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A product called Low-E Therma Sheet has been in the marketplace for several years. It has an ICC ESR #3652 as an underlayment https://www.icc-es.org/wp-content/uploads/report-directory/ESR-3652.pdf

The following came from the ESR:

ESP Low-E® Therma-Sheet 4LMPX 1/8 inch and ESP Low-E® Therma-Sheet 4LFPX 7/32 inch roofing underlayments are used as alternatives to the ASTM D226, Type I and Type II, roofing underlayments specified in IBC Chapter 15 and IRC Chapter 9.

3.2 ESP Low-E® Therma-Sheet 4LFPX 7/32 inch: consists of a 7/32-inch-thick (5.6 mm) polyethylene core with a 5 x 5 scrim-reinforced aluminum foil top surface and a 2 x 2

Minimum roof slope is 2:12 (17 percent). For roof slopes from 2:12 (17 percent) up to but not including 4:12 (33 percent), where the roof is covered with asphalt shingles, underlayment must be two layers and must be applied in accordance with IBC Section 1507.2.8, 2015 IRC Sections R905.1.1 and R905.2.3 [2012 IRC Section R905.2.7]. As an alternative, when the roof is covered with asphalt shingles, one layer of ESP Low-E® Therma-Sheet underlayment and one layer of underlayment conforming to either ASTM D226, Type I, ASTM D4869, Type I or ASTM D6757 may be installed in accordance with IBC Section 1507.2.8, 2015 IRC Sections R905.1.1 and R905.2.3

Beginning at the lower edge of the roof, the first course of underlayment must be laid horizontally (parallel to the eave), with 4-inch (102 mm) horizontal and 6-inch (152 mm) vertical laps.

5.5 Installation is limited to roofs with ventilated attic spaces.

5.6 Installation is limited to use with nonclassified roof coverings or as a component of a classified roofing assembly when specifically recognized as such in a listing approved by the code official.


Well there you have it. The material is a legitimate underlayment for use with asphalt shingles.....even at two layers.

48554799897_ba32ae67e3_b.jpg

48554654856_bb7e91301f_b.jpg


Squeezing it produces a sound like popping bubble wrap. It is foam. A 7/16" thick layer of polyethylene foam under an asphalt shingle seems wrong. I contacted ICC with questions. I was informed that ICC tested and approved the material as an underlayment. That none of the shingle manufacturers objected. That there have been no reports of any problems with the use. That it is not a "radiant barrier".

I contacted Malarkey, GAF, and Owens Corning. GAF technical service dept. stated that the LOW-E is not allowed under GAF shingles. Malarkey said no. Owens Corning said that the use of LOW-E underlayment will not void the warranty.

I found the material on a roof with GAF shingles:

48559281501_1ff645b602_b.jpg

I wrote a correction stating that GAF will not allow this. The contractor had a GAF representative call and email an approval for the use of LOW-E Therma Sheet underlayment and as usual "It will not void the warranty."

My department has told me that we can not disallow the use. I was told to check roofs at final (looking for nails that tore through the shingle). That's from a person sitting at a desk. I try to avoid walking on new shingles much less damaging tabs looking for damage.
 
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Or a classified roof. We have a lot of high fire zone areas which require a class A roof.

Florida, and only Florida, received extra attention:
The purpose of this evaluation report supplement is to indicate that the ESP Low-E® Therma-Sheet 4LMPX 1/8 inch and ESP Low-E® Therma-Sheet 4LFPX 7/32 inch roofing underlayments, recognized in ICC-ES master report ESR-3652, have also been evaluated for compliance with the codes noted below.
Applicable code editions:
 2017 Florida Building Code—Building
 2017 Florida Building Code—Residential
 
ICE said:
Or a classified roof. We have a lot of high fire zone areas which require a class A roof.

Florida, and only Florida, received extra attention:
The purpose of this evaluation report supplement is to indicate that the ESP Low-E® Therma-Sheet 4LMPX 1/8 inch and ESP Low-E® Therma-Sheet 4LFPX 7/32 inch roofing underlayments, recognized in ICC-ES master report ESR-3652, have also been evaluated for compliance with the codes noted below.
Applicable code editions:
 2017 Florida Building Code—Building
 2017 Florida Building Code—Residential
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Yep, I found it. NOA #FL17296-R2
 
The job is a tank-less water heater. It is a high efficiency appliance with a plastic tube for venting.

IMG_8708.jpeg

The tube can be threaded through the existing vent with a cap on top.

IMG_8597.jpeg
 
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Solar racking doesn't look like much when it's laying on the ground. This equipment is sixteen months old. It came off the roof because the tile roof covering is being replaced. The reason that it is corroded has to do with a watering system that's meant to clean the face of the modules.

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48561928616_88b978d575_b.jpg

48561928846_d97b044055_b.jpg
 
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I was there because code enforcement cited the property for an illegal garage conversion.

48562100571_554b8b8c65_b.jpg
 
We allow a cord and attachment plug for a furnace but it shall be a minimum 12 awg. At the first inspection the cord was 16 awg and not secured to the furnace. I wrote a correction to install a 12 awg cord and secure it.

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ICE said:
A product called Low-E Therma Sheet has been in the marketplace for several years. It has an ICC ESR #3652 as an underlayment https://www.icc-es.org/wp-content/uploads/report-directory/ESR-3652.pdf

The following came from the ESR:

ESP Low-E® Therma-Sheet 4LMPX 1/8 inch and ESP Low-E® Therma-Sheet 4LFPX 7/32 inch roofing underlayments are used as alternatives to the ASTM D226, Type I and Type II, roofing underlayments specified in IBC Chapter 15 and IRC Chapter 9.

