By Emma Peterson. 

Understanding the urban heat island effect and how cool pavements can save lives.  

When we think of over-exposure to the elements and injuries related to weather conditions, we often think of the risks of freezing. But just because we are out of the cold most of the year in the Northern Hemisphere doesn’t mean exposure risks go away – they just shift. In 2025 the Yale School of Public Health found that, “while cold weather continues to be a leading contributor to U.S. deaths annually, deaths linked to heat exposure surged more than 50% over the past two decades.” What does this surge look like in numbers? Where heat-related deaths were around 2,670 annually from 2000-2009, they surpassed an annual count of 4,000 between 2010 and 2020.  

The numbers have risen to this staggering height for a variety of reasons, including climate change. However, one that is often overlooked is beneath our feet – concrete. A 2014 TIME article reported that “When temperatures rise, the countless miles of concrete streets, sidewalks, walls and roofs in cities magnify that effect, creating a phenomenon known as urban heat islands (UHI). When combined with the heat released by vehicle engines, paved areas can boost the temperature in cities by as much as 22°F.” 

So, what can we do about this urban heat island effect? The Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) recommends incorporating cool roofs, walls and surfaces into our urban spaces. They explain on their website, “Cool roofs and walls have an important role in combating UHIs. Due to their ability to reflect heat back into the atmosphere, installing reflective materials on buildings [and other surfaces] decreases the building’s surface temperature, as well as temperatures inside the building.”  

And it is this principle of cool surfaces that the Smart Surfaces Coalition (SSC) is putting into action. Iona Isachsen, a project manager at SSC and a member of CRRC, explains how they do this:  

To support cities’ exploration of cool pavement solutions, SSC convenes the Cool Roadways Partnership (CRP): A national peer-learning network of researchers, nonprofits and over 60 cities and counties working to advance cool pavement as an urban heat mitigation strategy. The CRP offers a forum to compare technology options, share implementation challenges and discuss strategies to encourage the development and deployment of high-performing products. 

As a result of these forums and partnerships, SSC has helped jurisdictions across the United States adopt an array of cool pavement technologies. For example, in Charleston County, Texas, the public works department installed photocatalytic asphalt in 2021 as a part of pavement maintenance. Iona shared the results of this choice, “The treatment uses titanium dioxide nanoparticles that react with sunlight to break down pollutants. Through a research partnership with Texas A&M Transportation Institute, evaluation testing confirmed notable reductions in nitrogen oxides and microplastics pollutants.” 

To see more examples of cool pavement and learn more about its benefits, check out SSC’s recently published Cool Pavement Primer.  

Image credit: Charleston County Government

By Emma Peterson. 

The Cool Roof Rating Council is simplifying access to cool surface performance data that can help us build healthier cities. 

Our built environment is heating up and with that comes health and energy resilience issues in our communities. In fact, an article by Beatriz Cardenas, Shazabe Akhtar and Beth Elliott in the World Resources Institute reported some sobering statistics – there are roughly 489,000 deaths globally that are due to extreme heat exposure. In one extreme heat wave in 2022, Europe saw more than 60,000 heat-related deaths occur.  

These deaths can be attributed to the heat itself, which leads to health risks like heat-sickness, but also the rippling effects of the heat – such as an increased ground-level air pollution. Beatriz, Shazabe and Beth’s article explained that “The combination of high temperatures and stagnant air created during heat waves makes people more vulnerable to severe health impacts [to everything from the brain and the eyes to reproductive organs and lungs] and urban infrastructure more susceptible to degradation.” 

So, what can be done to lower the temperature in our built environment and protect our communities? Build with cooling in mind. The Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, explains, “Cool roofs and walls have an important role in combating [rising urban heat]. Due to their ability to reflect heat back into the atmosphere, installing reflective materials on buildings decreases the building’s surface temperature, as well as temperatures inside the building.” 

Providing objective, scientific information about cool surfaces is the entire mission of the CRRC. And one of the big ways they work towards that mission is by maintaining product rating programs.  

