Structure and Organization of RPM and Standards

Division A - Scope, Use of Standards, and Guarantee

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Part 2 - Structure and Organization of RPM and Standards

Section 2.1. How to Read Standards

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2.1.1. Structure of the Roofing Practices Manual

2.1.1.1. Division

1. The structure of the RPM has changed over time. Originally published as a paper-based binder with twelve tabs, it was digitized in 2012 and converted to an online wiki format. In 2016, the wiki-based RPM was restructured to form five Divisions, A through E.
   
   

   Division A: Scope, Use of Standards, and Guarantee

   Division A contains important information about the RPM and the RoofStar Guarantee Program, including any limitations and exclusions applicable to a RoofStar Guarantee.

   Division B: Standards

   Standards are listed by system according to the weather-side surface and are further divided by system categories - Roof Waterproofing Systems, Water-shedding Systems, and Grade-level Waterproofing Systems. Explanatory notes may be incorporated at the end of each Standard.

   Division C: Accepted Materials

   Division C contains all the listed Accepted Materials used in the RoofStar Guarantee Program; it is searchable by a variety of methods, each made simple by ready hyperlinks.

   Division D: Construction Details

   Division D houses the construction details that support each Standard. Construction Details are categorized by Division and then by System, and each System is then organized by the Part structure with which each Standard is organized.

   Division E: General Information

   Division E contains short articles on related subject matters and includes reference materials commonly used in design and construction.

2.1.2. Structure of Standards

2.1.2.1. Purpose and Function of Structure

Standards in the RPM are arranged by group and then by system (i.e. "Waterproofing Roof Systems" is a Group; "Polymer-modified Bitumen Membrane Systems" is a System type). Each Standard published in the RPM is an arrangement of minimum requirements, guiding principles, and recommendations, which are necessary to design and construct a roof system that will qualify for a RoofStar Guarantee. Standards include requirements and commentary on supporting decks and walls, and on any overburden a system may support, even though a RoofStar Guarantee does not extend coverage to these.

In each Standard, the term assembly may be used when a specific deck type is mentioned or implied; otherwise, a Standard pertains only to the system which is the arrangement of materials installed on a suitable deck surface.

Every roofing Standard is arranged linearly, from general requirements (Part 1) to requirements that are particular (for example, requirements for systems intended to support overburden - Part 14). Standards for waterproofing at grade are arranged almost identically to waterproofing roof Standards. This linear arrangement also reflects the bottom-to-top construction sequence of an assembly. Except for Part 4, which addresses general material qualities and handling, the arrangement of a Standard's Parts reflects the following sequence and addresses design, material, and construction requirements in each one:

Part	Content
Part 1	General (covers design, material, and construction requirements for all systems)
Part 2	Supporting Structures: Decks and Walls
Part 3	Securing the Roof Assembly (to resist displacement by wind)
Part 4	Materials (General material qualities, applicable to all Parts, and to the entire construction process)
Part 5	Deck and Wall Overlays (materials used to render a suitable surface for the system)
Part 6	Air and Vapour Controls
Part 7	Insulation
Part 8	Insulation Overlays (Eave protection, Underlayments, and ventilation, in the Standards for water-shedding roof systems)
Part 9	Roof Field (Field Panels, Field Shingles, or Field Shakes, in the Standards for water-shedding roof systems)
Part 10	Perimeters and Walls (including parapets, control joints, and expansion joints)
Part 11	Drainage
Part 12	Penetrations and Curbs
Part 13	Linear Metal Flashing (sheet metal flashings used for protection or water diversion)
Part 14	The Roof as a Platform (concerning amenity spaces and other loads superimposed on the roof system)

The term "Reserved" is applied to some Parts, sections, sub-sections, or articles to retain the structure of a Standard so that one Standard can easily be compared with other Standards. Using "Reserved" also facilitates possible future additions.

Every Standard is written as an integrated document; each Part supports the others and cannot be read or understood apart from the rest. Therefore, the reader must become familiar with the entire Standard, including all three Sections in each Part.