3.2 ESP Low-E® Therma-Sheet 4LFPX 7/32 inch: consists of a 7/32-inch-thick (5.6 mm) polyethylene core with a 5 x 5 scrim-reinforced aluminum foil top surface and a 2 x 2

Minimum roof slope is 2:12 (17 percent). For roof slopes from 2:12 (17 percent) up to but not including 4:12 (33 percent), where the roof is covered with asphalt shingles, underlayment must be two layers and must be applied in accordance with IBC Section 1507.2.8, 2015 IRC Sections R905.1.1 and R905.2.3 [2012 IRC Section R905.2.7]. As an alternative, when the roof is covered with asphalt shingles, one layer of ESP Low-E® Therma-Sheet underlayment and one layer of underlayment conforming to either ASTM D226, Type I, ASTM D4869, Type I or ASTM D6757 may be installed in accordance with IBC Section 1507.2.8, 2015 IRC Sections R905.1.1 and R905.2.3

Beginning at the lower edge of the roof, the first course of underlayment must be laid horizontally (parallel to the eave), with 4-inch (102 mm) horizontal and 6-inch (152 mm) vertical laps.

5.5 Installation is limited to roofs with ventilated attic spaces.

5.6 Installation is limited to use with nonclassified roof coverings or as a component of a classified roofing assembly when specifically recognized as such in a listing approved by the code official.


Well there you have it. The material is a legitimate underlayment for use with asphalt shingles.....even at two layers.

View attachment 5741

View attachment 5742


Squeezing it produces a sound like popping bubble wrap. It is foam. A 7/16" thick layer of polyethylene foam under an asphalt shingle seems wrong. I contacted ICC with questions. I was informed that ICC tested and approved the material as an underlayment. That none of the shingle manufacturers objected. That there have been no reports of any problems with the use. That it is not a "radiant barrier".

I contacted Malarkey, GAF, and Owens Corning. GAF technical service dept. stated that the LOW-E is not allowed under GAF shingles. Malarkey said no. Owens Corning said that the use of LOW-E underlayment will not void the warranty.

I found the material on a roof with GAF shingles:

View attachment 5743

I wrote a correction stating that GAF will not allow this. The contractor had a GAF representative call and email an approval for the use of LOW-E Therma Sheet underlayment and as usual "It will not void the warranty."

My department has told me that we can not disallow the use. I was told to check roofs at final (looking for nails that tore through the shingle). That's from a person sitting at a desk. I try to avoid walking on new shingles much less damaging tabs looking for damage.
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Ice, this is good information, I have not seen the Low-e product used in this area, but I'm sure it's coming soon.
 
Pcinspector1 said:
Ice, this is good information, I have not seen the Low-e product used in this area, but I'm sure it's coming soon.
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California has a requirement for a "cool roof". The color of the roofing is one indicator of a cool roof. The installation of a radiant barrier is one exception to the requirement. That applies to much of the state but not in my jurisdiction as we changed it up some. So the company that manufactures Low-E touts it as a radiant blocker.....not a radiant barrier.....ICC is quick to point out that Therma Sheet has not been tested or approved as a radiant barrier.

It looks like a radiant barrier what with the aluminum foil and all......but it's not. A legitimate radiant barrier requires a minimum one inch air gap. I see OSB with radiant barrier being installed over 1"x sheathing because the people doing it lack an understanding of how it works.

While the energy requirements are sorta important the bigger concern is the up to 7/16" layer of foam rubber under an asphalt shingle. Even if they go with one layer of Therma Sheet and one layer of felt, there's the lap splices.

It's one of those things that a right thinking person recognizes as foolish but there's nothing that can be done about it.
 
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While I'm sure that this has been a topic previously, this one is different from the others. The job is a bathroom remodel which included a new, as in replacement, exhaust fan. At the rough inspection there was no duct for the exhaust fan. I noted that with the other corrections.

At the first attempt for final inspection there was no duct for the fan. The fan made an odd sound for about two seconds as it was turned on. I wrote a correction to replace the fan and install a duct.

Now at the next final inspection I find the duct ending near an opening in the roof. As I have done countless times I wrote a correction to terminate the fan duct to the exterior. The lady called the contractor. The contractor stated that the previous exhaust fan lacked any duct. He stated that he is not responsible for that which was not there to begin with and since he is not responsible, I can't write any corrections related to the duct.

The troubling aspect of this is that he believes his position to be correct......or he hopes that I am just that stupid.
 
ICE said:
While I'm sure that this has been a topic previously, this one is different from the others. The job is a bathroom remodel which included a new, as in replacement, exhaust fan. At the rough inspection there was no duct for the exhaust fan. I noted that with the other corrections.

At the first attempt for final inspection there was no duct for the fan. The fan made an odd sound for about two seconds as it was turned on. I wrote a correction to replace the fan and install a duct.

Now at the next final inspection I find the duct ending near an opening in the roof. As I have done countless times I wrote a correction to terminate the fan duct to the exterior. The lady called the contractor. The contractor stated that the previous exhaust fan lacked any duct. He stated that he is not responsible for that which was not there to begin with and since he is not responsible, I can't write any corrections related to the duct.

The troubling aspect of this is that he believes his position to be correct......or he hopes that I am just that stupid.
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He needs to look at the job, including the attic before he bids it. It has to be corrected.
 
I found this today. The lumber had mold. The owner assured me that the chemical is not toxic. The smell is not overpowering but it's a small portion of a 9000 square foot house. I will know more when I find out what was used.



 
I use to spray a similar, if not the same product on homes that acted to treat against rot and provide termite treatment at the same time. It was made for all areas close to the soil. It is called Bora-Care or that is the product that I used and mixed it in hot water with a marking dye, greenish blue in color. The stuff works great.
 
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