Top Story

• Snow removal can be risky, roofing contractors say
  The blizzard that swept through the Northeast dumped snow on rooftops, threatening to cause some to collapse. An insurance company spokesman advised that only professionals remove serious snow buildup from roofs, but some contractors said the job can be risky. "On a flat roof, it's doable. If you're on a pitch, it's dangerous. You're talking about a very slippery surface," said Robert Bryant of A Plus Roofing and Siding in Mount Laurel, N.J. PhillyBurbs.com (2/10)     

News & Trends

• Repairs to school roof part of $1.5M project in N.J. township
  Additional problems have come to light amid repairs to the roof of the school at the Elsinboro Township in New Jersey, leading the local school board to seek a $1.5 million bond referendum for the work. Ultraviolet radiation has contributed to the deterioration of the school's aging, leaky roof, school officials said. South Jersey Times (Woodbury, N.J.) (2/10)     

• Roofing contractors can capitalize on modern materials
  Roofing contractors have several modern materials that they can use to their advantage, according to this article. They also should have strong bidding skills and watch for weather changes, says Robert Anderson of Phoenix Roofing Team in Arizona. Chico Enterprise-Record (Calif.) (2/8)     

• Other News

• Twister causes major damage to university buildings, homes in Miss.
  CBS News/The Associated Press (2/10)     

Energy & the Environment

• LEED going on 13: Pushing the green-building envelope
  The LEED Green Building Rating System has not been perfect in its 13 years, but it continues to deliver taxpayer value and provide building owners with ways to improve "occupant health and productivity, as well as for evermore effective ways to conserve our nation's vital energy, material, and environmental resources," writes architect Matthew Ackerman. The Daily Courier (Prescott, Ariz.)/Eco_Logic Blog (2/8)     

Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by NRCA SmartBrief readers in the past week.

• 7 layers of roofing materials hinder firefighting at N.J. home (Hunterdon County Democrat (Flemington, N.J.))

• Fans raise 990-ton roof for LNG tank in Australia (Gladstone Observer (Australia))

• New roof technology can add sustainability to existing buildings (Eco Chunk (India))

• Faulty roofs plague some new school buildings in Ohio (Star Beacon (Ashtabula, Ohio))

• Leaky roof sparks legal dispute between Fla. county, building team (TCPalm.com (Fort Pierce, Fla.))

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

In the Office

• Checklist for running a small business effectively
  To sharpen your time-management skills as a small-business owner, harness the power of technology to share files when you're on the run, outsource for jobs such as bookkeeping or IT, and make it a habit to check e-mail only three times a day, says designer Robin Wilson, president and CEO of Robin Wilson Home. Among her other top 10 tips for small-business leaders: Schedule short breaks between meetings, secure office supplies to cut costs, and check cash flow daily. SmallBizTechnology.com (2/6)     

Government & Regulatory

• A 20-year progress report on the FMLA
  Most employers say the Family and Medical Leave Act has not harmed productivity as some had feared, and many say it has reduced turnover, according to a government report released on the law's 20th anniversary. Workers have taken leave more than 100 million times since the law was enacted in 1993, with illness being the most common reason for time off, followed by pregnancy or child care. Detroit Free Press/The Associated Press (2/7), The New York Times (tiered subscription model)/Economix blog (2/8)     

NRCA News

• NRCA releases construction details CD
  NRCA has made available The NRCA Construction Details CD -- 2013. With 564 customizable details from The NRCA Roofing Manual, the CD can be used with AutoCAD software to customize plans to fit your specific project needs. It contains construction details included in the four volumes of The NRCA Roofing Manual series. The member price for the CD is $295, and the retail price is $395. Learn more.     

• ANSI/CRRC-1-2012 Standard has been approved
  The Cool Roof Rating Council is pleased to announce the American National Standards Institute's final approval of its ANSI/CRRC-1-2012 Standard after a two-year public review process. The ANSI/CRRC-1 Standard is part of the CRRC's mission to implement accurate and credible radiative energy performance ratings for roofing products and provide education and objective support to interested parties. It outlines policies for measuring initial and aged solar reflectance, as well as thermal emittance values of roofing products. Learn more, and view the standard.     

SmartQuote

The only man I know who behaves sensibly is my tailor; he takes my measurements anew each time he sees me. ... The rest go on with their old measurements and expect me to fit them." --George Bernard Shaw, Irish playwright