The CRRC has two programs – one for roof ratings and one for wall ratings. Within both of these programs, companies that want their products listed and labelled with their radiative property performance can become a CRRC Licensee. Once they have become a Licensee and submitted a product rating application, the product is sent for testing by an Accredited Independent Testing Laboratory (AITL). After this round of initial testing, the product ratings are reviewed by the CRRC and published on the publicly-accessible CRRC Rated Products Directory, and the product will be sent to a CRRC Approved Test Farm “where it will be exposed to outdoor weathering for three years.” Once this is completed, the aged product ratings will be added to the listing on the directory. 

The CRRC recently made enhancements to its Online Rating Portal, where manufacturers manage their product rating applications, to integrate the Wall Rating Program into the Portal. This integration is designed to “streamline the process to obtain wall product ratings and provide a one-stop shop for managing roof and wall ratings, plus CRRC membership, all in one place.” 

Contractors, home and building owners, and other end-users can access CRRC Roof and Wall Product Ratings at coolroofs.org/directory. Manufacturers interested in obtaining CRRC product ratings can learn more here or contact the CRRC. 

Learn more about cool surface products!

By Emma Peterson. 

From chemical thumbprints to troubleshooting material regulations, ACE Laboratories helps the roofing industry develop smarter products.  

On a new episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Megan Ellsworth got to sit down with Erick Sharp to talk about ACE Laboratories. ACE is a full-service analytical testing lab that Erick founded and currently operates as the CEO. They started out in the construction polymer space, but in 2022 grew to expand further into roofing-specific testing. Today, leading organizations like the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) rely on their lab for crucial product testing and analysis.  

This testing and analysis goes beyond just product performance testing and into compositional analysis of the material chemistry of products. This has quite a few benefits, including helping with approvals, identifying knock-offs and ensuring product regulations are met. 

Erick started by explaining how they can help with the recertification process:  

A lot of companies that need recertification of their products come to us. And we can help in a variety of ways, one big one is that when materials that become obsolete, but there's a direct chemical equivalent that, if you can prove its equivalency, can help you get certifications grandfathered in. We can prove that equivalency.  

As for identifying knockoffs, ACE is able to help by tracking what are called “chemical thumbprints.” Erick dove into what this means, sharing, “I always recommend that everybody thumbprint their products. This means, for your key products, you get an analytical thumbprint on it. Then you have an ID, so if someone develops a knockoff of your product, we can look at the chemical make up and prove it was a knockoff because it doesn’t match the chemical composition of your product’s thumbprint.”  

And last but not least, ACE can help ensure product regulations are met. For example, in the European market, there are a lot of complexities in terms of what materials can be present in products and how much of said material can be present. By sending a sample to ACE to test, you can get third-party confirmation of your product’s formulation to show your compliance. And if your testing comes back with an issue? The team at ACE can still help! Erick explained: 

When we do an assessment, especially if we're doing it for a regulatory reason, and we find that you're over that threshold, we can also provide feedback. We can audit the formulation and tell you where the issue is and give you suggestions for equivalent substitutes. Our team enjoys being troubleshooters as well as testers.  

Listen to the whole conversation with Erick to learn more about ACE Laboratories and their work in the roofing industry.

By The Coffee Shops™. 

See how a proven coating system can elevate your restoration projects without the upfront risk. 

General Coatings Manufacturing Corp is bringing back its popular giveaway to give contractors a risk-free way to put one of its top-performing EVERROOF® coatings to the test. Enter by May 1, 2026, for your chance to win five 5-gallon buckets of Ever-Silic HS and see how it performs on your own projects. 

A smarter way to evaluate your next coating system 

Switching or adding a new coating to your offerings can feel like a gamble. Application quirks, cure times and long-term performance all matter, and those details only really show up on the roof. 

Instead of relying solely on datasheets or secondhand recommendations, contractors get the opportunity to work directly with Ever-Silic HS in real-world conditions. Whether you use it for repairs, detailing or a full restoration, it’s a chance to evaluate performance directly on your jobsite. 

Built for the realities of today’s roofs 

Ever-Silic HS is designed to be both versatile and durable, making it a strong fit for the wide range of substrates contractors are seeing today, from aging single-ply systems to metal, SPF, BUR and modified bitumen. 

