By Heidi J. Ellsworth.

Building enclosure professionals across the industry are making plans to gather in Sacramento, California, March 12–15, 2026.

Hosted by the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC), the annual IIBEC International Convention & Trade Show brings together consultants, contractors, manufacturers and service providers focused on roofing, waterproofing and total building enclosure performance. With more than 20 education sessions and a trade show featuring over 140 manufacturers and service providers, the event delivers valuable insight, technical expertise and meaningful industry connection.

The convention runs Thursday, March 12 through Sunday, March 15, with the auxiliary seminar taking place on Thursday and the trade show floor openi on both Friday, March 13 and Saturday, March 14. From education to exhibits to networking, the week is designed to help professionals strengthen their knowledge and expand their relationships.

One of the featured moments of the week will be the opening ceremony and keynote presentation on Friday, March 13 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Attendees will hear from Brett Culp, an award-winning documentary filmmaker and keynote speaker, presenting Superhero Leadership in Uncertain Times. His message focuses on purpose-driven leadership, authenticity and service during moments of change, offering inspiration that resonates far beyond the conference hall.

Throughout the convention, attendees will also have the opportunity to connect during a full schedule of networking events including the RCI-IIBEC Foundation golf tournament, welcome reception, regional meetings, trade show receptions, awards ceremony, emerging professionals networking event, foundation live auction and the President’s Annual Banquet. These gatherings create valuable opportunities to build relationships that strengthen careers and businesses long after the event concludes.

The trade show floor will once again feature leading manufacturers and service providers supporting the building enclosure industry. RoofersCoffeeShop is proud to have partners participating as sponsors at the conference, including Carlisle Construction Materials, Elevate, GAF, Johns Manville, Sika, SOPREMA, Versico Roofing Systems, Anchor Products, H.B. Fuller, IB Roof Systems and USG. Their continued involvement reflects a shared commitment to education, innovation and long-term industry advancement.

Adding to the energy of the event, The Coffee Shops™ will once again host a full sound stage on the trade show floor sponsored by Western Colloid, interviewing consultants, contractors and exhibitors throughout the conference. These live conversations will spotlight industry trends, real-world challenges and the voices shaping the future of the building enclosure and roofing communities.

Overall, the 2026 IIBEC International Convention & Trade Show delivers a powerful combination of education, innovation and connection in one place. Whether your focus is technical expertise, professional development or expanding your industry network, this event offers insight and opportunity at every level.

And time is running out to take advantage of early registration pricing. The early registration deadline is February 6, 2026, and once it passes, rates are set to increase. Hotel rooms at the official convention hotels are also filling quickly, making now the best time to finalize travel plans.

Register now to secure early pricing, book your hotel before availability is gone and join building enclosure professionals from across the country in Sacramento. Be part of the conversations shaping the future of the industry.

By Lauren White.  

There’s no voodoo involved when talking about cool surfaces at the CRRC Annual Meeting.  

Between ghost tours, vampire apothecaries and beignets, the Big Easy hosted the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) annual meeting. From June 10-12, 2025, members of the CRRC, committee members, sponsors and interested individuals ventured south to New Orleans, Louisiana to talk about Cool Surfaces in Action.  

Day 1 - Committee meeting day  

After breakfast, handshakes and hello’s, the technical committee kicked off the day with roll call, minute approvals and proposed revisions and changes. George Daisy with DOW and the chair of the CRRC technical committee; Sarah Schneider, CRRC deputy director; and Stacey Weister, CRRC senior technical manager presented throughout the morning.  

About 40 people in person and a handful via Zoom convened for the first half of the day making decisions about definition edits and procedural changes to five-point reflectance test updates and insights on the program manual digitization project. 

After the lunch break, the educational committee meeting started both in person and via Zoom for those who couldn’t travel this week. Kurt Shickman, an interested individual and the educational committee chair; Audrey McGarrell, CRRC communications manager; and Iona Isachsen, Smart Surfaces Coalition shared:  

• Project updates and timelines for completion  
• Downloads and resources information  
• Cool surfaces lesson plan status update  

At the end of the day, the floor opened up for anyone to talk about new business, ask questions and for updates on ongoing projects and discuss future priorities and projects.  

Day 2 - Annual meeting time 

This year, about 70 people, ranging from roofing contractors and interested individuals to manufacturers and research and academic professionals, convened to hear updates, ask questions and learn about new initiatives happening across the nation.   

Sponsors for the event include: Ace Laboratories as a platinum sponsor; Duro-Last, 3M, Climate Reserve, PRI, MACOMA as gold sponsors; IKO, DOW, Atlas, Siplast, Westlake Royal Roofing Solutions, RoofersCoffeeShop® as silver sponsors; Topps Products and R&D Services as bronze sponsors. 

