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J UNE 2019 | 9 Roofing/Cladding Materials PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY ENGINEERED ASSEMBLIES; SOPREMA New standards set to impact the roofing and cladding sector by ROBIN BRUNET T wo constants have been driving the roofing and cladding sector in Canada of late: ongoing innovation and tweaking of existing products, coupled with steady improvements in installation practices. Judy Slutsky can attest to the latter. As director of business development for the Roofing Contractors Association of BC (RCABC), she says her organiza- tion in 2019 "is in full information dissemination mode. Our focus now at RCABC is on the significant changes to the RCABC Roofing Practices Standards and Online Manual, authored by James Klassen, our RoofStar technical advisor, with enormous input from stakeholders. "The changes amount to a restructuring of the manual, updated SBS standards, a review of new Wind Uplift Standard [CSA 123.21], applicable in the BC Building Code, and new RCABC metal roofing and green roofing standards." Slutsky and her colleagues are staging workshops and other events in order to spread the word about the changes to architects, consultants, general con- tractors, property developers, and building owners. "Quite simply, the changes will have an impact on roof design, and as many people as possible need to learn about their intricacies," she explains. Dorothee Colbert-Houle, product manager – roof- ing at Soprema Inc., notes that "the roofing industry in Canada is experiencing a huge labour shortage, with the older professionals nearing retirement age and younger people reluctant to join because it really is a tough, demanding trade. Also, the industry is growing steadily more technical. Given all this, we do what we can as a supplier to make things easier." Soprema's claim to fame, in addition to offering a complete range of roofing products (whether the proj- ect involves waterproofing, insulation, or vegetated solutions), is that it is the only Canadian polyisocyan- urate insulating manufacturer with an internal slope design department for commercial roofing. Its Sopra- Iso specialized complementary products ensure efficient flow to the drain, thus reducing the risks associated with standing water accumulation. Soprema has introduced several roofing inno- vations in recent years, including the Soprasmart Board 180, a high-performance base sheet panel composed of a semi rigid, asphaltic roofing substrate board laminated to an SBS modified bitumen base ply, and reinforced with a tough, dimensionally sta- ble non-woven polyester mat. This thin, flexible panel perfectly fits the shape of wooden decks and mem- branes during roofing, and Colbert-Houle says that "Soprasmart is an example of simplifying the roofing Out On Top process because it incorporates several necessary layers in a single laminated board instead of each layer being separate, thus saving time and labour." In the adhesive category, Soprema's Sopratack is a two component polyurethane-based adhe- sive with very low-VOC content, used to adhere SBS-modified bitumen membranes (it's perfect for projects that restrict solvent use and odours). Meanwhile, Soprema's Sopranature roofing system transforms roofs of all kinds into green spaces, while maintaining their waterproofing features. For exam- ple, the Sopranature Lande system combined with Sopranature Green allows for the installation of tiles similar to traditional public gardens and provides a uniform appearance with significant benefits (less weight, maintenance, and water consumption) com- pared to traditional turf. It's worth noting that in Canada alone, Soprema has over 70 technical representatives who are equipped to provide details and specifications, to assist in design- ing plans, and to advise properly and recommend the best solutions for all projects. In addition, customers benefit from Soprema's network of certified con- tractors who employ qualified installers that have completed comprehensive training on the installa- tion and maintenance of Soprema roof systems. In the spirit of promoting best practices, Engineered Assemblies (EA), which supplies high- quality facade materials backed by leading expertise in Rear-Ventilated Rain Screen (RVRS) sub-struc- ture assemblies, is diligent about providing design guides for its panel systems. "We are much more than a national materials distributor," says Ian Gruber, CSC CTR, technical consultant – Prairie provinces and northern regions. "For example, fibre cement build- ing materials have been around since the early 1900s, but they're not overly promoted, even though they're an excellent, proven product. We're bringing to light the many benefits by providing detailed instruction design guides and supplying accessory components to mount the panels properly." Gruber adds, "By supporting the products we dis- tribute in this fashion, we're building confidence with our industry. Our efforts are aided substantially by speaking engagements, lunch and learns, social media, and our website – and we're making great headway." Best practices are essential considering the sheer volume of new products flooding the Canadian market. At EA, they include Cupaclad Rainscreen Cladding, designed by Danish architects and con- tractors to fill the need to adapt natural slate to new architectural styles and trends that call for more ecological and sustainable construction. Gruber says, "Previously, slate manufactures did not pro- vide a suitable mounting system for slate wall facade systems, but now we offer several systems for dif- ferent slate tile sizes and layout patterns." Properly installed, the combination of natural slate properties and the ventilated facades makes Cupaclad one of the most ecological solutions on the market. Meanwhile, a new First Nations school west of Edmonton currently under construction for the Paul First Nation will serve as a showcase for EA's Vivix Solid Phenolic exterior lightweight RVRS panel system. That's because a student, via an artwork competition for the new facility, created a repeating beaded design that EA replicated to scale and printed onto sheets that will be fabricated into panels. "The custom-printed, four-colour design is made up of four panels and is repeated to clad the entire perimeter of the school," says Gruber. "This application is unique to Western Canada, and it's already attracting the attention of designers and developers. Schools are an especially good venue for this product, as the bright, colourful patterns are highly UV resistant and the panels require very little maintenance." Soprasmart Board 180. Cupaclad 101 Series. System2 insulated RVRS facade assembly.

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