ROOFING FLORIDA – August 2014

A Publication of the FRSA ◆ Florida’s Association of Roofing Professionals

2014 Convention and Expo Review 2014 Campanella Award Building on a Strong Foundation S.T.A.R. Award Winners FBC Designates $175K in Roofing Research Understanding Unlicensed Contractor Violations OSHA’s New Beryllium Standard Affiliate Competition Results

August 2014

Happy FRSA Self Insurers Fund members receiving their portion of the $5,000,000 dividend...

Self Insurers Fund

Shouldn’t you be one of them too?

Call us to see if you qualify at (800) 767-3772, Ext. 222

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James Brauner Receives 2014 Campanella Award

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2014 S.T.A.R. Award Recipients

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OSHA’s New Beryllium Standard

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Self Insurers Fund Outstanding Safety Awards

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Building on a Strong Foundation

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Understanding Unlicensed Contractor Violations

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FBC Designates $175,000 in Roofing Research

Now Available Online at www.floridaroof.com/rfm

A Publication of the FRSA ◆ Florida’s Association of Roofing Professionals

On the iPad

FRSA Executive Director, Lisa Pate, CEM ◆ Editor, John Hellein

For display advertising inquiries and all feedback including Letters to the Editor and reprint permission requests (please include your full name, city and state) contact John Hellein at: john@floridaroof.com (800) 767-3772 ext. 127 RFM, PO Box 4850 Winter Park, FL 32793-4850 View media kit at: www.floridaroof.com/rfm

Any material submitted for publication in ROOFING FLORIDA becomes the property of the publication. Statements of fact and opinion are the responsibility of the author(s) alone and do not imply an opinion or endorsement on the part of the officers or the membership of FRSA. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without permission from the publisher.

www.is.gd/iroofing

ROOFING FLORIDA (VOL. 5, NO. 8), August 2014, (ISSN 0191-4618) is published monthly by FRSA, 7071 University Boulevard, Winter Park, FL 32792. Application to mail at periodicals postage is pending at Winter Park, FL and additional offices. POSTMASTER: Please send address corrections (form 3579) to ROOFING FLORIDA, PO Box 4850, Winter Park, FL 32793-4850.

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James Brauner Receives 2014 Campanella Award

Jim Brauner, pictured above right, of REF in Orlando received the 2014 Bob Campanella Award from former recipient Bill Bryans, CPRC, above left, at the Officer Installation and S.T.A.R. Awards Dinner during FRSA’s Annual Convention and Expo in Orlando.

Brauner, also known as “Mr. Membership,” has participated as an FRSA member for 15 years and became a director in 2001. Since then, he has served on the Membership and Convention committees as well as the Affiliate Council and Disaster Preparedness and Response committee. He has also served the Association as an FRSA Credit Union director.

Brauner credits his success in the Florida industry to his involvement in this Association. If you have spent any time with him, you know that his commitment to FRSA is infectious and that non-members he interacts with have a way of quickly becoming members.

The Bob Campanella Award was initiated in 1965 by the St. Petersburg Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association and is a memorial tribute to the late Bob Campanella, owner of Ace Roofing Company in St. Petersburg.

–RFM–

stevea@rkhydrovacnc.com rons@rkhydrovacnc.com chadm@rkhydrovacnc.com

www.RKHydroVac.com 4

ROOFING Florida

August 2014

Jim Brauner shakes hands with Tony Trotti, the “speed artist” who sketched Brauner while the Campanella Award was announced.

Burt Logan ◆ President’s Column

Building on a Strong Foundation At the Officer Installation and S.T.A.R. Awards Dinner during the FRSA 92nd Annual Convention in Orlando in July, I had the opportunity to share my vision for the coming year. Here is an adaptation of that acceptance speech for my first column as President of FRSA. As I reflect on the effective leaders of this Association over the past 92 years, I realize what an honor and privilege it is to serve as President of FRSA. In addition to my family, I’d like to recognize and thank the people from CORE Roofing Systems for their support and friendship. Thank you to Rob Springer for his leadership and guidance over the past year along with each of the members of the Executive Committee that I have had the opportunity to work with through the years.

Over the past few years, the Executive Committee, the committee chairs, volunteers and staff have done a lot of heavy lifting to make some major and needed changes to FRSA. As a result, we are better prepared to face the new and exciting challenges in front of us. We still have a lot of work to do to realize the potential of those changes: a stronger future for our members. My theme for the coming year is “Building on a Strong Foundation.”

The foundation of this Association was laid many years ago through the leadership of great men and women. At its core, it consists of the excellent and valuable member services that we provide; in fact, member services are why we are here in the first place. For me, “building a strong foundation” means that our main focus in the coming year will be to provide better services to our members, whether you’re a contractor, a supplier or a manufacturer.

In the last year, FRSA began to establish its first training center at our new headquarters in Winter Park. This new training center will be at the forefront of focus on member services. The center is a great asset for FRSA, providing a facility to train and educate the people in member companies as well as others in the industry.

Other new frontiers that we have recently embarked upon are the modified Convention and Expo format and the creation of the Young Professionals Council.

The new Convention and Expo format has

revitalized these events and the past two years have seen yearto-year growth in a number of areas including: ♦♦Expo participation by exhibitors and attendees ♦♦Growth of S.T.A.R. Awards project submissions and dinner participation ♦♦Positive feedback on the technical and sales-based content available in Convention seminars.

Burt Logan Sr embraces his son, incoming

The Young Professionals FRSA President Burt Logan, after swearing Council continues to grow and him in at the 2014 Officer Installation and will provide insight into training S.T.A.R. Awards Dinner. methods and technology from a unique perspective. This group also provides the Association with a bridge to the future, pioneering a meaningful format for the next generation of contractors to contribute to FRSA and the industry.

