The vast majority of flat roofs today are still an unused, black surface. A shame, because they offer a lot of potential as additional utility space or to address the climate challenge, for example with green landscaping or renewable energy generation. With appropriate roof construction, they can be much more than a waterproofing and insulating shell for the building below. To make roof owners aware of these opportunities, Embuild Flanders and Buildwise worked out a protocol for a so-called climate roof.
"Our flat roofs are underutilized today," opens Sven Devlieghere at Tectum Plus. "The smart design of these roofs makes a positive contribution to limiting the heat island effect in our cities, to better water retention, sustainable energy generation and more biodiversity. Roof owners who take advantage of these opportunities thus create a so-called climate roof. To put roof owners on the right path, Embuild Flanders and Buildwise have developed guidelines for a Climate Roof. The purpose of this document is twofold: on the one hand to make authorities and roof owners aware of the possibilities of a flat roof. On the other hand, to provide technically correct and substantiated advice to put their money where their mouth is."
"The protocol describes how to arrive at a technically correct climate roof," Sven continues. "Such a climate roof rests on four pillars: it is structurally sustainable, multifunctional, circular and helps reduce CO2 emissions."
"A climate roof is robust, water- and wind-proof and low-maintenance. In short, the flat roof should be executed according to the rules of good craftsmanship. If you also keep the desired additional functions in mind during the design or leading up to a roof renovation, the designer or contractor can adapt the roof structure to these requirements. For example, the compressive strength of the insulation is a primary concern. When that build-up is right, you can continue to expand the roof multifunctionally and climate-proof at any time."
"With thoughtful roof construction and material selection, you ensure that the materials can be easily recycled at the end of their useful life or immediately put to new uses on another roof."
Tectum Group thus developed the Bosscover Circular System, a 100% circular, demountable and reusable roofing system. No glue or fossil fuel is needed to attach the roof membrane to the roof.
Our flat roofs are underutilized today.
"The possibilities of a roof are unlimited: it can be a pleasant terrace space, a sports roof or as a green roof provide additional experience and water retention by buffering rainwater. At Hasselt's Corda Campus, there is even a roof with a vineyard. With some out of the box thinking and the right expertise, a lot is possible."
Mainly buildings in urban areas can benefit greatly from a multifunctional roof. A good example of this is the Hibernia school in Antwerp. When a renovation of the roof playgrounds became necessary, Tectum Group was allowed to contribute ideas on how to make the roof climate proof. A new roof with water retention and a semi-intensive green roof emerged as the solution. Read more.
"Again, the punch line is in the right choice of material. The production of EPDM releases less CO₂ than other roofing materials. So choosing EPDM is an easy way to contribute to reducing CO₂ emissions. In addition, there are roofing materials that actively remove CO₂ from the air. Just like a green roof, for that matter. For example, did you know that a sedum roof annually stores about 1.23 kg of CO₂ per m²?"
Sedum roofs are being installed with increasing frequency and have little impact on the underlying structure. For the School Campus Hasp-O in Sint-Truiden, we are installing some sedum roofs on the lower roof surfaces.
For companies, there may be additional motivation to think toward a climate roof. The sustainable measure fits nicely into the mandatory sustainability reporting under the European CSRD directive.
Is your organization also convinced of the added value of climate-proof roofs? Sign the protocol here.
The vast majority of flat roofs today are still an unused, black surface. A shame, because they offer a lot of potential as additional utility space or to address the climate challenge, for example with green landscaping or renewable energy generation. With appropriate roof construction, they can be much more than a waterproofing and insulating shell for the building below. To make roof owners aware of these opportunities, Embuild Flanders and Buildwise worked out a protocol for a so-called climate roof.