Its high-solids, single-component silicone formulation creates a seamless, flexible membrane that holds up under extreme conditions, from freezing cold to intense heat. The hydrophobic surface resists ponding water, while UV stability helps maintain long-term performance and reflectivity. 

For crews, it’s just as practical as it is durable. With strong adhesion, straightforward application and a quick recoat window of seven to ten days, it supports efficient project timelines without sacrificing quality. 

Ever-Silic HS also offers a balance of protection, energy efficiency and long-term reliability. It meets Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) guidelines and Title 24 requirements, making it a solid option for projects where performance and compliance go hand in hand. 

Don’t miss your chance 

If you’ve been considering expanding your coating offerings or simply want to put a proven system to the test, this is an opportunity worth taking. 

Enter the EVERROOF giveaway by May 1, 2026, for your chance to win five 5-gallon buckets of Ever-Silic HS and experience firsthand how it performs in the field.

By Dani Sheehan. 

FM approvals are helping shape the future of our industry by defining durability, accountability and risk management for commercial roofing systems. 

At its core, Factory Mutual (FM) is a unique organization with a dual mission. On one side, it operates as a global insurance provider. On the other, it functions as one of the most rigorous building materials testing and research facilities in the world. 

Roughly one in three commercial buildings is FM-insured, particularly larger and more complex facilities. When a building owner chooses FM insurance, the organization largely dictates how the building system, including the roof assembly, is designed. To earn that approval, the entire roofing assembly is evaluated, including materials, thicknesses, deck types, slopes and installation methods rather than individual products in isolation. The organization has tested more than one million roof assemblies, each designed to simulate worst-case scenarios for fire, weather and structural performance. 

FM approvals represent the highest level of fire performance and safety for occupants inside the building. The goal is simple: ensure the roof protects the building, the people inside and the business operations beneath it. 

What FM is actually testing 

FM approvals verify that a roof assembly meets stringent performance benchmarks, including: 

• Fire resistance 
• Wind uplift 
• Foot traffic durability 
• Hail resistance: Moderate hail, severe hail, very severe hail 

Unlike many baseline code requirements, FM places significant emphasis on weather-driven loss prevention, which is why these approvals carry so much weight with consultants, architects and large property owners. 

Approvals are issued through what are known as NAV numbers, which correspond to specific tested assemblies, not just materials. A spray foam system installed over a steel deck, for example, is tested separately from that same system over concrete, or at a different slope. Each variation must independently prove performance under FM’s testing protocols. 

For spray polyurethane foam roofing systems, this testing process creates multiple approved assemblies depending on the coating technology used. Through its Ultra-Thane systems, General Coatings Manufacturing Corp has developed four primary FM-approved spray foam system types, including: 

• Spray foam with standard acrylic coatings 
• Spray foam with high-tensile acrylic coatings 
• Spray foam with silicone coatings 
• Hybrid systems using a polyurea base coat with a silicone topcoat 

These systems have achieved severe hail ratings, one of the FM’s highest currently attainable performance levels for spray foam. Because each system can be installed across different deck types and slopes, they generate numerous approved assemblies that contractors can reference when bidding FM-specified projects. 

How FM approval shapes projects 

Owners and insurers trust FM’s evaluation process because it focuses on the most common causes of building failure, including wind, fire and hail damage. By validating systems against these risks, FM approvals help ensure that buildings, their contents and the people inside are protected at the highest levels while also allowing more competitive insurance coverage. 

FM approvals often determine who gets to bid on a project at all. Many schools, universities, government buildings and large commercial owners will not consider roofing systems without FM approval. If a contractor doesn’t have access to FM-approved assemblies or manufacturer partners that have invested in them, that contractor may be excluded from these opportunities entirely. 

By investing heavily in FM testing across multiple spray foam and coating assemblies, General Coatings has helped position spray polyurethane foam as a viable, performance-driven alternative on FM-insured buildings. The company’s assemblies with severe hail ratings allow spray foam systems to compete in regions where hail resistance is a critical design factor.  

