduction
• Moisture mechanics of materials
• Vapor retarder design
• Air retarder design
• Avoiding moisture problems
• Moisture surveys

Helene Pierce

Helene pierce has spent over 40 years in the roofing industry and has been very active in many of the industry’s organizations.  She received the ASTM Award of Merit and title of Fellow from ASTM Committee D08 on Roofing, Waterproofing and Bituminous Materials, the James Q. McCawley award from the Midwest Roofing Contractors Association, and the title of Fellow of the Institute from the Roof Consultants Institute.  In 2019, Helene received the J.A. Piper award from the National Roofing Contractors Association, the industry’s highest recognition for service to the NRCA and the industry. She served on the Board of Directors for ASTM from 1999-2002 and then on ASTM’s Executive Board as Chairman of the Finance and Audit Committee in 2003.

Among the many groups in which she has been active are the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA); ASTM International; the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI); the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA); the Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA); the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC); IIBEC Foundation Board of Directors; Single Ply Roofing Institute; Roofing Industry Educational Institute (RIEI); and the Cool Roofs Rating Council (CRRC).  Helene has also authored and presented numerous papers for the roofing industry and is a frequent contributor to industry publications. 

Mark Graham

Mark Graham is an experienced project engineer with expertise in the investigation, design, and repair of roof and waterproofing systems. With National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), he is responsible for developing and maintaining his association’s technical documents including the NRCA Roofing and Waterproofing Manual. Graham is also a contributing editor to Professional Roofing Magazine, as well as an active member of ASTM’s Roofing and Waterproofing, Thermal Insulation, Fire Standards, and Performance of Buildings Committees. Other memberships include ASHRAE, International Code Council and NFPA.

Matt Dupuis

Matt Dupuis is a licensed Professional Engineer with more than 15 years of experience. His area of specialization lies within moisture movement, temperature modeling, solar reflectivity, research and failure analysis. He has worked in the United States and internationally. His experience includes waterproofing and steep roof assemblies, as well as developing and teaching BIM courses at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Civil Engineering Department. He has contributed to numerous publications and articles, in addition to presenting topics on roof temperatures and hygrothermal modeling at various roofing symposia, as well as the International Roofing Expo, MRCA, SPRI, and RCI.