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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 4 | 9 Metal Roofing/Cladding P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E S Y K I N GS PA N I N SU L AT ED PA N EL S Metal roofing and cladding continue to redefine architectural aesthetics, offering durability and visual appeal by ROBIN BRUNET A s has been the case in the past, 2024 has been a busy year for purveyors of metal roofing and cladding, with develop- ers across Canada willing to pay a premium (despite these inflationary times) for build- ing components that are more durable and in many cases more visually striking than other systems. But the bustle is accompanied by the familiar concern of not enough people in the workforce in terms of fabricating and installing to meet demand. The issue has very much been a focus of attention for the Roofing Contractors Association of British Columbia (RCABC), which was formed in 1958 to bring together professional roofing contractors, manufacturers, and suppliers who are dedicated to the promotion and protection of the public interest in everything that relates to roofing. Robert Scales, director, education and training at the RCABC, points out that the projects under- taken by professionally recognized architectural sheet metal workers encompass roofing and clad- ding, "unlike sheet metal workers who are more related to HVAC work. However, the sheet metal sec- tor is recognized by the Red Seal designation, which not only highlights consistency of excellence but also harmonizes provincial training programs and thus facilitates mobility to new talent wanting to enter or advance in the trade." But Red Seal recognition may one day encompass the architectural sheet metal workers sector thanks to RCABC's efforts. As a SkilledTradesBC-designated training provider, the RCABC Educational Foundation trains new blood under the Architectural Sheet Metal Worker (ASMW) program, and recently the association hosted roofing contractor association VIPs from across the country to tour its custom-built train- ing facility and share the value of the ASM trade and the technical training associated with it. Scales says, "The point is, up until recently B.C. was the only jurisdiction to recognize sheet metal as an apprenticeable trade. But other provinces have started to take note, and Nova Scotia recently adopted this approach to skills development by approving 'Architectural Cladder' as a provincially recognized trade. "So yes, the metal roofing and cladding sector needs more people. However, our program is grow- ing, concurrent to the latest panel systems providing opportunities and requiring installers that are more skilled at their jobs than ever. The interest shown by the VIPs we hosted suggests other jurisdictions may follow our lead in the foreseeable future, and if architectural sheet metal workers in Canada were ultimately Red Seal-recognized, it would really be the magic formula for filling the labour shortages that currently exist." Scales' remark of the technical complexity of metal roofing and cladding systems is evident throughout the sector, in the offerings of large and small companies alike. Kingspan is a prime exam- ple. The Kingspan Insulated Panels are exterior wall and roof panels with steel skins and an insulating foam core, known for their superior thermal prop- erties, design flexibility, and fast installation time. Kingspan's QuadCore technology involves a self- blended hybrid insulation core of distinctive grey microcells that provide R-values of R-8.0 per inch, making them the most thermally efficient insu- lation cores on the market, 11 percent better than high-quality PIR and 60 percent better than PUR. Kingspan QuadCore KarrierPanels were among the cladding products used for the Center of Developing Entrepreneurs facility in Charlottesville, Virginia. When examining façade choices, architects Wolf Ackerman and EskewDumezRipple realized KarrierPanel universal barrier wall allowed them the freedom to attach a specific façade without com- promise. KarrierPanel also helped meet AIA's 2030 challenge for efficiency and thermal performance. KarrierPanel serves as the high-performing air and vapour barrier for the entire building by providing continuous insulation in an all-in-one product. Also, the ease of the KarrierPanel system allowed installers from Glass and Metals, Inc. to streamline construction in tight quarters. The all- in-one insulated metal panels eliminated the work of several subcontractors, speeding up construction and allowing other crews more space to work. Steel-ing The Spotlight Kingspan QuadCore KarrierPanels, Seattle Opera Center, Seattle, WA

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