Design and Maintenance of Roof Systems on Industrial, Commercial and Institutional Buildings

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Assess roof system performance against building envelope, structural, and durability requirements
• Evaluate roofing materials, assemblies, and design configurations to support appropriate system selection
• Diagnose common failure mechanisms using inspection techniques, testing methods, and condition assessment data
• Develop maintenance, repair, and lifecycle management strategies to extend roof service life
• Plan and scope roof retrofit and replacement projects within operational, regulatory, and budget constraints

Description

Roof systems are critical building assets, yet they are often under-managed until failure occurs. Inadequate design decisions, limited understanding of system interactions, and inconsistent maintenance practices can lead to moisture intrusion, energy loss, structural deterioration, and premature replacement, resulting in avoidable costs and operational disruption.

As roofing systems become more complex, incorporating energy performance requirements, rooftop equipment, and climate resilience considerations, the need for structured, practical decision-making has increased. Engineers and technical professionals must be able to evaluate roof assemblies holistically, assess condition accurately, and plan interventions that balance performance, risk, and cost over the building lifecycle.

This course provides a practical framework for understanding roof system design, assessment, and maintenance in real-world conditions. You will examine major roofing systems and materials, apply inspection and testing approaches, and develop strategies for maintenance, repair, and capital planning. The course emphasizes decision-making tools that can be directly applied to improve building performance and reduce lifecycle risk.

Who This Course Is For

This course is designed for:

• Engineers and engineering technologists involved in building design, assessment, or asset management
• Facilities managers, plant managers, and maintenance professionals responsible for building performance
• Architects, consulting engineers, and specification writers working on roofing systems or building envelopes
• Contractors, inspectors, and technical professionals involved in roofing system selection, installation, or rehabilitation
• Early-career to senior professionals seeking to strengthen applied knowledge of roof system performance and lifecycle management

Basic Roof Design Requirements
What does a roof do? How is it expected to perform? The basic requirements of roof systems are discussed.

• Building Envelope Requirements: water penetration, water vapour movement, air leakage, thermal resistance, continuity
• Structural Requirements: wind loads, snow loads, seismic issues, live loads, fire resistance
• Durability Requirements: UV exposure, moisture resistance, mould resistance, corrosion, chemical and fatigue resistance
• Evolving roof design requirements: Vegetative roofs and reflective roofs, rainwater retention, space utility for building occupants, rooftop safety: railings, roof anchors, ice guards, photovoltaic systems, design changes for a changing climate

Roof Design for Control
How has roof design evolved? How are roofs designed to control environmental loads? Roof design concepts and methods are discussed.

• Control of precipitation – roof slopes, hydrokinetic vs. hydrostatic, flashings, drainage design
• Thermal control – insulation design, energy codes
• Control of air leakage and water vapour
• Resistance to fire
• Structural attachment

Case Study: Roof Thermal Resistance Calculations
Building Codes now specifically require analyzing energy use, and hence thermal resistance, of building envelope components as part of the building design process. An example is presented of thermal resistance calculations for a roof system and the impact of the roof's thermal performance on overall building energy use.

Case Study: WIND-RCI - Wind - Roof Calculator on Internet

Roofing Systems, Materials and Components
All the major roofing systems will be reviewed generically along with their respective pros and cons, design options and application methods:

• Design configuration: inverted vs. conventional vs. vented hydrokinetic vs. hydrostatic
• Membranes: single-ply (TPO, PVC, EPDM), modified bitumen, built-up roofs (standard, hybrid)
• Insulations, cover boards, and thermal barriers
• Air/vapour barriers, fasteners and roof decks
• Application methods (hot. cold, torch, heat welding, self-adhesive)
• Sloped roof systems – shingles, metal and tiles, architectural vs. structural
• The critical importance of roof detailing around equipment and penetrations
• Roofing accessories

The Life Cycle of Roofs and Roof Assessments

• Roof life cycle within the building life cycle
• Roof Assessments: visual reviews, test openings
• Moisture in roofs and moisture surveys: thermographic / capacitance / nuclear
• Electronic leak detection (ELD), wind uplift testing
• Lab tests of materials
• Estimating remaining service life

Roof Maintenance and Repair

• Who does it? -- Tasks and workflow
• Common sense maintenance procedures
• Technology use - reporting, databases, tablets and drones
• When maintenance becomes a repair
• When roofs are beyond repair -- capital versus operating expenses

Roof Retrofit and Replacement

• A re-roofing project or a roof retrofit project are different from each other, and very different from roofing a new building, even though the same materials and some of the same procedures are used. The single biggest difference is that the building is being used and occupied. Understanding these differences and managing the design, tendering, and construction efforts to reflect them, are essential to a successful capital roofing project. These differences and typical re-roofing project procedures are discussed.
• Replacement vs. recovery vs. retrofit – definitions
• Measuring the costs and relative benefits of roof replacement versus retrofit
• Project scope-setting - what factors influence how far to go?
• Factors influencing design - lots of them!
• Building code and building permit requirements
• The design package - specifications, drawings, details, warranties, reliance on manufacturers
• Procurement and Contracting vehicles - general contractor vs. trade contractor vs. construction manager
• The tendering process - roofer qualifications
• Effects of the construction process on building operations and anticipating them
• Effects on building occupants
• Quality assurance during construction - 'inspection and testing'
• Post construction - releasing holdback, warranties, cleanup, commissioning

Summary - Dealing Effectively with the Inevitable
The life cycle of a building is longer than that of its roof, so roof maintenance and capital repair or replacement are a necessary part of any building asset management plan. The knowledge gained in this Course will allow designers, assessors and managers to acquire and provide more timely and accurate information for this process, and improve its effectiveness. Most importantly, continuous and ongoing attention to the roof, even though it may be out of sight, will prevent the major and costly surprises that are most detrimental to building owners and occupants alike.