Print this page An Introduction to Roofing Systems
J. Paul Guyer, P.E., R.A., Fellow ASCE, Fellow AEI
Course Outline
1. STARTING POINTS FOR ROOF SYSTEM SELECTION
2. SELECTION CONSIDERATIONS FOR STEEP ROOFING SYSTEMS
3. SELECTION CONSIDERATIONS FOR LOW-SLOPE (MEMBRANE) ROOFING
4. RE-ROOFING AND RE-COVERING
5. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
6. DETAILED INFORMATION
7. USING PRINCIPAL DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF POSSIBLE ROOF SYSTEMS
8. CONSIDERATIONS WHEN SPECIFYING LOW-SLOPE (HYDROSTATIC) MEMBRANE ROOFING
9. PRINCIPAL CONSIDERATIONS WHEN SPECIFYING STEEP-SLOPE (WATERSHEDDING) ROOFING
10. ADDITIONAL CRITERIA AND DISCUSSION
This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.
Learning
Objective
At the conclusion of this course, the student will:
• Learn about the different roofing systems that can be used on steep-slope roofs;
• Learn about the different roofing systems that can be used on low-slope roofs;
• Learn how to select roofing systems based on use criteria;
• Learn about environmental considerations when specifying roofing systems;
• Learn about typical design details you should use with different roofing systems;
• Learn how different roofing systems perform when exposed to wind and traffic wear conditions;
• Learn about the fire resistance characteristics of different roofing systems;
• Learn about the loads different roofing systems impose on a building structure;
• Learn how to integrate thermal insulation with the roofing system; and
• Learn about vapor barriers and retarders and when they are used.
Intended Audience
This course is intended for engineers, architects and construction professionals who want an introduction to roofing systems that are available commercially and have been proven effective when properly selected and applied.
Benefit for Attendee
This course will give engineers and others an understanding of the basic types of roofing systems that can be used on commercial, industrial, institutional and residential building projects.
Course Introduction
This is an introduction to the basics you will need to specify roofing systems and incorporate appropriate engineering details into your working drawings on a wide variety of projects.
About Course Author
Paul Guyer is a registered mechanical engineer, civil engineer, fire protection engineer and architect with over 35 years experience in the design of buildings and related infrastructure. For an additional 9 years he was a senior-level advisor to the California Legislature on infrastructure and capital outlay issues. He has designed and supervised the design of hundreds of construction projects requiring the preparation of detailed working drawings and specifications for federal, state and local public agencies and private companies. He is a graduate of Stanford University and has held numerous national, state and local positions with the American Society of Civil Engineers and National Society of Professional Engineers.
Course Content
The course content is contained in the following PDF file:
An Introduction to Roofing Systems
Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you still experience any difficulty in downloading or opening this file, you may need to close some applications or reboot your computer to free up some memory.
Course Summary
For engineers and construction professionals needing an introduction to the basic types of roofing systems, this course will tell you how to evaluate different systems for specific projects, how to specify and detail roofing systems, and important maintenance considerations.
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
