HAAG Roof Inspector study guide
HAAG Roof Inspector · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
Haag Certified Inspector (HCI) is a family of training and certification programs offered through Haag Education, the education arm of Haag, a forensic engineering and consulting firm. The source describes the Haag Certified Reviewer and Haag Certified Inspector – Wind Damage, Commercial Roofing, and Residential Roofing programs as "our premier comprehensive training programs." Candidates typically include insurance adjusters, roofing contractors, consultants, and others who assess roof condition and damage. The credential is not a government license, and this page is an independent study resource with no affiliation to Haag or Salas O'Brien. The exam content follows the three program tracks: residential roofing systems and materials, commercial low-slope and steep-slope assemblies, and wind damage assessment. Topics on this exam: Residential Roofing, Commercial Roofing, and Wind Damage. The HAAG Roof Inspector study guide has 3 sections and about 1,603 words.
01Residential Roofing
Residential Roofing tests steep-slope roof coverings, their installation details, and the difference between storm damage, installation defects, and normal aging. Expect questions on asphalt shingles, clay and concrete tile, wood shakes and shingles, slate, metal, underlayment, flashing, fasteners, and ventilation. Slope: steep-slope is greater than 3:12; low-slope is 3:12 or less. Residential steep-slope assemblies normally require underlayment, and an ice barrier where the adopted code requires it.
529 words, about 3 min02Commercial Roofing
Commercial Roofing focuses on low-slope membrane systems, attachment methods, wind-uplift ratings, flashing details, moisture investigation, and repair-versus-replacement decisions. Questions often ask you to identify a membrane, explain how it is attached, and decide whether observed conditions are wind damage, workmanship, or age-related deterioration. Slope and systems: low-slope is 3:12 or less. Common systems are EPDM (thermoset), TPO and PVC (thermoplastic), modified bitumen, built-up roofing, metal, and sprayed polyurethane foam with coating.
541 words, about 3 min03Wind Damage
Wind Damage tests how wind loads roofs, how damage appears, and how to establish causation and extent. Expect questions on uplift and suction, edge and corner effects, seal-strip and fastener failures, debris impact, storm direction, and documentation that separates wind damage from installation defects and aging. Wind loading: roof uplift is largely suction. In ASCE 7-style terms, velocity pressure is q = 0.00256 V² psf at standard air density, then adjusted for exposure, height, topography, and internal pressure.
533 words, about 3 min