RoofandFacade Guide Directory Portal

Tuesday, 11 November 2008 14:40 - Tremco: Green Roofs

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 06:40:22 +0100

Creative design and advanced technology incorporated into the development of the Tremco Green Roof System are providing an engineering solution for lighter weight green roofs. These green roofs ensure superior resistance to root and moisture penetration of the waterproofing membrane, unsurpassed resistance to wind shear, and drainage that will enable vegetation to better withstand the extreme climatic conditions of a rooftop.

Tremco Inc of Ohio, USA, offers a system that is designed to optimise the performance of the various complex components as they interact. The system incorporates a waterproofing membrane, root barrier, moisture retention mat, GreenRoof drainage, the growing medium and plants. Components will vary depending on the desired function of the system and the type of load the roof is able to handle.

As with any roof, the ultimate priority is to keep the building watertight. TREMproof 150 built-up hot rubberized asphalt waterproofing membrane or Vulkem 250 GC fluid-applied, elastomeric waterproofing membrane may be used to provide a complete, seamless system to waterproof the roof of the building, eliminates the chance that any water reaching this level will travel to a break in the surface. As a result, leak detection is significantly easier.

The Root Barrier, a 20 mil clear High Density Polyethylene with a double side tape on the outside edge, is installed above the waterproofing membrane overlapping the edges by a minimum of 4” to prevent root penetration. A Moisture Retention Mat, consisting of a double-ply heavy-duty 14-ounce loose woven polyester, is installed on top of the Root Barrier.

The appropriate prefabricated drainage system is placed over the Moisture Retention Mat, maintaining the optimal water content in the growing medium to promote strong vegetation growth and prevent drowning of the roots. One of the primary benefits of a green roof is the decrease in both the rate and volume of stormwater runoff. The soil and plants soak up water, preventing it from immediately running off into storm sewers. Excess water, however, must be removed from the roof area so that the plants will not drown and die from “root rot”.

Water buildup can also create pressure on the roof, leading to structural problems. TREMDrain GR consists of a high compressive strength plastic core with holes in the upper surface. The core acts as a water reservoir, allowing excess water to flow through open drainage channels to drainage outlets such as scuppers, gutter edges and roof drains where they will be transported off the roof. A core that is 1/2” thick will typically provide water flow equal to or better than several inches of heavy aggregate.

Fabrics are attached to the top and bottom of plastic core. The top fabric allows water to pass into the drainage core while restricting the movement of soil particles and root growth. The bottom has tall grasses, meadow plants, shrubs and even small trees.

Fabric provides protection to the Waterproofing Membrane. Standard fabric is a non-woven filter fabric that restricts soil particles. A fabric treated with copper hydroxide to stop roots and simultaneously promote the growth of new feeder roots may also be specified.

A variety of natural and manufactured materials may be used as a growing medium. Working with an approved source of growing medium and plant, soil is often mixed with other materials to reduce weight, provide better structure for roots and provide essential nutrients, water and oxygen. The two basic types of green roofs have very different requirements.

The Intensive System, which is designed to be accessible and is often used as a park or building amenity, has large plants with extensive root structures that demand a growing medium of greater than 6” and weights reaching up to 50 pounds per square foot.

The Extensive System, which is primarily built for environmental benefits only, has plants with shallow root growth and demands as little as 2”-1/2” of growing medium.

Green roofs will only function if the vegetation is successful. Succulents and other low growing plants capable of storing water in either fleshy leafs bulbs or roots are most commonly used. For the Extensive Systems, plants selected must be those that can adapt to alpine conditions with little soil, no water, high winds and high sun exposure. Intensive Systems can support a broader variety of

LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, awards green roofs one rating point for landscape to reduce heat islands if the green roof is used for at least 50 percent of the roof area and one point for storm-water management that meets LEED criteria.

Monday, 10 November 2008 15:08 - Enovate: Energy Efficient Advantage

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:08:46 +0100

Brussels: In the European Union, 40 percent of CO2 emissions originate through the use of energy in buildings. As the conservation of energy has become a top priority, Honeywell’s Enovate blowing agent for insulation foam offers a powerful solution and will be presented at this year’s UTECH show in Maastricht, the Netherlands, March 28 - 30 (Stand 1760).

The European Union’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and the Energy Services Directive have significantly raised the demands on insulation performance. Honeywell’s answer to these demands is Enovate blowing agent, used for high performance polyurethane (PUR/PIR) foam insulation applications.

Enovate offers a variety of product benefits including superior insulation, long term performance, meets stringent fire tests, non-ozone-depleting, non-flammable, safety in use. These benefits translate into economic advantages for the end-user and ecological benefits for society. Reduced energy consumption due to better insulated buildings helps reduce overall cost and environmental impact.

