A reflective roof can reduce the amount of solar heat absorbed by a commercial building, potentially lowering cooling demand and electricity consumption. However, there is no single percentage of energy…
- August 14, 2026
What ENERGY STAR criteria apply to roofing products?
ENERGY STAR has historically used specific energy-performance criteria for roofing products, particularly for solar reflectance and the ability of a roof surface to maintain that reflectance over time. However, an…
- August 14, 2026
What are smoke vents and where does code require them?
Smoke vents are specialized roof openings designed to help remove smoke, heat, and combustion gases from a building during a fire. Unlike ordinary roof vents or skylights, smoke and heat…
Thermal emittance is an important property of roofing materials that describes how effectively a surface releases absorbed heat as infrared radiation. When evaluating a cool roof, thermal emittance works together…
Initial solar reflectance and aged solar reflectance describe how much sunlight a roofing surface reflects when it is new compared with how much it reflects after exposure to outdoor conditions.…
- August 14, 2026
What impact rating is required for skylights in the HVHZ?
Skylights installed in Florida’s High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) must be designed to withstand wind-borne debris and extreme hurricane conditions. Unlike standard skylights used in lower-risk areas, HVHZ skylights are subject…
Expansion joints are critical components of commercial roofing systems because they allow a building and its roof assembly to move as temperatures, structural loads, and building conditions change. However, flashing…
- August 14, 2026
What is the Cool Roof Rating Council and what does it certify?
The Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) is an independent organization that provides standardized ratings for roofing products based on their solar reflectance and thermal emittance. These properties help describe how…
- August 14, 2026
What FAA rules apply to drone roof inspections?
Drone roof inspections can help commercial property owners, facility managers, and roofing contractors document roof conditions without putting inspectors on every roof surface. However, when a drone is used for…
Yes. In the United States, a drone operator generally needs an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate under Part 107 when using a small drone for commercial roof inspections, documentation, photography, or…