Commercial Roofing Scope of Work (SOW) Template

Commercial Roofing Scope of Work (SOW) Template

Fast-Fact Summary Box

• Template Type: Commercial Scope of Work & Risk Allocation Template
• Governing Framework: Ontario Building Code Part 9/11 & Ontario Construction Act
• Target Trade: Roofing Contractors
• Primary Operational Risk: Envelope liability, warranty start dates, hot-work controls, and weather-delay documentation

Scope Boundaries (Who/What it applies to)

This template defines the operational, technical, and administrative boundaries for prime roofing contractors, building envelope consultants, and commercial roofing subcontractors. It applies to all low-slope roofing installations, including built-up roofing (BUR), modified bitumen, thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO), and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) systems.

The scope encompasses structural deck preparation, vapour retarder installation, thermal insulation, cover board application, membrane integration, flashing, and coping. It explicitly establishes the point of envelope liability transfer from the structural framing contractor to the roofing contractor and defines the strict physical boundaries of hot-work operations, material storage, and hoisting zones.

Mandatory Deliverables & Administrative Windows

To maintain contract compliance and preserve warranty validity, the following deliverables must be submitted within the specified administrative windows:

• Pre-Construction Submittals: Manufacturer-approved shop drawings, daily safety plans, and hot-work permit applications must be submitted 10 business days prior to mobilization.
• Moisture Scans: Non-destructive moisture testing of the existing substrate must be completed and documented 48 hours before membrane application.
• Daily Logs: Daily weather-delay logs (recording temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and precipitation) and daily hot-work fire watch logs (minimum 2-hour post-application monitoring) must be uploaded to the project management portal by 8:00 AM the following business day.
• Closeout Package: The manufacturer's system warranty certificate, the contractor's workmanship warranty, as-built drawings, and the roof maintenance manual must be delivered within 15 business days of Substantial Performance.

Ontario Regulatory Compliance Notes

All roofing assemblies must comply with the thermal, structural, and fire safety requirements of Ontario Building Code Part 9 or Part 11, depending on whether the project is a new construction or a major renovation.

In accordance with the Ontario Construction Act, payment administration, holdback releases, and dispute resolution are governed by strict statutory timelines:

• Proper Invoices: Invoices are legally deemed proper unless the owner gives a formal written notice of deficiency within 7 days after receiving the invoice. Missing the 7-day notice window forfeits the right to dispute invoice form or structure and starts the 28-day prompt-payment timeline.
• Annual Holdback Release: For contracts extending beyond one year, owners must publish a Notice of Annual Release of Holdback (Form 6) on an electronic construction trade news website within 14 days after each contract anniversary. Payment of the accrued basic holdback must occur no earlier than day 60 and no later than day 74 after publication, provided no liens are preserved.
• Holdback Restrictions: The former section 27.1 notice-of-non-payment mechanism for refusing holdback distribution due to deficient or incomplete work is repealed. Holdback use is restricted to formal contract abandonment or termination scenarios and preserved lien risk.
• Interim Adjudication: Parties have a strict 90-day window after contract completion, abandonment, or termination to initiate interim binding adjudication through ODACC or a qualified private adjudicator.

Form/Sign-off Requirements

• Prime Contractor Sign-off: Authorized signature and date acknowledging the SOW boundaries, safety protocols, and hot-work compliance.
• Subcontractor Initialing: Mandatory initialing on each page of the technical specifications and weather-delay protocols.
• Required Attachments: Certificate of Insurance with explicit hot-work endorsement, WSIB Clearance Certificate, and manufacturer's applicator licensing credentials.
• Change-Order Acknowledgement: Written authorization required from the prime consultant prior to any deviation from the specified roofing assembly or material substitutions.
• Record Retention: All daily fire watch logs, moisture scans, and weather logs must be retained by both parties for a minimum of seven years post-completion.

Official Verification Sources

• Ontario Construction Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.30
• O. Reg. 304/18 (Procedures and Forms)