WALTHAM, Mass.-SPRI, the national organization representing sheet membrane and component suppliers to the commercial roofing industry, has two industry task groups focused on increasing understanding and awareness of ANSI/SPRI ES-1. This roof edge standard was created by SPRI to improve the safety and longevity of commercial roofs. ES-1, Wind Design Standard for Edge Systems Used with Low Slope Roofing Systems, is included in the widely adopted 2003 International Building Code. It provides specific requirements for testing and calculating wind resistance for roof edge systems.
"We know that 79 percent of roof failures begin at the roof edge, so it's critical that the edge meet high, consistent and measurable standards for wind resistance," says Bob LeClare, chairman of the SPRI ES-1 Education Task Group and vice president, sales, of the W.P. Hickman Co., a roof edge manufacturer. "Our challenge is that many owners, architects, consultants and contractors are unaware of either the critical role the edge plays or the importance of the ES-1 standard, and that's why this task group was created."
The SPRI ES-1 Education Task Group goal is to communicate the existence and relevance of ES-1 to building owners, architects, roof consultants, contractors, code officials and others involved in the design and construction of roof systems. Because ES-1 is part of the 2003 International Building Code, it currently is a legal requirement in a growing number of states, and failure to specify and install ES-1-compliant roof edge could result in liability. The task group will also provide information on how to properly specify ES-1.
In April of 2003, SPRI created the ES-1 Technical Task Group to serve as a technical resource for the International Code Council. Brad White, vice president of sales for Metal-Era Inc., a roof edge manufacturer, is serving as the chairman and initiated the ES-1 Technical Task Group. "Since the ES-1 standard was adopted into ICC's 2003 International Business Code, there have been numerous recommendations to alter the wording of Section 1504.5 - Edge Securement for Low-Slope Roofs," says White. "As the author of the ES-1 wind uplift standard, SPRI felt an obligation to maintain the technical integrity for which ICC originally accepted ES-1 into IBC."