2.1.2.2. Parts and Sections

1. Each Standard is divided into fourteen Parts, and each Part is normally divided into three Sections:
   1. Section 1 (General) includes definitions and broadly applicable design guidelines or standards.
   2. Section 2 (Materials) includes specific material requirements within the Part.
   3. Section 3 (Application) includes the requirements, guiding principles, recommendations and ancillary information necessary for the Contractor to build the system that qualifies for a RoofStar Guarantee.
2. Each section is divided into sub-sections, articles, sentences and clauses. With minor exceptions, all requirements and recommendations are contained in Articles. This nomenclature loosely mimics the structure of the British Columbia Building Code and its parent Code, the National Building Code of Canada. The nomenclature of the RPM can be illustrated this way:

Nomenclature	Example
Group	Waterproofing Roof Systems
System	Polymer-modified Bituminous Membranes
Standard	Standard for SBS-Modified Bitumen Membrane Roof Systems
Part	Part 3 - Securing the Roof Assembly
Section	3.1. Design
Subsection	3.1.4. Conventionally Insulated Roof Systems
Article	3.1.4.3. Specifying an Assembly with Proven Past Performance
Sentence	…(1)
Clause	…(1)(4)
Sub-clause	…(1)(4)(3)

2.1.3. Standards Content

2.1.3.1. Use of “and” and “or” between Sentences, Clauses, and Sub-clauses of a Sentence

1. Throughout the Standards, multiple Sentences, Clauses, and Sub-clauses are connected by the word “and” or “or” at the end of the second last Sentence, Clause, or Sub-clause in the series. Although this connecting word appears only once, it is meant to apply to all the preceding Clauses or Sub-clauses within that series. Each connected Sub-clause ends with a comma to indicate connection. In all cases, a Clause (and its Subclauses, if any) must be read in conjunction with the beginning of the Sentence.
   
   See the examples below.

   Example: Use of "or" In the example below (from Article 12.1.3.4. in the waterproofing roof Standards), the use of “or” at the end of Clause (7)(1) (bolded for emphasis only) means that only one of the conditions (Clause (7)(1) or (7)(2)) must be satisfied to complete the intent of the sentence: 7) Reinforced liquid membrane flashing systems may be specified only where 1) sheet membrane applications are not practicable (i.e., complex geometry), or 2) the top edge of membrane plies must be terminated on a vertical surface and other means of termination are not practicable or even possible. Example: Use of "and" In the following example (from Article 11.3.2.5. in the “RGC Standard for Vegetated Roof Assemblies”), the use of “and” at the end of Clause (1)(2) (again, bolded for emphasis only) means that all three conditions (Clauses (1)(1) through (1)(3)) must be satisfied to complete the sentence; if one of the three conditions is not met, the state of “substantial establishment” has not been achieved: 1) An extensive vegetated roof system shall be considered substantially established when 1) plants covers at least 80 per cent (by area) of the growing media, 2) plants demonstrate firmness and proper colouration (wilting and discolouration from overwatering or poor nutrition is not acceptable), and 3) no more than 10 per cent of the joints between pre-grown mats are visible during inspection.

2.1.3.2. Measurements

1. All values in the RPM and its Standards are given in metric units; Imperial measurements are typically shown in parentheses.

2.1.3.3. Defined Terms

1. A defined term in a Standard or any other part of the RPM is indicated with italics. In addition to the terms defined in the Glossary, the following definitions are used throughout this Manual and in each Standard.

   Contractor

   means a roofing contractor who is an Active Member of the RCABC.

   Design Authority

   means the individual or firm responsible for the issuance of Project specifications and details to which the Project will be bid and constructed. When a Contractor designs a Project, the Contractor is deemed to be the Design Authority.

   Guarantor

   means the RGC RoofStar Guarantee Program that issues the RoofStar Guarantee ("Guarantee") and may be used interchangeably with RGC .

   Manual

   means the Roofing Practices Manual.

   Project

   means the scope of work for which the Contractor is responsible.

2.1.3.4. Text Conventions and Classification

1. The sentences, clauses, and sub-clauses of a Standard are coloured to classify and differentiate language, to provide clarity of meaning and importance. There are four classifications of text used in all Standard published in the RPM:
   1. Requirements are shown in black, and are statements conventionally expressed by "must" or "shall". They convey what is required for the project to qualify for a RoofStar Guarantee.
   2. Guiding Principles are shown in green. Guiding Principles support the requirements and are typically expressed by the use of "should" in the text, but occasionally indicated by "may". Guiding Principles may also pertain to how the RoofStar Guarantee Program is administered. Contained within "Guiding Principles" are Risk Management Best Practices which are binding upon the Contractors who perform work to conform to a Standard.
   3. Recommendations are shown in red and are not binding. They are typically expressed with the use of "recommend". While "recommendations" are non-binding, they are nevertheless important, and the reader is strongly urged to adopt them.
   4. Reference (Informative or explanatory text) is rarely displayed in the body of a Standard (usually, informative material is allocated to the Notes for a Standard), but when it appears in the body of a Standard it is shown in
      blue.
2. The following additional conventions are used throughout the Standards:
   1. Use of the singular does not exclude the plural (and vice versa) when the sense allows.
   2. The term "standard" and "requirement" have the same meaning.
   3. The term "Standard" (when capitalized) refers to the document (the Standard) that governs the design, permissible materials, and application requirements for a specific system.
   4. Bold italics are used to denote documents or programs of the RCABC and the RGC (Guarantor).
   5. Internal and external references (i.e., building codes, standards) are generally titled in plain type; titles of articles, or subtitles of a standard, are expressed within quotation marks.

