California Title 24 Turns Buyers Toward
Cost-Effective, Sustainable Roofs

The California Energy Commission's building energy code, Title 24, has turned the attention of buyers in the commercial roofing market toward solutions that are versatile, cost-effective and, importantly, sustainable.

Requiring cool roofs for many low-slope, non-residential applications in new construction, Title 24 dictates that roofs be tested by a Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) approval laboratory and receive a CRRC label. According to the code, roofs over conditioned space with a slope of less than 2:12 must have an initial thermal emittance (IE) value of .75 or more (on a scale of zero to one) and a solar reflectance (SR) value of .70 or more.

The right single-ply roofing system – vinyl in particular – can offer the perfect long-term, energy smart solution. The strengths of a good vinyl single-ply system are its stability, lightweight, durability, energy efficiency and low maintenance requirements. Highly reflective vinyl single-ply roofing systems have been proven to reduce a facility's demand for cooling energy, most importantly during peak demand hours when the power infrastructure is most vulnerable to being overloaded. Vinyl single-ply roofing systems have the added benefit of a solid track record. The first systems were introduced to the marketplace over 30 years ago and the best of them have a proven performance history that spans nearly as long.

FiberTite Roofing Systems® by Seaman Corporation accomplish everything the California Energy Commission commands and more. With initial SR and IE values of .83 and .85 respectively, the FiberTite membrane qualifies as one of the most highly reflective roof surfaces on the market. FiberTite was one of the first roofing manufacturers to label its products under the Energy Star program and FiberTite also meets the requirements of the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program. What's more, FiberTite's track record is unrivaled in the industry. Twenty-eight years of proven rooftop performance are the result of a product with carefully integrated and well- balanced attributes. Among them, a proprietary base fabric yields exceptional puncture and tear resistance, and a KEE-based coating compound delivers unmatched chemical and UV ray resistance and long-term flexibility in any rooftop climate.

Californians aren't the only people mandated to conserve natural resources through more intentional and sustainable building practices. The city of Chicago requires cool roofs on low-slope buildings as part of its Energy Code to minimize the urban heat island effect; by the end of 2008 roofs must meet Energy Star levels for reflectance. Florida and Georgia have modified their energy codes to allow for reduced R and U-values when a reflective roof is installed. The U.S. Government has also made moves in the same direction, requiring federal office buildings and industrial labs to reduce energy consumption and install Energy Star rated products whenever available. Moreover, many states now offer rebates through local municipalities or utility companies to those who voluntarily install energy efficient, cool roofs.

ARMA, the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, a trade association that represents the majority of North America's asphalt roofing manufacturing companies and their suppliers, is actively lobbying the California Energy Commission to eliminate or significantly reduce the Title 24 requirements. The argument they pose is based solely on the initial installed cost of roofing systems that meet the code's requirements. They fail to account for the cost savings an energy efficient roofing system has again and again proven to deliver.

In the case of FiberTite, according to the Department of Energy's energy saving model, a properly maintained roof covering a 25,000 square foot facility - even in Portland, Oregon, one of the five cloudiest cities in the country - can offer energy savings of $.06 per square foot or $30,000 over the proven 20 (plus) year life of the roof. In a place like Phoenix, Arizona where the sun rarely hides, a FiberTite roof offers savings of $.29 per square foot or $145,000 during the course of its life. At a hypothetical $4 per square foot cost to re-roof this same facility, FiberTite will more than pay for itself.

Since the first systems were installed back in 1979, over 99% of FiberTite roofing systems ever installed across the nation are still performing.

Learn more about FiberTite Roofing Systems. Use our convenient online form.

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