Illinois Residential, Commercial and Industrial Roofing Contractor

Key Concepts

OSHA Framework

• OSHA established by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act)
• Key CFR standards for roofing/construction:
• 29 CFR 1926 — Safety and Health Regulations for Construction Industry
• 29 CFR 1910 — Occupational Safety and Health Standards
• 29 CFR 1904 — Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses
• State plans must be at least as strict as federal OSHA standards
• All employers must post the OSHA poster in a prominent location; on construction sites, post where employees report each day

OSHA Recordkeeping (29 CFR 1904)

• Form 300 — Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses (ongoing record)
• Form 300A — Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses (must be posted Feb 1 – Apr 30 each year)
• Form 301 — Injury and Illness Incident Report (detailed individual incident record)
• Employers with 10 or fewer employees are generally exempt from routine recordkeeping

OSHA Penalty Types

• Willful violations — employer knowingly violates a standard; highest penalties
• Serious violations — substantial probability of death or serious physical harm
• Other-than-serious violations — violation exists but not likely to cause death or serious injury
• Repeat violations — same or similar violation found within 5 years
• Failure to abate — daily penalties for not correcting cited violations

Key Concepts

Roof Deck Types & Requirements

• NRCA recommends asphalt shingles be applied only to structural wood panel decks (plywood/OSB) or wood plank/board decks. Not recommended for gypsum, concrete planks, cementitious wood fiber, or similar non-wood materials.
• Deck must be clean, dry, smooth, and adequately attached before roofing begins. Broom clean, free of voids, and rigid enough to resist excessive live-load deflection.
• End joints of adjacent decking must be staggered and centered over supporting members (except tongue-and-groove matched ends).
• Spaced sheathing is used under wood shakes/shingles to allow ventilation; solid sheathing is required under asphalt shingles, tile, and slate.

Underlayment Materials & Selection

• Asphalt felt (No. 15 or No. 30): Standard mechanically attached underlayment; most common for asphalt shingles.
• Synthetic underlayment: Lighter, stronger, more tear-resistant than felt; increasingly specified for steep-slope systems.
• Self-adhering (ice & water shield): Polymer-modified bitumen membrane; used at eaves, valleys, penetrations, and in cold climates where ice dams are a concern.
• Polymer-modified bitumen (torch-applied or cold-applied): Used in low-slope and high-performance steep-slope applications.

Key Concepts

Asphalt Shingles

• ASTM D3462: Standard specification for asphalt shingles made from glass felt — covers physical requirements (breaking strength, tear resistance, granule adhesion)
• ASTM D3161: Wind resistance test (60 mph, 90 mph, 110 mph classifications — Classes A, D, F)
• ASTM D7158: Enhanced wind resistance standard — Classes G (90 mph), H (110 mph), XH (150 mph); more rigorous than D3161
• Composed of asphalt, fillers, reinforcing mat (glass or organic), and granule surfacing
• Strip shingles: historically 36" long; single-unit shingles historically 12"×16"
• NRCA recommends direct attachment only to structural wood panel decks, wood plank, or wood board decks — not to gypsum, concrete planks, cementitious wood fiber, or similar non-wood materials

Roof Deck Requirements

• Deck must support dead loads (roof system weight) + design live loads
• Must provide adequate fastener withdrawal resistance
• Must be clean, dry, smooth, free of voids, adequately attached, and not deflect excessively
• Inspection required before roofing begins; visible defects corrected before work starts

Clay and Concrete Tile

• Profiles: flat/low-profile, interlocking, high-profile (mission/barrel), two-piece barrel
• Attachment methods: nailing (direct), wire-tied, mortar-set, or clip systems
• Require heavier structural support than shingles due to weight (≈ 9–12 lbs/sq ft for concrete; ≈ 6–8 lbs/sq ft for clay)
• Underlayment interlayment required between tile courses in many configurations

