Written by Avery Timmons
Rosemont, Ill. – The National Roofing Contractors Association has released The NRCA Roofing Manual: Steep-slope Roof Systems—2025 to provide the roofing industry with the most comprehensive information about the design, materials and installation techniques applicable to steep-slope roof system applications. The new volume updates the 2021 volume with the same title and serves as a reference for contractors, architects and roof consultants.
NRCA has updated and revised The NRCA Roofing Manual: Steep-slope Roof Systems—2025 content to maintain its position as an authoritative up-to-date industry reference. Notable changes include:
- Revised minimum wood panel roof deck sheathing thickness recommendations and OSB panel use in steep-slope roof deck recommendations
- New recommendations regarding other-than-wood roof deck and nailing substrate materials in steep-slope applications
- Revised recommendations for high-wind region steep-slope applications
- New and revised construction details
- Revised appendixes address steep-slope roof system compliance with IBC 2024 and IRC 2024 provisions
- New appendixes address roofing slate repairs and IBHS’s FORTIFIED RoofTM program
The manual is composed of five roof covering type-specific sections and an appendixes section. Asphalt shingle roof systems, clay and concrete tile roof systems, metal shingle roof systems, slate roof systems and wood shake and wood shingle roof systems are separately addressed in dedicated sections. Each section is a self-contained reference manual and may be used by designers developing steep-slope roof system designs for specific projects.
The NRCA Roofing Manual: Steep-slope Roof Systems—2025 is best used with the other volumes of The NRCA Roofing Manual: The NRCA Roofing Manual: Metal Panel and SPF Roof Systems—2024; The NRCA Roofing Manual: Membrane Roof Systems—2023; and The NRCA Roofing Manual: Architectural Metal Flashing and Condensation and Air Leakage Control—2022.
In addition, The NRCA Construction Details: CAD Files—2025 has been updated to reflect Construction Details found in the 2025 Manual Boxed Set and The NRCA Roofing & Waterproofing Manual Anthology has been updated to include The NRCA Roofing Manual: Metal Panel and SPF Roof Systems—2021.
NRCA members can download the 2025 manual free of charge while nonmembers can purchase the download at nrca.net/manuals. The 2025 volume and boxed set in softcover also are available for purchase at nrca.net/manuals.
Since 1886, the National Roofing Contractors Association has been the home for generations of entrepreneurial craftsmen and enterprises who shelter and protect America’s families and businesses and each other. Our vision is the recognition of our members as professionals and to unite the industry to that purpose. NRCA is one of the construction industry’s most respected trade associations and the voice of roofing professionals and leading authority in the roofing industry for information, education, technology and advocacy. It represents all segments of the roofing industry, including contractors; manufacturers; distributors; architects; consultants; engineers; building owners; and city, state and government agencies. For information about NRCA and its services and offerings, visit nrca.net.