The Tectum Group is currently renovating the roof of the Retail Estates in Kampenhout by installing the world's first fully circular flat roof. Thanks to patented system components, the entire roof system can be dismantled and reused in one piece. The mechanically attached EPDM membrane outlasts any other waterproofing solution and can be reused intact, along with indestructible aluminum fasteners. The foundation for a quality "2nd hand roof" has been laid! The precious and scarce (fossil) raw materials never leave the material cycle.
Tectum Group wants to be a pioneer in the demand for a 100% circular, demountable and reusable roof. This is to support its own ESG vision, but also to contribute to the working agenda of Flanders Circular and the European ESG objectives.
"We were pleased to provide our roof renovation for this test case, aligning with our ESG strategy where we are investing €10 million this year to make our stores more sustainable," said Koenraad Van Nieuwenburg, CIO of Retail Estates, "because we too want to learn more about sustainable and circular applications."
In the presence of Minister Zuhal Demir, we braved wind and rain today for the launch and viewing of the first circular flat roof. The innovative roofing system is introduced under the Tectum house brand BossCover, bearing the name "BossCover Circular System".
Flemish Minister for the Environment Zuhal Demir stated: "With this project, our entrepreneurs are once again demonstrating that technology and innovation are the pathways to a sustainable economy and a liveable Flanders. As Minister, I can only be proud of this. I am pleased to see our construction companies actively working towards efficient and effective resource use. This is the core of circular construction."
The roof is located on the retail store (Nordex/Standard Bookstore), Mechelsesteenweg 89a, Kampenhout.
Today, bonded (EPDM) or torched (bitumen) systems are the most common. Ballasted roofs are partially loose-laid roofing systems, but they represent only a small percentage of the market. Whether adhered or torched, when such a roof is demolished, the "glued cake" is only suitable for incineration.
Filip Biesmans, Director of Tectum Group and Head of Innovation, explains: " In line with our sustainability philosophy, we set out, as a company, to develop the circular roof that can be disassembled and thus easily reused, preferably with a second life as a roof! You don't damage the materials and you can remove the membrane completely. That means you don't use adhesive anywhere."
Filip continues: "The waterproofing membrane is reusable as a film, and the upstands are not bonded either. We clip the waterproofing membrane in the base tie-in system into the angle of the upstand wall. This patented system is called Certefix. The roof edge trims are also screwed to the roof edge, again with a patented system. We have developed this system in collaboration with our partner "Claerhout Aluminium".
In line with our sustainability philosophy, we sought a circular roof that could be easily disassembled and reused. The materials remain undamaged, and the waterproofing membrane can be removed in its entirety, without the use of any glue.
"Our goal is to reuse the membrane as a waterproofing membrane on the roof, essentially giving the roof a second life," says Rudy Evens, CEO of Tectum Group: "The membrane is recovered rather than recycled into another application. While we have already successfully recycled EPDM waste into a new product, specifically roof tiles, this innovation takes us much further and represent a significant stride towards circularity in the construction sector."
Rudy continues: "We are exploring business models in which we take back roofing membranes that are at the end of their useful life. Reinforced strips are applied to the EPDM for reinforcement, allowing us to reuse the membrane in the future. Roll up and roll out again! The click system and the roof edge trims can also be easily reused."
The demountable and reusable roof fits perfectly into the new trends of flexible and modular construction.
"Adding an extra floor to your home or building, called optopping, becomes easy and sustainable," Rudy explains, "because you dismantle your entire roof and then mount it on the next floor. This way, building dreams can be realized in stages or the building becomes flexible and adaptable to changing needs".
We can also anticipate additional insulation standards in the future. If you want to add insulation, you can easily remove the membrane, add insulation, and then reinstall the membrane.
Filip Biesmans is clear: "There is no waterproofing product without fossil raw materials. EPDM is an inert material. This means that UV radiation and weather conditions do not affect the properties of EPDM. With a proven lifespan of 50 to 60 years, EPDM sometimes even outlives the building.
