What is a green roof?
A green roof is a vegetated landscape system installed on a roof structure or building structure. Green roofs are made up of a series of layers; waterproofing layer, drainage layer, filter fabric layer, growing substrate layer and vegetation layer.
Types of green roofs
There are three main categories for green roofs: Extensive, intensive and elevated landscape/on structure.
Extensive
This lightweight system has a substrate depth of 150mm or less, and typically non-trafficable access due to thin substrate and structural capacity.
Intensive
This is the most common type of green roof, with a substrate more than 150mm and usually less than 550mm. These roofs are trafficable and often include paving, insulation and have good stormwater management opportunities.
Elevated landscape/on structure
These landscapes have a substrate of 500mm or greater and create a new ground plane or surface. This gives the greatest potential for insulation, stormwater management and biodiversity, similar to existing ground surface.
