Living Walls in Practice: Design, Compliance and Performance

Description

This CPD explores the technical, environmental, and regulatory dimensions of living wall systems — giving architects the knowledge to specify, detail, and manage them with confidence.

The session covers system design and construction, environmental performance data including thermal insulation and whole-life carbon, and how living walls contribute to planning and sustainability frameworks including the Urban Greening Factor, BREEAM, Biodiversity Net Gain, and LEED.

Compliance topics include fire performance classification, Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations Category 5 requirements, and rainwater harvesting. The session closes with practical guidance on maintenance planning, access strategy, and setting client expectations for long-term performance.

All performance data is drawn from peer-reviewed research. The session is designed to support specification decisions at RIBA Stages 2–4.