Yerevan State University of Architecture and Construction

Green Roof Technology

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INOGATE Programme Slides prepared by:
New ITS Project, Ad Hoc Expert Facility (AHEF) Albin Zsebik, PhD, CEM
Senior Task Coordinator AM-55 Larry Good, CEM, CEA
 What is a Green Roof?

A green roof or living roof is a roof of a building that

is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a
growing medium, planted over a waterproofing
membrane.
It may also include additional layers such as a root
barrier and drainage and irrigation systems. Container
gardens on roofs, where plants are maintained in pots,
are not generally considered to be true green roofs,
although this is debated. Rooftop ponds are another
form of green roofs which are used to treat greywater.
 History of Green roofs 1.

Green Roofs have

been around for a very
long time. The first green
roofs we know of were
used on temples in
ancient Mesopotamia
(fourth millennium).
Vikings also used green
roofs to protect houses
from harsh weather.
 History of Green roofs 2.

More recently, Europe has

adopted green roofs to improve
quality of urban environments.
Europeans have done a great
deal of research to improve
green roof technologies,
focusing on root repellant,
waterproofing membranes,
drainage systems, lightweight
growing media and drought
tolerant plants. Chicago City Hall Green Roof
 From Past to the Future

The SOLANOVA Building

Source Wikipedia

Building in Norway
 What is a Green Roof?

Green roofs serve several purposes for a building,

such as absorbing rainwater, providing insulation,
creating a habitat for wildlife, and helping to lower
urban air temperatures and mitigate the heat island
effect.
There are two types of green roofs:
• intensive roofs, which are thicker and can support a
wider variety of plants but are heavier and require
more maintenance, and
• extensive roofs, which are covered in a light layer
of vegetation and are lighter than an intensive green
roof.
 Environmental benefits:
1. Reduce heating (by adding mass and thermal resistance value)
• Reduce cooling (by evaporative cooling) loads on a building during
the summer
• Natural Habitat Creation
• Filter pollutants and carbon dioxide out of the air which helps
lower disease rates such as asthma
• Filter pollutants and heavy metals out of rainwater
• Help to insulate a building for sound; (the soil helps to block lower
frequencies and the plants block higher frequencies)
• If installed correctly many living roofs can contribute to LEED points
• Increase agricultural space
• With green roofs, water is stored by the substrate and then taken
up by the plants from where it is returned to the atmosphere
through transpiration and evaporation.
• Green roofs not only retain rainwater, but also moderate the
temperature of the water and act as natural filters for any of the
water that happens to run off.
 Financial benefits:
1. Increase roof life span dramatically, for example a green
roof protects the waterproofing membrane, particularly
from UV light, increasing the life expectancy.
2. Increase real estate value
3. Reduction in energy usage
4. In some countries tax incentives - for example, a one-
year property tax credit is available in New York City,
since 2009, for property owners who green at least 50%
of their roof area
A green roof is often a key component of an autonomous
building - a building designed to be operated independently
from infrastructural support services such as the electric
power grid, gas grid, municipal water systems, sewage
treatment systems.
 Disadvantages:
The main disadvantage of green roofs is
1. the higher initial cost of the building structure,
2. waterproofing systems and
3. root barriers.
The additional mass of the soil substrate and retained
water can require additional structural support.
Some types of green roofs do have more demanding
structural standards especially in seismic regions of the world.
Some existing buildings cannot be retrofitted with certain
kinds of green roof because of the weight load of the
substrate and vegetation exceeds permitted static loading.
Depending on what kind of green roof it is, the
maintenance costs could be higher, but some types of green
roof have little or no ongoing cost.
 Glossary 1.
Built-up - A built-up green roof system consists of different
layers that will be laid down on site, one after the other in the
following order: Root barrier, drainage, filter, growing media,
plants.
Dead load - The intrinsic, invariable weight of a structure,
such as a roof. It may also include any permanent loads
attached to the structure. The dead load of a green roof is the
fully saturated weight of the system.
Drainage Layer - Part of the standard green roof which
allows excess water to drain away to the roof drains. Some
drainage layers also provide a reservoir to retain moisture for a
longer period and increase drought tolerance of the plants.
Drainage layers are made of a variety of materials including
hard plastic, recycled materials, foam or lightweight aggregates
 Glossary 2.
Extensive Green Roof - Low nutrient and low
maintenance, often designed to be light weight. Not irrigated.
Usually shallow substrate, typically less than 4”, and often
vegetated with sedum and drought tolerant perennials.
Filter Fabric - Part of a standard green roof which prevents
fines and sediments from being washed into the roof drains.
Flashing - Pieces of sheet metal or waterproofing
membrane used to cover and protect certain joints and angles,
such as where a roof comes in contact with a wall or chimney.
Protects against leakage. Flashings are a sensitive part in the
waterproofing system.
Growing media/Substrate - An engineered soil
specifically blended for green roof plants. It allows water to be
absorbed and to drain away, insuring plant survival. Substrates
contain specified ratio of organic and inorganic material.
 Glossary 3.
Intensive Green Roof - A green roof that requires
intensive maintenance. Usually irrigated and with more than 8”
depth of growing media. Equivalent to a garden and usually
referred to as a “garden roof”.
Live Load - Live loads are the loads produced by the use
and occupancy of the building. They do not include
construction or environmental loads such as wind load, snow
load, rain load, earthquake load, flood load, or dead load. Live
loads on a roof are those produced during maintenance by
workers, equipment, and materials, and during the life of the
structure by people or objects.
Parapet - Low protective wall or barrier at the edge of a
roof.
 Glossary 4.