Some of our services have been around for decades: the Self Insurers Fund, the Political Action Committee, the Educational Foundation and the Credit Union among others. Though well established, we have found new opportunities to provide services through existing entities. For instance, the Credit Union’s roof loan program has proven very successful over the past few years. Also in recent years, the Association’s ability to offer technical support and to more actively participate in code and regulatory bodies has increased.

The Self Insurers Fund continues to grow and has recently moved claims in-house.

All of our member services are the result of the combined efforts of FRSA leadership, volunteers and staff through the years, representing countless hours of time from industry experts. In the coming year, we will work together to improve member benefits and to make them more accessible to existing and new members. By doing so, we will make our strong foundation even stronger, preparing for the future.

I have selected a dynamic group of leaders to chair our committees for the coming year. They will be working prior to our fall Board meetings, along with staff and the Executive Committee, to update our strategic plan, which will add new focus and direction to those committees.

I am looking forward to visiting each of our affiliates and working with them, our Board of Directors, committees and our staff to continue on a path of sustained greatness for our Association. I am excited to get to work and serve as your President in the coming year. Thank you for the opportunity.

Cathy and I look forward to seeing you back in Orlando for the 93rd Annual Convention, July 16-18, 2015.

president@floridaroof.com

www.floridaroof.com

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2014 S.T.A.R. Awards “Hey now, you’re an ALL-STAR, tonight your work’s on display Hey now, you’re a roof STAR in the F-R-S-A All that glitters is gold Only roofing STARS break the mold”

First Place, Sustainable: Advanced Roofing Inc JM Family Enterprises, Building 111, Deerfield Beach

Contractor Robert Kornahrens (L-to-R) Contractor Tom Bo, Superintendent/ Project MVP Derek Festog, estimator Greg Bo and Sherwin Williams Rep Kevin Ayers.

Second Place, Sustainable: Cool Roofing Network United Service Source Inc, Melbourne

(L-to-R) Project Manager Rich Carroll, Superintendent Keith Danforth, Foreman Will Martin, Contractor Rob Springer, CPRC, Estimator Daniel Boatwright, Sika-Sarnafil Rep Mike Tate and Project MVP Dennis Brewer.

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ROOFING Florida

August 2014

Third Place, Sustainable: Springer-Peterson Roofing & Sheet Metal, UF Solar House, Gainesville

First Place, Steep Slope: Carpenter’s Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc, Bodenweber Residence, Fort Lauderdale Second Place, Steep Slope: Best Roofing, SunTrust Bank, Fort Lauderdale

(L-to-R) Contractor Jason Lovelady, Richard Pepin, CPRC, and Contractor Jason Hart.

(L-to-R) Superintendent and Project MVP Johnny Canales, Zack Wallick and Contractor Gregg Wallick.

Third Place, Steep Slope: Sutter Roofing Co, Sarasota Historic Courthouse, Sarasota

First Place, Community Service: NCFRSA Affiliate, Bingaman Residence, Chiefland

(L-to-R) Doug Sutter, Superintendent and Project MVP Randy Beasley, Project Manager Chris Schott and Contractor Steve Sutter.

(L-to-R) Project MVP Jacob Piazza and Contractor Charlie Kennedy.

www.floridaroof.com

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Cam Fentriss ◆ FRSA Legislative Counsel

Understanding Unlicensed Contractor Violations For this unlicensed activity installment, we start diving customer for failing to properinto some of the details of enforcement. For various realy perform construction work). sons, it is hard to get good information from those who The listed violations are enforce, so it may be a short dive. In this article, we will great, access to evidence and look at types of violations but not at penalties – better to documentation is good, but focus on one complicated topic, then the other. how does DBPR find names Enforcement happens at the state and local levels. At of likely bad guys? They retimes, it can be performed by state or local personnel, but ceive complaints (usually there are distinct differences between who does what. We from consumers but also from will start with enforcement at the state level. competitors), they receive inDirect state level enforcement comes from the formation from other state Department of Business and Professional Regulation or local government offices (DBPR), the state agency that has responsibility for inand they conduct stings and vestigating and prosecuting unlicensed activity. The sweeps. violations specified in law include (see section 489.127(1), An example of information DBPR receives from anFlorida Statutes): other state agency is a monthly list of workers’ comp exemption holders who ♦♦Falsely claiming to be a licensee do not have a DBPR ♦♦Falsely impersonating a licensee license but have listed ♦♦Presenting someone else’s licensure document(s) some type of construc- What can any of us do as one’s own tion work on their to help enforcement exemption application. along? First, you ♦♦Knowingly giving false or forged evidence to the The listing alone is not CILB or any of its members enough to find a vio- can learn more ♦♦Any effort to use a suspended or revoked license lation because not all and download the ♦♦Engaging in the business of or acting in the construction work recapacity of a contractor without the proper license quires a license. DBPR DBPR Mobile app at ♦♦Advertising as available to be a contractor without has to take the monthly www.is.gd/dbprapp. list and find more in- You’ll also find a short the proper license formation (such as ♦♦Operating a contracting company more than 60 DBPR video there that advertisements or teledays after the qualifying agent has left (some phone book listings) provides instructions limitations to this) before it can determine on how to use the ♦♦Beginning work without a permit in effect if the whether the exemption work requires a permit holder is offering to do app. You know it ♦♦Willfully or deliberately ignoring or violating any work that requires li- is only a matter of local ordinance relating to unlicensed activity censure. This level of time before you spot As you read this list of violations, you may want to con- investigation is great, someone cheating; sider what type of evidence and documentation you but we need to appreciwould want to collect to prove a person has violated the ate that it takes a good wouldn’t it be great law. Among other things, DBPR staff use Google and deal of staff time. to submit a report For some local other online searches. They peruse Craig’s List, Angie’s List, telephone directories and any other resource used areas, DBPR obtains right then and there to offer services. If available, they check building depart- lists of owner/builder from the comfort ment permit databases. They also check for information permits issued. With of your vehicle? on government websites, including the Department of this, staff can contact State’s Corporations database and one or more of the a property owner and Division of Workers’ Compensation databases. Digging ask questions about how work was or will be performed. a little deeper, staff may also check official records of a Property owners who do not understand what the owncounty to learn whether the “suspect” has filed any con- er/builder exemption requires may easily share a lot of struction liens (that would be an indication of performing damaging information that can be used to prosecute unsome level of construction work) or is involved in any law- licensed contractors (maybe even penalize the property suits (where the smoking gun would be a suit filed by a owner).

