Illinois Commercial and Industrial Roofing Contractor

Key Concepts

Governing standards. The OSH Act of 1970 created OSHA. The standards that apply to construction are 29 CFR 1926 (Safety and Health Regulations for the Construction Industry), 29 CFR 1910 (Occupational Safety and Health Standards), and 29 CFR 1904 (Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses). All employers are subject to federal OSHA; state plan standards are at least as strict. (NASCLA 14th ed., Ch. 11 — Safety Standards)

OSHA poster. All employers must post the OSHA poster (or state-plan equivalent) in a prominent location. In construction, it must be posted at the location to which employees report each day. (NASCLA Ch. 11)

Recordkeeping (Forms 300, 300A, 301). Every employer covered by OSHA with more than 10 employees (except certain low-hazard retail, finance, insurance, real estate and service employers) must keep Forms 300, 300A and 301. Employers with 10 or fewer employees are exempt unless they receive an annual injury and illness survey form from BLS or OSHA. Form 300 is the injury/illness log; Form 301 is the individual incident report; an insurance or workers' compensation form with the same details may substitute for Form 301. Construction site operations lasting more than one year must keep a separate OSHA 300 log. (NASCLA Ch. 11 — OSHA Recordkeeping / Who Needs to Complete the Forms)

Key Concepts

Roof decks (NRCA Steep-slope Roof Systems—2025, Section 2.1—Wood Panels; Section 2.2—Wood Planks and Wood Boards) - NRCA recommends four-ply, nominal ⅝-inch (actual 19/32-inch) plywood for 16-inch rafter spacings and nominal ¾-inch (actual 23/32-inch) plywood for 24-inch rafter spacings (four-ply for metal shingle assemblies; five-ply for slate assemblies). - Panel edge clips are recommended when wood panel sheathing of ½-inch nominal thickness (actual 15/32-inch) or less is installed over supports spaced at 24 inches on center. Install panels with about ⅛-inch minimum gaps at panel edges. - Wood boards are lumber less than 2 inches thick, typically 4 to 12 inches wide; boards thinner than nominal 1 inch are not considered strong enough to support roof loads. Nominal 6-inch-wide boards are suggested. - NRCA does not recommend OSB panels or FRT wood as substrates for steep-slope roof systems. - Preservative-treated wood: aluminum fasteners, flashings and accessory products should not be used in direct contact with any treated wood (ACQ is not compatible with aluminum). Hot-dipped galvanized (ASTM A153) and Type 304/316 stainless are acceptable. - NRCA recommends deck slopes for asphalt shingle, metal shingle and slate roof systems at 4:12 or greater (Section 2—Roof Decks).

Key Concepts

Asphalt shingles. Fiberglass shingles have a fiberglass base mat saturated and covered with flexible asphalt and surfaced with mineral granules, and contain more asphalt than organic-based shingles (Roofing Construction and Estimating, Ch. 4—Asphalt Shingles). UL classifies fire-resistant shingles A, B, or C: Class A withstands severe fire exposure, Class B moderate, Class C light (RC&E, Ch. 4, Page 4-2). To bear a UL "wind-resistant" label, a shingle must withstand winds up to 63 mph for two hours without a single tab being uplifted (RC&E, Ch. 4, Page 75).

Slope and application. Asphalt strip shingles install on slopes of 4 in 12 through 21 in 12 using standard application methods; outside that range special procedures apply (RC&E, Ch. 4 — Slope Requirements). The 4-inch pattern is used on low slopes of 2 through 3 in 12; never install a pattern less than 4 inches (RC&E, Ch. 4). When reroofing with asphalt shingles, fasteners must penetrate at least 3/4 inch into the roof sheathing, or completely through the sheathing where it is less than 3/4 inch thick (IRC R905.2.5; IBC 2024, Sec. 1507.2.5).

Key Concepts

Slope rules (membranes). IBC 2021 requires a design minimum slope of ¼:12 for membrane roof systems, except coal tar built-up roof systems, where ⅛:12 is permitted (NRCA Membrane Roof Systems 2023, Ch. 5, p. 186). ASTM D312 Type III asphalt is generally appropriate for interply moppings where the completed membrane slope is 1:12 or less; Type IV is suggested for slopes greater than 1:12 (Ch. 5, p. 192). In Roofing Construction and Estimating, Ch. 10: surface aggregate is not applied over slopes greater than 3 in 12; smooth- or mineral-surfaced (asphalt bitumen) goes up to 6 in 12; Type IV (special steep, softens 205°–225°F) serves slopes up to 6 in 12, Type III only to 3 in 12. On non-nailable decks, wood nailers are required above 1 in 12 (asphalt) or ½ in 12 (pitch bitumen).

Bitumen heating. Kettle and tanker temperatures should be maintained at 550 F or lower, and material never heated to or above the actual flash point (Ch. 5, p. 199).

Key Concepts

Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act — license types and scope - "Roofing work" / "professional roofing services" includes the construction, reconstruction, alteration, maintenance, and repair of a roof and the use of materials in waterproofing of roofs (225 ILCS 335/2(o)). Roofing does not include installation of gutters, television antennas, or chimney repairs by mason contractors (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1460.5). - A limited roofing license restricts the contractor to roofing residential properties consisting of 8 units or less (225 ILCS 335/2(h); 225 ILCS 335/5(a-3)). Commercial, industrial, and residential properties exceeding 8 units require an unlimited license.

Surety bond - Bond amount: $10,000 for a limited license; $25,000 for an unlimited license (225 ILCS 335/3(2)(d)). - An insurance company terminating a bond must file a 60-day notice of termination with the Department and simultaneously send the notice to the roofing contractor (225 ILCS 335/3.2).

Qualifying party - Must be a W-2 employee who receives compensation from and is under the supervision and control of the licensed roofing contractor, with regular FICA payroll tax deductions, withholding tax, and workers' compensation. The qualifying party shall not receive a Form 1099 (225 ILCS 335/3(3.5)). - May act as qualifying party for one additional licensee of the same license type only if there is a common ownership or management interest of at least 25% in each licensed entity, or if the person acts as qualifying…

Key Concepts

Membrane slope and drainage. IBC 2021 requires a design minimum slope of ¼:12 for membrane roof systems, except coal tar built-up roof systems, where ⅛:12 is permitted (Section 5.1—Guidelines Applicable to All Membrane Types, Slope and Drainage). For polymer-modified bitumen re-cover over an existing bituminous system, the minimum is positive drainage (Chapter 1, Pages 17-18 and 47-52).

Built-up roofing. NRCA assembly configurations designate a standard BUR as four-ply and a temporary BUR as two-ply, hot-applied (Chapter 1). Nailable deck substrates for the four-ply hot-applied nailable-deck assembly include cementitious wood fiber panels, lightweight insulating concrete, wood panels (plywood, OSB), and wood planks and boards; structural concrete is a nonnailable deck. ASTM D312 Type III asphalt softening point is 185°F minimum to 205°F maximum (Section 5.2). Coal-tar bitumen is required on roofs designed to retain water and is recommended on dead-level roofs (Roofing Construction and Estimating, Ch. 10). Liquid-applied flashings are used where penetrations are irregularly shaped and difficult to flash with membrane (Section 5.2).

Polymer-modified bitumen. NRCA does not recommend single-layer configurations except where used as a temporary roof membrane (Section 5.3).