Smarter rooftop safety systems

By Jesse Sanchez. 

With building codes evolving and rooftop risks on the rise, this company is setting a smarter, safer standard for the industry. 

On the Coffee Shop Sound Stage at the 2025 International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC) convention, the focus wasn't just on roofing systems, it revolved around rooftop safety, too. Anchor Products, a company gaining serious traction in the commercial roofing industry, took the stage to present a clear message that the days of makeshift rooftop attachments are over. Joel Stanley, founder of Anchor Products, spoke candidly about the origins of his company, which began in 2010 with a simple but critical insight; rooftop equipment needs to be safely fastened. “We saw a need for attachment of rooftop equipment,” Joel said. “Code now supports that initiative and requires that all rooftop equipment be attached down.” 

Anchor’s value proposition is grounded in both safety and compliance. As rooftop equipment such as HVAC units, solar panels, antennas and piping systems have become more varied and more essential, so too has the need to secure it properly. And not just for the sake of the roof membrane. “Ammonia can be amazingly hazardous, it’ll kill you,” Joel warned. “Propane and other gas lines that feed every HVAC unit, there are a lot of dangerous things.’” 

Scott Carpenter, director of sales and a four-decade veteran of the roofing fasteners world, expressed how the company is closing long-standing gaps between roofers, consultants and code requirements. “We live in a world of ‘good enough,’ but that’s not good enough anymore,” Scott said. “We’ve got to take that pressure off the roofer and drive solutions from a specification or code requirement.” Anchor doesn’t just offer off-the-shelf solutions. Much of its success lies in its ability to create custom solutions rapidly, thanks to a responsive in-house fabrication team.  

That nimbleness resonates with roofing consultants and specifiers, who are hungry for reliable ways to meet modern code standards while protecting their clients from liability. Scott cited a recent session with REI consultants in Charlotte: “There’s an eagerness to learn how to take exposure liability and all these things that we’re mounting on our roofs and lock them down, be code compliant and create operational security.” 

While the roofing industry has traditionally prioritized reliability and proven methods, companies like Anchor Products are now driving a wave of innovation that’s reshaping the field. 

Watch the full interview to learn more about Anchor Products’ evolving line of solutions!