The NRCA threw down the gauntlet earlier this year when they proposed a change to the International Building Code (IBC) requiring that green roofs meet the same standards as conventional roofing systems and materials for fire testing and wind uplift. Up to this point green roofs have mostly fallen below the radar of the IBC, but thanks to this push (or shove depending on how you look at it) from the NRCA, green roofs will no longer get a free pass.

The vote on the proposal by the ICC, who publishes the IBC, was unanimous.

Bam! ICC dropping the hammer on the upstarts!

Now despite cries for extensions to the process, the green roof industry has only 18 months to put a plan together for standards, bring their cottage industry up to speed and comply with the upcoming changes to code.

18 months may seem reasonable, but in reality the situation is much more challenging. The next publishing of the IBC will be in 2009 but the testing standards have to be submitted to the ICC in February of 2008. That means that this rag-tag group of green roof advocates must craft the standards, run them through the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) who provides comment on their viability, then get the plans reviewed (again) by the industry, edited, agreed upon, revised, resubmitted and finally delivered to the ICC by Valentines Day.

They must get it done or watch their whole industry fall in to violation of the IBC in less than two years.

Very motivating.

Green roofs are making inroads to commercial and public spaces for their bevy of environmental benefits and aesthetic Zen, but have yet to really gain traction in residential construction. While everyone pretty much agrees that testing and inspecting of the roof systems is a good idea, a little grace period would have been appreciated to allow a wider-range of systems and green roof technologies be brought into the fold.

Personally, I love green roofs and believe including them in the IBC will eventually allow the industry to overcome liability concerns. Though a few of the pioneers in the industry may fall by the wayside, unable to keep up with new standards, overall these changes may allow larger builders and roofing contractors to offer green roof systems as part of sustainable building practices.