IKO’s Cambridge™ Cool Colors Exceed California’s Title 24 Minimum Standard by 25 Percent

Roofing products leader responds to industry requirement with six new shingle colors.

This June, IKO, a global manufacturer of residential roofing shingles and commercial waterproofing and roofing products, expanded its Cambridge™ Cool Colors shingle line with six new colors that have an increased Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) of 20+, exceeding California’s Title 24 minimum standard by a staggering 25%. The four darker-toned color selections are a first for the industry – a heavily demanded option for the homeowners of California. 

The expansion of this line offers three distinct color blends ranging from COOL PLUS, COOL and Natural COOL. The COOL PLUS color selection includes the darker options of Weatherwood, Harvard Slate, Dual Brown and Graphite Black. COOL shingles are available in SRI 20+ in the medium color blends Canyon Oak and Sand Dune. With the new spread of color ranges, IKO’s Cool Colors now totals to nine color blend options. The original color range, NATURAL COOL, has an SRI of 16+ with an added benefit of Dual Grey also being algae resistant and Arctic White having the highest SRI of 23+. 

“As the city and county of Los Angeles have increased their Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) requirements from the state’s required 16 to 20, we saw an opportunity to be proactive for our customers and develop a product that meets the new requirement,” stated Mark Okland, product development manager, North America. “To achieve an SRI rating of 20+, IKO embedded granules with infrared-reflective pigments. This transmits less of the sun’s solar energy into the attic. Six of our nine color options, including the highly anticipated medium and darker-toned color options, will meet or exceed the new SRI 20 standard.” 

IKO has a long history of vertical integration, and the development of this product is no different. Over the past two years, IKO, along with our third-party pigment supplier, has developed proprietary reflective colored granules for the COOL and COOL PLUS shingles so that they meet advanced standards while giving the homeowner a wide range of options to fit their specific tastes and desired curb appeal. 

In addition to energy efficiency, three Cambridge Cool Colors bundles cover precisely 100 sq. ft., which means accurate measurements and an exact number of shingles in every package, every time. Cool Colors have the same “advantage” size benefit as other popular Cambridge shingles — 12% larger exposure than most competitors’ comparable products. Because of their bigger profile, installation of Cambridge shingles is not only faster and easier for contractors, but it also creates a dramatic finished appearance and lowers job costs associated with excess materials and labor. Matching or complementary IKO UltraHP® High Profile Ridge Cap Shingles are available to protect vulnerable roof areas and to create a truly stunning roofline. 

For more information about IKO or IKO’s Cambridge Cool Colors, visit https://www.iko.com/.

About IKO

For nearly 70 years, IKO has been a pioneer and leader in the global roofing and related waterproofing and insulation industry for residential and commercial markets. A family-owned business for more than four generations, IKO remains rooted in its founding values of integrity and performance and provides best-in-class products, services and value. A commitment to agile innovation strives to meet the everchanging needs of customers. That commitment, along with a continual investment in technology, local sourcing and vertical integration is roofing, elevated.

For more information on IKO and its full line of product solutions, visit www.iko.com.