Continued on page 22

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ROOFING Florida

August 2014

Second Place, Community Service: Springer-Peterson Roofing & S/M, Idols Aside Ministries, Polk County First Place, Low Slope: Springer-Peterson Roofing & S/M, Publix Milk Plant, Lakeland

Second Place, Low Slope: Sutter Roofing Co, Johnson Controls Battery Plant, Tampa

Third Place, Low Slope: Best Roofing, Turnberry Isle, Aventura

(L-to-R) Estimator Chris Berlin, Superintendent and Project MVP Keith Danforth, Project Manager Rich Carroll, Don Springer, Contractor Rob Springer, CPRC.

(L-to-R) Sika-Sarnafil Rep Mike Tate, Superintendent Keith Danforth, Don Springer, Estimator Daniel Boatwright, Foreman Victor Hernandez, Contractor Rob Springer, CPRC.

(L-to-R) Superintendent Jim Montague, Contractor Steve Sutter, Doug Sutter, Project Manager Derrick Barwick, Foreman Oscar Ordonez, Estimator Rob Pope, Carlisle Rep Justin Burnham.

(L-to-R) Contractor Gregg Wallick and Zack Wallick.

Continued on page 18 www.floridaroof.com 9

Trent Cotney ◆ FRSA Legal Counsel

OSHA’s New Beryllium Standard On May 8, 2014, the Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH) met to discuss extending coverage of a proposed rule pertaining to beryllium exposure to the construction industry. The current general industry permissible exposure limits (PEL) set by OSHA in 1971 regarding beryllium is 2.0 micrograms per cubic meter of air over a period of eight hours. OSHA is considering reducing the PEL to as low as 0.1 micrograms per cubic meter of air.

OSHA has been considering beryllium in its rulemaking efforts for the past ten years. According to OSHA, workers exposed to beryllium through the air, accidental ingestion or skin contact most commonly experience beryllium sensitization, chronic beryllium disease and lung cancer, and beryllium is classified as a known human carcinogen by the U.S. Department of Health. OSHA has stated that most workers and support workers in the construction industry are exposed to beryllium when using abrasive blasters to clean metal buildings and bridges.

OSHA submitted to ACCSH a proposal with four possible options. The options included doing nothing, changing general industry standards, creating medical standardization for workers or full-blown inclusion of the construction industry under the newly proposed standard. At the ACCSH meeting, OSHA’s project officer for the beryllium standard spoke, stating that long-term exposure to beryllium has a significant risk of lung cancer and that roughly 23,000 construction and shipbuilder industry workers are exposed to significant levels of beryllium yearly.

Although some of the fourteen members of the ACCSH panel were troubled by the lack of information on the costs of implementing the requirements of the new beryllium standard to the construction industry, their suggestion to delay voting until This appears to be yet another the fall was unsuccessful. OSHA told attempt by OSHA to over the panel that if it held off on a vote, regulate the industry and OSHA would move justify increased citations forward without and fine amounts. applying the new standards to the construction industry. In reaction, the majority of the panel stated that construction workers should not be left behind. The panel members stated that rulemaking is only at the proposal 10

ROOFING Florida

August 2014

stage, so there is time for research and public comments before OSHA publishes a final rule and sends it to the White House for approval in the Federal Register.

As the rule is in the proposal stage and subject to change, there are no exact standards or specifications yet. However, employers in the construction industry working on or with metal panels or roofing should keep an eye on the rulemaking process to see exactly how wide a net OSHA casts with the new beryllium standard. At the very least, employers engaged in blasting or cleaning of metal structures and other metal work should be aware that OSHA is proposing requirements that they: ♦♦Establish beryllium regulated areas to ensure people are aware of potential exposure to beryllium, ♦♦Develop a written exposure control plan, ♦♦Begin a medical surveillance program, ♦♦Use engineering and work practice controls to limit exposure, and ♦♦Provide free personal protection equipment to potentially exposed workers.

This appears to be yet another attempt by OSHA to over regulate the industry and justify increased citations and fine amounts. As members of the roofing industry, we need to continue to advocate against the expansion of government in to the construction industry.

–RFM– Author’s note: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.

Trent Cotney is Florida Bar Certified in Construction Law, a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil and Appellate Mediator, Qualified Florida Court-Appointed Arbitrator, General Counsel and a director of the Florida Roofing Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors Association (FRSA), a director of the West Coast Roofing Contractors Association (WCRCA) and a member of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) and Pinellas County Contractors Association (PCCA). For more information, contact the author at (813) 579-3278 or tcotney@trentcotney.com. Follow Trent Cotney at www.trentcotney.blogspot.com, on YouTube at FLConstructionLaw and on twitter @trentcotney.

