Commercial Roofing Systems: An Overview of 3 Materials

At GAF, we're serious about our sustainability promise: to protect what matters most, including our people, our communities, and our planet. We recently published 21 new GAF product-specific Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) as one way we're delivering on that promise.EPDs are critical to improving green building solutions. These standardized and third-party-verified documents outline the environmental impacts associated with a building product's life cycle—from raw material extraction to end-of-life disposal or reuse. Through the EPD creation process, we have been advancing on our sustainability goals, demonstrating our commitment to the environment and our customers, and increasing product sustainability in the roofing industry.Here's a look at our most recent progress and what's expected to come.GAF Sustainability GoalsThe 21 new EPDs are an exciting milestone toward our GAF 2030 Planet Goals, which have four focus areas: increase product transparency, reduce carbon emissions, drive circularity in the roofing sector, and divert operational waste. By 2030, we plan to publish EPDs for our entire commercial and residential core product portfolio. As we've scaled the GAF EPD creation process, through extensive life cycle assessments across our portfolio, we better understand the environmental impact of each stage in our products' life cycles. This opens up internal and external sustainability opportunities as we learn from, and analyze, our life cycle assessment results.Evolving to Product-Specific Environmental Product DeclarationsRoofing has long relied on industry-wide EPDs created from aggregate product data. As a result, our architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) community members have had fewer opportunities to make informed sustainability choices around roofing materials.According to several sources, the built environment accounts for 39% of global energy-related carbon emissions worldwide. Collectively, we as a roofing industry could help reduce this number by increasing our transparency documentation. With more product-specific Environmental Product Declarations, companies and customers can make more informed product sustainability decisions.And although GAF currently has the highest overall number of transparency documents for roofing materials in the industry, we know we also have an opportunity to grow.GAF Uses Life Cycle Assessments to ImproveWe review product Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) to understand the environmental impact of each product's production stages, from raw material extraction to end-of-life. Then, we can use that information to identify areas of improvement and make informed decisions to reduce a product's environmental impact, resulting in a reduction in embodied carbon. The knowledge we gain from our LCAs creates the potential for product improvements and new innovations to help further our 2030 Planet Goals.Looking Toward 2030 and BeyondWe're working hard to continue leading the industry with transparency documentation such as EPDs, Health Product Declarations, and Declare Labels. But we're not stopping there.We're fostering collaboration in our broader building, construction, and design space to help reduce the built environment's total carbon emissions. At GAF, sustainability isn't checking a box. We believe in and champion protecting our homes and our planet. By changing how we do business, we hope to improve how builders can build and, ultimately, how our world lives.Empowering the AEC CommunityTransparency and product sustainability documentation help us all build a better world. We're committed to empowering designers, builders, architects, and engineers by providing information about the lifecycle and environmental impact of GAF products whenever possible.Explore some of our most recent EPDs below.Polyiso InsulationEnergyGuard™ Barrier. Polyiso InsulationEnergyGuard™ HD and HD Barrier Polyiso Cover BoardEnergyGuard™ HD Plus Polyiso Cover BoardEnergyGuard™ NH Barrier Polyiso InsulationEnergyGuard™ NH HD Plus Polyiso Cover BoardEnergyGuard™ NH HD Polyiso Cover BoardEnergyGuard™ NH Polyiso InsulationEnergyGuard™ NH Ultra Polyiso InsulationEnergyGuard™ NH Ultra Tapered Polyiso InsulationEnergyGuard™ Polyiso InsulationEnergyGuard™ Ultra Polyiso InsulationUltra HD Composite InsulationTPO Single-Ply MembraneEverGuard® TPO Extreme Fleece-backEverGuard® TPO ExtremeEverGuard® TPOEverGuard® TPO Fleece-backEverGuard® SA TPO Self-Adhered Roof MembranePVCEverGuard® PVCEverGuard® PVC Fleece-back Roof CoatingsHydroStop® System GAF Acrylic Top CoatLooking to explore more sustainable design solutions? You can learn how GAF is investing in our people, our planet, and progress for a more sustainable future, here.