Attendees represented a range of professionals from state energy offices, laboratories, distributors, codes and compliance divisions and universities. Some companies in attendance included: Sherwin-Williams, General Coatings, Western Colloid, Polyglass, 3M, ACE Laboratories, Hawaii State Energy Office, National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), CertainTeed, National Coil Coatings Association, among others.  

A common theme throughout updates and presentations during the day was expanding reach and education. The CRRC continues to grow and while most members are located in the United States, there are now members in India and Australia. They also continue to broaden their reach through podcasts and webinars, speaking and showcasing at trade shows, publishing new resources, building up their social media – go follow them on LinkedIn, Instagram and Threads – and more! The morning was full of committee information and updates. 

Looking ahead, their goals are to continue to educate building contractors, increase code and program references, make cool surface research more accessible, and also improve and grow existing rating programs.  

Marty Hastings Award   

The 2025 recipient of the Marty Hastings Award is Kurt Shickman who has been a member of the CRRC for over a decade and has held multiple leadership roles throughout the years. The Marty Hastings Award was started in 2011 to honor Marty Hastings, a longtime CRRC board member and contributor. The recipient of this award is someone who makes great contributions to the CRRC and their efforts. In addition to the award, a monetary donation is made to a charity of the recipient’s choice. Kurt chose to donate to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), Future Climate Leaders Scholarship. The EESI is a nonprofit offering science-based education to policymakers and the public, aiming to build a sustainable, resilient future through solutions to climate, energy and environmental challenges. This donation will go to fund scholarships and other academic support programs for students at historically black colleges.  

Cool guest presentations about cool surfaces  

Adopting cool roofs in historically cool climates  

Julia Nassar, senior energy and climate planner for The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) for Greater Boston shared about “Expanding Cool Roof Awareness and Adoption in Metro-Boston.” MAPC is a regional planning agency serving the people who live and work in the 101 cities and towns of the Metropolitan Boston region. According to Julia, the frequency and severity of extreme heat events in historically cooler regions like New England where aging housing stock, low AC prevalence and limited heat-risk awareness leaves residents ill-prepared. MAPC’s Cool Roofs Initiative is a project aimed at expanding the awareness and adoption of cool roofs to help reduce heat and energy demand. Their goal is to promote the adoption of cools roofs in the Metro Mayors (16 cities making up the inner core of Boston) region through developing support tools and resources. 

Through the Cool Roof’s Initiative, they developed tools and resources to raise awareness among building owners, contractors and policymakers in Metro-Boston. Julia shared a variety of resources available, including: 

• Cool roof self-assessment: 11 question assessment to help people determine if a cool roof is right for a property  
• Cool roof suitability tool – Interactive map that allows users to identify opportunities for cool roof retrofits. 
• An Educational Toolkit that’s translated into five different languages  
• Market analysis of cool roof potential 

Data and climate action and heat mitigation  

Douglas Melnick, chief sustainability officer for the city of San Antonio, about heat mitigation efforts and ongoing research efforts in San Antonio. As the sixth largest city in the U.S. with 17% of the population identified as low income, rising temperatures are affecting more people, costing more and having major negative impacts. San Antonio saw a record high of 117 degrees Fahrenheit in 2024! According to Douglas, “Extreme heat is here and it’s only going to continue to get more severe as we see an increase in temperatures because of human-caused climate change.”  

During his presentation, “SA Climate Ready and Cool Neighborhoods: A Data-driven Approach to Climate Action and Heat Mitigation,” Douglas shared about the Urban Heat Mitigation Program that the City of San Antonio launched in 2024. Following an extensive mapping process, the City’s Office of Sustainability launched a Cool Neighborhood Program in four target areas to concentrate layered heat mitigation activities in conjunction with ongoing research. Based on the research, 73% of people shared that they were interested in cooler roofs as a strategy to mitigate heat. When cool roofs were installed on homes there was a significant 7.3% energy use reduction and a 10.1-degree reduction. The Cool Pavement Program started in 2023 and as of this year they’re on track to install 22.35 miles of cool pavement. Possible materials being tested are: GAF Streetbond – Durashield, SealMaster – SolarPave, GuardTop – Iron.    

