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.

  1. The roof deck must be strong enough to cope with dead and live weight
  2. There must be adequate drainage with attention paid to design of falls
  3. The roof slope should be more than 1 degree but less than 25 degrees with provision for irrigation on slopes greater than 10 degrees
  4. Aspect and exposure are extremely important
  5. The roof deck should be waterproofed and the waterproofing should be protected from root damage
  6. Protect the edges of sedum matting against wind uplift
  7. Protect plants and growing materials from erosion by wind and rain
  8. Make provision for fire protection
  9. 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.