Key Learning outcomes
- What a Blue Roof is
- Why and when they need to be specified
- The importance of calculations
- The components of a blue roof system
- Safety aspects to be aware of
Rainwater management has become a key consideration as part of building design processes. This is due in part to changes in the way we receive rainfall in the UK because of climate change, but also because of increased areas of hardstanding impermeable surfaces and landscaping.
Green roofs are already known for their ability to attenuate water, but this can now be enhanced with blue roof technology. Here the roof not only stores water but is also able to delay water discharge after a high intensity rainfall event and release it at a pre-determined rate. This topic will look at how this can be achieved practically and why this type of specification is likely to become more commonplace in the future.