Filip clarifies, "You use fossil raw materials once, but then you can keep the product in a very long life cycle, as an original product. Also, with a thickness of 1.2 to 1.5 mm, EPDM is a thin material, so the environmental cost is more favorable compared to the thicker 4mm bitumen roofing membranes. I'm not just talking about transportation, but also production: we simply need less fossil raw material to make a roofing membrane compared to bituminous membranes."
"With the introduction of the circular roof, we are taking a crucial stride in the right direction," says Filip with satisfaction. "Doing nothing is not an option! But many challenges remain, because my dream is a fully circular, functional and intelligent building envelope. So our R&D department continues to work at full speed and is focusing on the entire roof and facade," laughs Filip.
We will continue to look at how we can add as much value as possible to the EPDM membrane that we recover. How will we be able to market this as a 2nd hand membrane? Tectum Group wants to work with other stakeholders such as Buildwise (formerly WTCB) and other institutes to find the right long-term solutions.
We are also continuing our research related to insulation, vapor barriers, and solvent-free primers. The combination of a circular loose-laid roof with a biodiverse extensive green roof is also a major challenge. "We go for it!" says Filip: "And of course we want to offer all our solutions to our customers with the necessary guarantees.
The Tectum Group is currently renovating the roof of the Retail Estates in Kampenhout by installing the world's first fully circular flat roof. Thanks to patented system components, the entire roof system can be dismantled and reused in one piece. The mechanically attached EPDM membrane outlasts any other waterproofing solution and can be reused intact, along with indestructible aluminum fasteners. The foundation for a quality "2nd hand roof" has been laid! The precious and scarce (fossil) raw materials never leave the material cycle.
Tectum Group wants to be a pioneer in the demand for a 100% circular, demountable and reusable roof. This is to support its own ESG vision, but also to contribute to the working agenda of Flanders Circular and the European ESG objectives.
"We were pleased to provide our roof renovation for this test case, aligning with our ESG strategy where we are investing €10 million this year to make our stores more sustainable," said Koenraad Van Nieuwenburg, CIO of Retail Estates, "because we too want to learn more about sustainable and circular applications."
In the presence of Minister Zuhal Demir, we braved wind and rain today for the launch and viewing of the first circular flat roof. The innovative roofing system is introduced under the Tectum house brand BossCover, bearing the name "BossCover Circular System".
Flemish Minister for the Environment Zuhal Demir stated: "With this project, our entrepreneurs are once again demonstrating that technology and innovation are the pathways to a sustainable economy and a liveable Flanders. As Minister, I can only be proud of this. I am pleased to see our construction companies actively working towards efficient and effective resource use. This is the core of circular construction."
The roof is located on the retail store (Nordex/Standard Bookstore), Mechelsesteenweg 89a, Kampenhout.
Today, bonded (EPDM) or torched (bitumen) systems are the most common. Ballasted roofs are partially loose-laid roofing systems, but they represent only a small percentage of the market. Whether adhered or torched, when such a roof is demolished, the "glued cake" is only suitable for incineration.
Filip Biesmans, Director of Tectum Group and Head of Innovation, explains: " In line with our sustainability philosophy, we set out, as a company, to develop the circular roof that can be disassembled and thus easily reused, preferably with a second life as a roof! You don't damage the materials and you can remove the membrane completely. That means you don't use adhesive anywhere."
Filip continues: "The waterproofing membrane is reusable as a film, and the upstands are not bonded either. We clip the waterproofing membrane in the base tie-in system into the angle of the upstand wall. This patented system is called Certefix. The roof edge trims are also screwed to the roof edge, again with a patented system. We have developed this system in collaboration with our partner "Claerhout Aluminium".
"Our goal is to reuse the membrane as a waterproofing membrane on the roof, essentially giving the roof a second life," says Rudy Evens, CEO of Tectum Group: "The membrane is recovered rather than recycled into another application. While we have already successfully recycled EPDM waste into a new product, specifically roof tiles, this innovation takes us much further and represent a significant stride towards circularity in the construction sector."