"Our flat roofs are underutilized today," opens Sven Devlieghere at Tectum Plus. "The smart design of these roofs makes a positive contribution to limiting the heat island effect in our cities, to better water retention, sustainable energy generation and more biodiversity. Roof owners who take advantage of these opportunities thus create a so-called climate roof. To put roof owners on the right path, Embuild Flanders and Buildwise have developed guidelines for a Climate Roof. The purpose of this document is twofold: on the one hand to make authorities and roof owners aware of the possibilities of a flat roof. On the other hand, to provide technically correct and substantiated advice to put their money where their mouth is."
"The protocol describes how to arrive at a technically correct climate roof," Sven continues. "Such a climate roof rests on four pillars: it is structurally sustainable, multifunctional, circular and helps reduce CO2 emissions."
"A climate roof is robust, water- and wind-proof and low-maintenance. In short, the flat roof should be executed according to the rules of good craftsmanship. If you also keep the desired additional functions in mind during the design or leading up to a roof renovation, the designer or contractor can adapt the roof structure to these requirements. For example, the compressive strength of the insulation is a primary concern. When that build-up is right, you can continue to expand the roof multifunctionally and climate-proof at any time."
"With thoughtful roof construction and material selection, you ensure that the materials can be easily recycled at the end of their useful life or immediately put to new uses on another roof."
Tectum Group thus developed the Bosscover Circular System, a 100% circular, demountable and reusable roofing system. No glue or fossil fuel is needed to attach the roof membrane to the roof.
"The possibilities of a roof are unlimited: it can be a pleasant terrace space, a sports roof or as a green roof provide additional experience and water retention by buffering rainwater. At Hasselt's Corda Campus, there is even a roof with a vineyard. With some out of the box thinking and the right expertise, a lot is possible."
Mainly buildings in urban areas can benefit greatly from a multifunctional roof. A good example of this is the Hibernia school in Antwerp. When a renovation of the roof playgrounds became necessary, Tectum Group was allowed to contribute ideas on how to make the roof climate proof. A new roof with water retention and a semi-intensive green roof emerged as the solution. Read more.
"Again, the punch line is in the right choice of material. The production of EPDM releases less CO₂ than other roofing materials. So choosing EPDM is an easy way to contribute to reducing CO₂ emissions. In addition, there are roofing materials that actively remove CO₂ from the air. Just like a green roof, for that matter. For example, did you know that a sedum roof annually stores about 1.23 kg of CO₂ per m²?"
Sedum roofs are being installed with increasing frequency and have little impact on the underlying structure. For the School Campus Hasp-O in Sint-Truiden, we are installing some sedum roofs on the lower roof surfaces.
For companies, there may be additional motivation to think toward a climate roof. The sustainable measure fits nicely into the mandatory sustainability reporting under the European CSRD directive.
Is your organization also convinced of the added value of climate-proof roofs? Sign the protocol here.
Climate roof lifts flat roof to versatile height
The vast majority of flat roofs today are still an unused, black surface. A shame, because they offer a lot of potential as additional utility space or to address the climate challenge, for example with green landscaping or renewable energy generation. With appropriate roof construction, they can be much more than a waterproofing and insulating shell for the building below. To make roof owners aware of these opportunities, Embuild Flanders and Buildwise worked out a protocol for a so-called climate roof.
"Our flat roofs are underutilized today," opens Sven Devlieghere at Tectum Plus. "The smart design of these roofs makes a positive contribution to limiting the heat island effect in our cities, to better water retention, sustainable energy generation and more biodiversity. Roof owners who take advantage of these opportunities thus create a so-called climate roof. To put roof owners on the right path, Embuild Flanders and Buildwise have developed guidelines for a Climate Roof. The purpose of this document is twofold: on the one hand to make authorities and roof owners aware of the possibilities of a flat roof. On the other hand, to provide technically correct and substantiated advice to put their money where their mouth is."
Our flat roofs are underutilized today.
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Nearly 40% of global CO2 emissions are emitted by the construction industry. Time to change course. With a debate on circularity and circular flat roofs, Tectum Group is doing its part. Review the full debate.
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SERV report confirms what we already knew
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