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THE USE
Waterproofing situations where materials having high characteristics
of resistance to roots penetration are required, are coming more
and more common, not only in the typical “Roof Gardens”,
but also in the waterproofing of underground structures which are
going to be covered by green areas.
The advantages of an extensive use of this kind of roofing techniques
are not limited to the aesthetical and environmental issues, where
they offer a significant improvement of urban areas, by allowing
a better control of rain water, fixing dust and fine powder, limiting
heat reflection, with a general improvement of the micro climate:
besides these aspects, they offer technical and economical advantages
to the building itself, because of the following improvements:
A) increase of the thermal insulation characteristics of the roofing;
B) increase of the noise deadening properties;
C) the materials making up the roofing system are subject to lesser
thermal cycles, are protected from UV rays and mechanical actions
(hail, ice, etc.), with a resulting much longer life time of the
roofing system, which can be estimated between two to three times;
D) delaying action of spreading of flames in case of fire.
Like all waterproofing systems, a roof garden must be specifically
designed, with special attention to the choice of solutions and
components, which must be fully balanced in order to ensure two
essential properties in the long term, impermeability and drainage.
While the drainage role is performed by specific materials and their
choice and combination will be dictated by the different requirements
in terms of the kind of vegetation (intensive or extensive roof
garden) which is foreseen on the top, the waterproofing role is
wholly performed by the only waterproofing membrane.
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