Good fire performance of insulating material is a key safety measure and it enables building owners to save on building insurance cost. Products based on Enovate meet the fire performance standards set by the UK’s Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) which are considered to be the most stringent fire standards across Europe.

Monday, 03 November 2008 13:11 - New generation louvre systems from Hunter Douglas

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 05:11:27 +0100

THE sun is an inexhaustible source of energy that provides sustenance to all forms of life on Earth. However, especially in equatorial and tropical climates, the solar radiation takes the form of light that is sometimes pleasant and soothing to the human senses and sometimes overbright, and heat that is always unbearable. All of this is aggravated by the phenomenon of global warming and the cost and environmental impact of generating electricity from fossil fuels, to air-condition buildings.

Buildings absorb heat and transmit it to the interiors. According to Hunter Douglas, the installation of modern sun louvre systems can help to reduce this heat absorption. The company however points out that not all louvre blind systems meet all the fundamental requirements, with traditional louvre blinds, for example, installed inside or outside buildings, offering good protection against dazzling light, but reducing the build-up of heat only slightly.

Hunter Douglas says that since the company’s new generation of large, aerofoil-shaped sun louvre systems, incorporates advanced technology, they facilitate natural climate control, whilst at the same time, providing the architect the space to express his or her creativity.

Hunter Douglas offers a wide range of semi-finished products, made from a choice of materials including aluminium, steel, wood, glass and plastic, in various colours, shapes and sizes, permitting numerous possibilities for their customisation to the requirements of individual projects.

The versatility of the systems and the large fin sizes (up to around 500 mm) possible, make for interesting applications. The louvres can be made moveable, through manually- or mechanically- operated controls, for adjusting the amount of light entering the building and controlling the thermal loads into the structure, in accordance with the relative position of the sun, whilst ventilating it. They can be made to function as fully closed or fully open systems and can even be shifted from side to side.

The highest efficiency is achieved by louvre blind systems fitted to the outside of buildings, at a certain distance from the wall. The intervening space then allows for natural ventilation. The sun’s rays are reflected back, before they reach the wall behind and are converted into heat. This is an efficient and economical method of heat control. In addition, the transparency of the architecture is preserved, and the inhabitants of the building can enjoy the natural daylight as it filters in through the windows and provides an unimpeded view of the outside.

The Luxalon Standard Aerofoil Louvre System, from Hunter Douglas, consists of six different aluminium-extruded fins, with widths ranging from 200 to 450 mm, in increments of 50 mm. Other available fin sizes are 100 mm, 150 mm and 500 mm, but these do not correspond to the standard fixing system.

The Standard System is available in non-adjustable and adjustable versions. In the non-adjustable version, the fins are fixed to the frame. The angle of the fins can be fixed in increments of 5º from 0º to 180º. The fins are locked into position while fixing.

In the adjustable version, the fins can be set at any angle, from 0º to a maximum of 120º. In the Standard System, each fin has its own maximum fin-span, in accordance with local requirements. The fins are supplied with a protective finish.

The supporting framework can be fabricated from aluminium or galvanised steel and orientated horizontally, vertically or at any other angle.

The Luxalon Standard Aerofoil Louvre systems can be easily and quickly installed with a minimum of tools. For the non-adjustable system, each fin is ‘clicked’ into position by sliding a U-profile section over the fin suspension bracket. For the adjustable system, two axles for each fin, are assembled on the frame. The fins are fixed on the axles and aligned with a setscrew. The driving rod is attached and adjusted. The motor is then installed to provide the required angle of rotation of the fins.

Several completed projects in Europe and elsewhere, have proven the performance of the new generation louvre systems, according to Hunter Douglas.

Tuesday, 14 October 2008 17:34 - IQue Architecture Film Adgreencoat Heat-Shielding Coating

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:34:47 +0100

ENGINEERED by V-KOOL, IQue architecture films offers an extensive range of applied films for the architecture market, from virtually clear films capable of blocking over half of the sun’s heat (infra-red rays) without changing the appearance of existing glass to ones that are able to match the aesthetic appeal of both the interior and exterior of building design.

Some benefits of using IQue architecture films include reducing solar heat by over fifty per cent, clear cool appearance, 99 per cent ultra-violet screening, which reduces sun fading of upholstery, carpets and other soft furnishings. In terms of safety issues, it holds broken glass together, thus reducing liability and risk of injury; it also provides resistance to ‘smash and grab’ theft attempts.

IQue applied films also are scratch-resistant because of a specially formulated hard-coat that meets stringent AST D1044 Abrasion Tests standards. They can easily retrofit onto existing glass via professionally trained installers and minimal workplace disruption.

Large glass areas found in today’s commercial and residential buildings demand sizable amounts of cooling due to heat gain through windows. IQue architecture combines high-performance solar control with high visible light transmission. The films allow as much as 73 per cent of visible light to pass through but reject as high as 98 per cent of heatinducing infra-red rays which increase air-conditioning energy costs. Visible clarity also means that daylight can be ‘harvested’, thus reducing artificial lighting requirements in buildings.

