Geosynthetics August/September 2022 - 14

Geosynthetics in green roofs
* Biological corridor: As the green roof
concept spreads, flora and fauna will
once again be present throughout the
city, including urban areas that have
experienced deforestation.
* Fight the heat island phenomenon:
Green rooftops are spaces that can
absorb the sun's rays and counteract
the phenomenon of heat islands-
hot air domes that form when the
sun's rays bounce against the concrete
and paved surfaces that have replaced
areas of vegetation.
Geosynthetics
play an extremely
important role
in green rooftop
projects, making
installation easier
and extending the
project's useful life.
* A more comfortable local climate:
Green rooftops create a thermal system
that reduces temperatures up
to 47°F (8°C) on the roof and from
36°F to 43°F (2°C to 6°C) on the floor
immediately below the green roof of
the property in warm months and
that helps retain heat generated inside
the property in the cold months.
Green roofs also generate economic
benefits:
* Reduction of operating expenses:
Direct savings are experienced in
electrical energy due to the decreased
use of air conditioning.
* Increase in the capital gain of the
property: Green rooftops increase
commercial property values by an
estimated 15%.
* Permanent waterproofing: Having
a green roof eliminates the need to
change waterproof barriers.
* LEED: Green rooftops provide points
that can be applied to LEED and many
other certifications.
Design standards
The following factors should be considered
when designing and placing a green roof:
1. Objective. Being clear about the
purpose of placing a green roof is of
utmost importance since everything
starts from how you are going to use it.
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Geosynthetics | August September 2022
Once you have established a goal, you
can start choosing the type of vegetation
and the design for your green roof.
2. Current type of construction. It is
necessary to ensure that the slab on
which the green roof will be placed is
in optimal condition.
3. Location. The place where the green
roof will be located helps determine
the type of vegetation you should use
due to climatic aspects, wind speed,
sun exposure, temperature and relative
humidity, among other factors.
4. Geosynthetics. A green roof can generate
multiple benefits. However, if
the materials used are incorrect or
the green roof is poorly executed, it
could be counterproductive, creating
many problems such as the growth of
fungi and bacteria, the appearance of
dark spots on ceilings and walls due to
moisture and saltpeter, high humidity,
breathing problems for occupants,
corrosion and rust of metals, rooftop
flooding and high repair costs.
To prevent such problems, it is essential
to consider using geosynthetics for
waterproofing instead of a traditional
system or material. Geosynthetics play an
extremely important role in green rooftop
projects, making installation easier
and extending the project's useful life, so
it is essential to have high-quality materials.
In addition, professional installation
can help avoid future problems.
Geosynthetics used in
green rooftops
Geosynthetics are a fundamental part of
green rooftop projects that offer many
benefits compared to traditional solutions
and materials.
Geomembranes
Using a geomembrane for green rooftop
projects is more efficient and a safer
Geosynthetics August/September 2022

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