Perennials - Plant having a life cycle lasting more than

two years.

Peak flow reduction - Decrease of the volume rate

discharge released after a rain event.

Protection fabric - Geotextile blanket that provides

protection to the waterproof membrane.

Root barrier - A layer designed to prevent roots from

penetrating the waterproofing layer and building envelope.
 Glossary 5.
Sedums - A genus of about 400 species of low growing
leafy succulents which are drought tolerant and found
throughout the Northern hemisphere. Not all species are
suitable for roofs. Sedums, for the most part, are CAM
(crassulaceam acid metabolism), as an adaptation for arid
conditions. CO2 enters the stomata during the night to be
converted in organic acids. During the day stomata are closed,
which prevents the plant from drying.
Semi Intensive Green Roof - Intermediate green roof
type with characteristics of both extensive and intensive green
roofs. Typically 4” to 8” growing media depth, sometimes
irrigated and usually planted with a wide range of species. The
maintenance is higher than an extensive green roof.
Vegetation free zone - Space left without vegetation
and filled usually with stone ballast or pavers.
 Green Roof components

Source: http://www.vegetalid.us/green-roof-systems/green-roof-101/what-is-a-green-roof
Plants that can be found
on Extensive Green roofs
• Succulent (sedum type) Chive green roof
• Perennials and Bulbs (iris,
carnation, …)
• Grasses (fescue, …)
• Small woody (lavender, …)

For all vegetated roofs, plant

varieties should be selected and
adapted to the particular
climate, keeping in mind that
conditions on roofs are more
severe than on the ground.
Growing Media

Growing media is an engineered soil specifically

blended for green roof plants. It allows water to be
absorbed and to drain away insuring plant survival.
Substrates contain specified ratio of organic and
inorganic material.
Filter Fabric
Green Roof layer which prevents soil and
sediments from being washed into the roof drains.
Drainage
Drainage allows excess water to drain away to the
roof drains. Some drainage layers also provide a
reservoir to retain moisture for a longer period and
increase drought tolerance of the plants.
Drainage layers may be made of a variety of
materials including hard plastic, recycled materials,
foam or lightweight aggregates.
Three methods available to establish the plants:
Plants on a roof don’t look the same all year long

They flower, they grow, they go dormant, their colors change. In

the winter they often look red.
 Green Roof Types:

Green roofs can be categorized as

intensive,
semi-intensive, or
extensive,
depending on the depth of planting medium and
the amount of maintenance they need.
Extensive green roofs traditionally support 10-25
pounds of vegetation per square foot, while
intensive roofs support 80-150 pounds of
vegetation per square foot.
Green Roof types (or categories):
Green roofs are divided into three different sections
depending on building constraints and design intent.

