2019 Gold Circle Award Winner: Nations Roof

By Lauren White.

Amidst unique challenges and strict security, Nations Roof safely completed a roof replacement.

There are a number of projects in the roofing industry that allow companies to demonstrate their excellence and expertise.  The Roofing Alliance recognizes that excellence and expertise in  workmanship, innovation, and safety with their Gold Circle Awards program.  This elite awards program recognizes Roofing Alliance and National Roofing Contractors Alliance (NRCA) members for their contributions to the roofing industry.

Rolls Royce North American Corporate Headquarters, located in Indianapolis, Indiana recently received a new roof.  Nations Roof out of Villa Park, Illinois was responsible for the tear-off and replacement.  “Nations Roof deserves to be recognized for its commitment to safety, and in particular, for its safety preparedness and performance, which is exemplified by the successful completion of the...project at Rolls Royce Corporation…” stated James Meegan, Field Safety Consultant at Safety Check, Inc.  Nations Roof received the 2019 Gold Circle Award in Safety Preparedness and Preparation for this project.

Bryan Frarey, Senior Vice President of Construction Operations at VEREIT Inc. in Phoenix, Arizona, shared, “We’ve entrusted Nations Roof to handle a number of our most technical projects nationally, and this was one of the most difficult yet.”  VEREIT Inc. owns the building the Rolls Royce Headquarters is located in. 

Prior to bidding, there were several aspects Nations Roof wasn’t aware of.  Zachary Stanke, Commercial/Industrial Roofing Consultant with RRK Associates, LTD. in Gurnee, Illinois, explained, “During the bidding process, several roof sections were not accessible and it was not known whether a crane could be used on the project or not.  Contingency plans were developed, which included the use of a debris chute as an alternate, and ultimately due to crane restrictions, the stockpiling of debris on the roof and intermittent crane disposal.”  They also weren’t sure of the best way to get the debris removal chute up to the roof and if street closure permits were needed, among other things.

Pre-planning is an important aspect of any project, especially when it comes to employee and public safety, quality and production.  Nations Roof includes their employees in the pre-planning process, plan execution, and any changes to the plan as they work through the project. James Meegan was impressed by this practice stating, “Employees at all levels within the organization perform hazard analyses prior to the start of a project and continue it through to the project’s completion.  All employees participate and are empowered to voice their concerns.”

The building remained occupied while work was being done.  Additionally, streets and sidewalks were open for most of the roof replacement.  Due to new weight restrictions on crane picks for occupied buildings, they had to adhere to the 500-pound limit.  This “...caused Nations Roof to reconsider rigging methods, sequencing, and material handling on the roof,” explained Zachary Stanke.  Nations Roof pointed out, “...our crews managed to load materials on an adjacent unoccupied roof and then carry most of the material to where it was needed.  The bulk of the material had to be hoisted one roll and one bundle at a time.” Nations Roof altered the hours they worked on several roof sections to avoid peak pedestrian hours.  Further, when crane or overhead work was being done, they needed to have street and sidewalk closure permits.

Considering the building was a high rise with high winds, Nations Roof utilized additional safety precautions.  Employees used personal fall arrest systems to install a guardrail system around the perimeter of the building before they began on the roof.  Zachary Stanke shared, “Perimeter guardrails are a standard practice at Nations Roof; however, they were particularly important for this project due to wind, the nature of tear-off, and the stockpiling of debris.  The guardrail system protected employees from falls, but the installation of debris netting was critical in preventing debris from blowing off the roof.” They also used aerial lifts instead of ladders for access. 

In addition to construction challenges, there were also challenges with building access and security.  The Rolls Royce Headquarters is a high security facility with special procedures for getting into and out of the building.  Nations Roof revealed, “Rolls Royce Escorts were needed for the initial inspection of the roofs. Two roof sections could not be inspected due to security clearances.”  Security personnel are present at all times. Bryan Frarey explained, “...all of the crew had to meet stringent safety and security requirements to even access the facility. Having the Nations Roof crew follow the necessary and intricate access procedures was never a problem.” 

The roof replacement was completed in just four months.  Nations Roof met the challenges of this meticulous project which included one of  the highest levels of safety. There was little room for error due to the use of aerial lifts; the building, sidewalks, and streets being operational; and the crane pick weight restrictions.  Zachary Stanke complimented Nations Roof on their safety, stating, “...there were ZERO safety complaints made throughout the project by the owner, VEREIT Inc., the tenant, Rolls Royce Corp., or the third-party maintenance team, ISS.”  Nations Roof’s exceptional performance exceeded expectations and allowed Rolls Royce to continue with business as usual throughout the process.

The Roofing Alliance’s 2020 Gold Circle Awards program is now open and accepting nominations.  The deadline for entries is October 18, 2019.

Get details and download an application.

For more information on the Gold Circle awards plus information about the Roofing Alliance contact Bennett Judson, the Roofing Alliance’s executive director, at bjudson@nrca.net or visit www.roofingalliance.net.

About the Roofing Alliance

The Roofing Alliance is 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.  Composed of 169 members representing extraordinary leaders from the contracting, manufacturing, distribution and service provider communities, the Roofing Alliance has committed over $13 million to enhance the performance and long-term viability of the industry and allocated more than $5 million to fund 48 research, education, technical and philanthropic programs and projects.  Serving as the foundation of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), Roofing Alliance members are focused on giving back and supporting high-quality educational programs and ensuring timely and forward-thinking industry responses to major economic and technological issues. For more information about Roofing Alliance initiatives, visit www.roofingalliance.net.