b'FIRE RATINGStural sheet metal roof on a low-slope/ ABOUT THE AUTHORS cipal and the practice lead for Stantecs flatroof.Therefore,thedesignmayNicolas Demers is a co-op student withBuilding Specialty Services (BSS) group needtochangetoincreasetheslopeStantec,currentlystudyingbuildinginWesternCanada.Thespecialty to allow for a metal roof. Or considerscienceengineeringatConcordiaservices include building science, code afire-ratedmembrane.ThedesignofUniversityinMontreal,Que.Inhisandlifesafetystaff,aswellasseveral the roof (slope, ventilation) and mate- sparetime,Nicolasenjoyshikingandotherdisciplinesincludingtechnology, rial selection of the roof are importantlearning any subject that is brought tocommissioning,acoustics,lightingand elements in protecting the home fromhis attention. many more. Harold is a current member heat, rain, snow and embers. We needofRCABCsTechnicalCommittee. theroofcoveringtodoalot,andHaroldLouwerseisaprofessionalHaroldenjoysmakingpeoplelaugh, collectively, we need to do a lot as welllicenseeofengineering(P.L.Eng.)inshort walks on golf greens and is a yes to advocate for better roofs across thisbuildingscienceandisaRegisteredman, which is why he agreed to write beautiful province. Roofing Observer (RRO). He is a prin- this article.IMPLICATIONS FOR ROOF REPLACEMENTSMostroofs,dependingonroofcover typeandifdesigned/specifiedandStart with a fortressbuiltcorrectly,haveatypicallifespan of around 25-30 years, after which they wouldneedtobereplaced,recovered or recoated. As mentioned above, it is reasonable to assume that more AHJs may introduce by-laws looking for higher roof classifications going forward, espe-cially for those in high-risk areas and to reduce the fire risk for existing building 2025 GAFFTSAD001-0425stock.Itisgoodpracticeonprojects tofamiliarizeyourselfwiththelocal by-lawsthatrequirespecificmaterials for roof replacement. Proposing mate-rials that meet a Class A rating is a great start. There may be insurance benefits to property owners for such improve- FT Solutions Premier Butyl Leak Barrier ments as well, but ultimately, protectingBonds tenaciously | Overlaps without primer | Seals around penetrationshuman life should be something we are all making a priority.CONCLUSIONAs building codes evolve, we may see AHJsandtheprovinceadoptmore stringent classifications to promote the use of Class A roof assemblies and fire- Nobody builds like QXOrated roofing materials to protect againstWe supply top-quality roofing, waterproofing, and externalfirethreats.Roofmaterialcomplementary building productson site, on ratings and classifications are important for ensuring safety in building design andtime, and built to deliver. Especially when it counts.construction.ItsimportanttospecifyWhy pros choose QXO: and install fire-resistant roofing where itSuperior customer service makes sense and where required, espe- Proudly stocking top brands cially in wildfire-prone areas. It is alsoEasy online ordering and job managementimportant to understand the differences between fire-resistance ratings and roof fireclassificationstomakeinformedExplore QXO Canada onlinedecisionsthatenhancethesafetyofqxo-canada.comstructures and help protect human life, our businesses and our communities.www.rcabc.orgl23'