IQue has launched the world’s first 10 multi-layer sputtered film called Generation 2. It is a result of 10 years of research and field experiments. Generation 2 film can reject 60 per cent of solar energy, achieving a shading coefficient (SC) of 0.47 and yet allowing 58 per cent of daylight to be transmitted through glass windows. An extremely low visible light reflectivity of only 7 per cent maintains the aesthetic of natural transparency.

Tuesday, 14 October 2008 11:34 - AFG Solatex

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 03:34:13 +0100

AFG’s Solatex® solar glass is formed with smooth rolls to create a glass surface having a lightly textured finish. The light textured surface pattern of the Solatex glass provides excellent light diffusion, which allows slightly higher transmission values at acute angles of incidence. Solatex® is recommended for those applications where ultimate levels of transmission are required. The texture of Solatex glass creates an excellent surface for adhesion of solar panels. It is used effectively in flat plate solar collectors, photovoltaics, and commercial greenhouses. Solatex® is fully temperable. AFG, the leading producer of solar glass, has been supplying solar glass products since1972. AFG is dedicated to producing quality glass products for active, passive and photovoltaic applications. AFG solar glass products are affordable, durable and virtually maintenance free.

Tuesday, 14 October 2008 10:46 - Amvic Building Systems - New Floor and Roof System

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 02:46:16 +0100

Amvic Building System recently launched the innovative new AmDeckTM Floor & Roof System said to be unmatched in the construction industry. The system not only claims perfect suitability for use with Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) construction, but that it can be used independently with other wall systems. Traditional “stick-frame” construction is rapidly being replaced worldwide with ICF as it is durable, cost effective, sustainable, and environmentally friendly.

AmDeckTM implements full 10 inch deep lightweight steel joists to support construction loads. As a result, the shoring requirements are minimized and can be placed up to 20 feet on centre. This results in significant cost savings.

One-way concrete floor/roof joists formed with this system can span approximately 30-35 feet. Spans greater than 40 feet can also be achieved using higher strength concrete and post-tensioned reinforcing cable strands.

Amvic system is assembled using small, standardized, lightweight modular units. This makes the system easy to use and handle, without compromising superior strength of construction. The Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) used in the decking system provides built-in continuous thermal insulation, and reduces noise travel from one storey to another.

The system’s engineering makes it easy to use thus ensuring design flexibility and construction versatility.

Sunday, 13 August 2006 00:00 - New generation rubber flooring

Sat, 12 Aug 2006 16:00:00 +0100

IT is a common misconception among specifiers that modern rubber flooring is a natural product.

In fact, virtually all the rubber flooring on the market today are made from synthetic SBR rubber, a petrochemical derivative. In environmental terms, synthetic rubber compares quite favourably with its main competitors - PVC, and even linoleum.

Even though Dalsouple started out manufacturing natural rubber products in the 1940s, by 1960 the company had moved over to synthetic rubber alternatives. These were cheaper, easier to process and offered more uniformity of colour.

But with sustainability now high on the design agenda, some manufacturers have decided it’s time to heighten the environmental profile of these products by going back to nature. The result is a new generation rubber floor covering.

These makers have completely re-engineered rubber flooring to maximise its environmental credentials. Replacing SBR with natural rubber, as the core ingredient, transforms the product without loss of performance.

Natural rubber is a wholly renewable raw material; and mature rubber trees are exceptionally efficient in carbon sequestration - the absorption of harmful CO2 from the atmosphere. Rubber is also easy to recycle, not just once, with many potential applications. It has inherently low toxicity, particularly compared to PVC based flooring. All these factors, combined with long service life, contribute to favourable environmental life cycle performance.

Such re-engineered products are suitable for a huge range of contract and residential installations. They are tough, anti-slip and burn-resistant, but feel soft and warm underfoot. They have excellent noise absorption properties, yet are dust free, hygienic and easy to maintain.

Sunday, 11 June 2006 00:00 - Eclipse Sun Louvre by Pergola Land

Sat, 10 Jun 2006 16:00:00 +0100

THE Sun Louvre is an amazing new product from Pergola Land. Made by Eclipse, it can be used as a sun control device or a privacy screen.

The louvre is made out of aluminium, so you will never have to worry about it rusting. It is installed with either a fixed angle or motorised louvre blades, in horizontal or vertical positions and will fit in most, if not all, existing openings.

The fixed angle louvre has an added benefit. When used as a sun control device, the blades can be set at an angle, which allows the warm winter sun in but blocks the hot summer sun out.

The image shows the Sun Louvre, used as both a shading device and a privacy screen. The site also incorporates a Solar Control opening roof.