Insurance, risk and the bigger picture 

FM approvals ultimately exist to reduce risk across the built environment. Insurance carriers want fewer catastrophic claims caused by extreme weather. Building owners want roofs that survive storms without requiring costly replacements. Contractors want systems that perform long after installation.  

FM addresses these concerns by testing assemblies to its own performance standards in addition to meeting building code requirements. Traditional building codes are consensus-based and designed to establish minimum acceptable performance levels. FM standards, by contrast, are developed by engineers and researchers who study building failures and determine what durability should look like under real-world conditions. This additional layer of testing is especially important in regions where hail, high winds or severe weather events are common. 

High-performing roofing systems are often backed by a broader portfolio of third-party credentials, including Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and reflectivity certifications through the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC). Together with FM, these approvals demonstrate that a system exceeds minimum code requirements and aligns with the expectations of insurers, owners and regulators nationwide. 

A partnership approach to performance 

Through its Ultra-Thane spray polyurethane foam roofing systems and extensive FM-approved assemblies, General Coatings continues to expand the role spray foam can play on FM-insured and FM-performance buildings. These systems give you additional options when pursuing projects that require proven performance under demanding conditions. 

By continuously investing in testing, certifications and assembly-level approvals, General Coatings helps you offer roofing systems that meet the highest performance standards demanded by today’s commercial market using a collaborative approach: manufacturers providing proven systems, contractors delivering skilled installation and building owners receiving roof systems designed to last.  

By Jenny Yu.  

An interactive training course and a new brief provide guidance on cool roof technologies and their role in sustainable building design. 

As extreme heat events become more frequent and energy efficiency remains a top priority for building professionals, new educational resources are helping architects, contractors and building owners better understand strategies for resilient building design. The Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) recently released two new educational resources aimed to expand industry knowledge about cool roof technologies and their role in improving overall building performance.  

These resources — an interactive online course and a useful informative document — provide practical guidance on how reflective roofing materials can help improve energy efficiency, reduce urban heat impacts and be used in tandem with rooftop solar systems to support sustainable building practices. 

Course: “Designing Buildings for Heat Resilience & Energy Efficiency” 

Titled “Designing Buildings for Heat Resilience & Energy Efficiency,” the free, online and self-paced course is an updated, interactive tool based on the CRRC’s previously published text-based resource. With urban warming impacting health, energy efficiency, air quality and the economy, this course provides essential information about the growth of cool roofs initiatives and third-party product ratings. It describes how solar reflective cool roof and exterior wall materials help protect individuals and communities from the impacts of extreme heat and discusses the factors that influence energy savings and performance. 

Now with instructional videos, downloads and clickable links, the multimedia format allows for deeper engagement with the material. Furthermore, professionals can take their learning on-the-go with the mobile-friendly feature, as the course is designed to adapt to any screen size and takes about an hour to complete. Participants can earn continuing education credits for AIA, GBCI and over 25 other organizations. 

Document: “Harnessing the Mutual Benefits of Cool Roofs + Rooftop PV” 

Another key resource the CRRC has recently published is the brief, “Harnessing the Mutual Benefits of Cool Roofs + Rooftop PV.” A collaboration between the CRRC, the National Laboratory of the Rockies (formerly National Renewable Energy Laboratory), and the Philadelphia Solar Energy Association (PSEA), this four-page document lays out the basics of cool roofs, rooftop solar photovoltaic systems (PV) and how these technologies can work together to increase solar panel efficiency and energy production. The resource also provides additional resources for more learning about cool roofs and solar energy, as well as answers to frequently asked questions. 

In developing these resources, the Cool Roof Rating Council provides building professionals with accessible, researched-backed information that supports smarter design decisions in a warming climate. 

Explore the interactive course or download the full brief from the CRRC to learn more about cool roof strategies! 

By Emma Peterson. 

Everything you need to know about the reimagined 2026 CRRC Annual Conference. 

Don't forget your boots and your hat as you plan your trip down to San Antonio, Texas for this year’s Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) conference! This three-day conference (June 16-18, 2026) is a new event taking the place of the CRRC Annual Meeting. With the rebrand, CRRC is aiming to continue to grow the event to include more professionals, participation and presentations all about cool surfaces.  