Rudy continues: "We are exploring business models in which we take back roofing membranes that are at the end of their useful life. Reinforced strips are applied to the EPDM for reinforcement, allowing us to reuse the membrane in the future. Roll up and roll out again! The click system and the roof edge trims can also be easily reused."
The demountable and reusable roof fits perfectly into the new trends of flexible and modular construction.
"Adding an extra floor to your home or building, called optopping, becomes easy and sustainable," Rudy explains, "because you dismantle your entire roof and then mount it on the next floor. This way, building dreams can be realized in stages or the building becomes flexible and adaptable to changing needs".
We can also anticipate additional insulation standards in the future. If you want to add insulation, you can easily remove the membrane, add insulation, and then reinstall the membrane.
Filip Biesmans is clear: "There is no waterproofing product without fossil raw materials. EPDM is an inert material. This means that UV radiation and weather conditions do not affect the properties of EPDM. With a proven lifespan of 50 to 60 years, EPDM sometimes even outlives the building.
Filip clarifies, "You use fossil raw materials once, but then you can keep the product in a very long life cycle, as an original product. Also, with a thickness of 1.2 to 1.5 mm, EPDM is a thin material, so the environmental cost is more favorable compared to the thicker 4mm bitumen roofing membranes. I'm not just talking about transportation, but also production: we simply need less fossil raw material to make a roofing membrane compared to bituminous membranes."
"With the introduction of the circular roof, we are taking a crucial stride in the right direction," says Filip with satisfaction. "Doing nothing is not an option! But many challenges remain, because my dream is a fully circular, functional and intelligent building envelope. So our R&D department continues to work at full speed and is focusing on the entire roof and facade," laughs Filip.
We will continue to look at how we can add as much value as possible to the EPDM membrane that we recover. How will we be able to market this as a 2nd hand membrane? Tectum Group wants to work with other stakeholders such as Buildwise (formerly WTCB) and other institutes to find the right long-term solutions.
We are also continuing our research related to insulation, vapor barriers, and solvent-free primers. The combination of a circular loose-laid roof with a biodiverse extensive green roof is also a major challenge. "We go for it!" says Filip: "And of course we want to offer all our solutions to our customers with the necessary guarantees.
The Tectum Group is currently renovating the roof of the Retail Estates in Kampenhout by installing the world's first fully circular flat roof. Thanks to patented system components, the entire roof system can be dismantled and reused in one piece. The mechanically attached EPDM membrane outlasts any other waterproofing solution and can be reused intact, along with indestructible aluminum fasteners. The foundation for a quality "2nd hand roof" has been laid! The precious and scarce (fossil) raw materials never leave the material cycle.
Tectum Group wants to be a pioneer in the demand for a 100% circular, demountable and reusable roof. This is to support its own ESG vision, but also to contribute to the working agenda of Flanders Circular and the European ESG objectives.
"We were pleased to provide our roof renovation for this test case, aligning with our ESG strategy where we are investing €10 million this year to make our stores more sustainable," said Koenraad Van Nieuwenburg, CIO of Retail Estates, "because we too want to learn more about sustainable and circular applications."
In the presence of Minister Zuhal Demir, we braved wind and rain today for the launch and viewing of the first circular flat roof. The innovative roofing system is introduced under the Tectum house brand BossCover, bearing the name "BossCover Circular System".
Flemish Minister for the Environment Zuhal Demir stated: "With this project, our entrepreneurs are once again demonstrating that technology and innovation are the pathways to a sustainable economy and a liveable Flanders. As Minister, I can only be proud of this. I am pleased to see our construction companies actively working towards efficient and effective resource use. This is the core of circular construction."
The roof is located on the retail store (Nordex/Standard Bookstore), Mechelsesteenweg 89a, Kampenhout.
In line with our sustainability philosophy, we sought a circular roof that could be easily disassembled and reused. The materials remain undamaged, and the waterproofing membrane can be removed in its entirety, without the use of any glue.
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