Illinois Residential, Commercial & Industrial Roofing Contractor Exam

Key Concepts

Membrane Types for Low-Slope Roofing - BUR (Built-Up Roofing): Multiple plies of felt interleaved with bitumen (asphalt or coal tar). Requires gravel or cap sheet surfacing for UV protection. - Polymer-Modified Bitumen: SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene, flexible/rubbery) or APP (atactic polypropylene, stiffer/torch-grade). Applied via torch, hot-mopped, cold adhesive, or self-adhering. - Single-Ply: EPDM (thermoset, glued/taped seams), TPO and PVC (thermoplastic, heat-welded seams). Three attachment methods: fully adhered, mechanically attached, or ballasted. - Liquid-Applied: Fluid-applied coatings that cure to a seamless membrane; used as standalone systems or for re-cover. - SPF (Spray Polyurethane Foam): Two-component foam sprayed in place; requires a protective surfacing (elastomeric coating or fleece-backed membrane) for UV resistance. Applied directly to concrete, steel deck, insulated deck, or nailable deck substrates.

Roof Deck & Substrate Requirements - Decks must be structurally sound, dry, clean, and capable of accepting fasteners where required. - NRCA identifies six deck types for SPF: concrete (nonnailable), steel, insulated, nailable (wood, cementitious wood fiber, lightweight insulating concrete), and existing membrane assemblies for re-covers. - Existing assemblies used as re-cover substrates must be on slopes ≤ 3:12.

Key Concepts

Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act (RILA)

• Any person or entity performing roofing work in Illinois for compensation must hold a valid roofing contractor license issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
• A Qualifying Party is the individual responsible for the license — they must pass the required exam and ensure the business meets all licensing standards. If the qualifying party leaves, the business must obtain a new one within a set period or cease roofing operations.
• License types: Roofing Contractor License (for businesses). Individuals working under a licensed contractor do not need separate licenses, but the contractor is responsible for their work.

Insurance, Bonding & Surety Requirements

• Licensed roofing contractors must maintain general liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance (required under Illinois law if you have employees).
• A surety bond is required as a condition of licensure — this protects consumers if the contractor fails to perform or causes damage.
• Proof of insurance and bonding must be submitted with the license application and kept current throughout the license term.

Illinois Residential, Commercial & Industrial Roofing Contractor Exam

Key Concepts

Built-Up Roof (BUR) Systems

• BUR consists of alternating layers of bitumen (asphalt or coal tar pitch) and reinforcing felts, topped with a surfacing (gravel, cap sheet, or coating).
• Felts are classified by weight: Type 15, Type 30 (organic) or Type IV, Type VI (fiberglass).
• Application methods: hot-mopped, cold-applied (adhesive), or torch-applied.
• Minimum 3-ply construction is standard for low-slope applications. Gravel-surfaced BUR requires a flood coat of bitumen.

Single-Ply Membrane Systems

• EPDM (thermoset): Rubber-based; cannot be heat-welded — seams joined with tape or liquid adhesive. Attachment methods: fully adhered, mechanically attached, or ballasted.
• TPO/PVC (thermoplastic): Seams are heat-welded (hot-air gun). More reflective than EPDM. PVC contains plasticizers; TPO does not.
• Ballasted systems require minimum 1:48 slope and sufficient structural capacity for stone ballast weight (~10–12 lbs/sq ft).
• Mechanically attached systems use fasteners and plates through the membrane into the deck.

Polymer-Modified Bitumen (Mod-Bit)

• APP (Atactic Polypropylene): Plastic-modified; applied by torch (open-flame) or hot-mopped. Stiffer at low temps.
• SBS (Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene): Rubber-modified; applied by hot-mopped, cold adhesive, or self-adhered. More flexible in cold weather.
• Typically a 2-ply system: base sheet + cap sheet. Cap sheet is granule-surfaced for UV protection.
• Torch application of APP requires fire watch procedures and is prohibited over certain substrates.