Green Roof Insulation Value

In order to make sure we are all clear on how insulation works particularly in a green roof system we need to take a little journey through the lexicon of insulation terminology starting with.

Green roof insulation value.

For things like loft insulation and cavity insulation it s relatively easy to assign a u value because the material never changes. The protective layer can be a slab of lightweight concrete insulation. What is the r value of a green roof the most common request i get from architects and engineers is for the r value of a green roof system. The extra layers of a green roof also serve as insulation.

A light weight extensive green roof can include insulation below the membrane. The roof s membrane needs protection to prevent deterioration. Every construction design architect engineer a e knows a material s r value is an important factor when specifying insulation products with many regulations requiring minimum values for wall ceiling and roof assemblies. Sometimes it s wet sometimes it s dry.

A green roof however is in a constant state of flux. Green roofs reduce sound resonance by 3 db and provide sound insulation of up to 8 db. The degree of sound insulation will depend on the thickness of the green roof structure. Researchers estimate that 1m 2 of a green roof can help to absorb 0 2kg of airborne particles from the air every year.

A dark heat absorbing roof surface increases demands on mechanical systems making it more difficult to adequately cool a building whereas a green roof reduces the temperature of the roof and therefore the building itself. The insulation prevents the weight of the green roof from crushing the insulation and impairing the membrane. This may not seem much but for the human ear an 10 db reduction in noise levels is 50 quieter.