Intensive Semi – Intensive Extensive

Advantages of Each Categories
Intensive Semi – Intensive Extensive
 Green roof systems:
Systems are related to the method of installing the green roof,
three systems are available:
Module System Hybrid System Built-up System
(Hydropack®)
All the Green roof Growing media and Green Roof Layers
layers are contained plants are contained are layed down one
Definition within one tray that within the tray and after the other on
can be removed creates, once in place, a the job site
anytime built-up system with no
compartmentalization
2 week lead time
Lead 2 week lead time Usually 3 growing (planted with
Time months cuttings, plugs or
sedum mats)
 Green roof systems:
Module System Hybrid System Built-up System
95% minimum Cuttings and plugs : 80% coverage after 2
Vegetation vegetation coverage years Sedum mats: 90% coverage the day of
coverage the day of the the installation
installation
Maintenance No establishment Cuttings and plugs: Initially more
maintenance maintenance for the establishment of the
needed. Regular plants Sedum mats: no establishment
maintenance will maintenance needed. Will depend on
depend on aesthetic aesthetic expectation
expectations
Cost for typi-
cal extensive $13-20 per sq. ft. $16-25 per sq. ft. $12-$15 per sq. ft.
system- in
USA
 Green roof systems:
Module System Hybrid System Built-up System
Water- Any type
proofing
Design Less design flexibility (ex: curves, irregular Complete design
angles) square design flexibility
Leak Same requirements
Detection
Retrofit Requires a brand new waterproofing membrane.
Roofs
Aesthetics Will depend mostly on the maintenance, more than the system
Plant Health Hydropack® allows They often allow water water and nutrient
water and nutrient and nutrients circulation to keep
circulation to keep circulation healthy plants
healthy plants
 Green roof systems:
Module System Hybrid System Built-up System
Removal Easy removal for No easy removal
roof repairs and
trays are put back in
place after the
repair
Sloped Roofs Hydropack® can be Low to Light slope only Can be installed on
installed on almost almost any slope
any slope.
Recommended only
with Hydropack®,
proven by extended
experience in
Europe

Source: http://www.vegetalid.us/green-roof-systems/green-roof-101/what-is-a-green-roof
Functional layers of a typical
extensive Green Roof
Drainage layer

Water storage

Rain water retention

Water run-off delay
Water supply for vegetation

F. Daniel Szlivka - Szent István University,

29
Gödöllő, Hungary
 Types of drainage

Granular Plastic

• Gravel • Form-foamed
• Smashed stone expanded PS
• Lava, tufa • Plastic plates
• Expanded clay • PU or PE foam
aggregate matress
• Smashed brick
• Industrial cinder

F. Daniel Szlivka - Szent István University,

30
Gödöllő, Hungary
Combined drainage

F. Daniel Szlivka - Szent István University,

31
Gödöllő, Hungary
Water retention

Layer thickness Run-off coefficient

> 50 cm C = 0,1
25-50 cm C = 0,2
15-25 cm C = 0,3
10-15 cm C = 0,4
6-10 cm C = 0,5
4-6 cm C = 0,6
2-4 cm C = 0,7
F. Daniel Szlivka - Szent István University,
32
Gödöllő, Hungary
 Run-off delay

Time difference between

max amplitudes
Rain

Bare roof run-off

Green roof run-off

t
In case of short period rain
F. Daniel Szlivka - Szent István University,
33
Gödöllő, Hungary
Heat attenuation

F. Daniel Szlivka - Szent István University,

34
Gödöllő, Hungary
Heat attenuation

Extensive
Terrace
green roof

Tavg= 8.8 °C Tavg= -0.7 °C

F. Daniel Szlivka - Szent István University,

35
Gödöllő, Hungary
 Heat attenuation
Inside ceiling temperatures
Under terrace roof Under green roof

Tavg = 18 °C Tavg = 21.4 °C

F. Daniel Szlivka - Szent István University,

36
Gödöllő, Hungary
 Heat attenuation
Winter
Summer heat
Roof types heat loss
loss (W/m2)
(W/m2)

Bare flat roof (10 cm therm. insul.) -11.1 12.9

Duo roof (2×10 cm therm. insul.) -7.38 8.61

Extensive green roof (10 cm therm. insul. +

-1.85 7.40
15 cm substrate)

F. Daniel Szlivka - Szent István University,

37
Gödöllő, Hungary
Can a green roof be installed in all climates?

Sedums and other hardy plants can be used for

green roofs in various situations.
A personalized study should be conducted for
each project, as It will allow the best plant and
growing media to be chosen, and point out
particular precautions for the installation, the
maintenance and the irrigation.
Can an extensive green roof be walked on?