Albedo management  

I learned a new term during this presentation: albedo. Albedo is the Latin word for “whiteness” or “lightness” and is the measure of how reflective a surface is. “Shine On: Recognizing Local and Global Benefits of Albedo Management” was presented by members from Climate Resolve. Bryn Moncelsi, deputy director, and Selena Melgoza, senior climate solutions analyst shared details about the Shine On Initiative, which was launched to recognize the full range of benefits of cool surfaces to spur broader deployment. A nonprofit based in Los Angeles, California, Climate Resolve’s mission is to champion equitable climate solutions. As of January 2015, Climate Resolve passed LA’s Cool Roof Ordinance and Rebate requiring all new and replacement roofs to be a cool roof. They were the first major city to establish a cool roof ordinance, and 10 years later, over 18 million square feet of cool roofing materials have been installed.  

While cool streets are still in the pilot phase, they continue to work with the community and industry partners to reach widespread adoption. According to Climate Resolve, 40% of asphalt cover radiates heat all day and night, making it crucial to cool these surfaces not only for people accessing the streets but also to curb the urban heat island effect. As part of their pilot they have installed cool materials in a variety of city blocks, outdoor basketball courts and have seen a heat differential as high as 12 degrees Fahrenheit. While it’s still gaining traction, to date there have been 182 lane miles installed and they’re looking forward to more adoption and installation in the future.  

This is my second year attending the CRRC Annual Meeting, and I learned just as much this year as I did last year in Las Vegas! It’s pretty incredible to be in the same room as other like-minded people from around the world who are working towards a more sustainable future. We write a lot on The Coffee Shops about sustainability and green initiatives, and the work the CRRC is doing is vitally important. I continue to be impressed with the brilliant minds who are helping the world stay cool. 

Our Influencers program celebrates its ninth year of giving back to the industries it serves.

The Coffee Shops™, the award-winning websites where the industries meet for technology, information and everyday business, announces the 2025 Influencers for RoofersCoffeeShop (RCS), MetalCoffeeShop® (MCS), CoatingsCoffeeShop® (CCS) and RCS en Español.    

Each month, Influencers respond to a topic that is relevant and timely in their respective industry such as the ethical usage of AI, remaining competitive, using social media to grow your brand, regulatory challenges, emerging technologies and more. RCS, MCS, CCS and en Español feature Influencer responses through interviews, videos and articles. These Influencers represent every corner of the roofing, metal and coatings industries, including contractors, associations, manufacturers and service providers. Their contributions are showcased in dedicated sections on each website, shared on social media and featured in weekly eNewsletters.

“Our goal is to amplify the insights and expertise our influencers offer, tackling the key challenges faced by professionals in the roofing, metal and coatings industries,” said RCS President Heidi J. Ellsworth. “We are proud to highlight our Influencer’s wisdom and expertise across all Coffee Shops. We are committed to supporting and encouraging industry growth and are honored to promote these amazing Influencers.”

“This year, as part of the RCS en Español initiative, we are excited to shine a light on authentic voices that reflect the diversity of our industry. Their stories and expertise inspire the next generation of skilled workers and ensure that every community sees a future for themselves in the trades," Ellsworth emphasized.

We are proud to announce the following 2025 Influencers:

RoofersCoffeeShop  

1. Matt Copeland – Copeland Building Envelope  
2. Ron Harriman – retired roof consultant
3. Erica Reed – Elite Construction Solutions  
4. Rachel Garcia – Malarkey Roofing Products
5. Patrick Cochran – Red Dog’s Roofing  
6. Melissa Chapman – Glo Group  
7. Jake Magalsky – Ace Roofing  
8. Allison Woslager – Integrity PNW  
9. Steve Little – KPost Roofing & Waterproofing  
10. Lee Lipniskis – Levello Construction  
11. John Kenney – Cotney Consulting Group  
12. Tammy Hall – CFS Roofing Services  
13. Ashley and Seth Pietsch – Integrity Insurance & Bonding Inc  
14. Trent Cotney – Adams & Reese  
15. Rich Carroll – Carroll Consulting  
16. Jay Wade – Service First Solutions  
17. Joshua Adams – Roof Scout  
18. Lucas Severance – Slate Valley Supply  
19. Greg Hayes – Pauls Sheet Metal

MetalCoffeeShop

1. Hayley Bohmer – New Tech Machinery   
2. Jena Jackson – Indiana Metal  
3. Erik Trefzger – Orca Roofing   
4. Bob Mesmer – RMG Erectors   
5. Randy Chaffee – Source One Marketing   
6. Holly Gotfredson – American Metalcraft, Inc.   
7. John Kenney – Cotney Consulting Group   
8. Haley Iselin – Metal Roof Specialties   
9. John Sheridan – Sheridan Tools   
10. Stacee Lynn – The Barndominum Company  
11. Thea Dudley – Pocket Protectors LLC
12. Robert Tiffin – Metal Building Contractors and Erectors Association (MBCEA)
13. Greg Hayes – Pauls Sheet Metal
14. John Chan – The Durable Slate Company   
15. Renee Ramey – Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA)
16. Laurie Moore – Kreiling Roofing   
17. Travis Sliger – 4Ever Metal Roofing