The schedule at a glance 

This year’s event, which is sponsored by industry-leading companies such as Duro-Last, GAF, Certainteed and the team here at RoofersCoffeeShop®, follows the theme of “Cool Connections.” As part of this theming, the CRRC team has introduced a new interactive breakout session during the conference that will “foster deeper conversations around the CRRC’s activities.” 

Everything will kick off on Tuesday, June 16 with the CRRC member meeting. As in past years, this meeting will “feature organizational updates, the Board election [and the] presentation of the Marty Hastings Award.”  

That evening, there will be a cocktail reception, complimentary to all ticket-holders, that is a great chance to network and have fun with your peers in the industry. The following day (June 17), the CRRC technical and education committees will meet. Closing the conference, Thursday (June 18), will host the CRRC Board of Directors meeting.  

Additionally, this year’s conference will feature three incredible guest speakers, Dr. Larry Kalkstein (president of Applied Climatologists), Jake Medley (executive director of the Louisville, Kentucky mayor’s office of sustainability) and Tim Hebrink (a corporate scientist for 3M Corporate Research Process Lab).  

Registration and other logistics 

The show will be hosted at the Thompson San Antonio Riverwalk! This hotel is located just over a mile from San Antonio’s La Villita Historic Arts Village and just 12 miles from the San Antonio International airport.  

Registration for this year’s conference is currently open for both CRRC members and nonmembers. Rates through May 18, 2026 for members are $449 and for nonmembers $599 (plus service fees). From May 19 until registration closes on June 8, a late registration fee will apply. 

There are also still options to sponsor the event (open until March 31, 2026). This is a great opportunity to show support for CRRC’s mission and help the entire construction industry move towards a more sustainable, cooler future!  

Learn more and get your tickets today!

By Jesse Sanchez. 

CertainTeed turns heads with its solar-ready shingles, FORTIFIED-compliant systems and a booth design that kept the crowd buzzing. 

CertainTeed brought more than just sharp displays and soft carpet to booth 225 at the Western Roofing Expo 2025; it brought solutions designed for where the roofing industry is headed. “This show’s been great,” said Brian Stanford on the RoofersCoffeeShop® sound stage. “We’ve had a lot of people coming through the booth.” 

Contractors attending the show zeroed in on innovation, showing marked interest in new product launches and advanced systems. At the top of that list: solar and cool roofing. CertainTeed Solaris shingles, engineered to reflect solar heat, drew particular interest from West Coast professionals looking to reduce heat gain in sunny climates like Las Vegas. 

The company also emphasized its collaboration with the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC), ensuring its products meet stringent reflectivity standards. But solar and energy efficiency weren’t the only talking points. CertainTeed is also pushing forward with its FORTIFIED-compliant products, designed to give homeowners and contractors a stronger edge against extreme weather. The company recently added roof tape and a new starter product to the system. 

To support contractors in the field, CertainTeed offers more than just materials. “One of the things we really emphasize is our marketing materials and our contractor programs,” Brian said. “So, they have all that information, and they are able to talk to the homeowners.” He added that having literature and samples helps contractors show they are knowledgeable and capable of delivering a roof that makes a homeowner the talk of the neighborhood. 

When contractors face tough questions, CertainTeed provides direct access to its in-house experts for support. “We have a great sales team who is super knowledgeable across the country,” Brian said. “Whether it's the territory manager, our folks in R&D who can answer some of those very scientific type questions, or even our contractor team that goes out and helps with installs.” He emphasized the company’s longevity and dependability, saying, “CertainTeed has been around for over 120 years. We’re reliable. We've been around. We're going to be here and that's why we stand behind our products.” 

Watch the full interview to learn more about CertainTeed’s latest roofing systems and contractor support tools!

By Emma Peterson. 

Discover why metal roofing is leading the market when it comes to cool roofing solutions.  

Finding success in a competitive industry like roofing is all about differentiating yourself and knowing what your customers want. And right now, some of the primary concerns for home and business owners are rising temperatures and energy costs. To learn how you can help solve this issue for your clients, we hosted Melissa Dunson, director of marketing at Central States Manufacturing, and Audrey McGarrell, communications manager for Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC), for an episode of Roofing Road Trips®. 

