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Tile Roofing Institute
About Tile Roofing Institute
Founded in 1971 (Incorporated in the state of California, non-profit 501C6), TRI – originally named the National Tile Roofing Manufacturers Association (NTRMA) – has produced technical manuals on code language and preferred installation practices within all the major code bodies nationwide. TRI has played a major role in testing tile under severe weather and seismic conditions, as well as developing legislation of building codes. A few instances where TRI’s presence has proven to be invaluable include:
TRI developed the first industry-based series installation guides for all climatic regions.
- TRI assisted the Committee for Firesafe Dwellings in the creation of legislation to ban combustible roofing materials in California.
- TRI guided the tile roofing industry’s successful efforts to revise code for high-speed winds, and worked with local building officials to upgrade installation standards following Hurricane Andrew.
- TRI along with the University of Southern California (USC) determined that tile roofs–when installed under current building codes–withstand forces two-to-three times those generated by the Northridge Earthquake.
- TRI worked with the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) to develop standardized testing methods for roof tile.
Today, TRI trains roofing installers, inspectors and industry professionals on proper, code approved methods to installing concrete and clay tile roofs. TRI is dedicated to growing the tile roofing market through technical expertise, training, and building awareness for the many benefits of tile.
Tile Roofing Institute Mission
The Tile Roofing Institute (TRI) is a non-profit association of producers and associates of concrete and clay tile and is considered one of the leading experts in the industry. TRI has long been the industry’s voice for code development and testing. Since it was founded more than 30 years ago, TRI has received nationwide recognition for its many contributions to tile roofing.
The Tile Roofing Institute’s primary mission is:
- To promote greater awareness of concrete and clay tile as the preferred roofing material used worldwide, and its suitability for all roofing installations.
- To continue to work with state and local code bodies to promote the adoption of requirements for fire-retardant concrete and clay tile roofing that are more stringent than minimum state standards as a basic step in reducing the risk of large, multi-structure fires.
- To educate consumers, architects, builders and code officials about tile’s resistance to fire, wind, ice, hail and seismic activity – and to its lifetime durability and long-term value.
As with any association its members are the driving force behind progress, and TRI is no different. TRI’s members bring years of roof tiling experience and knowledge to the Institute to help the organization remain a major contributor to tiling excellence.
TRI’s tile manufacturing member companies produce nearly all the standard and lightweight concrete and clay tile manufactured in North America. Worldwide, tile is the predominant roof covering material. In the United States, tile roofing is a $603-million industry, and it continues to grow in popularity. It is the dominant roofing material along the West Coast, across the Sunbelt and in Florida.