CoatingsCoffeeShop

1. John Kenney – Cotney Consulting Group
2. Johnny Walker – ICP
3. Greg Hlavaty – Western Colloid
4. Lisa Irby – Thomas Roofing
5. Shawn Morgan – KPost Roofing & Waterproofing
6. Joe Sorrentino – Sherwin-Williams Roofing Solutions
7. Tracey Donels – Service First Solutions
8. Greg Hayes – Pauls Sheet Metal
9. Ryan Blad – 838 Coatings
10. Will Lorenz – General Coatings
11. Greg Serevetas – USA General Contractors Corp. 
12. Zong Nguyen – CertainTeed

RCS Influencers en Español

1. Teresa Ramírez – Southeast Staffing Agency
2. Julissa Chavez – SRS Distribution
3. Jaqueline Sancen – Latinos in Roofing
4. Amparo Sancen – Sancen Contracting and Latinos En Roofing
5. Lorna Rojas – Tremco
6. Monica Vornbrock – The Glo Group
7. Duliar Valladres – SRS Distribution
8. Octavio Vázquez – Owens Corning
9. Fransisco Serrano – Roofers Going Digital
10. Sandra Damaris – Southeast Staffing Agency

Find more information on the 2025 RCS Influencers, MCS Influencers, CCS Influencers and Español Influencers. 

About The Coffee Shops

Award-winning websites and online communities make up The Coffee Shops. Starting with RoofersCoffeeShop, which launched in 2002, the growth of the sites has been explosive for the construction trades of roofing, metal, coatings and their customers. Currently featuring four sites, RoofersCoffeeShop, MetalCoffeeShop, CoatingsCoffeeShop and AskARoofer, all the sites are committed to advocating for the construction trades by supplying consistent information, education and communication avenues for all contractors, while promoting positive growth, education and success of construction industries overall. Visitors to the site continue to find excellent opportunities for sharing information while participating in important ongoing conversations concerning new technologies, safety and overall construction information and education. The Coffee Shops are “Where the Industries Meet!” For more information, visit www.thecoffeeshops.online.

Join the Davis Memorial Foundation and support higher education through scholarships!

Your experience awaits you with this unique and exciting virtual tour of our Live Silent Auction! With over 45 items to choose from, including lifestyle, roofing and sports – you will be able to find that “IT” item – and help us meet our goal of raising $50,000 towards the Davis Memorial Foundation scholarship fund. Since it's founding in 1997, the Davis Memorial Foundation has now awarded over 180 scholarships totaling more than $800,000!

The Virtual Silent Auction opened today at 8 a.m.! You can now bid on these amazing items:

Try Burch Kira chain shoulder bag
An eclectic mix of bohemian glamour and American sportswear, the Tory Burch brand is known for effortlessly stylish, always-interesting pieces.

• 100% lamb leather construction
• 50% nylon, 50% polyurethane trim
• Interior slip pocket
• Top handle
• Chain accented shoulder strap
• Magnetic snap closure

Donated by: The GLO Group

$1,000 Edgewood Tahoe Gift Card
Like the great lodges of the American West, Edgewood Tahoe is a showcase of artisanship and imagination, from the most nuanced tones and textures to resplendent architectural statements. George and Tom Fazio Championship golf course is ranked in the top 100 courses nationwide and lies in the action packed South Shore of Tahoe.

Donation by: General Roofing Company

Seattle Seahawks Tickets
You pick the Seattle Seahawks Game of your choice for the club seats! Package includes 1 set of 2 Club Seat Tickets to a Seattle Seahawks Game.

Donated by: Convoy Supply

Two nights at Stephanie Inn, Cannon Beach Oregon
Stephanie Inn is the home of laid-back luxury. Relax in their beachfront reading room, connect over beach walks and forest hikes, celebrate at their award-winning restaurant and indulge yourself at their spa.

Your trip includes:

• 2 nights lodging ( $1,500 maximum)
• Bottle of sparkling wine in room
• $175 dining room credit

Donated by: Dealers Supply Co.

GoPro Hero 8
Waterproof Action Camera with Touch Screen 4K Ultra HD Videos, 12 MP Photos and 1080p Live Streaming Stabalization. Discover the world's most versatile action camera!

