HomeMy WebLinkAboutFIN-07-080 - Prequalification of Roofing Contractors
Report To:
Mayor Carl Zehr & Members of Council
Date of Meeting:
2007 -06- 25
Prepared By:
Larry Gordon
Date of Report:
2007 -06- 20
Report No:
FIN 07-080
Subject:
Prequalification of Roofing Contractors
RECOMMENDA TION
That Council approves the request from Facilities Management to proceed with a
prequalification process to select a minimum of seven roofing contractors to be used on City
projects for a period of three years, with an option to renew for an additional two (2) one-year
periods.
BACKGROUND
Prequalification of Roofing Contractors is beginning to be used by Cities, Regional
Municipalities, School Boards and government agencies. The following agencies now
prequalify roofing contractors for tender contracts.
City of Hamilton
City of Oshawa
Region of Niagara
Region of Halton
Toronto District School Board (Over $300,000.)
Halton Catholic District School Board
Halton District School Board
Simcoe County District School Board
Facilities Management wishes to prequalify roofing contractors for several reasons. Roofing, by
its' nature, is a complex undertaking where errors in workmanship, although not readily apparent
in the short term, in the long term can be problematic or at the very worst, catastrophic. Roofing
contractors often cut corners by substituting non-specified materials and by using non-specified
methods of application. Intense vigilance of contractors is not always possible and for this
reason, there needs to be a level of trust and confidence in their abilities.
Inherent in the roofing industry is the level of peril to the worker from working aloft, often many
stories above ground level; potential danger to pedestrians from falling materials; burn hazard
from working with 5000F roofing tar; exposure to intense heat from hot tar and from direct
sunlight; exposure to harmful dusts created by the roofing process - especially during the
removal of old roofs; working in proximity to live electrical conductors; operating heavy
equipment; and working with sheet metal. The City of Kitchener must practice due diligence to
protect the safety of contractors and the safety of city staff and the public. Inexperienced roofing
contractors have been discovered using unsafe work practices while on site for the City of
Kitchener. This puts the city at an increased level of liability. Experienced roofers however, are
well aware of the dangers inherent in roofing work and the associated safety procedures that
must be employed to minimize risk during re-roofing projects.
Upon an accident investigation involving the Ministry of Labour, they will consider our actions
to ensure safe work and from their findings, may elect to charge us.
We have seen first-hand that certification in the Canadian Roofing Contractors Association
(CRCA) or the Ontario Industrial Roofing Contractors Association (OIRCA) alone does not
guarantee contractor competence.
While prequalification may incur higher costs to the city in the short term, the benefit is in the
longevity of properly installed roofing systems and in the higher probability of a safely
conducted project.
Larry Gordon
Director of Purchasing