Roofing Industry Coalition Defeats Proposed Ban on Low-Slope Roofs in Mississippi

Industry groups defend sound building science against measure that imposed a minimum 3:12 roof slope on all new public buildings

A commercial roof — Photo: DDP Roofing Services, Inc

A broad coalition of roofing industry groups is celebrating the defeat of proposed legislation that would've mandated steep-slope roofs on all new public buildings in Mississippi.

Mississippi House Bill 1730 did not get enough support to pass through the Mississippi Senate Public Property Committee during votes earlier this month, according to a news release. The bill, which would have imposed a mandatory minimum 3:12 roof slope on all new public buildings constructed in the state is effectively dead.

It passed overwhelmingly (114-3) in the State House in February but stalled in the Senate after an aggressive advocacy campaign led by the Coalition for Sustainable Roofing (COSUR). To gain support, officials worked Working closely with about a dozen roofing-related organizations and industry partners including the EPDM Roofing Association (ERA), the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC), the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA), the Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA), the Single Ply Roofing Industry (SPRI), and the Mississippi Roofing Contractors Association.

"This outcome proves the power of a united industry speaking with one voice," said Ellen Thorp, president and managing director of COSUR. "Low-slope roofing systems have a decades-long track record of performance on public buildings. This legislation was well-intentioned but based on a fundamental misunderstanding of building science, and we're grateful the Mississippi Senate recognized that."

Roofers also celebrated the common-sense decision making by lawmakers in the Senate.

"Low-slope roofing systems are a staple of commercial and public construction in Mississippi," said Christee Roberson, owner and president of Graham Roofing, Inc. in West Point, Mississippi. "This bill would have tied the hands of architects, building owners, and contractors, and driven up costs for taxpayers in the process. We're glad the industry mobilized quickly and effectively to make sure that didn't happen."

As part of the effort, advocates for the roofing industry submitted a formal letter of opposition; contacted lawmakers personally and initiated a grassroots campaign to engage members of IIBEC across the state.

"This victory demonstrates the power of collective advocacy and the importance of IIBEC members’ voices in protecting best practices for building enclosure projects," the organization stated on its website. "Together, we protected building safety, design flexibility, and taxpayer investment."

This article was originally posted on www.roofingcontractor.com.