Donated by: Arizona Roofing Contractors Association (ARCA)

TUMI compact 4-wheel brief
Versatile and compact, this case makes taking your business on the road a breeze. With the option of being carried or wheeled, it gives you flexibility wherever you need to travel.

Donated by: Capitol Roofing Service

Los Angeles Football Club Tickets
The Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) is a world-class football club representing Los Angeles and committed to delivering an unrivaled fan experience.

This package includes tickets for:

• Saturday, October 19, 2024 @ 6 p.m.
• 4 Seats, including an aisle seat, section 110, row T
• Parking pass
• Electronic tickets to be transferred via Ticketmaster

Donated by: Lucas Roofing Products

Other fantastic auction items include:

The live auction will be held on September 29, 2024 at the Paris Las Vegas! The virtual auction opened today at 8:00 a.m. and closes on October 1, 2024 at 5:30 p.m.

The Davis Memorial Foundation is operated under the auspices of the Western States Roofing Contractors Association

Larry and Mary Davis personified the heart and spirit of the roofing industry community. Committed to supporting the professional standing of roofing contractors, Larry promoted high standards and believed that a well-educated membership was key to the industry's future success. Founder of State Roofing Company in Modesto, California, Larry served as a director on the Western States RCA Board of Directors and was active on several committees, often flying to meetings with his wife Mary in their private airplane. They perished in a plane crash in 1995 when they were returning from a committee meeting. The Foundation was created in their honor.

By Dani Sheehan. 

Discover the latest trends and innovations in roofing at NTRCA’s Not So Mini Trade Show. 

The North Texas Roofing Contractors Association (NTRCA) is gearing up for its highly anticipated annual event, the Not So Mini Trade Show, on August 8, 2024, at the Hilton DFW Lakes in Grapevine, Texas! The premier gathering for roofing professionals in North Texas, this trade show offers a blend of networking, learning and leisure. Attendees can look forward to escaping the summer heat while engaging with industry leaders and other contractors over a refreshing cold beer and hearty lunch. 

The trade show is designed to be straightforward yet highly effective. It serves as a platform for contractors to gain insights into the latest industry trends, products and services with a diverse range of exhibitors. You’ll have the chance to learn more about innovative solutions and create lasting partnerships to enhance your company. 

All exhibitors at the show will be provided with a standard, six-foot table to ensure the focus remains on direct and personal interactions as you make your way through the exhibit floor. Join industry giants including Beacon Building Products, EagleView, GAF, Owens Corning, Polyglass, TAMKO and Western Colloid who are already planning to attend. You can also make connections with associations like MRCA, National Women in Roofing (NWIR) and RCAT by registering to attend. 

One of the most cost-effective shows to participate in, you’ll have access to a huge range of Texas roofing contractors, manufacturers and distributors without the high expenses typically associated with larger events. Not only will you have incredible opportunities for education and networking, but you will also have the chance to win various prizes. 

The Not So Mini Trade Show promises to be a highlight of the year for roofing professionals throughout Texas. Join other like-minded individuals in combining business with pleasure in a way that fosters growth and collaboration within the industry. 

For more information and to register for the event, visit the NTRCA Trade Show page. 

By Lauren White. 

The CRRC Annual Summer Meeting updated, educated and inspired from the ground up. 

With a view of Las Vegas on the 51st floor of the Palms Casino and Resort, the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) Annual Summer Meeting kicked off on the morning of June 5, 2024! With record attendance, over 80 people flew from 23 different states, Puerto Rico and Washington D.C., to Las Vegas to hear updates regarding pavements, financials, wall ratings, international outreach and more. RoofersCoffeeShop® was honored to be one of the Silver sponsors of the event. Other sponsors include: ACE Laboratories and TOPPS Products Inc. as Platinum sponsors; Duro-Last, Climate Resolve, Western Colloid, Covia and MACOMA as Gold sponsors; Westlake Royal Roofing Solutions and DOW as Silver sponsors. 

Attendees represented a range of professionals from state energy offices, laboratories, distributors, codes and compliance divisions, universities and even Google! Some companies in attendance included: Sherwin-Williams, IB Roof Systems, Johns Manville, Malarkey Roofing Products, General Coatings, Western Colloid, Polyglass, ARMA, 3M, GAF, ACE Laboratories, among others. 

After breakfast and an opportunity to network and meet new people, we kicked off the day introducing ourselves, approving the minutes from last year and received administrative updates. This meeting is an opportunity for board members, CRRC members and staff, and interested individuals to get an overview of what the CRRC has been up to over the year – and it’s been a busy one! Between the Ratings Codes and Standards Committee submitting proposals to the ICC, IECC, among others, an update regarding technical research and the difference between Rapid Ratings versus the three-year aged ratings and what that means for rating potentials, the CRRC isn’t slowing down anytime soon! 

