Green Roofs A guide to the design and specification of ABG Geosynthetics green roof systems

Virtually any type of roof structure can accommodate a Green Roof, including domestic and commercial and on both new-build and retro-fit projects. The significant benefits of a Green Roof are wide ranging, such as helping to mitigate the effects of climate change, to whole-life cost benefits or by simply adding a natural aesthetic to an urban environment. As much as 95% of rainfall on undeveloped land is naturally absorbed into the vegetated surface whilst the remainder runs off. Urbanisation and development of land creates hard impervious surfaces, which absorb only 5% of the rainfall leaving...

Added protection for the waterproofing layer Mitigating the Urban Heat Island effect The build-up of a green roof helps reduce the impact of temperature fluctuations thereby reducing thermal stresses. A green roof protects the waterproofing by mitigating expansion and contraction whilst protecting the waterproofing from harmful UV rays and the effects of the freeze thaw cycle during winter months. This protection prolongs the life of the waterproofing to such an extent that many waterproofing companies will extended their warranties when an ABG green roof is installed. City centres are known...

Growing Media ABG peat free media derived from sustainable, 100% recycled, UK sourced materials. Using a specifically developed growing media can help provide the right growing environment for the selected vegetation and also reduce the load on the roof. Specifically selected to suit the final finish requirements of the client/end user. On Extensive green roofs low maintenance varieties such as mosses, herbaceous plants, sedums wildflowers and grasses tend to be used. Geotextile Filter Fabric Laid beneath substrate to prevent fines filtering through to voids below. Extensive Green Roofs Extensive...

Engineered Growing Media ABG peat free media derived from sustainable, recycled, UK sourced materials. Using a specifically developed growing media can help provide the right growing environment for the selected vegetation and also reduce the load on the roof. Specifically selected to suit the final finish requirements of the client/ end user. On Intensive green roofs a wide variety of vegetation can be used from grasses to shrubs and trees as well as hard surfacing such as pavers and block paving. Deckdrain Forms a lightweight high performance drainage layer with integrated filter geotextile...

Engineered Growing Media ABG peat free media derived from sustainable, recycled, UK sourced materials. Using a specifically developed growing media can help provide the right growing environment for the selected vegetation and also reduce the load on the roof. Specifically selected to suit the final finish requirements of the client/end user incorporating rocks and log outcrop areas to create additional habitat for biodiversity. Roofdrain Forms a lightweight high performance drainage layer with integrated filter geotextile. Using Roofdrain allows for the collection and storage of water to irrigate...

Access & Maintenance The British Standards Institution state that all new builds must provide access to the roof area to enable a minimum of two inspections per year, so working at height regulations must be considered. If a building is of a height which can cause an injury from a fall, including roofs under 2m, then edge protection is required. When taking into account factors such as the whole life cost of the building, the reduction in other infrastructure such as stormwater tanks, and the extension in the life of waterproofing membrane, extensive Green Roofs typically provide a positive cost...

Roofdrain The design of intensive green roofs requires a structural drainage layer (Deckdrain); by contrast the modern method of an extensive green roof requires a combination of efficient drainage and water attenuation in order to allow the ecology to flourish. Roofdrain allows the storage of water within the nodes of the of the HDPE core whilst facilitating the efficient drainage of any excess water away from the roof. This helps prevent the root growing media from drying out during dry periods and from becoming waterlogged during wet periods. When used within a roof construction Roofdrain...

Deckdrain Deckdrain consists of a combination of a cuspated core with a geotextile fleece bonded to the upper face. Deckdrain provides excellent drainage over the whole base area of the soil layer as well as providing additional waterproofing protection. With more emphasis on reducing the amount of carbon used in construction, recycled materials can provide additional environmental benefits. Deckdrain is manufactured from up to 95% recycled material bonded to the upper face. Deckdrain is manufactured within the UK, making it an environmentally sound choice. Intensive Green Roofs have a deeper...

Attenuation Void Gravel Firebreak Aluminium Upstand Roofdrain layer stores excess water not absorbed by the vegetation that filters through the green roof build-up in to the drainage void below. Engineered Growing Media Specified according to final vegetation requirements. Blue Roof System ABG Blue Roof System has the ability to provide a SUDS attenuation solution for a development. The geocomposite, water attenuation and substrate layers are specifically designed with enhanced water storage capacity in built and the discharge is controlled using a patented outlet designed specifically for this...

Growing Media Based on 5-14mm grade brick/tile and 10-25mm green compost. It has very low nutrient content and is engineered specifically for sedums, alpines and low growing drought tolerant plants. A vegetation layer where the material is grown to maturity, rolled up and supplied in the form of a mat. This can be either sedum, turf or meadow plants to create an instant green effect. The growing media used in Green Roof projects can be designed specifically to suit each project and this can be varied to meet the requirements of the vegetation and surrounding ecosystem. Plug Planting Based on...