During the installation of the green roof it is

acceptable to step on the vegetation to ease the
process. It won’t hurt it as long as the plant mix is
mainly sedums and you water shortly thereafter.
Construction activity post green roof installation is
forbidden. The green roof must be installed last.
If you decide to develop access to your green roof,
remove vegetative trays and replace them with deck
pedestals.
 Design Considerations
In order to assemble a vegetated roof for optimal
performance, is taken many factors into consideration:
1. Budget
• Wind
• Climate
• Exposure
• Standards
• Structural Loading Capacity
• Design Intent
• Irrigation system
• Vegetation Free Zones
• Roof environment considerations
• Green roof layer: Growing Media
• Green roof layer: Drainage system
• Waterproofing Membrane Assembly
• Slope applications
• Safety
 Design Considerations –
Budget
The designer should take into the consideration the
possibilities of investor.
For design information USA conditions

Extensive green roof $12-25$ per sq. ft.

Semi-Intensive $20-35 per sq. ft.

Intensive $40 and up per sq. ft.

 Design Considerations –
Wind
Green Roofs must be designed to resist anticipated wind
loads in compliance with local building code
requirements (ASCE 7).
It is recommended to follow the wind standard for green
roofs: ANSI/SPRI RP-14 Wind Design Standard for
Vegetative Roofing Systems.
It is recommended to design vegetation free zones filled
with pavers or stone ballast at the perimeter (edge and
corner zones) of the roof where the wind pressure is high.
Parapets will decrease wind pressure on the edges of the
roof area.
 Design Considerations –
Climate
The climate is an important factor in selecting the plants
for a green roof.

The hardiness zone map geographically defines areas in

which a plant can live according to the minimum
temperature for the area. For example, sedum album is
“hardy to zone 4”, which means that sedum album can
withstand a minimum temperature of – 30°F (- 34°C).

Remember that a good plant list needs to combine a mix

of groundcover plants as well as accent plants.
 Design Considerations –
Exposure
Sun exposure is a very important factor to take into
account when designing a green roof because it will
influence the plant selection.

To make sure you’re installing the best plants for your

roof, we break down sun exposure into three catagories:
Full Sun; Sun/Shade and Shade.

Use the Plant Selection Tool to find the plants that will
best fit your roof exposure.

Most of Sedums are not recommended for shade

environments.
 Design Considerations –
Standards
ASTM - the American Society for Testing and Materials
E2396—05 Standard Test Method for Saturated Water
Permability Granular Drainage Media
E2397—05 Standard Practice for Determination of Dead Loads
and Live Loads
E2398—05 Standard Test Method for Water Capture and
Media Retention of Geocomposite Drain Layers
E2399—05 Standard Test Method for Maximum Media
Density for Dead Load Analysis
E2400—06 Standard Guide for Selection, Installation and
Maintenance of Plants
Free of charge downloadable - http://www.vegetalid.us/faq
 Design Considerations –
Standards
FM Global :
Approval Standard for Vegetative Roof Systems Property Loss
Prevention Data Sheets GREEN ROOF SYSTEMS

ANSI - the American National Standards Institute

SPRI VF-1 External Fire Design Standard for Vegetative Roofs
SPRI RP-14 Wind Design Standard for Vegetative Roofing Systems

Downloadable from:
http://www.vegetalid.us/green-roofs/green-roof-101/design-
considerations#/architecture-engineering-resources/green-roofs/design-
considerations/standards
 Design Considerations –
Structural Loading Capacity
Structural Loading Capacity is the most important factor
and first step when designing a green roof as it will
determine the type (extensive or intensive).

The building and roof deck must be able to support the

added dead and live load of the green roof.
The introduction of a green roof may ad live load if the roof
is accessible and human traffic should be taken into account.
The dead load for a green roof is the system weight when
fully saturated with water (ASTM E 2397).
 Design Considerations -
Design Intent
Vegetation biodiversity is influenced by the growing
media depth (extensive or intensive types).
For extensive systems, plant choice depends on the
design intent, the location and the budget.
Vegetation choice will have an impact on the upfront
cost as well as long term maintenance.
It is unwise to design high end landscapes on a roof if
the building Owner doesn’t have a budget for
appropriate maintenance.

For each design intent has an optimal vegetated solution

 Design Considerations –
Irrigation system
When the vegetation is applied with cuttings, plugs or sedum
mats, temporary irrigation is required until the vegetation is
well established. Design intent will dramatically influence the
implementation of a permanent irrigation system:
• Using non-drought tolerant plants or native plants will generally
require a permanent irrigation system.
• For heat island reduction intent, an irrigation system will be
recommended to increase the evapotranspiration of the plants
and cool down the temperature.
• For highly visible green roofs, irrigation is recommended to
increase the aesthetic quality of the plants.