It was a full day but a few committee update highlights included: 

• CRRC Roof Directory standards – In order for a product to be on the CRRC Roof Directory as an actively rated product, it must be validated every seven years. Products are constantly required to be evaluated on their effectiveness and reflectivity. 
• Pavement rating program – Pavement is roughly 30% of urban surfaces and other than trees, cool pavements have the greatest UHI (Urban Heat Island) reduction potential due to the fact that pavement is a dark, heat trapping surface. The CRRC is working on creating a pavement rating program. 
• Accredited Independent Test Labs (AITL) – In order to be a CRRC-approved laboratory, they must be ISO/IEC 17025 accredited, attend laboratory training, submit all required documentation, maintain test methods on accreditation scopes and participate in biennial Interlaboratory Comparison Study (ILC). These AITLs are independent from manufacturer and distributors. Currently there are seven approved Roof AITLs with the goal of CEPT University in Ahmedabad, India being the eighth AITL this year. CEPT University is a multidisciplinary think tank and Stacy Weister, CRRC technical manager, will be traveling to India this summer to train with them. 

Education and outreach 

Education and outreach continue to be a large focus of the CRRC. Everyone in this room is familiar with what’s happening with this program, but there are still many out there who aren’t. If people knew that the information regarding standards, ratings, and more are available from an independent, third-party program, they’d use it. So, you’ll be seeing more podcasts, webinars, articles and outreach from the CRRC team to continue to get the word out and spread the cool news! 

Part of that education is through the CRRC continuing education program. This program is now available on the AEC Daily platform and is the 14th most popular course on that platform. This program is registered with 28 U.S. and Canada organization that provide CE credits, including: AIA, BGCI, NAHB, IIBEC. Another part of their outreach includes a STEAM educational curriculum for middle schools. After realizing that most of their educational materials are geared towards professionals, and in an effort to educate the general public, the CRRC realized that schools are a great platform to start the conversation and educate about cool surfaces. The goal of this curriculum is to help them learn about solar absorbance, urban heat, cool surfaces and the role architectural surfaces play in mitigating the effects of heat. Part of the curriculum is a series of three videos and we were some of the first people to have a sneak peek of one of them!  

Marty Hastings Award 

The Marty Hastings Award was started in 2011 to honor Marty Hastings, a longtime CRRC board member and contributor. The recipient of this award is someone who makes great contributions to the CRRC and their efforts. The 2024 recipient is George Daisy who currently serves on the Technical Committee and has previously been involved in a variety of ways including being a CRRC board member and serving on the Education Committee. In addition to the award, a monetary donation is made to a charity of the recipient’s choice. Mission Teens, Inc. was the charity George chose and is a program that helps people overcome their addictions. There are 20 centers around the U.S. for this full residency program. 

International outreach update 

Last year, India was identified as being a massive potential market for cool roofs and walls based on the pace of new building construction and the amount of cool roof requirements at the state level and engagement form the national government. Phase 1 started in December 2023 and wrapped up in February 2024 and included identifying and meeting with key stakeholders, discussing collaboration and resource needs and strategic actions with stakeholders. In-person meetings were also held with national and state governments, technical stakeholders like universities and labs, in addition to civil society and the industry overall, focusing on tile and metal manufacturers. Phase 2 will include continuing to advance stakeholder relationships and integrate CRRC into local initiatives, identify and secure funding to provide advice and technical support to stakeholders.  

Guest speakers – Cooling from the ground up 

City of Phoenix experience with cool pavement coatings 

Ryan Stevens with the City of Phoenix presented a 2020 pilot project where an asphalt seal coat product was applied to asphalt roads. This coating is light in color, enhances reflectivity, can be applied with a squeegee or sprayed on and is compatible with existing asphalt surfaces. A safe, non-toxic material that’s suitable for typical activities on a road is durable like a regular seal coat. So far, the study has shown that the surface temperature of the cool pavement (CP) on average was cooler than asphalt concrete. While 100 miles of cool pavement have been installed, the study is ongoing, and moving forward they’re looking for longer-term performance testing, new types or colors of cool pavement and high-end air temperature tests. Already based on consumer feedback they changed the color from an off white, which they used initially, to a light gray which provides less glare and was well received by consumers.  

