Emailed received 5/24/2013

Mr. Madani,

I would like to communicate a serious grievance about a roof tile competitor, Zion Tile Corp.

See link: http://www.miamidade.gov/development/library/memos/2012-10-19-zion-tile-corporation.pdf

Zion Tile Corp appears to be using the recently acquired Florida Approval FL 16057 to distribute Non-Compliant roof tile here in Miami Dade County in a bid to circumvent intervention by Miami Dade officials. The Product Evaluation Report by Jesus Gonzalez and Lab Report No. 121066 both indicate tile thickness to be minimum .91" thick.

Product Evaluation Report:

http://www.floridabuilding.org/upload/PR_Instl_Docs/FL16057_R0_II_Alhambra_PER_R1.pdf

Lab Report No. 121066:

http://www.floridabuilding.org/upload/PR_Tech_Docs/FL16057_R0_AE_TAS%20112_Report.pdf

The in-progress Re-Roofing job located at 2225 Segovia Circle Coral Gables , Florida has been loaded with Non-Compliant roof tiles equivalent to those jobs that where investigated and subsequently red tagged by Miami Dade County using a .62". It is not technically feasible for Zion Tile Corp to market a .91" thick roof tile, therefore they will continue to violate the terms of their Florida Approval and sell substandard Non-Compliant roof tile with deficiencies in thickness and mechanical break strength until they are exposed. Attached: Please view Non-Compliant Zion Tile Corp roof tiles (Failed) Testing with similar thickness to what has been loaded on 2225 Segovia Circle Coral Gables, Florida (Photo also attached)

The distribution of Non Compliant roof tiles by rogue firms misrepresenting Florida Approvals should not be tolerated.

Sincerely,

Dan Arguelles 305-710-6659

Emailed received 5/24

Mr. Madani,

It appears that there also may exist some issues with the legitimacy of the Product Evaluation Report and Lab Test 121066 that are used in support of Florida Approval FL 16057. Here are the links for your convenience:

http://www.floridabuilding.org/upload/PR_Instl_Docs/FL16057_R0_II_Alhambra_PER_R1.pdf

http://www.floridabuilding.org/upload/PR_Tech_Docs/FL16057_R0_AE_TAS%20112_Report.pdf

Please view the attached commentary by American Test Labs of South Florida in regards to supporting documentation used by Zion Tile Corp to obtain the Florida Approval FL 16057.

I respectfully await your response,

Dan Arguelles

Artezanos Inc.

Email received 6/12/2013

Mr. Madani,

I would like to communicate a serious grievance about a roof tile competitor, Zion Tile Corp.

Zion Tile Corp had recently lost their Miami Dade County N.O.A. last year on October 19, 2012 for distributing Non-Compliant roof tile and now they are continuing the same practice on the very same new construction residence located at 3555 Flamingo Drive Miami Beach,Florida that resulted in their Miami Dade County N.O.A's removal.

See link: http://www.miamidade.gov/development/library/memos/2012-10-19-zion-tile-corporation.pdf

Zion Tile Corp appears to be using the recently acquired Florida Approval FL 16057 to distribute Non-Compliant roof tile in Miami Beach in a bid to circumvent intervention by Miami Dade officials. The Product Evaluation Report by Jesus Gonzalez and Lab Report No. 121066 both indicate tile thickness to be minimum .91" thick.

Product Evaluation Report:

http://www.floridabuilding.org/upload/PR_Instl_Docs/FL16057_R0_II_Alhambra_PER_R1.pdf

Lab Report No. 121066:

http://www.floridabuilding.org/upload/PR_Tech_Docs/FL16057_R0_AE_TAS%20112_Report.pdf

The in-progress new construction job located at 3555 Flamingo Drive Miami Beach, Florida been loaded with Non-Compliant roof tiles AGAIN equivalent to those jobs that where investigated and subsequently red tagged by Miami Dade County using a .62". It is not technically feasible for Zion Tile Corp to market a .91" thick roof tile, therefore they will continue to violate the terms of their Florida Approval and sell substandard Non-Compliant roof tile with deficiencies in thickness and mechanical break strength until they are exposed.

Attached:

Please view photographs of the in progress installation of Non-Compliant Zion Tile Corp roof tiles being installed at 3555 Flamingo Drive today June 13, 2013. Also please view a sample of said non-compliant tile from the actual job site where thickness indicated is way below .91" thickness. The tile at .91 thickness barely passes testing and anything underneath that is a violation of their Florida Approval.

Please let me know if a date has been set yet for this to be heard in front of the Florida Board.

The distribution of Non Compliant roof tiles by rogue firms misrepresenting Florida Approvals should not be tolerated.

Sincerely,

Dan Arguelles 305-710-6659

Emailed received 6/13/2013

Dear Mr. Fernandez,

I would like to communicate a serious grievance about a roof tile competitor, Zion Tile Corp.

See link: http://www.miamidade.gov/development/library/memos/2012-10-19-zion-tile-corporation.pdf

Product Evaluation Report:

http://www.floridabuilding.org/upload/PR_Instl_Docs/FL16057_R0_II_Alhambra_PER_R1.pdf

Lab Report No. 121066:

http://www.floridabuilding.org/upload/PR_Tech_Docs/FL16057_R0_AE_TAS%20112_Report.pdf

The in-progress new construction job located at 3555 Flamingo Drive Miami Beach, Florida been loaded with Non-Compliant roof tiles equivalent to those jobs that where investigated and subsequently red tagged by Miami Dade County using a .62". It is not technically feasible for Zion Tile Corp to market a .91" thick roof tile, therefore they will continue to violate the terms of their Florida Approval and sell substandard Non-Compliant roof tile with deficiencies in thickness and mechanical break strength until they are exposed.

