Green Roofs for Healthy Cities Announces New Green Roof Installation and Maintenance Professional (GRIMP) Training and Certification
After three years of development. GRHC is pleased to announce the new Green Roof Installation and Maintenance Professional program which combines hands-on green roof installation training, with online instruction and certification of green roof installers and maintenance personnel.
"After more than three years of development by experts, the GRIMP training and certification complements the Green Roof Professional (GRP) Program by providing hands-on and in-class training with different green roof systems." said Steven W. Peck, GRP, Founder and President, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities and member of the expert committee.
The first of the GRIMP training sessions will take place at the Boston Grey to Green Conference on April 23 at Recover Green Roofs facility, followed by a session during the Toronto Grey to Green Conference on June 11 at Ginkgo Sustainability’s facility. Register for Boston here, and at Toronto here. Learn more about the GRIMP training here. The April 23 GRIMP training will also feature a site tour. The registration fee of $495 USD, limited to six attendees on a first-come-first-served basis, includes access to online classroom instruction, a resource manual, hands on instruction, and one online examination.
“Design, installation and maintenance are the 3 pillars of a successful green roof. This course provides the knowledge and skills to complete the green roof journey.” said Dr. Karen Liu, Green Roof Specialist, Next Level Stormwater Management and member of the expert committee which developed the GRIMP training and certification program.
The Green Roof Installation and Maintenance Professional (GRIMP) Certification involves a combination of hands-on and presentation style training to introduce professionals to the basic skills and knowledge required to install green roofs and maintain them. This training is designed to provide participants with a grounding in this information, covering a variety of different green roof systems, and a wide range of planting types to provide green roof installers and maintenance professionals with the information, techniques, and training necessary to successfully install and maintain green roofs.
"The GRIMP is designed to increase the skill level of landscape and roofing professionals that are installing and maintaining our green roofs across North America.” said Christian Mahlstedt, President of GInkgo Sustainability Inc. and member of the expert committee which developed the program. ”Deepening and broadening the talent pool by creating a certification that provides employers assurance that an individual has a core skill set as well as providing policy makers and other stakeholders assurance that the individuals involved in building our green roofs are skilled professionals. This program will play a vital role in building a trained and skilled workforce as the green roof market grows across the continent." he added.
The knowledge and skills covered by this course include:
Identifying the installation requirements techniques of different green roof systems
Understanding the best practices associated with green roof installation
Identifying common problems associated with green roof installation
Identifying the roles and responsibilities of professionals involved in green roof installation
Understanding the potentially delicate nature of waterproofing that underlies green roofs
Understanding/identifying what an acceptable roof surface looks like; what should be a “red flag” that might stop the installer from moving ahead with installation
Understanding common maintenance challenges and how to address them
Learning how to develop a maintenance plan and perform common maintenance procedures
Learning how to diagnose and fix problems on a green roof
Learning the scope of maintenance, and when the work needs to involve an installer
‘’The GRIMP training is the continuation of the very complete GRP program that has allowed for professionnals of all realm to deepen their knowledge about green roofs.” said Roxanne Miller, Business Development Manager at SOPRANATURE CANADA. Within a fast growing market, the GRIMP training will be a valuable asset to landscape and roofing contractors that want to move forward with strong technical hands on skills.’’
Upon completion of this training, participants should be able to successfully complete these critical tasks associated with the installation and maintenance of green roof systems through a combination of instructor-led and hands-on training.
On April 23, the GRIMP training begins the two-day Boston Grey to Green Conference. See the full agenda here, and register here. Learn more about the program here.
About Us
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC) is a non-profit 501(c)(6) professional industry association working to grow the green roof and wall industry throughout North America since 1999. Our mission is to develop and protect the market by increasing the awareness of the economic, social, and environmental benefits of green roofs, green walls, and other forms of living architecture through education, advocacy, professional development, and celebrations of excellence.
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