A study of solar reflectivity of coatings for exterior wall applications 

Professor Ray Fernando from California Polytechnic State University has been the occupant of the Arthur C. Edwards Endowed Chair in Coatings Technology and Ecology since 2002. He is also the director of Cal Poly’s Kenneth N Edwards Western Coatings Technology Center. Ray provided a technical overview of different wall coatings and how reflective they are. A lot of very technical data was presented that definitely piqued the interest of many people in the room, but was a bit too technical for me without a science background. A few takeaways from his research and findings included: 

• All tinted films have perfect contrast ratio 
• Hybrid pigments can provide small increases of solar reflectance (SR) 
• Hollow spherical materials provide greater increases in SR 
• IR reflective black pigments provided the highest increase in SR 

Planning cooler cities with Google’s Cool Roofs Tool 

Mansi Kansal and David Fork with Google Research presented on how Google hopes to help local governments plan, advocate and evaluate ways to increase cool roof adoption to mitigate the harmful effects of urban heat. Through their Cool Roofs Lab, they’re using high resolution, aerial imagery to infer reflectance at higher resolution to provide building level insights to help urban planners determine where to implement specific projects. This imagery, combined with socioeconomic data, can help determine which neighborhoods would benefit most from cool roof interventions. The Cool Roofs Lab is currently live in 15 cities, some of which include: Los Angeles, Phoenix, Nashville, New York, San Antonio and also Melbourne, Australia! 

As a first-time attendee of this event, I was blown away at not only the organization of the day, but the amount of information, research and technology that’s out there is astounding. In such a big industry, it’s amazing to sit in a room with 80 people from all around the world who all have the same interests and want the same things for our future. To be amongst scientists, academics, contractors and people who are just curious about what’s new in the cool roof and wall landscape, was unique. And I can’t wait to see what else the CRRC does! 

By Anna Lockhart.  

Here’s what has been trending on MetalCoffeeShop™ (MCS) this past month.  

The month of February was full of exciting announcements and product launches for the metal community, and our readers enjoyed catching up on the latest news. One such article of interest highlights the success of the 2024 NWiR Day event, which was held right before the 2024 International Roofing Expo (IRE) in Las Vegas. 450 women from across the roofing industry gathered for this event, hosted by National Women in Roofing (NWiR), to celebrate the hard work and impact women have on the industry.  

Another popular article for February covered the game-changing product from Western Colloid, the 298 X Asphalt Emulsion. As an industry leader in fluid-applied reinforced roofing systems, Western Colloid has yet again debuted a high-quality product. The emulsion was designed to revolutionize the way contractors restore gravel roofs and ponding areas while also offering a fire-resistant filler element.  

The most popular article for February among our readers detailed the latest collaboration between Renoworks and EagleView. The brands recently announced a new, all-in-one virtual 3D design program created for contractors to easily measure and visualize building exteriors! This program marries Renoworks’ top-of-the-line visualization capabilities with EagleView’s industry-leading geospatial data and aerial imagery technologies.  

Read the Top 5 articles:  

5 – Malco Products pushes the industry forward  

4 – NWiR Day 2024 was a home run! 

3 – Western Colloid Announces a Game-changing Product – 298 X Asphalt Emulsion 

2 - RoofersCoffeeShop® Announces 2024 Influencers for its Coffee Shop Communities  

1 – Renoworks and EagleView Announce New All-in-one Virtual 3D Design and Measurement Tool for Exterior Contractors

Western Colloid announces a new product to revolutionize the restoration of gravel roofs that have ponding water.

Western Colloid, the recognized leader in the roofing industry in fluid-applied reinforced roofing systems, announces the launch of 298 X Asphalt Emulsion, a product that revolutionizes the restoration of gravel roofs and ponding areas. 298 X Asphalt Emulsion contains a proprietary fire-resistant filler that increases the volume solids of the emulsion, making it much more effective as a fill coat over rough surfaces and to build up areas that have ponding water. 

“With 298 X, we’ve added a special lightweight component to the standard 298 Asphalt Emulsion to maintain volume after drying,” explained Western Colloid President Greg Hlavaty. “The increased volume lessens the shrinkage that usually occurs when used as a fill coat over gravel or in ponding areas after evaporation.” 

Western Colloid is a leader in developing systems to restore gravel roofs with their 298 Asphalt Flood Coat product that eliminates the need for a costly tear off and re-roof. The launch of 298 X allows contractors and building owners to achieve an even smoother surface on a roof restoration.

“Primarily, we're using it in gravel systems to fill voids, but it's also ideal in low and ponding areas as a ponding filler,” stated Hlavaty. “It’s also saving time and labor as in most cases a second pass is no longer needed when applying emulsion.”

Traditionally asphalt emulsion is not a high-solids product. The enhancement to produce the 298 X product transforms the standard asphalt emulsion into a high-volume solids product for enhanced performance and appearance. This formulation is currently being manufactured at the company’s Alvarado, Texas plant due to the high demand for re-roofing gravel roofs in that region. Production will be expanding in 2024 to their Oakland and Los Angeles, California plants. 

