Green Roof Considerations

Pitched green roof design considerations green roofs are suitable for any pitch of roof.

Green roof considerations.

Design considerations for a successful green roof for a green roof to flourish it requires suitable amounts of sunlight water sufficient drainage and aeration to encourage healthy plant growth. There is important information that the building s structural engineer will require. Green roofs for healthy cities grhc is the north american industry association for the green roof and wall sectors. The increased urbanization of towns and cities has resulted in less green space and more impervious surfaces.

Grhc develops and protects the market by increasing the awareness of the economic social and environmental benefits of green roofs green walls and other forms of living architecture through education advocacy professional development and celebrations of excellence. Challenges associated with installing green roofs on new or existing buildings if not properly reviewed or addressed can increase costs and deter owners from installing such roofs. The first issue to resolve when considering any green roof is what is the primary purpose for installing a green roof is it primarily for energy efficiency for storm water control for heat island reduction for visual enjoyment or other reasons. Fertilizer aggressive roots and increased foot traffic.

There are three basic types of green roofing systems to consider when designing your project. Designing green roofs in a development may gain support which can. Green roofs main types. The height of the green roof system build up.

Precipitation generally runs off the roof of a building into gutters and flows into a storm sewer. It is vital that the protection of the building s fabric and in particular its waterproofing is considered in the green roof design. However when dealing with a sloped green roof with a pitch of more than 9 5 you ll need a design solution for retaining water and ensuring the substrate stays in place. The entire green roof assembly including plants and the water required to saturate the growth media is considered part of the dead load of the structure.

A robust and durable roofing system is necessary to provide a solid foundation for green roofs. The maximum saturated load of the green roof. A green roof can also expose the roof membrane to chemical inputs e g. What to consider before installing a green roof on a historic building.

A green roof also helps control storm water runoff and retention. There is no steepest pitch for a green roof they can even grow vertically. Other considerations in addition to potential costs and benefits can influence building owners acceptance of green roofs.