Cool Roof

A cool roof is a roofing product that is listed in the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) directory with a rated aged solar reflectance and thermal emittance that meet the minimums for your roof slope and climate zone. If it isn’t listed with those numbers, it doesn’t count — regardless of color or what the brochure says.

Check the CRRC listing

Do this before you order the roofing.

Search

coolroofs.org

Open the CRRC Rated Products Directory and search by manufacturer, exact product name and color. The same product in a different color has a different rating.

Read the aged values

Not the initial values

Use the 3-year aged solar reflectance and thermal emittance — not the initial numbers, which are always higher.

Compare

Against your CF1R

Match them against the minimums below — or the values on your CF1R if it’s a performance project. Keep the CRRC label or packaging for the inspection.

Not sure? Send us the manufacturer, product name and color before you order — we’ll confirm the listing.

Prescriptive minimums

Single-family, 2022 Standards. Performance projects follow the CF1R.

Roof	Climate zones	Aged solar reflectance	Thermal emittance	or SRI	Code
Steep slope (more than 2:12)	10–15	≥ 0.20	≥ 0.75	≥ 16	§150.1(c)11
Low slope (2:12 or less)	13, 15	≥ 0.63	≥ 0.75	≥ 75	§150.1(c)11

Exempt: building-integrated solar panels, and roofs weighing at least 25 lb/ft² (such as heavy tile). A product that isn’t CRRC certified is assumed to be 0.08 (asphalt shingles) or 0.10 — which won’t pass. §110.8(i)

The code

Click a section to read the actual code language, or open it in the official CEC document.

§150.1(c)11Which roofs must be cool roofs

All roofing products shall meet the requirements of Section 110.8 and the applicable requirements of Subsection A or B:
A. Single-family residential buildings with steep-sloped roofs in climate zones 10 through 15 shall have a minimum aged solar reflectance of 0.20 and a minimum thermal emittance of 0.75, or a minimum SRI of 16.
B. Single-family residential buildings with low-sloped roofs; in climate zones 13 and 15 shall have a minimum aged solar reflectance of 0.63 and a minimum thermal emittance of 0.75 or a minimum SRI of 75.

Exception 1: Building integrated photovoltaic panels and building integrated solar thermal panels are exempt…
Exception 2: Roof constructions with a weight of at least 25 lb/ft² are exempt from the minimum requirements for aged solar reflectance and thermal emittance or SRI.

§110.8(i)Must be CRRC certified and labeled

1. In order to meet the requirements of Sections … 150.1(c)11, 150.2(b)1I or 150.2(b)2, a roofing product’s thermal emittance and an aged solar reflectance shall be certified and labeled according to the requirements of Section 10-113.
Exception 1: Roofing products that are not certified according to Section 10-113 shall assume the following default aged solar reflectance/thermal emittance values: A. For asphalt shingles: 0.08/0.75 B. For all other roofing products: 0.10/0.75

Read §110.8(i) in the official 2022 Standards (CEC PDF, p. 157) ↗

Choosing roofing?

Send us the product before you order.