2.1.3.5. Change Indication

1. Changes to Standards or published accepted materials are highlighted with yellow and remain highlighted for a period of twelve months from the date of change. Other changes to published resources in the RPM are not highlighted or otherwise indicated.

2.1.4. Notes to Standards

2.1.4.1. Function of Notes in the Standards

1. Notes referenced and linked in each Standard are informative only and are non-binding; they are published only as commentary, intended to support or provide an explanation of requirements, guiding principles, or recommendations published in the Standards.

Section 2.2. Images, References, and Material Products

2.2.1. Use of Illustrations and Construction Details

2.2.1.1. Illustrations

1. Illustrations are offered throughout a Standard to supplement the text and are considered non-binding and informative only.
2. Where an illustration appears to differ from a Standard, the Standard shall be considered binding.
3. Illustrated materials and applications are representational and therefore any similarity to actual materials or methods, including colours or textures, is purely accidental.

2.2.1.2. Construction Details

1. Construction Details are located outside of a Standard but may be linked to the Standard within the body of text.
2. Construction Details may be considered complementary to the Standard and include notes and additional hyperlinks that either direct the reader back to the Standard or to an external document.
3. Where a Construction Detail appears to differ from a Standard, the Standard shall be considered binding.
4. Illustrated materials and applications are representational and therefore any similarity to actual materials or methods, including colours or textures, is purely accidental.

2.2.2. Reference Publications

2.2.2.1. Codes and External Standards

The RGC acknowledges that building codes, other standards, guidelines, and external policies influence the development of or directly affect the application of RGC Standards. These references are typically summarized in Article 1.1.1.3. of the RGC Standard and include, without limitation, the current editions of

1. British Columbia Building Code (“Code”),
2. The National Building Code of Canada ,
3. Standards published by the CSA Group for the CSA A123 Technical Committee on Roofing ,
4. Standards published by ASTM International , and
5. Standards published by ANSI/SPRI .

When another RGC Standard or any external Code or standard is referenced within an RGC Standard, the number or origin of the standard or RGC Standard will appear as normal text and the name of the standard or RGC Standard will be shown in quotation marks, i.e., ANSI/SPRI RP-14, “Wind Design Standard for Vegetative Roofing Systems” .

2.2.3. Material Products

2.2.3.1. Materials accepted by the Guarantor (RGC)

1. Materials identified or described in this Manual and the Standards apply only to those which are accepted by the RGC, unless stated otherwise.

Section 2.3. Editions, Revisions, and Authority

2.3.1. Digital and Printed Editions

2.3.1.1. Authoritative Version of RPM and Standards

1. Each Standard is prepared by the RCABC Guarantee Corp. (RGC) Technical Committee, under the final approval of the RCABC Guarantee Corp. (RGC) Board of Directors and is republished every four months.
2. While printable versions of each Standard are available for download by users of the RPM, the online version remains the authoritative document in all respects and is binding.

2.3.1.2. Authority and Conflict

In addition to a wealth of information about roofing, standards, and the "British Columbia Building Code", the RPM is the authoritative compendium of Standards for the RoofStar Guarantee Program. However, should a conflict arise

1. between a manufacturer's specifications and an RGC Standard , written agreement must be secured from the Guarantor for determination of the appropriate requirement(s) .
2. between a manufacturer's specifications and the guidelines published in the Roofing Practices Manual, the latest RoofStar Guarantee requirements published in an RGC Standard shall supersede both the manufacturer's specifications and any guidelines.
3. between the RoofStar Guarantee requirements published in an RGC Standard , and the guidelines published in the Roofing Practices Manual, the latest requirements published in an RGC Standard shall supersede all other RoofStar Guarantee Program guidelines.
4. between the RoofStar Guarantee requirements published in an RGC Standard , and the project specifications, the more stringent one shall prevail.

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