Green Roof Fire Risk

This document illustrates the results of testing carried out on green roofs and green wall systems and provides guidance on the fire performance aspects of green roof and wall construction and.

Green roof fire risk.

Consider a variety of factors when selecting your system. If the testing material is a green roof that consists largely of tall gras it is easy for it to fail to meet the criteria for broof t2 fire classification as stated in the en 13501 5 standard. Provided by the green roof lowers the energy consumption and hence the energy costs for the building. In relation to fire performance the general consensus is that as long as the green roof.

Dry vegetation on green roofs has the potential to catch fire. By itself this is not a risk at all because already a fat cable coming from a utility pole carries up to thousands of watts of electricity. This milestone in the north american green roof movement facilitates future growth by securing a place in mainstream construction under the international building code. Fire breaks are kept clean and clear of vegetation.

It has been suggested that green roofs and walls may constitute a fire hazard. That on wildflower roofs the vegetation is cut back in the autumn and the thatch removed. The vf 1 fire design guide establishes clear criteria for minimizing the risk of fire on green roofs through prudent design and mandatory maintenance regiment. Pebble or concrete paving vegetation barriers around roof penetrations routine maintenance to reduce the fire hazard and try to make sure that green roof substrate does not contain a high volume of organic content.

On a sunny day the solar panels on the roof may generate thousands of watts of power. Swiss insurer zurich the third largest insurer of commercial property in the uk said the roofs could dry out and become flammable. But wait are solar panels are actually the culprit for fire. This raises the question of whether the testing method is unsuitable or if the result simply indicates a real risk of fire for this type of product.

A building with a green roof is in the german experience safer than a building without green roof further to this in germany there is typically a 10 to 20 per cent discount on fire insurance when a properly designed extensive green roof is installed.