NERCA Offering Free Educational Seminars at Annual Convention and Trade Show 

The educational seminars are included with the price of badge registration for the conference.   

The North/East Roofing Contactors Association will hold its 92nd annual convention and trade show March 28 – 29, 2018 at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston, Massachusetts. The following classes are included with the price of badge registration:  

Wednesday, March 28, 2018, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  - Contract Documents Every Roofing Contractor Should Have and Use

Speaker: Stephen Phillips Esq, Hendrick, Phillips, Salzman and Siegel P.C. Sponsor: Boston Roofing Contractors Association 

Stephen Phillips, Esq. has been defending the interests of the roofing contractor for many years with consistent successful results. He has conducted multiple seminars and webinars for NERCA members that demonstrate his expertise and reputation as one of the top legal professionals in the country. 

Stephen will highlight what residential and commercial roofing contractors should develop and use in their daily operations; a proposal/contract form to submit to potential customers, a purchase order form when ordering materials, a commercial or residential roofing warranty to issue upon completion of a job and a subcontract to use when retaining a subcontractor. 

Roofing contractors should use each of these documents to establish and preserve legal rights and establish terms that will govern relationships with others and allocate liability. During this program, Mr. Phillips will discuss some of the key terms that should be included in these documents from the roofing contractor's perspective. (This educational offering is recognized by MA & RI as satisfying educational credits towards renewal of the Construction Supervisors License (CSL) requirement.) 

Wednesday, March 28, 2018, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. - Vegetative Roof Systems

Speaker: Thomas Hanzely, National Sales Manager, Firestone Building Products SkyScape Vegetative Roof System 

With the focus on sustainable design growing in the commercial building and construction sectors, vegetative roof systems offer an easy way to incorporate sustainability into a commercial build­ing envelope. What are the benefits of a vegetative roof system, and what are the necessary design considerations? In this seminar, Thomas Hanzély, national sales manager for Firestone Building Products' SkyScape(tm) Vegetative Roof System, provides an overview of the features, benefits and considerations needed to execute a high-performing vegetative roof system, including: 

• How vegetative roof systems can aid in meeting your stormwater management needs 
• How to calculate retention volumes and how to enhance retention without increasing the overall weight of the assembly 
• Modular or built-in-place (BIP)-which system is best for your project? 
• Plant options-which work best? 
• Hardscape options and more 

Tom has more than 15 years of experience and is a subject matter expert on vegetative roofing. Tom was part of a team that developed the first patented green roof modular system available in the U.S. in 2001 (US Patent 8,555,545) and has designed, sold and installed acres of vegetative roof systems throughout North America. He also is a LEED Accredited Professional and Green Roof Professional. (This educational offering is recognized by MA & RI as satisfying educational credits towards renewal of the Construction Supervisors License (CSL) requirement.) 

Wednesday, March 28, 2018, 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. - Technical Issues in the Roofing Industry Panel

Panelists: Mark Graham, Associate Executive Director of Technical Services, National Roofing Contractors Association, Stephen Phillips Esq., Hendrick, Phillips, Salzman and Siegel P.C. , Robert W. Therrien, President, The Melanson Company Inc. Sponsor: Lincoln Equipment Associates, Inc. 

There's no easier way to keep abreast of technical developments and updates in the roofing industry! Tradition dictates that NERCA offers employers the opportunity to discuss and deliberate on the technical issues found within the roofing industry. NERCA is proud to have panelists, 

Mark S. Graham, NRCA's associate executive director of technical services, who will provide information about current technical issues in the roofing industry and provide answers to your questions. Stephen Phillips, Esq., who constantly has the pulse of the legal issues facing the roofing industry, will cover the spectrum of issues that protect roofing contractors in today's litigious world. Rob Therrien, President of The Melanson Company Inc., past President of NERCA & NRCA will give practical advice as seen through the eyes of a roofing contractor reinforced by his years of experience as a member of NRCA's Technical committee. 

We encourage contractors, manufacturers and roofing partners to debate the issues that are affecting the roofing industry with our experts. 

Thursday, March 29, 2018, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. - Personal Fall Arrest Systems - Making them Work!

Speaker: Peter Shackford, Director of Safety & Risk Control Services, Hettrick, Cyr & Associates, Inc. Sponsor: NorthStar Construction Services Corp. 

Implementing an effective Fall Protection Program remains one of the most significant safety challenges we face. Falls from heights is far and away the leading cause of fatalities in our industry. Many roofing contractors utilize multiple options in an attempt to protect from those fall hazards and in most cases, at some point, they will include the Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS). A PFAS is the most dynamic and complex fall protection option available, however, it is an option we in the industry must at times use to ensure employee safety as well as OSHA compliance. As a result of these complexities the system is often found used incorrectly. A failure of any component within the system may result in employee injury. This presentation aims to review the many challenges and common deficiencies found with PFAS usage. It will also provide a comprehensive review of products and options available for complex situations. Fall Protection Industry terms such as "Fall Restraint", "Fall Clearance", "Free Fall Distance", "Pendulum Hazards", "Horizontal Lifelines" and more will be discussed. Finally, tools and resources will be provided that your firm can implement to better train, equip, and make the Personal Fall Arrest System work! (This educational offering is recognized by MA & RI as satisfying educational credits towards renewal of the Construction Supervisors License (CSL) requirement.) 

Thursday, March 29, 2018, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. - Building Code Update

Speaker: Mark Graham, Associate Executive Director of Technical Services, National Roofing Contractors Association Sponsor: G. Brouillette & Son, Inc. 

The International Code Council (ICC) has just published the new 2018 editions of their I-codes, which include The International Building Code, 2018 Edition and International Energy Conservation Code, 2018 Edition. Individual states and local jurisdictions can begin the process of adopting the new I-codes in 2018. 

In this presentation, Mark S. Graham, Vice President, Technical Services, National Roofing Contractors Association will provide an overview of the roofing-related changes to the building, residential, existing building, energy conservation, fire and plumbing codes. Time will be allocated for questions from the audience on code-related issues. (This educational offering is recognized by MA & RI as satisfying educational credits towards renewal of the Construction Supervisors License (CSL) requirement.) 

Exhibit Hall Open Wednesday & Thursday, 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Register online today at www.nerca.org.