Trendreport
GREEN ON TOP
FABIAN KAISER, DIRECTOR OF ZINCO GREEN ROOFS SYSTEMS LTD, TAKES A LOOK AT HOW THE USE OF GREEN ROOFS CAN BE A BENEFIT TO ALL PARTIES
IN A NEW DEVELOPMENT OR A REFURBISHMENT, ONE FOCUS IS ALWAYS ON THE DURABILITY OF THE BUILDING.
In this point a green roof can be a major contribution, as it protects the waterproofing from influences of weather and variations in temperature, thus increasing its lifespan considerably. So in a long-term perspective a green roof can reduce the building costs significantly. Architects should be interested in green roofs as a very important instrument in preventing local flooding. A green roof can reduce the immediate water run-off by 50-90 per cent. The excess rainwater is filtered and drained off with a temporal delay. This leads to reduced stress on the sewer system during the year and at peak flow periods. As a result less or smaller dimensioned sewerage systems can be installed, which also can save
26 Architects Choice July 2014
money. In combination with other forms of modern rain water management the rainwater can be entirely infiltrated on the landowners ground. But apart of calculations of profitability, energy efficiency or sustainability - with the right green roof system technology, there is nearly no limit for creative leeway to make a social development an attractive place to live. This can be a joint roof garden, a playground or e.g. “rental beds” to grow veg on the roof. And finally it is as well a natural habitat for flora and fauna. Hardly any other roof shape allows for such a variety of uses as the flat roof. Depending on the design, a green roof offers a new habitat for fauna and flora and utilisable open and recreational space for people. The more densely populated an urban area the more invaluable is such space and are perfect for use on social housing builds which
look to create community after the residents have moved in.
Whether it's a typical flat roof with a two per cent slope, a 0° roof, a pitched roof (A-framed, butterfly, shed or saw-tooth roof) or a vaulted roof (barrel roof), a green roof can be installed on roofs with a pitch of up to approx. 35°. There are basically two types of green roof: intensive and extensive.
Green at its most diverse An extensive green roof may cover a large area but it can be installed and maintained at a relatively low cost. The layer depth is approx. 5 - 15 cm and the weight is low at between 60-150 kg/m², allowing for the easy greening of an existing roof area at a later point in time. A further advantage of an extensive green roof is the very manageable upkeep thanks to the fact that natural precipitation is sufficient for the plant communities used which include
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