Attached:

The distribution of Non Compliant roof tiles by rogue firms misrepresenting Florida Approvals should not be tolerated.

Sincerely,

Dan Arguelles 305-710-6659

Email received 6/14/2013

Mr. Madani,

Please read the response from the new Miami Beach Building Official. It is almost a month now since I lodged my first complaint where you mentioned that it would be heard at the Florida Board in August 2013. This new second complaint is the site that was originally red tagged for non-compliant tile and where an investigation by Miami Dade County Product Control found evidence to remove the N.O.A. It is ironic and very insulting that this same job has been loaded up again with Non-Compliant Tile with a Florida Approval and the job is being installed. Apparently, the lack of immediate intervention with such obvious abuse by a repeated offender creates for them a licence to steal! I urge you to take immediate action as homeowners are left exposed because the Miami Building Official feels it is not his job.

This is a very serious matter and it establishes a very serious precedent,

Sincerely,

Dan Arguelles

In a message dated 6/14/2013 8:24:45 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, MarianoFernandez@miamibeachfl.gov writes:

Mr. Arguelles:

We issue roofing permits in accordance with valid NOA approvals from Miami Dade or the State of Florida. Unless the agencies issuing the approvals reject the NOA the permit is valid and issued to comply with the FBC roofing requirements.

The building inspectors do not perform quality control or assurance of the material associated with these approvals for tile or any other material. The office of Miami Dade Code Compliance Product Control locally and/or the State of Florida 1940 North Monroe Street, Tallahassee FL 32399 Phone: 850-487-1824. The issuance agencies approving the tile or any other material can investigate and remove the NOA approval, and stop any further distribution of materials.

MIAMIBEACH

Mariano V. Fernandez, P.E., Director/Building Official

BUILDING DEPARTMENT

1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Tel: 305-673-7610 ext 6288/ Fax: 786-394-4455

marianofernandez@miamibeachfl.gov

We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work and play in our vibrant, tropical, historic community

From: ARGUELLES67@aol.com [mailto:ARGUELLES67@aol.com]
Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2013 2:47 PM
To: Fernandez, Mariano
Cc: mo.madani@dbpr.state.fl.us
Subject: COMPLAINT 3555 FLAMINGO DRIVE NON-COMPLIANT ROOF TILE

Dear Mr. Fernandez,

I would like to communicate a serious grievance about a roof tile competitor, Zion Tile Corp.

See link: http://www.miamidade.gov/development/library/memos/2012-10-19-zion-tile-corporation.pdf

Product Evaluation Report:

http://www.floridabuilding.org/upload/PR_Instl_Docs/FL16057_R0_II_Alhambra_PER_R1.pdf

Lab Report No. 121066:

http://www.floridabuilding.org/upload/PR_Tech_Docs/FL16057_R0_AE_TAS%20112_Report.pdf

Attached:

The distribution of Non Compliant roof tiles by rogue firms misrepresenting Florida Approvals should not be tolerated.

Sincerely,

Dan Arguelles 305-710-6659

Email received 6/26/2013

Mr. Lopez,

On 5/19/13, I e-mailed you a grievance in reference to Non-Compliant roof tile loaded to a job in 2555 Segovia Circle. by Zion Tile Corp.

As I mentioned before, Zion Tile Corp had recently lost their Miami Dade County N.O.A. last year on October 19, 2012 for distributing Non-Compliant roof tile and now they are continuing the same practice in Coral Gables, Florida.

I am informed by Mr. Mo. Madani that this grievance will be on the Florida Board agenda sometime in August 2013. These infractions are being documented as they occur wherever they may be in order to present them as evidence to the Florida Board. It is for this reason we are filing a new complaint about the Non-Compliant roof tile loaded to the roof at 1430 San Marco Ave Coral Gables, Florida. The Roof tile product appears to be less than the required .91" thickness as approved by the Florida Approval and Quality Control Engineer Evaluation.

See link:

http://www.miamidade.gov/development/library/memos/2012-10-19-zion-tile-corporation.pdf

Product Evaluation Report:

http://www.floridabuilding.org/upload/PR_Instl_Docs/FL16057_R0_II_Alhambra_PER_R1.pdf

Lab Report No. 121066:

http://www.floridabuilding.org/upload/PR_Tech_Docs/FL16057_R0_AE_TAS%20112_Report.pdf

The in-progress Re-Roofing job located at 1430 San Marco Ave Coral Gables, Florida has been loaded with Non-Compliant roof tiles equivalent to those jobs that where investigated and subsequently red tagged by Miami Dade County using a .62". It is not technically feasible for Zion Tile Corp to market a .91" thick roof tile, therefore they will continue to violate the terms of their Florida Approval and sell substandard Non-Compliant roof tile with deficiencies in thickness and mechanical break strength until they are exposed.

Attached: Please view Non-Compliant Zion Tile Corp roof tiles (Failed) Testing with similar thickness to what has been loaded on 2225 Segovia Circle Coral Gables, Florida (Photo also attached)

The distribution of Non Compliant roof tiles by rogue firms misrepresenting Florida Approvals should not be tolerated.

Sincerely,

Dan Arguelles 305-710-6659