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WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT CODES AND APPROVALS

We must comply with governmental regulations and codes that are designed to maintain standards necessary for the protection of the public and property. This of course is also true of the building trades and manufacturers who supply the trades.
(SPFA Industry Testing & Approvals - IO1-R)

1. ROOF COVERING/ ROOF DECK CONSTRUCTION AND INSULATION CODES AND APPROVALS PROTECT YOUR ROOF, YOUR BUILDING... AND YOUR CUSTOMERS/ BUILDING OWNERS

"Building codes regulate the design, construction & maintenance of buildings. They are enforceable with minimum standards."

2. POLYURETHANE FOAM PRODUCTS THAT MEET BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS REDUCE THE BURDEN OF FIRE, LIABILITY ANT) OTHER HAZARDS

"Building Codes promote a level playing field for designers, suppliers and builders" and every one attending yearly Spray Foam Conferences.

3. POLYURETHANE PRODUCTS AND SYSTEMS THAT MEET FIRE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS PROVIDE LIABILITY PROTECTION AND ASSURANCE NECESSARY FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Fire resistance of building structures and the burning characteristics of building materials is paramount to contractors, manufacturers, contractors, architects, building inspectors... and ultimately the bulding owner and building users.

4. POLYURETHANE FOAM AND INSULATION PRODUCTS & SYSTEMS MUST MEET:

a. Fire Resistance Standards - ASTM, UL Accredited Independent Testing Laboratories
b. Basic Test Methods & Follow Up Requirements- Q.C. Manual guidelines, UL, ICC
c. Product Labeling Requirements - UL approved products should be labeled as follows:
"UL Classified - For Roofing Systems As To External Fire Exposure - 46PO" (Similar label)
Label should include model code agency, Fire Marshall & City code (as applicable)
d. Wind Uplift and Impact Resistance may also be required (depending upon area of country).

5. APPROVALS ARE REQUIRED ON NEW ROOF CONSTRUCTION AND ROOF RECOVER APPLICATIONS

"Codes apply to new construction generally and existing buildings that undergo reconstruction, rehabilitation or alteration."
a. UL Roof System approvals should include foam, coatings and surfacing
b. Ask your manufacturer for copies of their foam system approvals
c. Check the web for your manufacturer's approvals and listings. It's quick and easy.
d. Check "UL Roofing Materials & Systems Directory" (FM Approval Guide as necessary)
e. Check for Model Code Approvals & required Regional & City approvals in your areas

6. ASTM - WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU

"ASTM provides test methods to evaluate products, materials, specifications, practices and guides" for foam manufacturers and applicators.
a. American Society of Testing & Materials/ American Standards in Building Codes is the Bible of Tests for our industry.
b. "ASTM Standards of Construction and Building Design Industries are authentic sources of test procedures and the basis for acceptable quality of materials and constructions"
c. ASTM standards referenced by the nationally known Model Building Codes, provide assurance that products and systems comply within the codes.
aa. BOCA - National Building Code - Now part of ICC (International Code Council)
bb. SBCCI - Standard Building Code - Now part of ICC (International Code Council)
cc. ICBO - International Code of Building Officials - Now part of ICC (International Code Council)
dd. UBC - Uniform Building Code - Now part of IBC (International Building Code.)
d. ASTM C-1029 requirements have been revised with final results now required by ICC including AC- 12 & AC-75, ie. Density, Tensile & Compressive Strengths, Dimensional Stability and Surface burning Characteristics.
e. ASTM standards often used for the polyurethane roof industry include E-119, E-108, E-84, E-96, D-1621, D-1622, D-1623, D-412, D-2240, C-177, etc. Test requirements include procedures for fire resistance, permeability, tensile & compressive strengths, elongation, R-Value, k factor and much more.

7. UNDERWRITERS LABORATORIES

a. UL-94 Flammability of Plastics Materials For Parts In Devices and Appliances
Horizontal & Vertical Burn Tests
b. UL-263 Fire Tests Of Building Construction and materials
Bearing and Non-Bearing Walls and Partitions Test - Interior Floor & Roof Assemblies
(Note) P-733 Underside Roof Assembly Fire Test Approval is available from SPFA and SWD Urethane Company - expressed in hours.
c. UL-580 Uplift Resistance of Roof Assemblies
d. UL-790 Fire Resistance of Roof Covering Materials (First & foremost on test decks)
Class A, B, C Ratings on Combustible & Non-Combustible Decks
aa. Intermittant Flame Test
bb. Spread of Flame Test
cc. Burning Brand Test
e. UL-723 Surface Burning Characteristics of Burning Materials (Steiner Tunnel Test)
aa. Class I (A) - Spread of Flame 25 & Under (Smoke developed under 450)
bb. Class II (B) - Spread of Flame 75 & Under (Smoke developed over 450)
(Note: Smoke requirement is waived on exterior roofing applications)
f. UL-997 Wind Resistance of Prepared Roof Covering Materials
g. UL-1256 Fire Test of Roof deck Constructions (White House Test)
h. UL-1897 Uplift Tests for Roof Covering Systems
i. UL-2218 Impact Resistance of Prepared Roof Covering Material

8. FACTORY MUTUAL RESEARCH/ FM GLOBAL

Independent nationally recognized Factory Mutual Insurance Company, engineering and research organization may test, approve and accept building materials, equipment and services.
a. Class 1 4470/ 4880 - (10) manufacturers foam & coating systems were tested and approved in 1995 for fire resistance, 150 wind lift, simulated hail damage, resistance to foot traffic and susceptibility to leakage.
b. The same (10) companies conducted a second test in 2000 with an approval for foam application to metal decks. Check with SPFA (Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance), Ari-Thane Foam Products, Inc, or SWD Urethane Company for information & approvals.

9. NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION AGENCY

Key source for the development and dissemination of knowledge about fire and life safety. National fire codes are used for regulation and legislation at all levels. NFPA code development cycle is 104 weeks.
a. NFPA 25I... UL-263... ASTM E-1l9
b. NFPA 255... UL-723... ASTM E-108
c. NFPA 256... UL-790... ASTM E-84
d. State Fire Marshall compliance and approval as required. (California is mandatory)

10. CITY CODE COMPLIANCE

a. City of Los Angeles (Los Angeles report is mandatory)
b. New York City... (Check with the key cities in your area.)

11. MAJOR CODE COUNCILS

Note: ICC has recently been formed and approved as the leading major code body taking the place of all past code councils shown here with the exception of the NFPA. which is a similar code group working primarily with fire chiefs, The past code groups are still recognized here for contractors, architects and history.
Major code councils have been and are today still your assurance that foam products and systems (whether roofing insulation, building envelope or other foam applications), have been subjected to stringent testing with evaluation reports for your protection and use, as well as architects and building inspectors.
a. BOCA - Building Officials & Code Administration - Northeast & Central
b. SBCCI - Southern Building Code Congress International - South & Southeast
c. ICBO - International Conference of Building Officials - Upper Midwest & West
d. NES - National Evaluation Service - works is association with BOCA & SBCCI
e. IBC - International Building Code - New with proposed acceptance by all model codes - is in place in many areas of the country - (Note: Recently not accepted then reversed and accepted in California)
f. ICC - International Code Council (Consists of three model building codes). FYI - All of the above codes were combined under the ICC January 1rst, 2003.
aa. NBC - National Building Code (BOCA)
bb. SBC - Standard Building Code (SBCCI)
cc. UBC - Uniform Building Code (UBC)
g. NFPA 5000 - National Fire Protection Association Model Code

12. EPA "ENERGY STAR" REFLECTIVE COMPLIANCE

a. Manufacturer/ Charter Partner requirements
b. Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU)
c. January 1, 2001 - New requirements and new slogan (Saving More Than Money)
d. Annual submission of up-to-date product documentation and compliance is required.
e. Initial Solar Reflectance - greater or equal to 0.65 - (ASTM E-903)
f.. Maintenance of Solar Reflectance - 0.50 after (3 years) (ASTM E-19l8)
g. Coating manufacturer's products must be listed on "Energy Star" 'Qualified Contractor's List' prior to inclusion in the California Roof Retrofit Cool Coating Incentive Program

13. PAST CODE AND APPROVAL CHANGES

a. Montreal Protocol - January 1, 2003
New blowing agent requirements specified by the EPA were put in in place on this date. SWD Urethane Co., as well as other manufacturers, component suppliers and the SPFA were very involved in petitioning the EPA on this issue, but lost. HFC 245fa Bolwing agent has largely replaced the old HCFC141b blowing agent in the U.S.and much of the world today.

14. UL APPROVED ROOF SYSTEMS ARE VERY IMPORTANT

Manufacturers, contractors, distributors, customers and building owners should have the protection and assurance provided by a complete UL approved roofing system. Note: A Fire Resistant Polyurethane Foam and Coating System must be tested, approved and UL listed with components tested together as a total system... or you don't have a UL approved roof system.
The approved foam system may consist of more than one manufacturer, if approved and shown together in the UL Roofing Systems and Materials Directory. Note: Accurate Major Code Council Reports, state & city approvals must also have the entire roof system shown together.

15. UL, FM, ICC, NFPA, NRCA, CRRC, ENERGY STAR TESTING STANDARDS, APPROVALS & GUIDELINES

Test procedures, approvals and code compliance in Polyurethane Foam, Covering and Insulation Systems are for your benefit, as well as the protection of the public and property. The guidelines, reports and approvals provided and/or shown by these agencies and organizations will help to protect you and your company

16. TITLE 24

California Title 24 mandates that new commercial construction contractors are subject to the california Energy Code and must meet new 'cool roofing' requirements. Ignorance or unawarenss of the code in Title 24, Part 6 is unacceptable. SEE TITLE 24

17. IMPORTANT WEB SITES TO REMEMBER

http://www.ul.com
http://www.factorymutual.com
http://www.swdurethane.com
http://www.energystar.gov
http://www.sprayfoam.org
http://www.nfpa.org
http://www.fire.ca.gov
http://www.icc.com
http://www.arizonafoam.com
http://www.coolroofs.org

FOR MORE INFORMATION…

Please contact us for a free estimate, further information, architectural specifications or answers to your questions about polyurethane foam roof systems, specifications and approvals.…