“We are excited for the potential of this product and soon we will be offering Western Colloid 298 X in a spreadable grade for more specific use in ponding areas,” said Hlavaty. “We are very excited to add that version as virtually every roof has some standing water somewhere.  In the future you will be able to just take a five-gallon pail of 298 X, apply it, let it dry, and continue with your installation.”

Be sure to visit Western Colloid’s website at www.westerncolloid.com for more information.

About Western Colloid

For over 50 years Western Colloid has been recognized in the roofing industry as a leader in FARR - Fluid Applied Reinforced Roofing, Reflective Coating Systems and Premium Asphalt Sealcoats.  Headquartered in Southern California, with five other manufacturing plants and distribution centers, they can provide products to contractors and building owners anywhere in the Western and Mid-Western States.  Western Colloid is also known for extensive experience in coatings, pioneers in energy saving and cool roof products and unique paving solutions. Acknowledged for their exceptional customer service and training they also offer bulk transportation and delivery solutions with their own fleet of trucks, saving contractors time and money.

Western Colloid can be reached at 800-464-8292 or www.WesternColloid.com.

This recognition was for his dedicated leadership and exceptional contributions to the roof coatings industry. 

Western Colloid, a leading manufacturer of fluid-applied roofing, reflective coating systems and premium asphalt sealcoats, announced today that its President, Greg Hlavaty, was recognized for his service to the RCMA and the roof coatings industry by the Roof Coatings Manufacturer Association (RCMA).

This recognition was for his dedicated leadership and exceptional contributions to the roof coatings industry.

Hlavaty has been an active member of the RCMA serving as a board member and officer, in the position of Vice President, President, and lending his industry expertise to various committees and task forces throughout his many years of service to the organization.

This service award was presented to Hlavaty by current RCMA President Chris Huettig at the RCMA Summer Meeting in Cleveland, Ohio, July 28, 2023.

“It is such an honor to be recognized by my fellow RCMA members” said Hlavaty. “I extend my gratitude and appreciation to the RCMA and my peers within the organization.”

Throughout Greg’s time with the RCMA, he has been a passionate advocate for the Association’s growth and development, and his efforts on behalf of the RCMA have strengthened the roof coating industry and have vastly contributed to the success of today’s roof coatings.

About Western Colloid
Western Colloid is a leading manufacturer of fluid-applied roofing, reflective coating systems and premium asphalt sealcoats. For more than 50 years, Western Colloid has been servicing the roofing and coatings industry and remains committed today to producing systems that are environmentally friendly and energy efficient. For more information visit www.westerncolloid.com.

About RCMA
RCMA is the national trade association representing manufacturers of asphaltic and solar reflective roof coatings and the suppliers to the roof coatings industry. RCMA is a leading industry voice, promoting the benefits of roof coatings and providing its membership with up-to-date information on building codes and standards, technical developments. For more information on RCMA activities, programs and initiatives, please visit us at www.roofcoatings.org.

By Anna Lockhart. 

Here's what's been trending on MetalCoffeeShop™ (MCS) this past month.   

Although MCS is the go-to place for news about metal construction, we also provide insights and news about the construction industry as a whole! From looking at our top five articles in April, we know that our readers trust the MetalCoffeeShop as a reliable source of all types of news and information.   

One of our most popular articles in April was a piece written by John Kenney about the importance of scaffolding safety and learning how to properly use the equipment to both keep workers safe on the job and to meet OSHA safety requirements. This piece is part one in a series of articles detailing the importance of scaffolding safety techniques written by John.   

Another popular article in April, in honor of Earth Day, focused on highlighting popular and sustainable roofing materials contractors could benefit from using. With sustainable roofing in high demand, there are certainly particular roofing materials that outshine others in sustainability and eco-friendliness that contractors can consider for their next project.  

Our most read article for the past month is the open invitation for community members to meet the MetalForming team and see a machinery demo in person by visiting their headquarters! Whether customers are just passing by on vacation or a work trip, they are always welcome to come on by and see first-hand what MetalForming is about, from seeing product demos to meeting the wonderful people behind the brand!  

Read the top 5 articles: 

5 - Why the Metal Roofing Alliance is so Important 

4 - Scaffolding Safety – Part One 

3 - MetalVue Collaborates With Predictive AI to Advance Marketing Strategy 

2 - 10 Sustainable Roofing Materials Every Contractor Should Know About 

1- Meet the MetalForming Team: an Open Invitation 

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