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Leading building membranes specialist Icopal has taken green
roof technology a step further with the launch of an
innovative system that is so lightweight, no extra load
supporting construction is required. |
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means the new-generation IcoMoss system from Icopal’s Eco-Activ
range can be used on practically every flat or pitched new
or refurbished roof location. Its base of moss also traps
air-borne particles and is therefore anti-polluting. |
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The IcoMoss system weighs only
20kg/m² when saturated and is four times lighter than other
ex-tensive grass or plant-based green roof systems. This
makes it especially useful in reducing rain-water run-off by
absorbing rainfall and allowing the water to be evaporated.
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The cost-effective system is
simply a 10mm green roof mat impregnated with mosses that is
easy to attach to bituminous roof coverings. The
single-layer system comprises a water-storing fibre fleece,
a later of three-dimensional fibres to provide anchorage for
the moss, and a layer of specially selected mosses.
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Mosses do not have roots so only
a thin, lightweight mat is required to support their
development. They are also low-maintenance but
high-performance, their negatively-charged leaves attracting
positively-charged particulate matter such as fine dust,
soot and the salt crystals formed by pollutants such as
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) reacting with ammonia. |
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Their natural characteristics
also give IcoMoss an insulating quality – providing cooling
in the summer by reducing solar gain into a building which
helps to reduce the cost of running air conditioning units. |
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And as well as reducing energy
costs, the hardy IcoMoss system increases the life of the
bituminous waterproofing membrane by protecting it against
daily temperature fluctuations which would otherwise cause
it to expand and contract. |
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The IcoMoss system is now being
widely applied in a sustainable renovation project by the
housing corporation Lefier in Groningen, The Netherlands,
where a total of 20,000m² is being laid on 400 homes. |
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"IcoMoss has made it possible
for us to meet our sustainability ambitions fairly easily,"
said project manager Johan Duut of Lefier StadGroningen.
"The big advantage of IcoMoss is that it improves air
quality without the need for any structure changes. The
environmental gain is the filtering of particulate matter
from 10million m³ of air and a CO2 reduction.
During heavy rainfall this project also makes it possible to
slowly drain 300,000 litres of water which reduces the peak
demand on the sewer system. IcoMoss is an ideal solution for
us.” |
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Lefier has been nominated for
Building Business Golden Green Awards for the sustainable
and innovative nature of the renovation. |
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For further information on
Icopal Ltd see
www.roofinfo.co.uk/icopal |
