Inspecting Commercial Low-Slope Roofs Online Course

This course teaches students how to inspect low-slope roofs, including how they differ from steep-slope roof systems. It covers the most common low-slope roofing types, including single-ply membranes (EPDM, TPO, PVC), modified bitumen, built-up roofs, ballasted roofs, and metal roofs. The course also reviews the materials, designs, installation methods, common issues, and repair practices associated with these systems.

You’ll gain an understanding of low-slope roof construction as an assembly, including the structural roof deck, insulation, membrane, flashing, coatings and surfacing, vapor barriers, expansion joints and area dividers, air and vapor retarders, thermal insulation, roof-mounted equipment, and parapets. Roof drainage design and common methods, such as internal and edge drainage, are covered to help assess drainage performance, water damage, staining, and other visible patterns during an inspection. With this understanding, you can perform condition assessments and determine the severity, urgency, and priority of observed conditions.

By the end of the course, you’ll understand common deficiencies, roofing system and component terminology, and inspection procedures for various low-slope roof systems in accordance with the ComSOP. You will also review inspection videos to see these concepts applied in the field and learn safety procedures for accessing and working on the roof. This practical knowledge equips you to identify low-slope roofing systems and assess their condition for accurate reporting.

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• Understand the factors involved in the design, installation, and repair of low-slope roofs versus steep-slope roofs.
• Understand the common reasons low-slope roofs fail, including economic, environmental, maintenance, material, and workmanship factors.
• Identify and inspect different types of low-slope roof systems, including built-up roofs, modified bitumen, single-ply (EPDM, TPO, PVC), and metal.
• Identify and inspect different types of membrane installations, including mechanically-attached, fully-adhered, loose-laid and ballasted, and liquid-applied or sprayed systems
• Understand low-slope roof construction as a system, including the structural roof deck, insulation, membrane, flashing, coatings and surfacing, vapor barriers, and expansion joints.
• Inspect different types of roof penetrations and associated flashing, including parapets and roof-mounted equipment.
• Report on visible conditions and common deficiencies in each type of low-slope roof system and their associated components.
• Identify and report on roof drainage design and condition, including drains, scuppers, downspouts, and overflow systems.
• Apply consistent inspection procedures and safety practices when accessing and working on the roof.

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• Understand the factors involved in the design, installation, and repair of low-slope roofs versus steep-slope roofs.
• Understand the common reasons low-slope roofs fail, including economic, environmental, maintenance, material, and workmanship factors.
• Identify and inspect different types of low-slope roof systems, including built-up roofs, modified bitumen, single-ply (EPDM, TPO, PVC), and metal.
• Identify and inspect different types of membrane installations, including mechanically-attached, fully-adhered, loose-laid and ballasted, and liquid-applied or sprayed systems
• Understand low-slope roof construction as a system, including the structural roof deck, insulation, membrane, flashing, coatings and surfacing, vapor barriers, and expansion joints.
• Inspect different types of roof penetrations and associated flashing, including parapets and roof-mounted equipment.
• Report on visible conditions and common deficiencies in each type of low-slope roof system and their associated components.
• Identify and report on roof drainage design and condition, including drains, scuppers, downspouts, and overflow systems.
• Apply consistent inspection procedures and safety practices when accessing and working on the roof.