Hot Tar Roofs? Go Cool Instead.

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Shelby Rodriguez, 2009's Mom on a Mission

Friday, December 11, 2009

As parents, teachers, and administrators, we don’t allow cigarette smoke on school campuses because we know the dangers of second hand smoke. In fact, at my daughter’s school, and others around the country, a sign prohibits such toxins from being anywhere near a classroom or school playground. There is, however, a toxic fume capable of causing both short and long term symptoms that is allowed on or near schools that could cause potential problems for children that we need to be more aware of: hot tar roofing.

Many schools undergo re-roofing or roof repair during the school year. Because your school may chooses to use hot tar for re-roofing there is some information that you should know to help protect children from the harm associated with this outdated roofing method.

Types of Tar

There are two main types of tar that may be used on or near schools, coal tar and asphalt roofing tar. Coal tar comes from coal and has been largely phased out because of the ill health effects associated with it. Asphalt roofing tar, or bitumen, comes from oil (petroleum) and is still a common product used in roof repair. In fact, each year over four million tons of asphalt is used during roofing applications in America.

Built Up Roof System

A built up roof system or BUR is comprised of several layers of tar alternated with felt. In order to apply the tar to the roof it must be chopped up with an ax and cooked in an asphalt kettle on the ground reaching at least 500 degrees. The asphalt produces fumes that pollute the air when heated in the kettle as well as when it is transferred to the roof and applied with mops and buckets over several days, weeks, or months, depending on the size of the roof being repaired. Asphalt kettles may also pose a fire hazard; and tar in buckets on the roof may topple over and spill causing severe burns to the roofers or anyone below if it the spill passes the edge of the roof.

Asphalt Fumes

The fumes not only emit a strong and objectionable odor but these fumes also contain carboxylic acids, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and heterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons containing sulfur (S-PAHs). The particles in the fumes are extremely small (PM 10 & 2.5) which is cause for concern because these fumes are capable of bypassing the body’s regular defense system where they can be imbedded deep into the lungs and then can be absorbed into the blood stream.

Asphalt fumes can enter the inside of the school via air intakes, doors, or windows. Students may also be exposed to the fumes while spending time outside of the classroom, or on the playground.

Symptoms of Exposure

Children are especially susceptible to the ill health effects of hot tar roofing but little to no information exists in literature about children and asphalt fumes. In fact, there is conflicting information about the safety of asphalt roofing tar. Some experts call asphalt safe, however, it has been reported to cause immediate symptoms in the adults who were studied and is known to contain harmful chemicals that have caused cancer and gene mutations in lab animals. In fact, bitumen, the other name for tar, is listed as a known carcinogen by the US. EPA.

Since PAH’s emitted from asphalt are known to cause cancer and asphalt fumes are known to cause symptoms such as nose and mouth sores, irritation to the respiratory track, nausea, fatigue, coughing, difficulty breathing, and asthma symptoms the unrestricted use of this product on or near schools must be addressed by lawmakers.

Better, Safer Alternatives

Until the time that tar is legally regulated, it is up to us as parents, teachers, and administrators to advocate for the safer roofing alternatives that do not produce these toxic fumes. There are cost effective roofing options but a more expensive alternative would be a living roof that includes live plants and is the most environmentally friendly roofs that exist today. The benefits would be that the roof would remain extremely cool, save the school money on their energy bills, demonstrate an eco-friendly example to the students and the community, and could be used as an ongoing learning experience for the students.

What Is A Cool Roof?

If a living roof cannot be an option due to the cost difference there are also cost effective solutions to asphalt that use a single ply membrane made of rubber and or plastic which is a very cost effective and environmentally friendly option. These roofs are light in color so they actually cool down the roof in the summer and save the school money on energy bills. The best part about these roofs is that they produce no toxic fumes while they are being applied to the roof and are much safer for the kids and even the adults at the school.

Some examples of these types of roofs are the TPO “cool” roofs, and PVC roofs like Duralast. Choosing alternatives to asphalt roofing tar becomes a win-win solution for everyone from students, to teachers, and administrators because they are cost effective, safer, and more environmentally friendly. They even look great too!

Read Shelby's whole story about how she battled tar roofing in her community. She's truly an inspiration!

The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and not necessarily those of Healthy Child Healthy World.

Posted by EPDM Coatings on 08/25/2011 at 10:22 PM

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Posted by Shelby Rodriguez on 10/05/2010 at 11:41 AM

Hello HIgh Top Shoes,

Concerning, the pros and cons of using torch down versus hot tar. In both cases you would need to check with your insurance company. Some roofers aren’t allowed to apply the rubber roof you called torch down because it requires a flame thrower and can be dangerous to apply. The torch heats the rubber and seals it to the roof, which could cause the roof to catch on fire or could cause burns to the roofers applying it.

I am not an expert about that type of roof, but as a health advocate I would not choose either hot tar or torch down because they aren’t the safest methods for reroofing. I would ask your contractor for quotes on TPO or Duralast in addition to the quotes for hot tar and torch down. Also, there is an option called a cold applied membrane. It works very similar to hot tar but does not produce toxic fumes. It does need to be light in color for you to benefit from the cooling effects and lower electric bills.

