FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2004, 13:30 - 15:00
SPEAKERS: Michael Van Dusen, M.Eng., P.Eng.
Halsall Associates Limited
John Petrachek
Atlas-Apex Roofing Inc.
Topic: Roofing In the Urban Environment

Description: An examination of current practices, materials, limitations, and considerations in roofing in the Urban Environment. The issues and how they affect roofing contractors and specifiers. This applies equally to new construction and reroofing activities.

The roofing industry is undergoing rapid change. The number of materials, systems and technologies presented to designers and specifiers requires Considerable effort to evaluate. There are also new constraints and opportunities that also require consideration in order to selecting a roofing assembly that is appropriate for a particular project. These include; insurance changes related to fire safety pertaining to the use of torches; insurance changes related to the mould and the health concerns this presents, and; demands for more sustainable roofing systems. Sustainability includes focus on durability, disposal, solvents (VOCs) and opportunities related to green or garden roofing. This session will examine the advantages and disadvantages of available roofing systems and the evaluation criteria that should be applied in selecting appropriate systems.
Michael Van Dusen, M.Eng., P.Eng.
Principal, Halsall Associates Limited

Michael Van Dusen has been with Halsall and Associates Limited for 19 years. Halsall is a firm of Consulting Engineers
founded in 1956, that today is a team of 150 serving clients’ needs from offices in Vancouver, Windsor, Burlington, Sudbury, Toronto and Ottawa. Halsall’s expertise includes Cladding and Structural Engineering.

Mike has a Master’s Degree in Engineering from the University of Toronto, and an undergraduate co-operative degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Waterloo. He is a registered professional engineer in Ontario and British Columbia.

Mike’s career has focused on building design and evaluation, with specific focus on the building envelope. He has acted as Chairman of the Air and Moisture Committee and Director for the Ontario Building Envelope Council. He provides training, expert consultation and quality control to Halsall project teams, and provides expert support for dispute resolution related to building envelope failures.
 
John Petrachek

John Petrachek is President and General Manager of Atlas-Apex Roofing Inc., a Toronto area commercial roofing firm. He is also part owner in a Mechanical Contracting business as well as a General Contracting business. A University graduate with an Honours Business Administration degree, John has previously been a sales representative with a commercial roofing products manufacturer prior to joining Atlas-Apex in 1993. John is a member of the Roof Consultants Institute (RCI), Plant Engineering & Maintenance Association of Canada (PEMAC) as well as being on board of the Ontario Industrial Roofing Contractors Association (OIRCA) where he is a past president.