Impact of Judge’s Workers’ Comp Ruling Unclear

By Cam Fentriss, FRSA Legislative Counsel Our workers’ comp world may (I did say “may”) have been hit by a claimant/trial lawyers’ meteorite but we do not know yet whether there is any damage.

On August 13, 2014, a judge in Miami issued an order finding that section 440.11, Florida Statutes, providing that workers’ compensation is the exclusive remedy for an employee’s workplace injury, is unconstitutional OR finding that the entire workers’ compensation statute is unconstitutional. That describes the first problem with this judge’s opinion: it is not clear what it says.

Another potential problem with this case is that neither the employer nor the employee – the parties to the lawsuit – was still in the case by the time the judge made his decision.

One would think that means there is no longer a lawsuit, but not this time. Along the way, there were three persons/entities that intervened in the case on the “plaintiff” side: two lawyer groups (Florida Workers’ Advocates and Workers’ Injury Law & Advocacy Group) and one injured employee (Elsa Padgett). Technically, there is no one on the “defendant” side in that Elsa Padgett’s employer is not a part of the

case and, even though listed as a party, the State of Florida, Office of the Attorney General, is not a party and did not request to intervene or be made a party. The only logical conclusion is that someone out there took a lot of liberties in what appears to be a desperate effort to keep a question alive long enough in a court that appears to have been likely to give the desired answer.

While we are not at all sure what any of this means (if it means anything), we are pretty sure of these possibilities: 1. This may have a negative impact on workers’ compensation rates AND on the cost of liability insurance.

2. This may not be helpful for employees (but it could be a nice boost in business for a small handful of lawyers).

3. This may require us to push for a special session or participate in more litigation or both.

There is no need to panic just yet, but it is a good idea to watch for updates.

–RFM–

ObamaCare: Higher Costs, Lower Benefits?

According to a survey on the effects of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, “affordable” means higher costs to employees and to customers for a significant number of responding companies.

The chart to the right from the survey (highlights added) shows that the increase in part time workers as a result of ACA increased 12 times over the number of decreases (18.2% vs. 1.5%) and 28.8 percent of the companies reported higher prices were passed on to customers to cover ACA costs.

A vast majority of employees are contributing more toward premiums (88.2%), face higher deductibles (91.2%), copays (64.7%) and out-of-pocket maximums (76.5%) while experiencing a lower range in medical coverage (41.2%) and a smaller network of available medical professionals (26.5%).

Special Questions (August 2014) – Source Federal Reserve Bank, Philadelphia 1. How, if at all, are you changing (or have you changed) any of the following because of the effects the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is having on your business?

Lower % Higher % No Change The number of workers we employ (including full time and part time) is…

18.2

3.0

78.8

The proportion of workers who are part time is…

1.5

18.2

80.3

The amount of work we outsource to other firms is…

3.0

13.7

83.3

Our wage and salary compensation per worker is…

15.1

16.7

68.2

Prices we charge to our customers are...

0.0

28.8

71.2

2 a. Select one (1) of the following five (5) responses as to how your business is changing (or has changed) its health coverage policies in response to the ACA: We do not offer health insurance and don’t plan to.

0.0

We are keeping our plan unchanged.

40.9

We are dropping health insurance.

3.0

We are planning to offer coverage for the first time.

0.0

We made (or are making) modifications.

51.5

b. Companies that made (or are making) modifications: Lower % Higher % No Change The proportion of our employees covered is…

14.7

17.6

67.6

Our employee contribution to premiums is…

2.9

88.2

8.8

Deductibles are…

0.0

91.2

8.8

Out-of-pocket maximums are…

2.9

76.5

20.6

Copays are…

2.9

64.7

32.4

The range of medical coverage is…

41.2

2.9

55.9

The size/breadth of the network is…

26.5

0.0

73.5

Note: The manufacturing firms responding to the survey reported an average of 247 full-time and part-time employees; 5.8 percent of the employees were part time.

www.floridaroof.com

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Florida Building Code Review

FBC Designates $175,000 in Roofing Research “Sealed Attic” Issue Recognized as Absolute Priority

By John Hellein, RFM Editor The Florida Building Commission (FBC) held its bimonthly meetings in St. Petersburg in August. The agenda included the allocation of $400,000 in research funds and the roofing industry enjoyed the lion’s share of those funds this year. The effective date for the 2014 Florida Building Code and the status of the Fifth Edition Tile Installation Manual were also discussed.

Two Roofing-Related Research Projects Receive Top Funding At the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Chairs meeting, scheduled the day before the full FBC meeting, the TAC chairs reviewed and prioritized 14 requests for research funding from various sectors of the state’s building industry. In total, $743,323 was being requested with only about $350,000 available (the other $50,000 of the $400,000 is earmarked for damage assessments in the event a hurricane hits Florida this year). So who would get the research funds? Thanks to FRSA making a good case at the meeting and the recognition by the TAC chairs of the issues surrounding sealed attics, half of the $350,000 went to projects recommended by the Roofing TAC, chaired by Brian Swope, CPRC, of Tampa Roofing.

Among the different TACs, mechanical, energy, structural and roofing represented the major requests for research funds, these included: ♦♦Whole house mechanical ventilation systems (mechanical – $59,500) ♦♦Structural wood panels (structural – $67,049) ♦♦Exhaust air energy recovery credits (energy – $35,200).

The Roofing TAC had approved two requests for funding, both of which had been initiated by FRSA in response to member concerns: ♦♦Impact of spray foam insulation on durability of plywood and OSB roof decks ($90,092) and ♦♦Corrosion of fasteners for both roofing and screen enclosures ($85,030).

