SPRI, the association representing sheet membrane and component suppliers to the commercial roofing industry, has created a web-based education program on perimeter metal edge wind design. 

WALTHAM, Mass. - SPRI, the association representing sheet membrane and component suppliers to the commercial roofing industry, has created a web-based education program on perimeter metal edge wind design.

The online seminar, entitled “Understanding ANSI/SPRI ES-1,” is available on SPRI’s website (www.spri.org) and is free to the general public. It provides 1 AIA LU (Learning Unit) and 1 RCI CEH (Continuing Education Hour) if successfully completed.

“This online seminar is designed to help the roof design community - as well as roof consultants, roofing contractors and others - better understand the ES-1 standard and how to apply it when designing and installing perimeter metal edge systems,” said Linda King, SPRI executive director. “ES-1 is currently the standard included in IBC (International Building Code) and is the primary standard by which roof edges are judged.”

ANSI/SPRI ES-1-2003, “Wind Design Standard for Edge Systems Used with Low Slope Roofing Systems,” was approved in 1998 and revised and re-approved in 2003. The standard addresses copings and horizontal roof edges and is intended as a reference for those individuals who design, specify and install edge materials used with low-slope roofing systems. The standard also incorporates features of the FM Global Standard ANSI/FM 4435.

“It is important to note, however, that meeting FM Global Loss Prevention Data Sheet 1-49 does not make an edge that is ANSI/SPRI ES-1 tested,” said Mike Ennis, SPRI’s technical director.

In 1998, SPRI developed a series of three tests (RE-1, RE-2 and RE-3) for determining the wind resistance of fascia and coping systems. In 2002, the IBC wrote the ES-1 guidelines into its 2003 code, and it has been included in all subsequent versions. All states have now adopted some version of IBC.

“The public wants performance testing for roof edge systems, including parapet coping caps,” Ennis said. “This need is demonstrated regularly as more states and localities adopt the IBC, which includes the ES-1 testing requirement. This means that designers and roofing sheet-metal fabricators (contractors) must provide roof edge systems that meet ANSI/SPRI ES-1, or they will be in violation of the code.”

The ANSI/SPRI ES-1 document can be downloaded in its entirety for free at www.spri.org/publications/policy.htm. The ES-1 online seminar can be accessed at www.spri.org/seminar.

For more information about the SPRI ES-1 seminar, visit www.spri.org or contact the association at info@spri.org.