Roofing resilience to protect against nature’s unpredictable forces

By Dani Sheehan.

RICOWI’s storm damage research ensures that every storm leaves us better prepared for the next.

In a recent episode of Contractor Outlook, Heidi J. Ellsworth met with Phil Mayfield, a seasoned building envelope consultant and the storm investigation program coordinator for the Roofing Industry Committee on Weather Issues (RICOWI). Together, they explored RICOWI’s mission and its crucial role in advancing roofing performance through weather-related investigations.

Phil has a diverse background of experience in the industry, consulting on storm damage cases for both insurance companies and property owners. His work with RICOWI is rooted in a mission to analyze roofing failures and successes in the wake of extreme weather events. “RICOWI started as the germ of an idea back in 1989,” Phil explained. “A group of roofing professionals and industry leaders all had a common goal and wanted to find out why some roofs fail, particularly in hurricane conditions and similar roofs and similar materials did not fail.” This led to the formation of an organization committed to studying real-world storm damage and applying those findings to improve design, manufacturing and installation practices.

Hurricane Andrew hit Florida in 1992, and its devastation catapulted the newly formed RICOWI and the rest of the industry to take a harder look at roofing standards. “A lot of the things learned after Hurricane Andrew had to do with EPDM membranes blowing off, issues with ballast, mechanical fastenings and even shingle materials,” Phil shared. “The sheer volume of damage forced changes in how roofs were constructed and secured.”

Since then, RICOWI has expanded its focus to also include hail, recognizing that wind damage and hail account for significant insurance losses across the country. The organization’s first official investigation took place in 2004 after a major hail event in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Unlike other research efforts, RICOWI mobilizations rely on volunteers – industry experts who dedicate their own time and resources to investigate storm-affected areas. Phil explained, “We’re not paid to do this. We cover our own expenses, and we’re not allowed to advertise our businesses or profit in any way. The idea of impartiality is ingrained in RICOWI.” This allows individuals to work alongside people they normally wouldn’t, from insurance professionals to code officials to academics, all with the goal of better understanding storm damage.

Read the transcript, Listen to the podcast or Watch the webinar to learn more about how RICOWI’s research helps shape best practices, inform code improvements and support innovative solutions for roofing resilience.