After reviewing the requests to make sure they met funding criteria, the TAC chairs were asked to rank each project from 1 to 10 according to its priority where “10” was considered “urgent/critical” and a “1” indicated that the request should not be funded by the Commission.

Given the $350,000 deficit between available research funds and funding requests, there was a possibility that a project might receive partial consideration, in which case the Commission would look to private entities, such as FRSA. During a break in the meeting, the FRSA Executive 14

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August 2014

Committee had agreed that they would support the research if necessary.

As it turned out, neither of the two Roofing TAC research projects would need that funding: both were fully funded by the FBC. When the rankings were tallied, the first three projects received enough weight that they were fully funded (representing $242,171) and the roofing research projects ranked first (spray foam insulation) and second (fastener corrosion) out of all 14 industry projects, receiving just over $175,000.

Significance of the Spray Foam Insulation Research Funding Decision Of course it is great that the roofing industry is receiving the research funding from the FBC and we will discuss the effort by FRSA that helped to secure it, but a look at the overwhelming priority given to the spray foam insulation issue should tell us that there is something more going on than mere effective lobbying by FRSA. Of the 14 projects reviewed by the nine TAC chairs, only two received any rankings of “10” . The fastener corrosion issue received two of the nine (it received four “9s” and three “8s”). The proposed research to study the impact of spray foam insulation on roof decking received a unanimous vote – think Olympic gymnast Nadia Comăneci – of nine perfect “10s”.

The fact that all nine TAC chairs, each one an FBC commissioner representing a different segment of the building industry, weighted the spray foam issue a “10” indicates a recognition of the fog surrounding this issue; a recognition of the potentially negative impact spray foam insulation may have on the roof deck, a part of the building envelope.

During his address to the TAC chairs, FRSA Director of Technical Services, Mark Zehnal, CPRC, emphasized the need for research in order to better understand this issue.

“We don’t want to throw the baby out with the bath water,” Zehnal said, acknowledging the lack of hard data due to a lack of research. He traced the history of what was initially referred to as “conditioned space” in the 2004 Florida Building Code that had been modified in subsequent versions of the code.

“We want to know the facts and hopefully use the facts to determine if there’s a better way. As things are now, the general contractors, roofing contractors and homeowners are having to live with the consequences of an untested assembly,” Zehnal said when discussing the Commission decision to accept the TAC chairs recommendations for research funding. “The TAC chairs expressed their concern about the spray foam issue through their votes.” Zehnal says that there has been latent concern in the industry for a

decade and now FRSA has succeeded in bringing the issue to the forefront.

Manny Oyola of Eagle Roofing Products also spoke at the meeting and expressed concern that the use of spray foam insulation on homes represented a life/safety issue for Florida citizens. He recalls an incident when laminate used to give plywood its fire rating was destroying the glue that held the layers of plywood together. “That issue wasn’t really discovered and addressed until after a couple of guys fell through roofs,” Oyola said. “Spray foam could be a major issue and needs further study.”

In addition to FRSA staff and member testimony at the meeting, FRSA also brought Manfred Kerher, a colleague of Dr. William Miller from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), to speak at the meeting. In depth research at ORNL has pointed to potential issues with spray foam insulation in attics and its effects on the roof deck.

Arriving at a better understanding of the impact of spray foam insulation is likely to be a multi-year endeavour.

The research approved for this year will focus on “water accumulation from leaks through defective roofing and flashing materials” and will “recommend follow-up testing, if necessary, to evaluate the impact of moisture from within the attic space and/or conditioned space within the house.”

You can view the full version of the research proposal at www.is.gd/foamresearch.

Fastener Corrosion Research Continues in the Field The fastener corrosion research recommended by the Roofing and the Structural TACs will follow up on this year’s preliminary research conducted through UF. The phone survey, summarized in a July ROOFING FLORIDA article, found that fastener corrosion was considered a significant issue by the hundreds of Florida roofing contractors who participated. This year’s research, fully funded by the FBC for $85,000, will “conduct a limited field study of installed fasteners in both coastal and inland regions of Florida to quantify the severity of corrosion on fasteners.” The full version is available at www.is.gd/fcresearch.

More Delay for the 2014 Code If you like the current 2010 Florida Building Code, you can keep it; at least until some time in 2015. According to the FBC’s legal counsel, the 2014 Fifth Edition Florida Building Code must wait until the Florida Uniform Fire Code is drafted before it can be made effective. Last year, in an attempted estimation, FBC set the effective date for January 1, 2015. At the latest Commission meeting however, it was apparent that the date would be delayed again until at least the end of the first quarter and possibly the end of the second quarter 2015. In order to make a decision with as much information as possible, the Commission decided to wait until October – or possibly call a special interim meeting – to set a new effective date. By then, the fire code details will hopefully be finalized and there will be less Continued on page 22

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2014-2015 FRSA President and Executive Committee Sworn In

FRSA Honorary Member Burt Logan Sr (left in top photo) delivered the oath of office to his son, Burt Logan Jr, the incoming FRSA President for the 2014-2015 year during the Officer Installation and S.T.A.R. Awards Dinner at this year’s Convention and Expo.

Burt Logan Jr’s theme for the coming year is “Building on a Strong Foundation.” You can read more about it in his inaugural column on page five.

After Logan was sworn in, the new Executive Committee took their oath. This year’s Executive Committee includes: ♦♦President Burt Logan (left in photo at right) ♦♦President Elect Donnie Harp (center right) ♦♦Vice President George Ebersold (right) ♦♦Secretary-Treasurer Charlie Kennedy (center left) and ♦♦Immediate Past President Rob Springer, CPRC (center).

