2025 BES Session: Finding Balance: The Next Chapter in Low-Slope Roof Design (Wilen)

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

This presentation aims to illuminate the interrelationships between common building and energy conservation codes and how such codes could be improved. The target audience includes Architects, Building Code Officials, Roof System Designers, Building Owners, and Contractors who have an interest in the subject matter. This session will review the 2024 edition of the international codes (I-codes) and will discuss why it’s time to adopt a new strategy for low-slope roof design that encourages a balanced approach across all categories, leading to resilient roof assemblies that perform well over the long term. A review of the building and related codes relevant to low-slope roof design that are based on International Energy Conservation Code prescriptive provisions along with how code provisions are based on new construction will take place.  Roof design principles and how pointers are used in the I-codes and an examination of how an expanded use of pointers would bring clarity across code disciplines will also be discussed.

This session will also review three different case studies on the following topics.

Case Study 01: The Reroof Thickness Problem: Walk through the common reroofing design challenge where height limitations make compliance with building and energy conservation codes at odds with each other.

Case Study 02: The Cool Roof Condensation Problem: Discuss common situations where a lack of flexibility in code provisions may result in condensation within or under highly reflective white roofs.

Case Study 03: The Roof System Material Problem: Discuss typical situations during the design and construction process where roof assemblies may stray from code compliance.

Course Recommended Prerequisite(s)
Attendees should have a general understanding of typical low-slope roof components and installation challenges.

IIBEC Core Competencies: Roofing (R)

Knowledge Level: Intermediate

Presenter/Author

Jason Wilen

Associate Principal

Klein & Hoffman

Jason P. Wilen, AIA, NCARB, CDT, RRO, is a board-certified architect and building enclosure specialist with over 30 years of experience. Wilen joined the Chicago office of Klein & Hoffman (K&H) in 2018 and is now an associate principal. Before K&H, he served seven years as a director with the National Roofing Contractors Association technical services section and 18 years with architectural, forensic and roof consulting firms. He holds a bachelor of architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, and is a licensed architect in Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin. Wilen provides leadership for K&H’s roof system and waterproofing rehabilitation projects, participates in enclosure commissioning efforts, provides litigation support, and consults for building and energy code development. Additionally, he is a voting member of ASTM Committees D08 – Roofing & Waterproofing, C16 – Thermal Insulation, and E60 – Sustainability, and he serves on UL’s Technical Committee 580: Safety Testing for Uplift Resistance of Roof Assemblies.  Wilen has authored over 25 feature articles for local and national trade journals and magazines. In 2022, he was awarded IIBEC’s Richard M. Horowtiz Award, honoring the best technical article published in its technical journal, IIBEC Interface.

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.

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

Credit Start Date 7/17/2025        
Credit Expiration Date  7/17/2028

Continuing Education Credit Statement
This course is approved for 1.0 IIBEC CEH
This course is approved for 1.0 AIA LU Elective
AIA Course Number: BES25_14_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.