39870 Eureka Drive
Newark, CA
The world’s most important technologies run on precision-manufactured computer chips, and the smallest flaw has the potential to have significant impacts. That’s where companies like MiTAC Computing Technology, which inspect and install computer chips, come into play.
Above the company’s 800,000 square-foot facility in Newark’s Stevenson Point Technology Park sat a conventional hot asphalt applied built-up roof system that required an overlay system to eliminate the leaks that threatened any sensitive equipment below.
BT Roof won the project after answering the request of RJK Roof Consultants out of Chicago on behalf of Maple Tree Management.
“We found the roof to be sound, but aged due to the delamination of the granules on the surface,” explains BT Superintendent Marty Behrbaum. “So, it called for an overlay system rather than a reroof. We found multiple repairs on the surface, probably patching for leaks.”
| Location | Newark, CA |
| Client | |
| Scope | Overlay |
| Completed | 2025 |
| Size | 800,000 square feet |
Given the sensitive nature of the work happening in the building, the company asked to have CleanWrap, a temporary interior protection system, installed to guard against dust and debris infiltration.
“CleanWrap installed their proprietary interior protection system over the entire interior of the building occupied by the tenant’s manufacturing processes,” says BT Superintendent Marty Behrbaum. “It took 12 days to get that done. CleanWrap was an excellent partner on this project, as they have been on numerous projects we have worked on with them over at least the past decade.”
Communication, safety, and quality are the hallmarks of every BT project. Each of these promises rang true during the work on Eureka Drive. BT’s project manager and superintendent worked closely with the building’s facilities manager, keeping them engaged throughout the repair and installation.
Critical safety measures were put in place thanks to the building safety concerns present on the roof.“Since there was a low parapet wall on the building, we put a wall clamp guardrail fall protection system around the outer perimeter all the way around so we could work safely while near the edge of the building,” he says.
Since the tenant in the building was also an active manufacturer, BT needed to ensure that the work was coordinated to keep all the numerous rooftop mechanical equipment systems operating while roofing in those areas. In addition, it was critical to coordinate daily activities so the noise from work on the roof did not disrupt any sensitive operations for the tenant.
Project Overview
The challenge presented to BT’s crew was clear — upgrade the existing roofing system to protect against leaks, keep the sensitive equipment and operations below safe, and give the owners a twenty (20) year warranted roof system without the added cost of removing the existing roof system. Since the work started in the second week of January and finished in mid-April, it was also necessary to work around the wet winter and early spring weather.
BT installed an additional 1.75” of insulation, then a Firestone 60-mil TPO over the existing built-up roof system.
BT’s crew relied on the Rhinobond Induction Welding System to apply the system. “The robot looks a little like R2-D2 from Star Wars,” Marty says with a laugh. “It works kind of like taking an iron to a pair of pants. The fasteners holding the new insulation in place are coated with the TPO membrane. After the membrane is installed, the induction welder sits over each plate for a minute to weld the plate to the bottom of the membrane. The induction weld system provides enhanced wind uplift, while also allowing the roof to be made watertight faster each day.”
Site Challenges and Solutions
Navigating the systems on the roof was challenging because it was a maze of vents, low piping, and exhaust fans.
“There was an area that was very, very congested,” Marty explains. “There was low piping across that area carrying a water solution into the building, and several vents that we couldn’t raise.”
In addition to the systems on the roof, there was a sight screen around the entire building perimeter. “There were 300 leg supports that we had to detail around with the sight screens,” Marty explains. “We put boots around them and left them in place.
Although the building remained operational during the overlay process, there was minimal disruption to employees and facility managers due to the installation of the interior building wrap over the production area, and the care taken working around all of the sensitive rooftop equipment to ensure the building remained fully operational during the entirety of the project.
Project Completion
Four months after the first BT workers got on the roof, the crew finished installing and cleaning and the project was ready for inspection.
“They were really impressed with our workmanship and the detail we added to the drainage system,” Marty adds. “They were a great group to work with — they moved things and responded to us quickly. It was a great working experience with all three of these groups.
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