Liquid roofing and waterproofing specialist, Kemper System, has helped enhance both bio-diversity and energy efficiency at Huddersfield University by working collaboratively with the roofing contractor and green roof specialist on a series of new build green and warm roofs.
Huddersfield University has invested in the construction of four new buildings designed by architects, Watson Batty, including a new sports hall, Dean’s office and corporate suite. Constructed with a single steel frame, all the buildings adjoin each other but rise to different heights. Green roofs were specified for three areas, including the new sports hall, and a warm roof was selected for the corporate suite.
Kemper System worked closely with the architects, the roofing contractor, Cawston Roofing, and green roof supplier, ABG, to develop a series of warm roof and green roof systems that would take account of different roof levels, aspect and bio-diversity of the planting required to meet the University’s objectives. The green roof solution was to use Kemper System’s Kemperol V210 cold liquid-applied waterproofing membrane and an innovative ‘blue roof’ drainage system, designed by ABG. The blue roof puts a high density polyethylene (HDP) reservoir under the growing medium to replace the more conventional SUDS system and avoid costly and time-consuming excavation of separate drainage tanks. The roof build up was inverted by applying the FLL certified root-resistant Kemperol V210 waterproofing membrane first, followed by the insulation, the blue roof drainage reservoir and then the growing medium.
Explains Nick O’Mara from Cawston Roofing: “This project demonstrates how important it is to consider specification decisions in a holistic sense rather than thinking about material costs in isolation. For the green roof system, avoiding the need for a SUDS system saved time, money and costs on site. For the waterproofing membrane, using Kemperol V210 meant that we could be more flexible with the programme and more creative with the roof build up as well as providing an FLL certified root-resistant and robust waterproofing membrane with a BBA certified service life in excess of 25 years.”
