Confirm that the roof plans and sections show the R-value the designer must indicate, where the insulation goes, how slope to the drains is made, and the details at edges, curbs, penetrations, and walls that the opening designer note lists. Then check that the insulation types, thermal barrier, wind resistance basis, fasteners, and vapor retarder kept in the issued Section 07 22 00 match the deck type, the roof membrane section, the code analysis, and the interior humidity the drawings describe.
Assemble the review package
Gather the roof plans with drains, crickets, and saddles, the tapered insulation layout if one is drawn, the roof sections showing deck type and each layer, the edge, curb, penetration, and roof-to-wall details, the structural framing and deck drawings with slope and wind design criteria, the energy compliance documents with the roof R-value, the code analysis and rated roof assemblies, the mechanical schedules for spaces with high interior humidity, and the issued Section 07 22 00 with the roof membrane section, Section 06 10 00, and the sheet metal section. Follow one roof area from its high point to its drain, including one curb, before assuming the others are the same.
WBDG publishes UFGS 07 22 00: Roof and Deck Insulation as a public guide-specification reference (accessed October 29, 2026). Use your project’s issued specification and amendments for the actual comparison; the guide specification does not automatically govern your project. The checklist below is an original suggested review workflow, not a reproduction of the UFGS requirements.
Eight checks to run against the issued set
Use one record per location or system. The CSV contains the same eight prompts plus fields for source revisions, observed evidence, the review owner, the decision, and closure references.
| Check | Sources to compare | Question to resolve |
|---|---|---|
| Extent and R-value | Opening designer note + Insulation Types and Insulation Thickness articles + roof plans + energy compliance documents | Is the R-value shown on the drawings for each roof area, as the designer note requires, and does it match the energy analysis and the value used for the HVAC design, with any change over mechanical rooms or other areas marked? |
| Slope, crickets, and tapered layout | Tapered Roof Insulation article and its designer note + roof plans + structural framing | Is the roof slope made in the structure or with tapered insulation, are crickets and saddles drawn at every drain and curb, and does the tapered slope bracket kept in the section match the slope on the plans? |
| Thickness at edges and space limits | Opening designer note + Surface Preparation article + edge, curb, door threshold, and roof-to-wall details | Where curb heights, door sills, flashing heights, or parapets limit the insulation thickness, do the details give dimensions, and are nailers shown at edges, curbs, walls, and openings at the same thickness as the insulation? |
| Insulation types vs. membrane and attachment | Insulation Types article + Special Precautions for Installation of Foam Insulation + roof membrane section | Were the board types that conflict with the membrane deleted, such as foil-faced board under a fully adhered membrane or polystyrene under hot asphalt, and is a cover board or overlayment shown over foam board where the section calls for one? |
| Thermal barrier and fire performance | Insulation in Roof Systems, Thermal Barrier Requirements, and Fire Resistance Ratings for Roofs articles + code analysis + roof sections | Over a steel or combustible deck, does the roof section show the thermal barrier the section keeps, and does the listed or rated roof assembly in the code analysis include the same deck, barrier, insulation, and cover board drawn? |
| Wind resistance and fastening | Wind Resistance Requirements, Fasteners, and Manufacturer’s Instructions articles + structural wind criteria + roof plans | Does the wind bracket point to loads indicated on the drawings or to loads the contractor calculates, are the perimeter and corner zones dimensioned on the roof plan, and is the fastener paragraph for the deck type drawn, steel, concrete, or wood, kept? |
| Vapor retarder and dewpoint | Moisture Control and Installation of Vapor Retarder articles + mechanical schedules + roof sections | Was the vapor retarder kept or deleted based on the climate, interior humidity, and dewpoint analysis the designer notes describe, is it drawn in the layer the analysis locates, and are spaces such as pools and laundries treated separately? |
| Shop drawing layout and nailers | Shop Drawings and Wood or Engineered Metal Framing Nailers articles + roof details + Section 06 10 00 | Does the shop drawing requirement ask for the board layout, fastening patterns, crickets, and drain interfaces, and is the nailer bracket consistent with the roofing, with engineered metal framing instead of wood where the membrane is heat or torch applied? |
Worked example: a flat steel deck with no R-value or wind zones
Illustrative example: a single-story warehouse has a flat steel deck with a mechanically fastened single-ply membrane. The roof plan says “tapered insulation to drains” but shows no crickets between drains and no R-value, the roof section draws polyisocyanurate directly on the deck although the issued Section 07 22 00 keeps the thermal barrier paragraph, and the wind resistance paragraph refers to loads “indicated,” but the roof plan has no perimeter or corner zones.
Ask the architect to add the R-value for each roof area from the energy analysis, draw the tapered layout with crickets between drains, and revise the roof section to show the thermal barrier board over the steel deck. Ask the structural engineer to add the wind design pressures and zone dimensions to the roof plan, and confirm that the rated roof assembly in the code analysis matches the revised layers.
Avoid a false conflict
This guide compares the insulation layers under the roof membrane. The roofing membrane guide compares the membrane system, flashing, and warranty, and wall insulation is covered in the insulation guide for wall sections. Cover boards, venting, and edge details may also be specified in the membrane and sheet metal sections, and wood nailers in Section 06 10 00, so check those before calling a requirement missing. Whether a thermal barrier, rated assembly, or third-party approval is required depends on the code and criteria the project invokes; confirm with the architect of record and the authority having jurisdiction.
When requirements disagree, follow the project’s document-control and clarification process. Do not assume that drawings always override specifications, or the reverse. Identify the exact sources and request an authorized decision.
Close the issue across the affected documents
Record the location or tag, drawing and specification references, issue dates, observed difference, and the decision needed. Assign an owner and keep the item open until the response identifies the governing requirement. Check the revised drawings and specification references together; a response email alone may leave the issued package inconsistent.
For the overall process, use the guide to drawing and specification conflicts. Mark an inapplicable checklist row with a reason, and distinguish a verified correction from a question that still needs design information.
Where Groundbook fits
Groundbook’s drawing and specification review helps investigate potential disagreements in the documents you supply. Include the relevant specification sections and drawing references, then verify the cited evidence with the responsible reviewers before acting on a finding.