A group of local GAF employees in Burgaw, North Carolina, is making a difference for veterans and the community as a whole. In 2024 alone, Veteran Involvement Brings Excellence (VIBE) has undertaken several initiatives to give back to Burgaw as well as all who live and work there.Bill Price, GAF production supervisor II at the Burgaw manufacturing plant, is the champion for the group. He recently sat down to discuss VIBE's latest projects and share insight into its motivations.What Is the VIBE ERG at GAF?VIBE is an employee resource group (ERG) available for all GAF employees. It focuses on the needs of veterans who work at GAF, provides a place for employees to share their experiences, and helps foster opportunities for them to give back to their communities.Each GAF plant has a VIBE group and facility leader that organizes the team. GAF leadership supports each group and its community efforts.The VIBE ERG's mission is to create a supportive environment for veterans and active duty members from all military branches. The group's core values are integrity, duty, honor, and respect. VIBE provides personal support for members and helps them manage the realities of being a veteran, such as applying for benefits.Each VIBE group can work on or be involved in whatever projects they wish. While their primary focus is to support veterans, they also strive to give back to the local communities they live and work in.VIBE Projects in BurgawThe VIBE ERG at the Burgaw plant meets regularly to discuss the activities they want to get involved in. This year, the group has participated in several projects:17 GAF-employed veterans volunteered for the second annual Habitat for Humanity veteran's build, which GAF donated roofing materials for.Team members participated in a food and clothing drive for a local women's shelter.A local veteran service officer visited the plant to help workers learn about—and gain access to—benefits and resources.In honor of Memorial Day, VIBE provided an opportunity for volunteers to place flags at veterans' tombstones at Coastal Carolina State Veterans Cemetery and Wilmington National Cemetery.That's not all the group has planned for. Future initiatives include hosting Toys for Tots at the plant, adopting a highway in honor of veterans, representing GAF at a booth for the Burgaw Blueberry Festival, and continuing to support local veterans in need.How VIBE Impacts GAF and the CommunityThe Burgaw facility, which employs about 247 people, has one of the largest veteran groups within GAF, totaling 28 members. The facility manufactures ventilation products, such as roof vents, foundation vents, turbines, and heating and cooling ductwork."The group has brought the veterans at the plant together to work toward a common goal and also given everyone the comradery they were accustomed to from when they were in the service," Price says. "I think this has had an impact not only on the employees involved but also on the plant as a whole. All of us involved enjoy being part of the team and giving back to those in need."Price notes that each project the group has been a part of has been well received. "We received many thanks from the families that were receiving assistance from the Habitat build and also from the staff at the local women's shelter during the food and clothing drive," he says. "I have no doubt that as we continue to be involved with more events within the community, it will only get better."Giving Back While Looking AheadGAF believes in giving back to its employees and the communities they work in. VIBE is just one of seven GAF ERGs making a difference in team members' lives and those most important to them.Curious to learn more about the opportunities and culture at GAF? Visit our GAF Careers page.

As part of its mission to build resilient communities, GAF Community Matters has supported Puerto Rico hurricane recovery efforts through roofing material donations, roof installation trainings, and team members' hard work. This has had a multifaceted impact on the island and the people who call it home.Hurricane Maria Hit HardHurricane recovery services are needed as urgently today as they were in 2017 when Hurricane Maria struck, leaving behind 15-foot deep floodwaters, about $90 billion in damage, an estimated 2,975 lives lost, and the longest power outage in US history. For 11 months, residents waited for electricity to be fully restored.Short-term disaster relief poured in post-storm. But years after the news cycles ended, Puerto Rico still remains—metaphorically—underwater. Schools and hospitals have fallen into hurricane-related disrepair, and insufficient fixes to the power grid cause frequent blackouts and brownouts.To make matters worse, hurricane-damaged homes that weren't repaired suffer compound damage from years of subsequent storms and exposure.Puerto Ricans Stand StrongThe people of Puerto Rico are strong and proud, determined to rebuild. However, the availability of needed resources poses a considerable challenge.For many, the funds needed to repair an unsafe roof are simply out of reach. Economic opportunities are scarce, and the government is heavily in debt. The US Census Bureau reported that 42% of Puerto Rican people are in poverty.Unfortunately, lower-income Puerto Rican households most vulnerable to Hurricane Maria were also least able to recover from the financial strain of repairing storm damage. With wind speeds up to 155 mph, extensive flash flooding, and wind tunnels ripping through the mountainous terrain, homes throughout this area were no match for the Category 4 hurricane.GAF Helps Build ResilienceTo help those impacted, GAF partnered with Team Rubicon, local nongovernmental organizations, and community members through the GAF Community Matters initiative to assist in Puerto Rico hurricane recovery. Since hurricane Maria recovery efforts began in 2017, GAF has donated materials for over 500 roofs and helped install them, bringing relief and shelter to families all over the island.This work has meant more to this community than just keeping their homes dry. Mr. Alfredo—a homeowner who received a new GAF roof—said, "There is nothing more important in life than to have a place to come home to, spend quality time in, sit, and be at peace."For all of Puerto Rico's strength and perseverance, many families still live in unsafe conditions due to hurricanes. GAF can't stop storms, but it can help build resilience.To that end, in addition to installing roofs, GAF, through the GAF Community Matters initiative and GAF Roofing Academy program, provided free roof installation trainings to local organizations in vulnerable Puerto Rican communities. Educating communities on roof installation creates a greater ability to adapt and bounce back when the next storm hits.Joining the Effort for GoodIn addition to its focus on roofing innovation, GAF remains committed to partnering with local organizations to build resilience in communities across the country. Team members will continue to donate time and materials to support and strengthen communities wherever the need may be.Curious to learn more about this project and other initiatives GAF is involved in? Explore GAF Community Matters.