Below are educational session topics that attendees would like to see offered at the 2012 show:
Solar Topics
-- Solar technologies-where is it headed?
-- Solar panel integrations into roofing
-- How to get into the business of buying and installing PV
-- PV Systems with field pictures and documentation of install with results
-- Solar PV- install costs, life expectancy, payback, tax benefits, features, how it works
-- Wind uplift for solar installs
-- Installation specifics for PV's- electrical and roofing specifics and codes
-- Panel discussion of roofers who have installed PV roof systems
-- How to become a certified solar designer/installer
-- Compatibility of Photovoltaic’s with cool roofs (efficiency)
-- Tax and state rebate information on solar installs
-- Comparison of different solar manufacturers and systems
-- Overall benefits of re-roofing with metal including solar thermal heat recovery
-- Update on what above-sheathing ventilation, photovoltaic and metal can do for buildings energy efficiency and new innovations for this technology
Technical Topics
-- Steep slope wind uplift protection
-- Field Testing of TPO
-- Pros and cons of EPDM/PVC/TPO
-- Performance of PVC vs. TPO (non-manufacturer generated)
-- TPO and Bitumen Roofing
-- Life Cycle Management of Roofing (Total Environmental Impact)
-- Roof Edging
-- Codes, ES-1, Testing, etc.
-- Thin film laminates
-- Shingle roofing applications
-- The timing when one can expect a roof to leak once damaged by hail
-- Value of synthetic breathable underlayments in various roofing systems
-- Leak detection in Roofing
-- FM Requirements for roof edging
-- Infrared scanning and roofing
-- In depth info about ASTM and what each is for and UL Test
-- Roof panel consisting of FM Personnel
-- Discuss what the building owner is to do after FM Requirements change, i.e. FM-190 AS, etc.
-- Roof design and mold growth, what to avoid.
-- How good is self adhered TPO?
-- Membrane comparisons
-- Innovative/creative installation techniques for various roof systems
-- Day lighting
-- Membrane reflectance vs. ISO Insulation Value- What’s Best?
-- TPO Weld Window and Weld Strength
-- Material and resources and analyze energy, single ply brochure
-- Installation methods for metal roofing (storage, panel install, footing during detail, hips)
Business Topics
-- Collection tactics to get your customers to pay quickly and completely
-- Database sales
-- Sales and marketing information; how to leverage email marketing, web, etc.
-- Sales-technology
-- Project Management
-- The best way to reach your market. Will there be a roofing recession?
-- How to sell on value instead of price
-- Pre-qualifying process for contractors
-- Job cost and labor controls to increase profit
-- Working on your business- building a referral system
-- Marketing to differentiate
-- Better hiring practices
-- Workforce development (address the growing gap between entry-level workers and higher-level of technical skills required to install today’s energy efficient and energy producing roofing systems)
-- Government incentives for the construction industry
-- Mold: Who's responsible/liable if it occurs?
-- Safety item liability, guard rails or anchor points
-- Warranty liability and requirements, both system and coatings from the manufacturer code
-- Analysis of advantages and disadvantages of available accounting systems what system is better
-- Is global climate change fact or fiction? Present both sides of the issues
-- Marketing class that provides tools or ideas to attack green market
Green Topics
-- Economic trade-offs to vegetative roofing; alternative systems comparisons
-- Marketing efforts that drive vegetative roofs to business
-- Modular green roofing systems
-- Roof Water storage and conservation
-- Details of vegetative roofs; system details, leak detection systems
-- Life cycle assessment of vegetative roofs
-- How to lobby for the roofing industry for garden, solar, cool roof incentives (state, federal, rebates, grants)
-- Roofing recycling. Life cycle management of roofing (total environmental impact)
-- Structural needs for garden roof
-- The economics of green roofing and/or comparative system economics/evaluations
-- Modular green roofing systems
-- LEED information, certification and workshops