Governor signs bill allowing flatter roofs on schools By Ed Jacovino Journal Inquirer HARTFORD — Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has signed into law a measure that allows towns to build schools with flatter roofs, easing requirements put in place a decade ago. The new law requires schools to have a pitch of a quarter-inch per foot — the same as the state building code. The law had required school roofs be twice as steep, at a half-inch per foot. The change means crews in Manchester now can begin work replacing the roofs at Waddell and Bowers elementary schools. Roof replacement projects also are planned at three schools in South Windsor, Oliver Ellsworth School in Windsor, and three schools in Windsor Locks. The change is expected to save towns a combined $6 million to $10 million this year on $40 million of approved projects, according to state figures. The state Bureau of School Facilities, which must approve school renovations, had told town officials statewide to delay signing deals with contractors until the bill became law. Manchester Town Manager Scott Shanley said he waited until Friday to sign contracts authorizing work on the roofs. “They have been working on masonry, awaiting the go-ahead to begin the installation of the roofs,” Shanley said. Manchester voters approved $1.75 million in a November referendum to replace the two roofs and another, at Verplanck School, but the money came up short, Shanley said. The law change means the town can afford to replace the roofs at Waddell and Bowers, although it still will have to wait on the Verplanck replacement. Rep. Jason Rojas, D-East Hartford, pushed for the bill, saying it would save towns money. The measure passed the House by 139-6 and the Senate in a unanimous vote. It had faced opposition in legislative committees from lawmakers who voted 10 years ago to increase the roof pitch to try to protect against leaks and improve air quality. They also warned the change could cost more over time, because flatter roofs would have to be replaced more often. “No one wants poor indoor air quality in our schools, but a number of architects, engineers, and other school construction professionals reached out to advocate for eliminating the mandate,” Rojas said in a statement. “There was no data or body of evidence that the pitch of a roof was somehow related to indoor air quality.”
Posted on: Tue, 16 Jul 2013 17:40:44 +0000
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