THE ONLY SOURCE FOR PROFESSIONAL ICI ROOFING CONTRACTORS IN ONTARIO ORN 8  ONTARIO ROOFING NEWS – FALL 2018 RCI Ontario Chapter Seminar RCIOntario Chapter Seminar R CI’s Ontario Chapter (formerly the Roof Consultants Institute) hosted a breakfast seminar at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham on October 19, 2018. The topic of discussion was fires relat- ing to the application of torch-applied roofing systems. Delivering the presentation were three GTA fire prevention specialists: Nancy MacDonald-Duncan – Assistant Chief, Fire Prevention and Life Safety, City of Mississauga; Gary Pike – Inspector, Fire Prevention, Fire and Emergency Services, City of Mississauga; and Andre Clafton – Captain, Fire Prevention, Fire and Rescue Service, City of Vaughan. The Chapter had organized the event to address major concerns in the industry regarding the rash of rooftop fires spreading across this province and the country. In attendance were representatives from roofing consultant and inspection firms, manufacturers and suppliers, roofing contractors and the insurance industry. The country has witnessed some very serious fires that originated from re-roofing operations utilizing the torch application of modified bitumen roofing systems. In Ontario the Lakeridge Health Port Perry Hospital had been closed for over a year as a result of a fire which took place on August 25, 2017. This past June there was a major rooftop fire at Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Agriculture Cox Institute in Bible Hill, Nova Scotia, which is still closed. In Montreal two roofers ended up in hospital as a result of a rooftop fire that involved over 200 firefighters fighting a blaze that shut down a skyscraper in the downtown core; 30 floors of businesses and hundreds of employees have yet to return to the building. The presentation focused on changes made to the Ontario Fire Code regulations back in 2014, which were effective January 1, 2015. Those revisions were influenced by a roofing torch-related fire that cost the lives of two firefighters on March 17, 2011, in Listowel, Ontario. The revisions addressed hot surface applications. Section 5.11, Hot Surface Applications, of the regulations addresses the use of open flame torches, bitumen kettles and other heat-producing devices. In particular it covers exposed combustible materials, fire watches and portable fire extinguishers. Mississauga’s Nancy MacDonald-Duncan expressed disappointment that these new regulations have not resulted in fewer torch-related rooftop fires. She also reminded attendees that ultimately the building owner is responsible for carrying out the provisions of this code. Their representatives – whether architects, engineers or roofing consultants – must bear this in mind and advise their clients that they are liable for fire safety. The three presenters discussed their role when it comes to enforcing the Code and the charges that result from non- compliance. They expressed a desire to work with the roofing industry to find ways to reduce or eliminate rooftop fires and in particular those that result from the use of open flame roofing torches. Careandcontrol: Whoisliableforfiresafety? From left to right: Gary Pike, Fire Prevention Inspector (Mississauga); Nancy Macdonald-Duncan, Assistant Chief, Fire Prevention & Life Safety (Mississauga); and Andre Clafton, Captain, Fire Prevention (Vaughan). WWW.BROOKLIN.COM | 1-800-655-3430 | BROOKLINSALES@BROOKLIN.COM BISON ADJUSTABLE ROOF PEDESTALS ARE COMPATIBLE WITH ALL ROOFING SYSTEMS EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY | PROVEN PERFORMANCE | INDUSTRY LEADING TECHNICAL SUPPORT TYPICAL APPLICATIONS • Flat Roof Installations • Green Roof (LEED®) • Low or High-rise Structures • Commercial Buildings LEDGEROCK® RANDOM BRICK SOLAR WHITE SHOTBLAST NATURAL DIAMOND