WestCon Tribune

May 2006

Cool Roofs

and Code In California

Presented By: Phil Dregger, DNG Group Companies

As defined by the 2005 California Energy Code, a "cool" roof is a roof covering or surfacing that has been tested and labeled by the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) as having an initial solar reflectance of at least 0.70 and an initial thermal emittance of at least 0.75.

On October 1, 2005, the roof industry in California underwent a quantum change.  Since that date, new and replacement roof coverings on certain low sloped non-residential buildings were required to meet new stricter energy efficiency standards.  Also since then, roof professionals and building inspectors have been struggling to understand and comply with the new requirements. 

Westcon member Phil Dregger with the DNG Group/Technical Roof Services will abreviate a presentation he made for RCI at our May meeting. This presentation overviews the new energy efficiency requirements, explains options for compliance (including an "insulation trade-off" calculator now available on-line), and reviews several examples of well intentioned but misleading information published on the subject.

The new energy efficiency standards, referred to collectively as California Title 24, Part 6, are also know as the California Energy Code.  The new standards require new and replacement roofs on certain non-residential buildings to meet minimum levels of energy efficiency.  Generally speaking all non-residential buildings with roofs sloped less than 2:12 over conditioned spaces need to comply with the new requirements. 

However, compliance with the stricter requirements is optional if the building is:

• A hotel or motel.

• Institutional "I" occupancy/use.

• Cooled by evaporative cooler (swamp coolers and not heated.

• A qualified historic structure. 

• Not intended for human occupancy (e.g., held less than 55º F or greater than 90º F)

Philip D. Dregger is a registered engineer, registered roof consultant and president of Technical Roof Services, Inc. a DNG Group Company in Concord, California. Mr. Dregger is a past director and fellow of the Roof Consultants Institute (RCI) and serves as a consultant to the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association regarding California Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24).

Mr. Dregger has designed roof systems to meet some unusual and very challenging requirements of clients including the University of California, SBC Communications (formerly Pacific Bell), and Kaiser Hospitals.

BULLETIN BOARD, MENU, PAST ISSUES, REVIEW