Basic Design Requirements
If you are designing a building (or an extension to a building) with green roofing in mind, these are the points that need special attention.
- The roof deck must be strong enough to cope with dead and live weight
- There must be adequate drainage with attention paid to design of falls
- The roof slope should be more than 1 degree but less than 25 degrees with provision for irrigation on slopes greater than 10 degrees
- Aspect and exposure are extremely important
- The roof deck should be waterproofed and the waterproofing should be protected from root damage
- Protect the edges of sedum matting against wind uplift
- Protect plants and growing materials from erosion by wind and rain
- Make provision for fire protection
- Provide safe access to all areas of the roof for installation and maintenance
All of these factors are discussed in more detail in the Structural Requirements and the Construction sections.