Cool roofs are the solution 

So, what can you do to address rising energy costs and increasing environmental temperatures? The answer is simple: Cool roofing. At its core, cool roofing is all about reflectance. A cool roof is one that reflects more sunlight, and therefore absorbs less thermal energy than your typical roof.  

The result of higher reflectance? Audrey explained, “By fundamentally keeping the building cooler, you are reducing demand for air conditioning, which can lead to a chain reaction that goes as far as reducing your carbon footprint and your energy bill.” Melissa added to Audrey’s point, sharing, “There are estimates that a cool roof can lead to as much as 20% of savings on the energy bill, which is huge, especially if you live in a part of the country where it is significantly hot during a significant part of the day, like Texas, Arizona, California, Florida.” 

Sourcing cool roofing 

When it comes to finding the right cool roofing products for specific projects, a great place to start is with CRRC’s Rated Roof Products Directory. Audrey shared a bit about it:  

We are a completely independent third party and work with accredited independent testing laboratories to test roofing and exterior wall materials for solar reflectance and thermal emittance. Once we’ve done our testing, we review the data and publish an initial rating. It’s called that because we also send product specimens to three different test farms across the United States where they are mounted and exposed to the natural elements and left untouched for three years. After those three years, we test them again and give them an aged rating. 

This aged rating truly takes the Rated Roof Products Directory to another level. Melissa spoke about why having both the initial and aged is so important, explaining, “The age testing is key because people don't get a roof for just three years. Roofs are an investment and how it performs on year ten is equally as important as its performance on day one.”  

Cool metal roofs are the future 

Based on data from this aged testing, metal roofing has emerged as a great option for a cool roof. Melissa explained:  

One of the things that we found about metal is it performs year after year in very strong way. That’s one of the reasons that metal has such long warranties...It also has innate properties that give it higher reflectance and emittance rates than tile, asphalt or other materials. So, add special cool roofing paints to it and it's even more reflective. So metal is really a natural fit if people are looking for a long-lasting, durable, cool roof. 

Listen to the whole episode to learn more about getting high-performance, cool metal roofs.

By The Cool Roof Rating Council.

Stacey Weister's reflection on volunteering with the SMART Girls Program.

In July 2025, Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) Senior Technical Manager Stacey Weister had the opportunity to serve as a mentor for the SMART Girls program at the Boys and Girls Club of Massillon, Ohio. She shared about her career journey and led the girls in completing the CRRC Cool Surfaces Lesson Plan. Below, Stacey shares her reflections on the experience.

Sharing my career journey — a path from the factory floor to a senior technical role — taught me that the best lessons in life are the ones you both teach and learn. This past July, I had the opportunity to mentor for the SMART Girls Program at the Boys and Girls Club of Massillon, Ohio. This social-emotional learning initiative is designed to boost confidence and encourage healthy lifestyles among young women. I felt privileged to serve as a female role model for them for the day.

My main goal was to inspire these young women by sharing my unconventional career journey: From factory worker to mother, college graduate and ultimately the senior technical manager at the CRRC. I highlighted the importance of passion and perseverance, encouraging them to aim high and never give up, even in male-dominated fields.

To help the girls better understand the CRRC's work, I presented our Cool Surfaces Lesson Plan. We conducted an experiment to learn how a building’s surface properties can impact indoor temperatures, and we discussed how cool surfaces, such as cool roofs and cool exterior walls, can help combat the urban heat island (UHI) effect. Seven groups of girls ranging in age from first graders to high school seniors were genuinely engaged. Their insightful questions and contagious enthusiasm showed me just how ready the next generation is to tackle important issues and create a more sustainable future.

I went in hoping to inspire them, but I left with something even more meaningful. After a day of connection, learning and sharing, I was overwhelmed by their heartfelt thanks and hugs. It was a powerful reminder of the importance of mentorship. These bright, passionate, and determined young women inspired me just as much as I hoped to inspire them. This experience strengthened my belief in the value of mentorship and the importance of demonstrating to young girls what they can achieve. It's a day I will always treasure.