Industry Leaders Join to Establish Essential Business – Essential Worker Status

The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) has directly addressed the President of the United States for clarity on “essential worker” and “essential business” designations and how they pertain to roofing contractors during COVID-19

NRCA CEO Reid Ribble informed members that the association is leading an industry-wide effort to send a letter to President Donald Trump. The focus to ask the administration to provide clear guidance regarding what an essential industry and an essential worker is to keep roofing contractors working.

“We made the case clear that the roofing industry should specifically be cited in any guidance as essential,” Ribble said in an email to members.

Essential Business – Essential Worker | Letter to Donald J. Trump

March 19, 2020

Dear Mr. President:

As the U.S. confronts the current public health crisis related to the coronavirus pandemic, the undersigned organizations in the roofing industry write to express our strong concerns with respect to state and local regulations governing “essential businesses” and “essential workers” during this critical time.

We are aware that states and municipalities across the nation are responding to the current crisis by issuing, and frequently revising, emergency orders and guidance that may conflict with the goals of containing coronavirus and protecting the health and welfare of our communities. Recent emergency orders and guidance threaten the ability of roofing contractors, manufacturers,
distributors, and other industry employers to operate and aid in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Clarity and consistency are needed, given the multiple orders from hundreds of state and local governments, each with different rules. Thus, we recommend your administration issue guidance that clarifies essential businesses, services, and workers, and that this guidance recognizes the role of the roofing industry in protecting U.S. families and employers.

The U.S. roofing industry, including manufacturers and their raw material suppliers, distributors, and roofing contractors, is an essential $100 billion-plus sector, with an estimated 1.1 million employees, that provides critical materials and services to ensure home and business safety. We are integral to the infrastructure that will enable our nation to see through our current times and help our communities rebound quickly. The products we make protect hospitals, grocery stores, pharmacies, and other businesses. These businesses provide critical care and resources to thousands of Americans in need of assistance during this time of crisis. This includes families who are being asked to shelter in place or otherwise take every measure to remain indoors. For example, as the role of hospitals becomes ever more critical in providing care that our fellow citizens need at this time, it will be vital that roofing companies can quickly fix roof leaks and provide other essential services to keep these buildings operating safely.

Also, as we head into the spring and summer months, it is vital the roofing industry be prepared and well-resourced to quickly respond to the impacts that extreme weather and natural disasters may inflict on homes and buildings. We are employing prudent measures to prevent the spread of infection at facilities, sites, and projects, and most roofing work is performed outdoors where open-air helps mitigate any risk to employees. We encourage federal, state, and local officials to partner with the roofing industry to address the challenges ahead in a comprehensive, coordinated manner.

The roof is the first line of defense against the elements and extreme weather, and there is nothing more important than a sound roof in protecting American families and businesses as they take action to address this crisis and sustain our economy. The undersigned groups look forward to working with your administration to provide the guidance needed to fully recognize the valuable role the roofing industry plays in responding to this crisis.

We greatly appreciate your consideration and thank you for your strong leadership during these challenging times.

Sincerely,

Reed Hitchcock, Executive Vice President, Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association

Reid Ribble, Chief Executive Officer, National Roofing Contractors Association

Justin Koscher, President, Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers

Mike Hubbard, President, Single Ply Roofing Industry

Ellen Thorp, Executive Director, EPDM Roofing Association

Renae Bales, Chair, National Women in Roofing

Daniel Quinonez, Executive Director, Roof Coatings Manufacturers

Rick Olson, President, Tile Roofing Industry Alliance

cc:

Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross

Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar

Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf

Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia

Small Business Administrator Jovita Carranza

Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin