The importance of sustainability in roofing extends from the multi faceted role the roof plays in a buildings design. Foremost, the roof provides a protective covering from the elements, hence the importance of ensuring that each roofs waterproofing design does not permit water ingress. Secondly, the roof as part of the buildings envelope has a thermal management function maintaining a consistent U value and limiting heat loss.

But there is a third function that many flat roofs provide often unwittingly to clients and contractors. That is, an external space to accommodate building services. And it is within this role as a building services support, that the primary functions of waterproofing and thermal management may become jeopardised by poor installation methods.

Installation methods that cause damage to the roof include:

1. Penetrative fixing of services, that damage the waterproofing.

2. Overloading the waterproofing, through poor load management.

3. The Construction of penetrative structural upstands, that require thermal bridging and complex detailing that is prone to leak and heat loss.

The Roof-Pro Systems eliminate these issues, providing specifiers and ultimately clients with a sustainable roofing system that has been engineered to support building services. The independent non penetrative support feet eliminate damage, penetrative fixing requirements and structural upstands whilst managing the load within an acceptable limit for the roofing system.

When it comes to lifecycle, Roof-Pro systems provides greater longevity for the roofing system. Where as alternative support and fixing solution for building services interrupt the continuous waterproofing on the roof with junctures and penetrations, Roof-Pro eliminates these difficult areas making the roof less prone to requiring early replacement. With roof clearance, factored in to the design process maintenance and even phased re-roofing can be conducted without the need to decommission building services, reducing labour and energy use in future maintenance.

The Roof-Pro support system will support all building service requirement from cable trays and condensers to large mechanical units on flat roofs. Where there is a requirement for supporting services on metal standing seam roofs the S5! clamp can be integrated into our offering permitting effective non penetrative support.

The Roof-Pro system provides an effective and efficient solution for supporting building services without penetrative supports. Specifying Roof-Pro to take care of supporting services on your project, will provide numerous advantages over more traditional methods. For more information on our sustainable roofing solutions, please contact the Roof-Pro design office.