Water Retention with Blue Roofs – Meet the Increasing Need for “Stormwater Management Roofs” Due to Climate Change

Why a “Stormwater Management Roof?”

Changing weather conditions (e.g. extreme local rain events) can result in an entire public sewerage system being overwhelmed. One of the great benefits of a green roof is that it retains water and allows for the time-delayed run-off of stormwater.

Water storage in a standard green roof build-up, however,  cannot be increased arbitrarily because more water could result in changes to the vegetation used. That’s where blue roofs come into play. The ZinCo build-up “Stormwater Management Roof” offers this option of a substantial rainwater storage in addition to all the other beneficial features of a green roof build-up.

Special Features of a “Stormwater Management Roof”

Up to approx. 80 l/m² of precipitation can be retained with a “Stormwater Management Roof” and then released into the sewerage system over a pre-defined period of time (between 24 hours and a few days). The space required for the increased precipitation is created by a grid spacer or spacer element situated beneath the actual green roof build-up.

Meanwhile, the elements (water storage for the plants, air-water household in the root area etc.) that are of vital importance for the proper functioning of the green roof are all preserved.

Virtually all types of roof utilisation are possible above the stormwater retention space, once structurally permitted, from an extensive green roof to a roof garden with pathways and driveways.