Green Roof Fire Risk

Developers putting green roofs on their buildings may have to think again after one of the world s largest insurers declared they were a fire risk.

Green roof fire risk.

The vf 1 fire design guide establishes clear criteria for minimizing the risk of fire on green roofs through prudent design and mandatory maintenance regiment. It has been suggested that green roofs and walls may constitute a fire hazard. But wait are solar panels are actually the culprit for fire. This milestone in the north american green roof movement facilitates future growth by securing a place in mainstream construction under the international building code.

In relation to fire performance the general consensus is that as long as the green roof. Other considerations green roofs should be designed to. This raises the question of whether the testing method is unsuitable or if the result simply indicates a real risk of fire for this type of product. A building with a green roof is in the german experience safer than a building without green roof further to this in germany there is typically a 10 to 20 per cent discount on fire insurance when a properly designed extensive green roof is installed.

Dry vegetation on green roofs has the potential to catch fire. That on wildflower roofs the vegetation is cut back in the autumn and the thatch removed. By itself this is not a risk at all because already a fat cable coming from a utility pole carries up to thousands of watts of electricity. Maintenance for fire safety on extensive and biodiverse roofs should be carried out twice yearly to ensure.

This document illustrates the results of testing carried out on green roofs and green wall systems and provides guidance on the fire performance aspects of green roof and wall construction and. On a sunny day the solar panels on the roof may generate thousands of watts of power. Provided by the green roof lowers the energy consumption and hence the energy costs for the building. Fire breaks are kept clean and clear of vegetation.

Swiss insurer zurich the third largest insurer of commercial property in the uk said the roofs could dry out and become flammable.