Keep in mind that I am not a roofer and my advice is meant to help people choose roofing options for flat roofs that are safer for building occupants during application. Please check with an expert before making your decision.

Posted by High top shoes on 10/04/2010 at 11:30 PM

I own a building in NJ that has a 10,000 square foot flat roof. I received a price for $40,000 for Hot Tar Roof and a price for $27,000 for torch down. What are the pros and cons of each other than price. Which deal would give me the best VALUE?

Posted by Blog Literature on 09/28/2010 at 10:15 AM

I am agree with Janelle’s point that it will be very costly for the schools. Is their any substitute for it which will be feasible for the schools. I think schools can afford such heavy quotation.

Posted by Shelby Rodriguez on 09/27/2010 at 10:53 AM

In response to whether to use coal tar or asphalt roofing tar, my advice would be neither. Both of the options you mentioned have to be heated in a kettle and produce toxic fumes during application.

My recommendation would be for you to talk to a contractor about alternatives to hot tar. Because tar is cheaper for the contractor to apply, they often recommend it because they pay less for the raw materials. However, TPO “Cool” roofs, Duralast®, and Cold applied membranes, are cost similar to hot tar and have cooling effects that benefit building occupants by cutting down on cooling costs during hot months. Living roofs & metal roofs are also viable options but are a bit more expensive. In any case, please choose an option that does not produce harmful fumes during application.

Thank you.

Posted by EPDM Coatings on 09/24/2010 at 08:54 PM

We have also to repair our roofs. I am not getting the idea whether i should go for coal tar or asphalt tar. Can you give me some suggestion?

Posted by Stacey L. Edie on 04/12/2010 at 07:19 AM

I am going to email you regarding the roofing story and what cool roofing can do to people. I am so surprised to hear your story. I also live at the Arbor’s Stacey Edie

Posted by Shelby Rodriguez on 12/14/2009 at 02:15 PM

Hi Nancy,

I’ve just read your story and have to say that what I’m advocating for is not a spray on roof like the one that you were harmed by.

TPO is a single ply membrane made of rubber and plastic that is rolled out and applied in one step. I did smell a slight fume when I visited one of the homes being re-roofed but this was a 98% imporovment from the toxic ashalt roofing tar that we’d been exposed to in my community for years.

At this time, safe options for flat roofs the are slim to none.

Although we are asking for less plastic and chemicals in the environment if you have to choose either asphalt roofing tar that uses a kettle to cook the asphalt and be applied with mops and buckets that causes air pollution or TPO or PVC membrane roofs then the smart choice is to protect children from the harm associated with toxic fumes and opt for a smarter choice even if it’s not perfect.

Living roofs are also an option; however, they still use a membrane under the living component so there is still going to be some plastics and rubber involved.

But I want to be clear, I’ve never advocated for the spray on roofs, or the rubber roofs that are applied with a flame thrower as I don’t think those are viable options either.

I too feel the same way that you do about protection against toxins during roofing and building, especially when it involves children. Did you read my story? I fought a three year roofing project involving hundreds of homes in a residential area located right next to a school and a preschool.
I became ill and was put on inhalers. I had nose sore, twitching lungs and asthma symptoms. Others in my neighborhood were ill and didn’t know why because they thought if the owners were allowed to use tar then it was safe.

I’m all for changing the definition of “safe” and also for implementing a link between the air quality district, the public health department, and doctors so that there is immediate proof when people become ill when exposed to products like these.

I’d love to talk to you more about what you are doing now if you ever have time to talk. I’m on facebook or I can send you an email address if you’d like. Keep up the good work!!!

PS If you know of a safer alternative roofing method please share with us!! :-)

Posted by Janelle Sorensen on 12/14/2009 at 01:46 PM

Thanks for all of the additional information, Nancy. Do you have a different recommendation that would be economically feasible for schools?

Posted by Nancy Swan on 12/13/2009 at 06:25 AM

Wrong advice to be giving on a website promoting healthy children and a healthy world. The option of Polyurethane roofing over less toxic roofing materials can be deadly. I was seriously injured along with over two dozen school children and teachers when the school board decided to go “green” and save money by applying this kind of roof. https://sites.google.com/site/nancyswan/toxic-justice-a-true-story

Polyurethane roofing companies are aware that their products caused injuries at schools all across the US, yet they continue to target schools by marketing their products as “green” and “economical.” These companies know what most of the world does not know. There are no US government agencies to monitor and regulate toxic products used at schools.

Schools may save a few dollars in fuel costs when selecting a polyurethane roof and or sealant, but the cost to the environment and the rest of us is not worth the money saved. PVC roofing releases cancer causing and toxic chemicals at every stage, from production through disposal.

School children are not covered by federal safety regulations, nor by OSHA or NIOSH safety standards. Even as a teacher, I was not covered and the court did not allow the safety information to be presented in court. With no way to prove these chemicals were deemed cancer causing and highly toxic, my chances were slim to none. https://sites.google.com/site/nancyswan/toxic-justice-a-true-story

Polyvinyl roofing is highly flammable and produces thick toxic smoke. Children could not get far enough away of get out of building in time. Remember the nightclub fire in New Jersey a few years ago. Foam egg crates used as sound buffers lined the walls. Pyrotechnics set off the fire during a performance resulting in many deaths.

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