How well do you know these 38 commercial roofing acronyms?
ACRONYMS. THEY’RE EVERYWHERE.
Acronyms. They’re everywhere. We hear them mentioned in meetings and on phone calls. We read them in trade journals and we see them on quotes. Some people get so entrenched in a particular industry (i.e. commercial roofing) that the acronym itself becomes more commonly used than the word it stands for.
There’s nothing worse than sitting in a meeting and just nodding along when we don’t even have a clue of what’s being discussed, so let’s take a few minutes and review some of the most frequently used acronyms in the commercial roofing world.
Please select from the categories below to see the associated acronyms.
APP
Definition
Atactic Polypropylene
An amorphous rubbery material used mainly in adhesives and bitumen modification.
BUR
Definition
Built Up Roofing
A roof system comprised of layers of bitumen (asphalt or coal tar) and reinforcing plies (felts or fabrics) and surfacing (options include aggregate, ceramic granules, liquid coatings).
CLP
Definition
Cross Linked Polymer
A single-ply alternative roof replacement system exclusive to Simon Roofing that uses cross-linked polymers and a scrim fully saturated with waterproofing protection for maximum strength and wear characteristics.
CSPE
Definition
Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene
A synthetic, rubber-like thermoset material that is highly resistant to the effects of ozone.
EPDM
Definition
Ethylene Propylene Diene Terpolymer
A thermosetting synthetic elastomer used in single-ply membranes consisting of terpolymer of ethylene, propylene and diene
IRMA
Definition
Inverted Roof Membrane Assembly
A roofing system commonly used on modern high-rise buildings where the conventional membrane is turned upside-down.
Mod Bit
Definition
Modified Bitumen
Roofing sheets that are created with asphalt, which has been modified with plastic or rubber.
PIB
Definition
Polyisobutylene
A polymer on which butyl rubber, an airtight material, is based.
PMR
Definition
Protected Membrane Roof
A roofing assembly where the insulation and ballast are applied on top of the membrane for added protection against various elements.
PVC
Definition
Polyvinyl Chloride
A single-ply roofing system comprised of a membrane made from the synthetic polymer polyvinyl chloride.
SPF
Definition
Spray Polyurethane Foam
An adhered roofing system comprised of chemical substances isocyanate and polyol, which expands to form a solid, seamless foam surface.
TPO
Definition
Thermoplastic Polyolefin
A single-ply roofing system comprised of a thermoplastic olefin membrane.
ANSI
Definition
American National Standards Institute
A non-profit organization that oversees the creation, promulgation and use of thousands of norms and guidelines that directly impact businesses in nearly every sector. (Source)
ASTM
Definition
American Society for Testing & Materials
Started in 1898, ASTM is one of the world’s largest standards organizations that cultivates and produces technical standards for materials, products, systems and services.
BOCA
Definition
Building Officials & Code Administration
An association of professionals who establish and enforce building codes.
BOMA
Definition
Building Owners and Managers Association
An international federation that was founded in 1907 and represents owners and managers of all commercial property types.
CRRC
Definition
Cool Roof Rating Council
Created in 1998 to help establish accurate and credible methods to evaluate and label solar reflectance and thermal emittance of roofing products.
CSI
Definition
Construction Specifications Institute
An organization that advances and updates the standardization of construction language to improve facility performance
NRCA
Definition
National Roofing Contractors Association
Founded in 1886, the NRCA is an association that represents all segments of the roofing industry and has more than 3,500 members.
OSHA
Definition
Occupational Safety & Health Administration
An agency that sets and enforces safety standards to assure safe and healthful working and job site conditions through training, outreach, education and assistance.
RCMA
Definition
Roof Coatings Manufacturer Association
The national trade association that represents the manufacturers of asphaltic and solar reflective roof coatings and the suppliers to the roof coatings industry
USGBC
Definition
United States Green Building Council
A private organization that promotes sustainability in building design, construction and operation.
EMR
Definition
Experience Modification Rate
A number that represents a business’s claims history and safety record. Past reported injuries and the possibility of reoccurrences are used to determine the number. An EMR rating of 1.0 is the average.
IBC
Definition
International Building Code
A model building code that was developed by the ICC.
JSA
Definition
Job Safety Analysis
A procedure which integrates safety and health practices into the work environment and tasks on the job site.
PPE
Definition
Personal Protective Equipment
Items such as gloves, foot and eye protection, protective hearing devices and hard hats that are worn to minimize exposure to potential hazards.
TRIR
Definition
Total Recordable Incident Rate
An indicator that measures occupational safety and health and is used to evaluate a contractor’s safety performance. A TRIR score of 4.4 is considered the roofing industry average.
BTU
Definition
British Thermal Unit
The heat energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one-degree Fahrenheit.
FPQ
Definition
Fixed Price Quote
A type of contract where the payment amount does not depend on resources used or time expended.
HVAC
Definition
Heating, Ventilation and Air Condition
System used to provide heating and cooling services to buildings.
NDL
Definition
No Dollar Limit
A warranty that guarantees the manufacturer will have to cover all costs related to repairing a roof leak.
NTE
Definition
Not To Exceed
A commitment by the vendor that the value of an interim will not exceed the amount of the firm proposal and estimates to be submitted.
RTU
Definition
Rooftop Unit
Type of HVAC system that contains all components needed to provide conditioned air in one unit.
T&M
Definition
T&M
Agreement where a contractor is paid based on cost of direct labor and cost of materials.
UV
Definition
Ultraviolet Rays
UV rays can cause substantial damage to a commercial roof by eating through the material and causing leaking.
VOC
Definition
Volatile Organic Compound
Emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs can have both short-and long-term health effects.
Maybe you knew them all. Maybe you learned a few new ones. Staying informed and educated on commercial roofing terminology can be very helpful when interacting with peers or a roofing service provider.
For answers to any of your commercial roofing issues contact Simon Roofing at 800.523.7714 or email us!
Sources:
- American Society for Testing & Materials
- Building Officials & Code Administration
- Building Owners and Managers Association
- Cool Roof Rating Council
- Construction Specifications Institute
- National Roofing Contractors Association
- Occupational Safety & Health Administration
- Roof Coatings Manufacturing Association
- US Green Building Council