ROSEMONT, Ill. — The Roofing Alliance, celebrating 25 years as the foundation of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), announces its annual Call for Funding. Committed to promoting and funding the advancement of roofing through research, education, technology and philanthropic programs, the Roofing Alliance is seeking to fund initiatives that will contribute to the advancement and growth of the roofing industry.

The deadline for funding applications is Jan. 1, 2022.

Each year, the Roofing Alliance provides funding for research, educational initiatives and technical programs that address current issues and work to secure the future of the roofing industry. Roofing Alliance Executive Director Bennett Judson shared that, to date, over $5.8 million in funding has been approved for 51 projects, programs and studies.

“While the Roofing Alliance has a number of ongoing initiatives that we fund, we are always looking to support new programs that can fulfill a need within our industry and contribute toward the betterment of the U.S. roofing industry,” said Judson.  

Several of the most recent projects that have been funded include Clemson University, who is using the funds to develop three, three-credit roofing-specific courses that will lead to a formal Roofing Certificate; and Florida Gulf Coast University, who is conducting a formal study surrounding employee safety: Heat Stress Conditions and Awareness for Roofing Workers.

For 25 years, the Roofing Alliance has been committed to shaping the industry’s future by funding education, research, scholarships and philanthropic initiatives, all for the purpose of securing the industry’s future excellence. Ongoing initiatives include the ongoing partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities®, the Roofing Alliance Student Competition and construction management partnerships with universities.  

For information on specific criteria and the funding review process, please visit the funding page of the Roofing Alliance website. To learn more about the Roofing Alliance, please visit www.roofingalliance.net or contact Judson at bjudson@roofingalliance.net.

The Midwest Roofing Contractors Association (MRCA) announced the introduction of its new "Hot Air and Induction Welding Safety Training Course" for roof system installers. The training will launch on Nov. 10 in conjunction with the MRCA's 71st Annual Conference and Expo in Milwaukee, Wis.

The new Hot Air and Induction Welding Safety Training teaches methods for identifying and controlling the hazards involved with installing roofing systems using electrically powered equipment. Each graduate will have passed a written exam and demonstrated hands-on knowledge of the safe handling of generating and welding equipment.

The MRCA says the training is the industry's only safety program that specifically addresses safety issues related to equipment and products used to hot air and induction weld modified bitumen, TPO and PVC roofing systems.

"We all know that working in the roofing industry can be hazardous," the MRCA website states. "All roof workers — whether they are working on the job site, in the yard and in the shop face daily challenges to their safety. This training program is specifically designed to help roof workers understand the nature of the hazards and how to best control the risks when working with Hot Air and Induction Welding equipment."

The program includes a review of hazard recognition and controls, first aid for some of the most common injuries, PPE requirements, fall and fire prevention and basic hazardous materials management.

The training is available in person, virtually or as a hybrid class, and is offered in English and Spanish. Visit MRCA.org for more information.

The Western States Roofing Contractors Association (WSRCA) named roofing veteran Chuck Chapman to its Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame is the highest recognition possible for anyone involved with the WSRCA to receive. Chapman, the president of Tecta America Arizona, has been a committee chair and served two full terms as a Western States Board of Director. Outside of the WSRCA, Chapman has served as president of the Arizona Roofing Contractors Association.

“Anyone that knows Western States can tell you how important Chuck's contributions over the last two decades have been to our success,” the WSRCA stated in a Facebook post.

Along with his position as a board of director, Chapman has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Davis Memorial Foundation, which provides scholarships to students who want to attend a trade school or earn a college or university degree that relates to the construction industry. Chapman is currently the chairman for the foundation.

Chapman began his roofing career as an estimator, project manager and sales manager at Universal Roofers in Phoenix, Ariz. in 1985. He became vice president of Classic Roofing in 1994 before serving as an estimator and project manager at Central Roofing Company, a Tecta America company. He went on to serve as president of Central Roofing Company in 2009 before becoming president of Tecta America Arizona in 2011.

“I’m thankful for the fact that I work for a good company,” Chapman told RC during the 2021 Best of Success conference. “It’s been very encouraging to have the support of everyone in our company, especially at the top level, supporting everyone and making sure that everybody is safe and having policies that are employee-friendly to make sure that everybody is properly taken care of.”

MCLEAN, Va. — Copper is having incredible revival in recent years in new and restored buildings, as a growing number of designers are looking toward more sustainable and timeless materials. To showcase and celebrate the best applications of copper in North America, the Copper Development Association (CDA) awarded 12 innovative copper building projects in the United States and Canada as part of its annual North American Copper in Architecture (NACIA) awards program.

The NACIA awards program, established in 2008 by CDA and the Canadian Copper & Brass Development Association, recognizes copper ‎buildings in the U.S. and Canada selected in three categories: New Construction, ‎Restoration and Ornamental Applications. ‎Winning projects represent a wide variety of design styles and buildings, including residential structures, government facilities and churches — all of which were executed with remarkable detail, creativity, and craftsmanship.

“While a popular choice now, we can expect innovation and use of copper to continue to increase for building systems such as roofing and interiors, and more frequently recently for traditional and engineered cladding systems,” said Stephen Knapp, the director of the Strip, Sheet, & Plate Council for CDA. “The 2021 NACIA winners have demonstrated the continual evolution of copper in design, showcasing how the metal’s versatility and beauty meets function, while answering the growing demand to meet increasing sustainable building standards.”

The 12 winning projects were selected by leading experts in the use of copper in architecture. Judges make their selections based on the presence and use of copper and technique throughout the project, the quality of copper installation and function, and when applicable, the significance of the project at hand — whether historic, modern, or otherwise. A complete list of winners can be found below with further details and photos available on copper.org.

New Construction
•     Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Neuroscience Research Building
•     The Pavilion at Grace
•     1701 Rhode Island Avenue
•     Branch House
•     Christ Chapel - Hillsdale College

Restoration
•     Old City Hall
•     Andrew's Wesley United Church Seismic Upgrade & Heritage Conservation
•     Andrew's Catholic Church
•     Sun Tower Dome Envelope Seismic Stabilization
•     581 Boylston Street

Ornamental
•     The Fitzroy
•     Brighton Municipal Court, Building Envelope Improvements