2025 BES Session: Advances in Education and Evaluations for PVC Single-Ply Roof Membrane Recycling Practices (Krock, Oblock, Whelan)

Course Overview
This session was originally presented at the 2025 IIBEC Building Enclosure Symposium in St. Louis, Missouri.  This course includes the following components:

• recording of the live session
• a summative assessment consisting of 10 multiple-choice questions
• two surveys required to claim continuing education credit

Description
PVC (vinyl) materials have been recycled for decades as production scrap or when products have reached their end-of-life. PVC recyclers use these reclaimed materials to make recycled content feedstocks to be processed back into roofing products (closed loop) or other vinyl products such as flooring (open loop). This process recaptures the carbon benefit recycled membranes offer from a life-cycle assessment (LCA) evaluation. These benefits can be quantified using comparisons of replacing virgin PVC materials with recycled content materials. In addition to carbon avoidance, certification credits for waste management and recycling from green building rating systems such as GBI Green Globes, USGBC LEED, and BREEAM are available to building owners that can add value to a building’s portfolio.

As part of their sustainability initiatives, the Vinyl Institute (VI) and the Chemical Fabrics and Film Association (CFFA) Vinyl Roof Division advocate for additional PVC recycling. Under a grant from the VI, the CFFA has developed recycling roof guide specifications and suggested techniques for removing the existing PVC roof. They will be presented. Additionally, a video will highlight how to remove and prepare a single-ply roof membrane for shipping to a recycler after a cycle renovation. Communication and education are key factors within the roofing industry to ensure single-ply roof membrane recycling becomes more widely known and practiced. This will ultimately enhance sustainability within the industry.

Course Recommended Prerequisite(s)
Recycling, life-cycle assessments, and green certifications.

IIBEC Core Competencies: Roofing (R)

Knowledge Level: Intermediate

Course Access
Courses are accessible in LearnUpon for one year from the date of purchase.

Presenter/Author

Richard Krock, PE

Principal

VyChlor Advisors LLC

Richard Krock is a principal with VyChlor Advisors LLC, a consulting company he formed in 2022 to assist manufacturers, recyclers, suppliers, and trade associations in advancing their positions in the vinyl value chain. He retired as senior vice president for regulatory and technical affairs at the Vinyl Institute and has worked in the PVC industry for 37 years. He joined the Vinyl Institute in 2009 to advocate for the industry’s regulatory positions and technical matters and advance its sustainability. A registered professional engineer, Krock holds a bachelor of science in chemical engineering and an MBA from Marshall University.

Author

Jennifer Oblock

Executive Director

Chemical Fabrics and Film Association

Jennifer Oblock is an account executive at Thomas Associates Inc., a trade association management company headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. Since 2013, she has been immersed in association duties, working closely with associations of all sizes. She represents the Chemical Fabrics and Film Association (CFFA), where she serves as its executive director. Oblock’s experience covers the full range of association activities, including all aspects of project and meeting management, and she serves as the principal liaison to association directors and officers. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in business with a concentration in marketing from Mercyhurst University.

Author

Brian Whelan

President/Owner

Roof Resources LLC

Brian Whelan is a consultant for the Chemical Fabric and Film Association Vinyl Roofing Division. Employed as an executive for an international construction chemical company overseeing its commercial roofing manufacturing business for over four decades and, more recently, its resinous flooring business. After retiring, he founded Roof Resources LLC. Whelan is a graduate of Harvard University Business School’s PMD Program and has a degree in architectural technology. He has served on the RCI/IIBEC Foundation Board of Directors and has been a member of IIBEC since 1989. Whelan has written numerous articles that have been published in IIBEC’s Interface. Whelan is a co-inventor in over 10 patents related to roofing and waterproofing. 

Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in the session content at the 2025 IIBEC Building Enclosure Symposium are those of the content author(s)/speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the policies or positions of the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC). IIBEC makes no warranty, whether express or implied, as to the completeness, accuracy or validity of the information provided.

Credit Start Date 5/22/2025            
Credit Expiration Date 5/22/2028

Continuing Education Credit Statement
This course is approved for 1.0 IIBEC CEH
This course is approved for 1.0 AIA LU/HSW
AIA Course Number: BES25_16_OD
AIA Provider Number: G024

Continuing Education Credit Claim Information

To claim IIBEC CEHs, learners are required to:

• Achieve a passing score of 70% on the summative assessment (learners are provided unlimited attempts)
• Complete the course Evaluation & Attestation Survey

After completing the Evaluation & Attestation Survey, learners will be able to download a Certificate of Completion.  Learners are responsible for self-reporting IIBEC CEH credit by uploading their Certificate of Completion to their IIBEC Portal. For assistance in self-reporting CEHs, please reach out to: [email protected]

To claim AIA LU, learners are required to complete the above requirements, as well as:

• Complete the AIA Survey (AIA member number is required)

AIA continuing education Learning Units earned upon completion of this course will be reported to AIA CES for AIA members.

AIA CES Provider statement

IIBEC is a registered provider of AIA-approved continuing education under Provider G024. All registered AIA CES Providers must comply with the AIA Standards for Continuing Education Programs.  Any questions or concerns about this provider or this learning program may be sent to AIA CES ([email protected] or (800) AIA 3837, Option 3).

This learning program is registered with AIA CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product. AIA continuing education credit has been reviewed and approved by AIA CES. Learners must complete the entire learning program to receive continuing education credit. AIA continuing education Learning Units earned upon completion of this course will be reported to AIA CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.