ZinCo GmbH

Extensive green roofs are lightweight and have a low build-up height. For extensive green roofs, proven plant communities are used that naturally cope with the site conditions found on roofs, such as sun, wind, drought, etc. The green roof requires little maintenance. An extensive green roof requires little maintenance.

Intensive green roofs are usually multifunctional and accessible. Intensive greening requires more weight and a higher system structure. Maintenance must be carried out regularly and depends on the design and the plants selected. Depending on the layer thickness, almost all plants are possible, such as lawns, perennials, shrubs and trees, including other landscaping measures such as ponds, pergolas and terraces.

System structure "pitched roof up to 20°"

Although extensive green roofs are usually applied to flat roofs, they can also be used on pitched roofs.

From an inclination of around 10°, however, the layer structure must be adapted to the changed conditions. Shear-absorbing ^Floraset® FS 75 elements are then used, consisting of a mat with higher water storage capacity and a jute fabric that protects against erosion.

System structure "Pitched roof up to 30°"

ZinCo ^Georaster® elements can also be used to green roof surfaces with a pitch of more than 25°. The grid elements are simply inserted into each other without tools. This immediately creates a stable, flat bond. An area covered with ^Georaster® elements is safe to walk on and can be backfilled with system soil. Thanks to the low intrinsic volume of the elements, there is a relatively large space for roots to grow through. Here too, care must be taken to ensure that any shear forces occurring are transferred to stable eaves upstands and, if necessary, additional sleepers.

Combining a solar system with a green roof results in important synergy effects. The vegetation layer takes on the necessary load for wind suction protection. This means that no roof penetration is necessary and heavy individual loads such as concrete blocks are no longer required. In addition, green roofs ensure a lower ambient temperature for the panels compared to bare or gravelled roofs, which leads to higher system performance. A green roof can be combined with both a photovoltaic and a solar thermal system.

Solar mounting "butterfly"

In the "butterfly" variant, the two base frames meet on the low side so that rainwater is directed centrally onto the SB 200 panel and distributed in both directions.

In this case, the plants will grow more lushly under the modules; however, they are also easier to reach from the walkway between the modules during maintenance, as the modules are approx. 70 cm further away from the substrate surface.

Solar mounting "saddle"

With the "saddle" mounting system, two base frames are bolted to an SB 200 panel so that the higher sides of the two base frames abut each other.

The front edge of the modules has sufficient distance to the substrate surface so that plants can also grow under the modules. Due to the inclination of the modules, rainwater tends to be directed into the aisles between the rows of modules, so that increased growth can be expected there.

Frequently changing weather conditions can lead to the entire drainage system being overwhelmed. With a retention green roof, a large proportion of the precipitation is retained on the roof surface and then released into the drainage system within a defined period of time. All aspects important for the functioning of the green roof (water storage for the plants, air-water balance in the root zone, etc.) are retained.

Water is temporarily retained in every green roof structure, but water storage cannot be increased at will. Too much water also means more growth intensity and therefore more maintenance of the green roof.

In the case of intensive green roofs, an accumulation of water is sometimes deliberately created in order to achieve capillary irrigation, but this retention volume is permanently filled for irrigation during the vegetation period to ensure a constant water supply and is therefore not available in the event of heavy rainfall. In order to achieve the desired relief of the drainage facilities down to the watercourse, the necessary volume for temporary water retention can be created by placing a spacer below the actual greening structure.

Green roofs, especially low-maintenance, i.e. largely undisturbed green roofs, are important refuges for animal and plant species. The development of biodiversity depends very much on the structure of the habitats offered to the plants and animals on the roof. The "biodiversity green roof" is characterized by special biodiversity modules that immensely increase the biotope function and biodiversity of the green roof.

Successful green "High Line" project

The international ideas competition "Designing the High Line" was won in 2003 by a team consisting of the landscape architect James Corner with his office Field Operations, the architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro and the plant expert Piet Oudolf. Their concept included ponds and benches, vantage points from which you could see the Hudson River, the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty, and stairways and elevators at regular intervals, similar to suburban train stations. The planners' aim was to preserve the character of the natural flora and wilderness that had developed on the former freight train line in recent years. The rails were also to remain visible so that the historical origins would be remembered. today, 210 plant species, including numerous shrubs and trees, grow at a height of 5 to 9 meters in around 45 cm of substrate.

Amager Resource Center Copenhagen, Denmark

Since the beginning of October 2019, Copenhagen has had one more attraction: the "Amager Resource Center" waste incineration plant provides electricity for 30,000 and heat for 72,000 households in the city. In addition, the building is surrounded by a 450-metre-long ski slope and four lifts from the roof, which is up to 87 meters high, to the ground. From top to bottom, the slope gets flatter and flatter, so that even the youngsters can try their hand at the sport at the foot of the building. Skiing on the "Copenhill", as the facility is now also known, is not on snow, but on green plastic mats with real grass growing through them. Next to the slope, surrounded by shrubs and bushes, is a walking and running path with a panoramic view over Copenhagen. The Copenhill operating company expects around 300,000 visitors a year.

To prevent the green roof from slipping, countless abutments had to be anchored to the concrete ceiling and sleepers installed to drain the seepage water to the sides of the roof. The root balls of the trees, which weigh up to 2.5 tons, had to be supported and the substrate underneath the ski slope is packed like a mattress between two layers of geogrid, which are connected to each other with cable ties.

The former roof terrace was leaking after 35 years and needed to be renovated. An experienced specialist company was commissioned to redesign the 80 m² roof area in the shortest possible time. The idea was to create a direct link to the surroundings. For this reason, large and small pine trees, various perennials and different types of grass were planted to reflect the curved hills in the planting. Tulips, crocuses, grape hyacinths
and ornamental leeks provide a splash of color in the spring. The natural garden style is continued in the two different ground coverings that divide the roof garden into two areas.
The ^Floradrain® FD 60 drainage element, which was laid over the entire area, serves as the substructure for the green roof. Due to the building statics, an extremely lightweight roof garden substrate was used over the SF system filter.