Roof Systems Consultants
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Advantages:
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For the building owner: |
For the community: |
For the environment: |
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Extensive Green Roofs or Ecoroofs |
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Typically 3-6 inches deep with a saturated weight of 15-30 lb/sq.ft.
They are ideal for the growth of drought-tolerant plants, particular
succulents like Sedum. They don’t need irrigation and only little
maintenance. Due to the low maintenance, they are the roof of choice
for building owners looking to reduce costs and improve the
environment. |
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Semi-intensive Green Roofs |
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Usually 6-12 inches deep with a saturated weight of 30-50 lb/sq.ft.
Whether irrigation is necessary ore not depends on the regional
climate and on the kind of plants that are used. Shrubs, perennials,
herbs and grasses can be used on semi-intensive roofs. Maintenance
is still quite labor intensive because the design of most
semi-intensive greenroofs is still garden-like. |
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Intensive Green Roofs |
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For intensive greenroofs, the growing media is fairly deep – usually
more than one 1 foot – and supports shrub and tree growth. A roof
top garden or a patio is an example of an intensive roof. The
saturated weight is 70 lb/sq.ft or more and irrigation is necessary
in most cases. They also require a lot of maintenance, like any
other well-kept garden does. |
While American Standard Testing Methods (ASTM) for green roofs are still missing, existing standards developed in Europe can be used as an alternative in order to avoid failures.
The German Landscape Research, Development and Construction Society (FLL) is an independent non-profit organization. It was founded in 1975 by eight professional organizations. The FLL green roof working group is only one of 40 committees which have published a long list of guidelines and labor instructions.
The FLL has been working on standards for green roof technology for 25 years. Their ‘Guideline for the Planning, Execution and Upkeep of Green-Roof Sites’ (FLL-guidelines) reflects the acknowledged state-of-the-art technology. Although the guidelines don’t give solutions for all green roof problems it is a basic tool for the construction of reliable and high quality green roofs not only Germany.
The latest edition dating January 2002 has been released in an English version in 2004. From the legal standpoint this German guideline cannot substitute or stop future American standards, but they are a very good source of reliable information which is based on the experience of almost one billion square feet of green roofs built.Green Roof Service, LLC 9 Lockhart Circle Apt. J Forest Hill, MD 21050
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