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 a roofing material interacts with sunlight and heat.
For commercial property owners, facility managers, architects, and roofing contractors, CRRC ratings can provide an objective way to compare the solar-reflective performance of different roofing products.
What Does the CRRC Certify?
The CRRC operates a product rating program for qualifying roofing materials. Products can receive ratings for two important characteristics:
Solar reflectance measures how much of the sun’s energy a roofing surface reflects. A higher solar reflectance generally means the surface absorbs less solar energy.
Thermal emittance measures how effectively a surface releases absorbed heat as infrared radiation. A higher thermal emittance generally means the surface can release more of the heat it has absorbed.
Together, these measurements help characterize the thermal behavior of a roof surface.
CRRC-rated products can include various types of commercial roofing materials, such as roof coatings, single-ply membranes, metal roofing, modified bitumen products, and other qualifying roof surfaces.
Does a CRRC Rating Mean a Roof Is “Cool”?
A CRRC rating provides measured information about the roofing product’s radiative properties. It does not mean that every installation will deliver the same energy savings.
Actual building performance depends on many factors, including climate, insulation, HVAC efficiency, roof assembly, building use, roof orientation, weather, and installation quality.
A highly reflective roof can reduce the amount of solar heat absorbed by the roof surface, which may reduce heat transfer into the building. However, the overall energy impact should be evaluated as part of the complete building system.
How Are CRRC Ratings Used?
CRRC ratings can be useful when a building owner is comparing roofing products or determining whether a particular product meets a project specification or code requirement.
They can also be relevant to programs and standards that use solar reflectance or thermal emittance as part of their requirements. However, a CRRC rating by itself does not automatically mean that a roofing product qualifies for every incentive, building code provision, green-building credit, or local requirement.
The specific requirements should always be checked for the project location and application.
What Is the Difference Between CRRC Certification and a Roof Warranty?
These are completely different concepts.
A CRRC rating provides standardized information about certain physical properties of a roofing product.
A roof warranty addresses specified responsibilities and remedies associated with the roofing system, manufacturer, materials, or installation, subject to the warranty’s terms and exclusions.
A CRRC rating does not guarantee that a roof will last for a particular number of years, prevent leaks, or perform properly if it is improperly designed or installed.
Why Does CRRC Matter for Commercial Roofing?
For commercial property owners, the CRRC can make product comparison more transparent. Instead of relying solely on marketing descriptions such as “energy efficient” or “cool roofing,” owners can review standardized ratings for relevant roofing products.
This can be particularly useful in warm climates, where reducing solar heat gain may be an important consideration when selecting a roofing system.
However, reflectivity should not be the only selection criterion. A commercial roof also needs to be appropriate for the building, climate, existing roof assembly, drainage conditions, maintenance requirements, wind exposure, and project objectives.
Bottom Line
The Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) provides standardized ratings for qualifying roofing products, primarily reporting solar reflectance and thermal emittance. These ratings help property owners and design professionals evaluate and compare the thermal characteristics of roofing materials.
A CRRC rating is valuable information, but it is not a guarantee of energy savings, roof longevity, waterproofing performance, or code compliance. For a commercial roofing project, the rating should be considered alongside the complete roof assembly, insulation, climate, building requirements, and applicable Florida or local requirements.
Shieldline Roofing can help commercial property owners evaluate whether a reflective roof coating, restoration system, or replacement roofing system is appropriate for their building and project objectives.
Related Questions
- What ENERGY STAR criteria apply to roofing products?
- How is “cool roof” performance measured and verified?
- What is the difference between initial and aged solar reflectance?
- What is the Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) and why is it important for cool roofs?
- Is white EPDM a viable cool roof option in Florida?
- What is a whole-building energy model and how is the roof input?
- How does a roof contribute to WELL or Fitwel certification?
