A qualitatively made roof is the business card of any skilled builder. At the same time, Romanians appreciate new technologies if they believe that they are recommended and implemented by a team of professionals. Considering all this, builders have the opportunity to gain a reputation and strengthen their portfolio in a segment that is increasingly appreciated and demanded in our country, namely buildings with green roofs.

Green roofs have “been around” for centuries, ever since the ancient Babylonian civilization created the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Technologies have advanced, and with them came innovations in roofing. The popularity of green roofs in urban and rural projects has been steadily increasing in recent years, and it is currently a frequently used option thanks to the accumulated experience, the continuous improvement of existing solutions and the numerous advantages offered.

Solutions for healthy cities with low resource consumption

Many regions face environmental challenges such as global warming, local climate change, deforestation, air pollution, energy shortages, and natural hazards, as well as various social problems associated with them. In Western countries, many efforts are being made to solve these problems and ensure the sustainability of the areas, including the ability to provide citizens with healthy living conditions. There are plans to transform cities into sustainable cities or eco-cities with low carbon emissions, buildings with low environmental impact and minimized resource use.

It is expected that such measures, supported by funds specially allocated by the state or the European Union, will be taken in the near future in Romania as well. In this context, green roofs play a central role. Modern green roofs were developed in the 1960s to try to reduce the water runoff problems associated with traditional flat or pitched roofs. Adding vegetation and a green roof to the membrane absorbs water and slows runoff, but also provides multiple benefits proven at scale: urban heat island mitigation, stormwater management, reduced energy consumption, carbon sequestration, and community input, creating sustainable and healthy solutions for cities and citizens.

Today’s green roofs combine efficient technology with natural vegetation to create ‘green’ spaces that promote biodiversity, reduce energy costs and, most importantly, positively contribute to a sustainable environment. Depending on the chosen solution, green roofs can be divided into two categories – extensive or intensive, and from the point of view of the location of waterproofing on thermal insulation – classic or inverted.

Intensive greening of the roof, playground and leisure

The intensive green roof, a solution proposed by BMI Romania, is a system designed to be used as a recreation area. It often has many features similar to traditional in-ground gardens, as it can include cobblestone paths, lawns, trees and shrubs. These “rooftop gardens” are multi-layered soil systems that require constant irrigation and periodic maintenance compared to large green roofs. Given the complexity of such decisions, the best option will be chosen after consultation between the architectural office involved and the BMI Icopal technical consultant.

A large green roof with a decorative and ecological purpose

The second solution from the BMI Romania portfolio is a large green roof (classic or inverted). This type of green terrace is mainly intended for decorative, ecological use. It is not used as a recreational space that can be frequently driven or parked, access is only allowed for its maintenance. Due to the superficial height of the plant substrate, the range of plants suitable for such roofs is limited to drought-resistant plants that do not require constant care, such as: sedges, mosses, wildflowers characteristic of the area, etc. Thanks to the experience in this field acquired during its existence, BMI Icopal provides, depending on the chosen solution, a guarantee for the waterproofness of the system from 20 to 40 years.

BMI Icopal: strong waterproofing

Considering that quality materials are necessary for a strong construction, BMI Romania has developed the BMI Icopal brand, specifically dedicated to this segment. Thanks to innovative materials, full service and experience gained in offering complex systems for flat roofs, it has become a global benchmark in the field of waterproofing, has obtained a quality management certificate that meets ISO 9001 standards, as well as an environmental management system certificate. , ISO 14001.

To take advantage of the maximum potential of the selected waterproofing systems, the company constantly updates its product portfolio, introduces innovative technologies and offers an increased service life of BMI Icopal products, which ensures green roof projects with the highest quality standards.

Article supported by BMI Romania