Product Profile October 2008: Haag Certified Roof Inspector programs
As a roofing contractor, being "certified" by a manufacturer or trade organization is a great way of demonstrating your expertise and credibility to your customers and others in your industry. In 2007, Haag Engineering Co. introduced a first of its kind certification program for professionals who assess damage and repairability of residential roofs. The Haag Certified Roof Inspector-Residential program has proven to be very popular with both insurance adjusters and roofing professionals who do storm and/or insurance-related work.
Haag Engineering Co. has been in the business of failure and damage consulting since 1924 and is a recognized authority on scientifically based failure and damage assessment. It has worked closely with roofing manufacturers and manufacturer trade associations to test their products' hail resistance. The Haag Certified Roof Inspector (HCRI) program is the first educational program offered by Haag with a "certification" distinction. The certified inspectors have been tested, and have proven their knowledge of Haag's scientifically based standard of residential roof damage assessment.
Haag's certification program centers around the definition of functional damage to a roofing - a reduction of water shedding ability or service life of roofing. We apply this definition to six major types of residential roofing products: asphalt composition shingles, fiber cement/synthetic tile, clay and concrete tile, slate, wood shingles/shakes, and metal roofing systems. We discuss in detail manufacturing, installation, weathering, hail, wind and mechanical damage, as well as repair techniques for each roofing type in 20 hours of classroom time. We teach the basic principles of hail formation and wind uplift, and apply these principles to damage assessment. After the classroom portion of Haag Certification, students take a 100-question, open book, multiple choice test. Students who pass this test with a score of 70% or better become officially Haag Certified.
Certification lends more credibility to your findings, in the event you have conflicting opinions with an insurance adjuster. It also tends to build faith in your estimates or reports among your customers and competition. Another benefit is that your name, photo and contact information are posted on the Haag Certified Roof Inspector website http://www.certifiedroofinspector.com/ and your information is searchable by name and/or location. Haag often receives requests for inspectors in certain areas, and we direct callers to the Haag Certified website for a list of certified inspectors in their area. The 275-page full color class handout you receive as part of the class is an extremely good reference guide for use in the office or the field.
In June 2009, Haag will introduce a second certification program, the Haag Certified Roof Inspector- Commercial program. Similar to our residential program, the commercial version will center on the definition of functional damage as applied to major commercial roofing systems.
For more information, including the pricing and upcoming dates and locations where the Haag Certified Roof Inspector program will be next, please visit our website at http://www.certifiedroofinspector.com/. or call our office at (800) 527-0168.
