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Today
Technical Article
the installation of ‘living’ roofs,
particularly on properties where
weight and structural strength are
a critical factor, for example, in
retrofitting older buildings. A one
meter cubed area of VYDRO® substrate
weighs just 30 kg. The same area of
lava stone weighs approximately
1500 kg.
VYDRO® living roofs installed to
date have reduced the weight of the
standard substrate down virtually
to zero. In fact, by using a “smart”
solution, comprising a layer of VYDRO®
substrate and a sedum carpet on top,
it is possible to achieve a total weight
of 40 kg/m2, including 30 l/m2 of
water retention.
The standard VYDRO® build-up
Weight 50-60 kg/m2 / slope of min.
three degrees (Fully saturated)
Super lightweight VYDRO® build-up
a Total weight of 40 kg/m2, including
30 l/m2 of water retention
a Reduces installation cost.
VYDRO® vertical walls, as mentioned,
can help to drastically reduce total
system weight, and ensure that the
walls remain wet for longer periods
than conventional substrates. In the
VYDRO® vertical walls installed so far,
it has been proven that the weight
reduction achieved, had a strong
36 p o l y u r e t h a n e s t o d a y
impact on the total installation cost
(up to 40% cheaper, due the to lighter
metal frame structure), offering the
same visual effect of the finished work
as a standard vertical wall.
VYDRO® build-up for light and
efficient vertical walls
a Total weight reduction
a Installation cost up to 40%
cheaper.
Switching to VYDRO® substrate as
a replacement green roof substrate
brings numerous other benefits.
With superior insulating properties
VYDRO® substrate can improve
a building’s envelope, helping to
minimize temperature loss, reduce
energy consumption levels and cut
heating and cooling costs by up to 5%.
It can also:
• Reduce the risk of flooding by
minimizing rainwater run off and
retaining it for plant growth
• Improve air quality: Green roofs
act as filters absorbing polluting
particles that cause smog
• Reduce noise pollution: Vegetation
in cities dampens sound reflection
off hard surfaces
• Minimize the Urban Heat Island
Effect (UHIE): Cities are generally
hotter than rural areas because
of the widespread use of heat
absorbing materials like concrete
and asphalt. Adding more foliage
into metropolitan areas in the form
of green roofs can help mitigate this
problem
• Improve biodiversity: Green roofs
provide a safe refuge for insects,
birds and wildlife
• Save time and money: VYDRO®
substrate is inherently light and can
be compressed, vacuum packed and
shaped to ease transportation and
installation logistics.
Huntsman has a strong network of
VYDRO® substrate roofing partners in
place across Europe and interest in the
product is growing with a global list of
high-profile reference sites.
As well as transforming green
roofing projects in the sustainable
building sector, VYDRO® substrate
is also expected to prove popular in
agricultural initiatives. Its excellent
water retention properties will enable
growers to save money on irrigation
costs, reduce water consumption and
lessen their overall environmental
impact. VYDRO® substrate can also be
used in the manufacture of flowerpots
and landscaping and sports projects.
Conclusion
VYDRO® substrate has been created by
Huntsman Polyurethanes in response to
some of the world’s major environmental
concerns; water scarcity, climate change
and increased urbanization.
Finding new ways to tackle climate change
and manage water in an intelligent way
is vital, particularly in urban areas
where populations are increasing and
urbanization is having a stark impact on
the environment. Getting more vegetation
into cities and reducing the use of hard
landscaping materials, is now a priority
for many countries and installing green
roofs is an effective way to achieve this.
With government legislation, financial
incentives and new buildings standards
encouraging the adoption of green roofs,
the sector is buoyant. What better time
to launch VYDRO® substrate – a product
that makes it far easier to create green
roofs and vertical walls, and helps embed
smart water management capabilities
into horticultural applications, bringing
sustainability benefits to people and the
planet.
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