Xactimate Steep (RFG STEEP) & High Roof (RFG HIGH) Supplements: Digital Pitch Gauge & Eave-Height Photo Standards
Xactimate Codes: RFG STEEP, RFG STEEP>, RFG HIGH | Standard: Xactimate RFG Labor Modifiers & OSHA 29 CFR §1926.501 | Protected: +$2,450 per steep/2-story roof
Technical Answer Summary (Xactimate RFG Labor Modifiers & OSHA 29 CFR §1926.501)
Xactimate applies additional labor and fall-protection charges for steep roof slopes—RFG STEEP (7/12 to 9/12 pitch), RFG STEEP> (10/12 to 12/12 pitch), and RFG STEEP>> (>12/12 pitch)—as well as two-story access charges (RFG HIGH) for eaves 20+ feet above grade. Remember that steep and high charges apply TWICE: once for tear-off/removal (Remove RFG STEEP / RFG HIGH) and once for installation (Replace RFG STEEP / RFG HIGH). Because satellite aerial reports frequently average pitches across complex hips or misread 7/12 slopes as 6/12, placing a calibrated digital torpedo level or pitch gauge directly on the bare roof decking (after tear-off removes shingle double-thickness distortion) forces adjusters to pay both Remove and Replace steep modifiers.
Adjuster Denial Trap: Adjusters relying on aerial satellite reports (EagleView/Hover) that round down dormer or mansard facets from 7/12 to 6/12, eliminating RFG STEEP charges on both tear-off and installation.
3-Column Xactimate Denial Trigger vs. Field Photo Evidence Matrix
| Adjuster Denial Reason / Scrub Trigger | Required Field Photo & Meter Evidence (IICRC Standard) | Copy-Paste Xactimate F9 Note Justification |
|---|---|---|
| Adjuster omits RFG STEEP because EagleView/Hover report lists facet as 6/12 instead of 7/12 | On-deck photo of digital pitch gauge / smart level placed directly on bare roof sheathing or rafters showing >= 7/12 (30.26°) | Satellite aerial reports have a +/- 1/12 pitch tolerance. On-site digital inclinometer measurement directly on the roof plane verifies an actual 7/12 pitch (30.3°), requiring both Remove and Replace RFG STEEP. |
| Carrier pays Replace RFG STEEP and RFG HIGH for installation only, omitting Remove (tear-off) steep/high | Photo of crew in OSHA fall-protection harnesses tearing off existing roofing on steep 2-story slope | Per Xactimate pricing methodology, RFG STEEP and RFG HIGH labor productivity modifiers apply separately to the demolition/tear-off phase (Remove) and the installation phase (Replace). Both must be included. |
| Reviewer denies RFG HIGH (2 stories or greater) on a walk-out basement or high-ceiling 1.5-story home | Grade-to-eave vertical tape measure or laser disto photo showing eave height >20 feet above ground at loading/access elevation | Actual grade-to-eave height at the rear/side elevation measures 22 ft 4 in (see attached laser/tape height photo), exceeding two-story ladder and material-loading thresholds (RFG HIGH). |
Copy-Paste Xactimate F9 Note Justification
F9 NOTE (RFG STEEP / RFG STEEP> / RFG HIGH): On-site digital pitch gauge and eave-height verification (photos attached in VouchCam packet) confirm roof slopes in the 7/12–9/12 (RFG STEEP) and 10/12–12/12 (RFG STEEP>) ranges with eave heights exceeding 2-story access thresholds (RFG HIGH). In accordance with Xactimate estimating standards and OSHA 29 CFR §1926.501 fall-protection requirements, both Remove (tear-off) and Replace (installation) steep and high-roof labor modifiers are required across all verified squares.
Mandatory On-Site Field Photo Checklist
- Hard Gate #1: Context shot + close-up of digital pitch gauge / level on each steep slope showing pitch (7/12, 10/12, etc.)
- Hard Gate #2: Pitch gauge resting directly on bare OSB/plank decking during tear-off (eliminates shingle overlap argument)
- Hard Gate #3: Vertical tape measure or laser distance meter proving >20 ft eave height from grade (RFG HIGH)
- Hard Gate #4: Roofing crew roof jacks, toe boards, and OSHA fall-arrest harnesses deployed on steep facets
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Xactimate RFG STEEP apply to both roof tear-off and shingle installation?
Yes! In Xactimate, the "Remove" component of RFG STEEP compensates for the reduced labor productivity and safety staging required during steep tear-off, while the "Replace" component compensates for steep shingle installation. Omitting the Remove line item leaves 25%–30% of the steep supplement on the table.
What degree angle on a digital level equals a 7/12 or 10/12 roof pitch?
A 7/12 pitch equals 30.26 degrees (the threshold for RFG STEEP), a 9/12 pitch equals 36.87 degrees, and a 10/12 pitch equals 39.81 degrees (the threshold for RFG STEEP>). Always photograph both the pitch ratio and degree readout.