–RFM–

FRSA Members Recognized for Outstanding Service

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ROOFING Florida

F L O R I D A M E TA L R O O F I N G

August 2014

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Award recipients at this year’s Convention included Christina Sturgill (top left) for the Enthusiasm Gets It Done Award; Stephanie Daniels (center left) FLORIDA FLORIDA ROOFING for ROOFING the Earl R. Blank Memorial APPROVED APPROVED Heart Award; George Manson, CPRC, (center right in the middle) for the Charlie Raymond Membership Award and George Ebersold for the President’s Award (right).

–RFM–

FLORIDA ROOFING APPROVED

Self Insurers Fund Outstanding Safety Awards North Florida – Streamline Roofing and Construction, Tallahassee FRSA-SIF Safety Rep Matt Savin

Ralph Davis (right) with Matt Savin

President Ralph Davis of Streamline Roofing and Construction has been in business since 2002. Streamline Roofing specializes in metal roofing for the residential, commercial and industrial markets and has been a proud member of FRSA for 12 years. Ralph attributes his company’s safety success to FRSA’s guidance and support and considers them a “partner in safety.” Employee safety training and certification, safety values, monthly safety meetings and a commitment from every Streamline Roofing team member contribute to this accomplishment. Streamline Roofing has and will continue to make safety the priority in every project.

South Florida – Southern Coast Enterprises, Deerfield Beach FRSA-SIF Safety Rep Jorge Castanon

Charles Barrett and daughter Nicole with Jorge Castanon

Charles (Skip) Barrett is President of Southern Coast Enterprises in Deerfield Beach. Skip’s experience, knowledge and his ability to diversify have been the driving force behind Southern Coast Enterprises success.

Skip started in the roofing business in the early 1980s as a wood shake installer. In 1993, he started his own roofing business with a small crew and, since then, has grown into one of the most elite commercial roofing companies in South Florida.

The success of Southern Coast Enterprises would not be possible without Barrett’s continued commitment and dedication towards workplace safety.

Through his active safety program, Skip has established the means for the control and prevention of loss, giving SCE an outstanding loss history record.

West Coast – Len’s Roofing, Bradenton | FRSA-SIF Safety Rep Brad Mang

April and Len Dacas

Len and April Dacas opened their first roofing company in 1993 in the Miami area.

In 2002, they moved to the Sarasota area and opened Len’s Roofing where they’ve seen steady growth each year.

The company has been an SIF member since 2010. Len’s Roofing has maintained a very good safety record and has many of the same employees it started the company with. April Dacas says that “Len’s Roofing was founded on the principle of safety first. Our employees are just like family, so the most important part of our business is the health and welfare of all our family members.”

Len and April show their appreciation for the family with an annual summer picnic and a Christmas party where employees and families are recognized for their hard work. We congratulate Len and April and all of the employees of Len’s Roofing for a job well done and wish them continued success with their company.

Central Florida – Pro Tech Roofing of Brevard and Danbilt Construction Cocoa Beach | FRSA-SIF Safety Bill Coombs

Dan Bilder (left) and Bill Coombs

Dan Bilder, owner of Pro Tech Roofing of Brevard and Danbilt Construction in Cocoa Beach works closely with his crews. Dan is actively involved in all aspects of his business and focuses on safety, recognizing that it is extremely important to his employees and his company.

Dan started his business in 1997 after growing up and working in Brevard County. With an average crew of 15, Pro Tech Roofing can handle any commercial or residential roofing project. Dan says that his primary focus on all jobs is safety, followed by quality and efficiency. He hopes all companies adopt the same focus in their operations. Dan is fortunate to have his wife Denise and sister Trisha managing the office and said he would be lost without them. Congratulations to Dan and crew for a job well done.

www.floridaroof.com

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(L-to-R) Sean Saunders, Contractor Walter Millet and Estimator Glenn Millet.

First Place, Specialty Metal: Altec Roofing, Private Residence, Boca Raton

(L-to-R) Millennium Metals Rep Tonya Steele, Project Manager and MVP Kenny Harp, Contractor Donnie Harp and Roofing Supply Group Rep John Seay.

Second Place, Specialty Metal: Imperial Roofing of Polk County, Swallowtail Hollow Residence, Winter Haven

(L-to-R) Project MVP John Hansen, Superintendent Keith Danforth, Estimator Daniel Boatwright, Project Manager Rich Carroll, Don Springer, Foreman Victor Hernandez and Contractor Rob Springer, CPRC.

Third Place, Specialty Metal: SpringerPeterson Roofing & Sheet Metal, FNG Single Strength Metal Shed, Lake Wales

(L-to-R) Contractor Tom Bo, Superintendent/ Project MVP Derek Festog, estimator Greg Bo and Sherwin Williams Rep Kevin Ayers.

First Place, Service: Cool Roofing Network United Service Source Inc, Melbourne

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First Place, Unique: McEnany Roofing, Chinese Pagodas, Casey Key

(L-to-R) Dan Noderer, Project Manager John Limper, Foreman Robert Belmontes, Project MVP Rodrigo Trejo and Esequiel Villagomez.

Second Place, Unique: Cool Roofing Network, Rhum Cove Condo, Palm Bay

(L-to-R) Contractor Tom Bo, Superintendent/ Project MVP Derek Festog, estimator Greg Bo and Sherwin Williams Rep Kevin Ayers.

Third Place, Unique: New South Systems, Leon County Public Safety Complex, Tallahassee

(L-to-R) Foreman Greg Hurley and Project Manager and MVP Jackson Dodd.

