LIVING ROOF PROJECT

2014-2015 ENGINEERING CLUB

What is a living roof?

A living roof or green roof is a roof of a building that is
partially or completely covered with vegetation and a
growing medium, planted over a waterproofing
membrane. It may also include additional layers such
as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems.

Living roof structure:

1.

Vegetation: Plants (flowers, grass, vegetables or crops).

2.

Growing medium: Soil.

3.

Drainage/aeration layer: One of the most important

layers, helps to regulate the amount of water staying in
the living roof system and draining access water off the
roof.

4.

Insulation/geo foam: Optional layer, prevents stored

water from cooling the roof surface in winter and heating
the roof surface in the summer.

5.

Waterproof layer: Prevents water from leaking through

the roof. surface

6.

Roof structure: The existing rooftop.

Alternative Energy
Sources
Our ultimate goal is to create a
living roof system that is 100% self
sufficient. Therefore, we will need
alternative energy sources such
as:

Solar panels
Energy producing
tiles
Wind turbines

Vertical axis Wind

Turbines Vertical wind turbines offer a
wide variety of Advantages.
Less danger to wildlife
Smaller design for more
residential use
Less expensive than
standard wind turbines
Visually appealing
Can harvest wing coming
from any direction
Low maintenance costs

Rainwater collection bins

and irrigation systems
1 inch or rainfall yields
more than half a gallon of
water per square foot.

*If you collect rainwater

over a surface of 2000
square feet, you can
collect over 1,250 gallons
of water with just 1 inch of
rain.
Filtering system
Pump system
Irrigation system

Permeable flooring
Permeable flooring allows
accumulated water on the
ground travel below the flooring
tiles and be re-directed into a
rainwater collection bin.

More and better drainage

Less visible components
(e.g. piping and pump
systems)

Plant life
Various types of
flowers
Crape myrtles
Drought resistant
plants
Grass

Fly Ash
Fly ash (also called flue
ash) is the by-product of
coal burning power plants.
Adds strength to concrete
Reduces cost
Adds more water, heat
and chemical resistance.
Can be used in bricks
Reduces weight

Glass railings
Glass on glass railings
must be at a minimum
of 1/4 inch thick
Railing must be at a
minimum of 48 inches
tall
Glass must be either
single fully tempered
glass, laminated fully
tempered glass or heat
strengthened glass

Safety
Safety is our top priority. We will hire many different
types of engineers and other professionals to ensure our
preferred location or other suitable locations are, and
will remain a safe place to build. Once we are able to
start building, we will only allow professionals in, and
around the work site. we will also block off potentially
dangerous areas for the rest of the students in the
school. When we have a foundation set, have a railing
that meets all codes and regulations, and means of
egress it will be safe for students to take part in the
next step of the building process. We will make sure
students have proper supervision at all times when
working in the building site.

Building codes and

regulations
Because we are building on the roof, we will
need to follow specific guidelines and codes in order
safely make the area accessible and useable.
Handicap accessibility (elevators and ramps)
Emergency evacuation routes (2 or more)
Safe/accessible means of egress
added structural support and weight limit

Wall height
Minimum size for classroom setting
Build-able distance from gas lines
and AC units
Occupant load

Electrical installations

Living and dead loads

Fire protection and support

Railing and wall heights

Protective signaling alarms

Elevator access

Visual and tactile directive signs

Benches
Glass in handrails
Occupant load
Hazard detection devices
Emergency alarm systems
Emergency control station
Manual fire alarm box
Power sources
Emergency and standby power systems (this will not be necessary
with alternative power sources)

Classroom usage

We plan to make the space useable for up to 50 students at a time.

Section 1004 of the building code states that, for educational
purposes an area of at minimum 20 net feet. This would require at
least 1000 net feet of surface area to build on.
By allowing 50 students at at time, any teacher, class or club can
use the space without having to improvise in any way.
We also plan to add benches and other open seating to create a
better and more comfortable learning environment.
One more plan, is to create MacBook charging stations for future
classes.
Having an outdoor, open classroom setting is also a great
opportunity for hands on learners to learn many new skill sets
useful in their lives.
This will also give art students an opertunity to use tools and
techniques they would otherwise be unable to use inside

What will this project teach

us, and possibly others?
The knowledge that we as both individuals, and as a group, will
gain, will be applicable far beyond the classroom setting.
We will learn problem solving skills, like how to overcome the
numerous obstacles standing in our pathway to success. We will
learn to work with each other, finding solutions to conflicting
ideas and combining similar ones. And most Importantly, we will
learn to communicate with professionals, to get our ideas out into
the world, and to make a difference.
Additionally, others can see our process and final product and
be inspired to do their own project like ours.
A living roof will contribute to numerous classes, make
students eager to learn, and substantially boost average grades
throughout the whole school.

Sources
www.Google.com
www.HowStuffWorks.com
http://www.ada.gov/regs2010/2010ADAStandards/2010ADAstandards.htm
http://saveenergy.about.com/od/alternativeenergysources/a/altenergysource
.htm
https://www.mckinneytexas.org/index.aspx?NID=331
https://www.mckinneytexas.org/index.aspx?NID=256
https://www.mckinneytexas.org/index.aspx?NID=336
https://www.mckinneytexas.org/index.aspx?NID=341

http://www.lessismore.org
http://indecorativeconcrete.com
http://www.windspireenergy.com
http://www.green-mechanic.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fly_ash
http://greenroofsolutions.com
https://law.resource.org/pub/us/code/ibr/icc.ibc.200
9.pdf