When designing a green roof, there should

always be water access on the roof to hook-
up during drought periods
 Design Considerations –
Vegetation Free Zones
A Vegetation Free Zone is
the space left around the
perimeter of the green roof
and around rooftop
equipment without
vegetation and usually filled
with stone ballast or pavers.
These zones are between
12” and 24” wide. They are
recommended to ease the
visual inspection and limit
the growth of the
vegetation into the drains.
 Design Considerations –
Roof environment considerations

• When windows or walls are reflecting on the roof,

design wider vegetation free zones.

• Add shade tolerant plants in shade environments

• Do not put vegetation underneath runoff discharge

• Design water access to the roof

 Design Considerations –
Green roof layer: Growing Media
Growing media is the key component of any green roof
system be-cause It is critical to the long and short term
success of the plants.
Growing media considerations:
• Enough nutrients, but not enough to promote weed
intrusion
• Long term structure (if you incorporate too much organic
matter, it will be absorbed by the plants and in a decade the
volume of your growing media will dramatically decrease)
• Compaction over time causing lack of aeration
• Long term drainage properties
• Lightweight with a high water retention capacity
 Design Considerations –
Green roof layer: Drainage system
The drainage of a green roof is designed to facilitate
water runoff from the roof, in order to prevent structural
collapse and plant inundation. This layer is also used to
retain enough water to ensure plant survival.
Roof drains must be surrounded by
a vegetation free zone (space filled
with stone ballast or pavers) to be
accessible for periodic
maintenance. All drains and gutters
must be protected from clogging
caused by accumulation of trash
and leaves. Chambers with
removable lids are recommended
for all drains and gutters.
 Design Considerations –
Waterproofing Membrane Assembly
A green roof can be installed on any waterproofing material
that is a certain thickness and puncture resistant.
These include, but are not limited to polyvinyl chloride
(PVC), thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO), ethylene propylene
diene monomer (EPDM), metal roofing, modified
bituminous sheet roofing membranes and hot fluid-applied
rubberized-asphalt waterproofing membranes.
A standing water test should be conducted before the
installation of the green roof system (ASTM D 5957)
Asphalt-based and bituminous membranes may be subject
to root growth penetration, therefore root barriers are
necessary to protect these membranes.
 Design Considerations –
Slope applications
A 2% roof slope (1/4:12) is the minimum recommended
slope for green roofs (International Building Code).
A roof that is too flat can lead to ponding water and
damage the plants, unless your green roof system
includes a drainage clearance.
Green roofs on structures steeper
than 17% (2:12) are more difficult
to implement than on flat roofs but
they are still possible.
Additional measures should be
taken to ensure success of the roof.
 Design Considerations –
Safety
When installing a green
roof, workers should take
proper precautions, as
they would with any roof
installation.
This includes taking
necessary steps to ensure
workers will not fall.
Material stock on the roof
should be ballasted to
prevent wind uplift
problems.
What Guidelines are available for the
Planning, Construction and Maintenance of Green Roofs ?
There is downloadable German Guideline FLL
http://www.fll.de/shop/english-publications/green-roofing-
guideline-2008-file-download.html :
The FLL - Green roof guideline is the standard regulatory work for
the intensive greening, simple intensive greening and extensive
greening of already sealed roofs and building covers.
It also contains details of care and maintenance work to the
greened areas and service information for the technical
installations.
The FLL - Green roof guideline is also valid for other greening works
on roofs and building covers (e.g. special tree plantations,
useable grassed areas and other usable areas). planting and
lawn works (soft landscaping) and the associated
maintenance.
What Handbooks are available for the
Planning, Construction and Maintenance of Green Roofs ?
There is downloadable Green Roof Handbook
http://www.conservationtechnology.com/documents/Gr
eenRoofHandbook1008.pdf :
CONTENTS OF THIS HANDBOOK:
• Introduction to Green Roofs
• Green Roof Systems
• Systems With Drainage Plates
• Systems With Granular Drainage
• Systems with Drainage Mats
• Drain Boxes
• Triangular Drainage Channels
• Aluminum Edge
• Slope Stabilization Systems
• Green Roof Components
What Handbooks are available for the
Planning, Construction and Maintenance of Green Roofs ?

There is downloadable Complete design guide of

HYDROPACK® - http://www.vegetalid.us/green-roof-
systems/hydropack-green-roof-system :

This document should be used as a design guide only. It

is no substitute for the services of an architect
and/or engineer, who will enrich the project’s
feasibility study with safe working load calculations
for the building, wind load data, etc.