Second Place, Service: Springer Peterson Roofing & Sheet Metal, Peabody Hotel Duck Removal, Orlando

(L-to-R) Superintendent Keith Danforth, Estimator Daniel Boatwright, Project Manager and MVP Rich Carroll, Don Springerand Contractor Rob Springer, CPRC.

www.floridaroof.com

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Can Twitter Bring You Business?

Are potential customers searching for you on Twitter? Are you there to be found?

Here’s a one-hour-or-less experiment that can help you find out.

RFM Staff Last month, we looked at some pointers for Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+. This month we will look at Twitter and include one “recipe” designed to start a conversation between you and potential customers. A recipe that you can set up in under an hour.

Why Twitter?

Twitter trails Facebook but is the second most-used social media channel. With a network of more than 30 million active US accounts, it may be worth your time to reach out to the potential customers who are using it. One primary way that Twitter can differ from Facebook is that the majority of all Twitter posts (“tweets”) are public. For one thing, this means that a person can find anything they are looking for on Twitter, regardless of whether or not they are “followers” or “friends” of someone else.

For instance, if a homeowner A search for “tampa roofing contractor” on Twitter. Is it worth a sustained effort searches “tampa to have a Twitter presence? A little experi- roofing”, they will mentation can help answer that question. see a list of all tweets that contain the word “tampa” and the word “roofing.” (The search function works similar to a web search except that instead of receiving web page results, the searcher receives relevant tweets.)

So, how many people out there are using Twitter to help locate a roofing contractor? Is it worth the effort to be there on Twitter when someone does search? Good questions! There’s one way to find out and the good news is that it won’t take long to set up a method that sends out tweets about your company with appropriate keywords.

Scheduling tweets is one method that may be able to help you determine if Twitter is worth your company’s time.

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Scheduling Tweets Scheduling a few keyword-related tweets can help give you an initial Twitter presence with a minimum of effort. If you see results, you can then consider whether your company should invest more time on Twitter.

To set up a schedule of automated tweets you will need the following: ♦♦A Twitter account (www.twitter.com) ♦♦A mobile device (optional but handy) ♦♦A Google Calendar account (www.google.com/calendar) ♦♦An IFTTT account and “recipe” (www.ifttt.com – we’ll explain in a few minutes) Everything in the list with the exception of the mobile device is free other than the time that it takes to set them up. If you do not have an account for Twitter, Google or IFTTT, you will need to set them up with an email address that you have access to, a password and possibly a username that you create during the account registration process. Once you have each of these accounts, it is a matter of: ♦♦Scheduling tweets as Google Calendar events ♦♦Using an existing IFTTT recipe that will send your Google Calendar events to Twitter ♦♦“Listening” on Twitter to see if anyone responds to one of your tweets.

Let’s look at each of these in more detail.

Setting Up Tweets in Google Calendar The IFTTT recipe that we will use to send tweets from Google Calendar to Twitter can look at several components of a Google Calendar event and include it in the tweet. The only two components that we will use are: ♦♦Title ♦♦Description The title will be a “trigger” word that will indicate that you want this event to be tweeted (you may have other events on your Google Calendar that you do not want tweeted.)

This is an arbitrary word that you set. When you create an event put the words ScheduleTweet in the event title field (#1 in the illustration on the next page). Schedule the event (#2) at least 15 minutes in the future (to give you time to set up your recipe). Next, place the tweet you would like to send in the Description field (#3). You can adapt the following generic tweet:

Orlando area roofing contractor focuses on quality and customer service. http://www.yourwebaddress.com Of course, you should vary your tweets to reflect the location and personality of your company. Be sure to use keywords that you think people would use when searching. For instance, if you have a set of keywords that you are using for your website content or for paid Internet ads, you can include a few of them in each tweet that you schedule. You also need to remember that you are limited to 140 characters, including the web address (which will be automatically shortened to approximately 20 characters) and that if you exceed 140 characters your tweet might not go out or might have part of the tweet deleted. Finally, click Save (#4). You will see a event titled ScheduleTweet on your calendar.

Make sure to schedule the event when you would like the tweet to go out. You can set the event to repeat every so often, maybe once a week, and vary it with other scheduled tweets that provide value to potential customers. One reason for periodically repeating the tweet is that it may have a relatively short lifespan on Twitter, meaning it will get buried by other tweets (although if someone is searching for keywords included in your tweet this becomes less relevant.) Tweets appear newest first, so tweeting more often, without abusing the system, will allow your tweet to appear closer to the top of the list when someone is searching.

4

1 2

Using an IFTTT Recipe IFTTT (www.ifttt.com) stands for “If This Then That.”

It is a free web service that allows you to create a series of instructions, called a recipe, to automate just about anything related to social media. Fortunately, you do not need to know how to create a recipe in order to use one and there is already one available to tweet specified Google Calendar events. Once you have created an IFTTT account, make sure you are logged into it and go to www.is.gd/gcal2twitter. You will see the recipe called “Schedule Tweets using Google Calendar” pictured below.

To activate the recipe, click on the “Use Recipe” button at the bottom of the page (#5). Assuming you have not already provided IFTTT permission to use your Google and Twitter accounts, you will be prompted to do so. Once done, IFTTT will now tweet the description field from any Google Calendar events entitled “ScheduleTweet”.

Listening to Twitter If someone searches on Twitter for a roofing contractor in your area and sees one of your tweets they may visit your website, if you have included a link. If they are using Twitter, however, to find a service and they find you there, chances are they may expect to be able to contact you using your Twitter account name or “handle;” but how will you know if they do? In order to be aware of any attempts to contact you this way, you will need to be “listening.”

While this may sound time-intensive, it’s not. Actually, it takes no more effort than receiving a phone call or a text message and responding.

This is where a mobile device comes in handy. You can configure your Twitter mobile settings to notify you, by text message, anytime someone uses your Twitter handle (i.e., @myroofingco) in a tweet.

If you do this and you are sending out tweets about your company, you may receive a tweet something like: @potentlcustomer: @myroofingco, my roof is leaking!

How long wld it take to have someone come look at it?

3 5 Setting up a Google Calendar event (left) with “ScheduleTweet” in the event title (1) will trigger the IFTTT recipe (right – available at www.is.gd/gcal2twitter) that tweets the description from Google Calendar at the scheduled time.

Using the same text message window, you can respond to the person (who has the handle @potentlcustomer) as appropriate; for example:

www.floridaroof.com

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@potentlcustomer depends on where you are but maybe this afternoon or tomorrow morning.

Please call me at 999-999-9999.

For the tweet to reach @potentlcustomer, you must include the handle somewhere in your response. The Twitter conversation could also take place using a Twitter mobile app or even on a desktop computer via www.twitter.com; it is important to respond at least as quickly as you would to a phone or text message.

Sooner or later the conversation will hopefully be converted to a phone call but if the person has more preliminary questions, they can ask via Twitter conversation.

That’s it. With minimal setup, you can have a presence on Twitter. If you find that you receive enough interest from Twitter after a small investment, you can consider expanding your Twitter footprint, a topic for another article but one quick idea to remember: people like to receive something of perceived value or see that you are active in the community. If all your tweets are merely

attempts to promote your business, the end result will likely be less effective.

Remember, Everything is Public Unlike a phone call, an email or text message, tweets are public by default. This can mean “free” exposure when you take the time to answer a question via Twitter or when a user tweets something about your company based on a positive experience. On the other hand, you will want to be careful about not sharing information private or sensitive in nature. If you are using Twitter to advertise, make sure your understand and follow any DBPR rules that govern licensed contractor advertising.

If you have already been using Twitter to discover potential customers or if you try this experiment, we’d love to hear about it. You can reach an FRSA staff member at (800) 767-3772, frsa@floridaroof.com or on Twitter @FRSA_Roofing.

–RFM–

Unlicensed Activity... continued from page 8

As for consumer and competitor complaints, making the case may be a little harder unless the complaint is timely and includes enough evidence. Many individuals do not know what will be appropriate or enough for good documentation. One of the important steps DBPR has taken recently (March 2014) is to implement a free mobile app for real time reporting that can instantly include valuable photographic or other evidence. Since it was started, the app has been downloaded 4,271 times and 166 unlicensed activity complaints have been submitted through it. If you have not installed this app, I strongly urge you to consider it.

What Can Any of Us Do to Help Enforcement Along?

First, you can learn more and download the DBPR Mobile app (Apple iOS or Google Android version) at www.is.gd/dbprapp. You’ll also find a short DBPR video there that provides instructions on how to use the app.

You know it is only a matter of time before you spot someone cheating; wouldn’t it be great to submit a report right then and there from the comfort of your vehicle?

FBC Update... continued from page 15

of a risk of having to change the date again in the future.

Design professionals are particularly affected by changes in the effective date, since the process of designing building is often started a year or more in advance and they need to have a good idea which code the building will be constructed under in order to properly design it to meet that code.

Another issue with the substantial delay in the implementation of the code is that the Commission gave it final approval for the code at the beginning of the summer of 2013, meaning that it will be two years old when it is finally in use. At some point in the near future, according to FBC staff member Mo Madani, the Commission will begin the process of developing the next version of code. By that time, the 2015 22

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Second, groups of contractors should meet with local building department or licensing personnel to learn more about what they do to collect information, if and how they submit data to DBPR and how you can all work together to reduce or stop the cheating.

Getting unlicensed activity under control is accomplished one step at a time.

–RFM– Anna Cam Fentriss is an attorney licensed in Florida since 1988 representing clients with legislative and state agency interests. Cam has represented FRSA since 1993, is an Honorary Member of FRSA, recipient of the FRSA President’s Award in 2002 and received the Campanella Award in 2010. She is a member of the Florida Building Commission Special Occupancy Technical Advisory Committee, President of Building A Safer Florida Inc. and past Construction Coalition Chair (1995-1997).

International Building Code, which – barring a legislative repeal – serves as the base code for Florida’s code, should be in effect. The new code version may also need to grapple with rumored changes in the implementation of ASCE 7-16 wind maps.

Another document still on hold is the FRSA-TRI Fifth Edition Tile Installation Manual. The manual may be available in the next few weeks, or not. We’ll keep you posted.

A Look Ahead One item likely to be discussed at the October FBC meetings is the mobile metal roll former issue and the definition of who is a “manufacturer.” This topic was discussed last September in RFM; look for a follow up article in next month’s “metal issue” of this magazine.

–RFM–

SMRSMCA Takes Home Affiliate Competition Trophy, Bragging Rights Sarasota Manatee Roofing & Sheet Metal Contractors Association (SMRSMCA) averaged a 57 mph pitching speed in this year’s Affiliate Competition. The winning team included Forrest Wilson, with a competition high speed of 68 mph, Dakota Wilson, 66 mph, Brett Witham, 49 mph, and Jake Westman, 45 mph.

Second place went to the Central Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (CFRSA) with an average speed of 53.25 mph and third place went to the Capital City Roofing & Sheet Metal Association (CRSA) team that averaged 46.75 mph.

–RFM– Top: SMRSMCA members receive the 2014 Affiliate Competition trophy and plaque during the Christmas in July Party at this year’s Convention. Bottom: Jason Howard from Triangle Fasteners throws a pitch on the Expo floor during the Affiliate Competition.

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