Green Roof

Systems

Guide to our complete green

and blue roofing solutions
bmigroup.com/uk
Meeting your needs:
complete system
solutions
Our market-leading brands cover every roofing
technology, so we can recommend the best
solution for our customers’ needs.
Our philosophy is to look beyond just roofing
products. Individually, our products offer
exceptional performance. Working together,
they offer unrivaled reliability and excellence.
That’s why we are committed to developing
complete and integrated systems which combine
technologies, products, components and
accessories with specialist support, services,
training and guarantees.
We ensure a perfect alignment of form,
function and performance.

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Contents
Why Choose a BMI Canopia Green Roof? 4

Benefits of a Green Roof 5

Types of Green Roof 6

BMI Canopia Green Roof Systems 8

Design Considerations for a Successful Green Roof 11

BMI Blue Roofs 12

BMI Blue Roof Solutions 13

BMI Blue Roofs: Water Retention Solutions 14

Waterproofing Systems 18

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Why choose a BMI
Canopia Green Roof?

Canon Burrows Primary School, Ashton-under-Lyne.

As the global leader in roof waterproofing systems, BMI offers comprehensive

beginning-to-end project support to provide the strongest possible
foundation for every green roof project. BMI is dedicated to providing the right
balance of system performance, reliability and cost to help you meet the
challenge of delivering best value.

THE STRENGTH OF A Our multi-product portfolio includes This means that many of our
GLOBAL PARTNER reinforced bitumen systems, products already meet and often
BMI Canopia builds its position on single-ply and solvent-free liquid exceed environmental standards,
160 years of experience in roofing applied waterproofing which allows us and are already recognised by many
and waterproofing. This to specify without any bias the correct of the industry bodies promoting
demonstrates our commitment to solution for the roof in question. excellence in this field.
provide waterproofing and green roof
COMMITMENT TO TECHNICAL EXPERTISE
systems which can fully satisfy your
SUSTAINABILITY The financial implication of
project requirements.
As a company, BMI Canopia is proud inappropriate design, poor
SINGLE SOURCE RESPONSIBILITY of its strong environmental recommendation or substandard
BMI Canopia as a single source credentials, actively promoting the product and workmanship can be
provider eliminates the significant recycling of its products whenever considerable and can impact on the
risk of problems occuring over liability possible, in order to minimise the use long term performance of the
should faults occur in the of raw materials and energy in the building. The BMI Canopia approach
waterproofing integrity. development and production of to any roof is well proven over many
roofing and waterproofing solutions. thousands of succesful projects and
ensures success from the initial
design and consultation to the
guarantee sign off.

ISO 9001 ISO 14001

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Benefits of a
Green Roof
IMPROVED AIR QUALITY IMPROVED TEMPERATURE REDUCED ENERGY COSTS
Green roof planting will improve air REGULATION The layers of a green roof system are
quality by absorbing atmospheric Through the daily cycles of able to improve the thermal
carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. condensation and evaporation, performance of the roof, thereby
plants are able to cool and humidify reducing solar gain.
ROOF MEMBRANE PROTECTION the surrounding air improving the
Vegetation on a roof deck protects micro-climate. ATTRACTIVE DESIGN
the roof surface from the extremes OPPORTUNITIES
of weather, temperature and REDUCED STORM-WATER Urban greening has, for a long time,
ultra-violet radiation, prolonging RUN-OFF been seen as a way to make towns
its life. Water is stored by the green roof and cities look more pleasing to the
substrate and then taken up by the eye, and be of great value to the well
WILDLIFE HABITATS plants from where it is returned being of building users.
Rooftop habitats can provide a ‘green through transpiration and
link’ connecting natural pockets of evaporation into the atmosphere.
habitat with each other. They can Green roofs also delay the time at
also provide isolated habitats, which which run-off occurs, resulting in
aren’t disturbed by other green areas decreased stress on drains and
at ground level. sewers at peak flow periods.

5
Types of Green Roof

West Port, Edinburgh.

There are a number of different types of green roof, defined by the way they
are used. The basic types of green roof fit into either extensive or intensive
categories, but there are also those which are a hybrid of both - these types of
systems could be termed semi-extensive or semi-intensive.

INTENSIVE SYSTEMS EXTENSIVE SYSTEMS Extensive Biodiverse /

These systems are designed to be Extensive green roof systems are Meadow Roofs
accessible and used as recreational generally intended to be viewed from Biodiverse and meadow roofs are
spaces, and often involve many another location as a decorative and intended to generally provide a
features similar to traditional ground ecological feature maximising habitat to create a wider diversity of
level gardens which can include otherwise unused space for flora and fauna compared to a
paving, water features, lawns, biodiversity or aesthetic appearance. traditional sedum green roof. They
shrubs and trees. They are not normally used as a are often designed to either recreate
recreational space to be walked or even improve the habitat that was
These intensive ‘roof gardens’ are soil
through or sat in and often have lost when the building was erected.
based multi layered systems and are
limited access for maintenance only. These types of roofs can be
so called because they are
constructed to provide the right
labor-intensive requiring higher levels Extensive Sedum Roofs
conditions for specific plants which in
of irrigation, feeding, and other The sedum family of flowering plants
turn support other insect and bird
maintenance compared to their is widespread throughout the
species. Often wildflowers, grasses
extensive counterparts. Northern Hemisphere, varying from
and sedums are the main species of
annual and creeping herbs to shrubs.
vegetation designed to thrive within
They are succulents and therefore
such systems.
have leaves which are able to store
water, making them ideal for green
roofing applications.

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Green roof systems can be Plug Plants. This method uses
 Seed. Mixed seeds can be sown

established in a number of different individually planted plug plants over the top of the installed
ways which generally relate to budget, allowing a greater flexibility in the substrate to create the habitat
location, logistics and aesthetics: choice of species for the green roof, of choice. Although very cost
Vegetation Mats. Pre-grown
 and is generally more cost effective effective, it takes several years
vegetation mats which are laid compared to using vegetation for the vegetation to establish,
onto the surface of the substrate mats. However, the establishment therefore the combination of seed
are an ideal way to create a green time to get full ground cover is with plug planting is often used
roof that provides instant impact. longer (2 - 3 years). to speed up colonisation of the
This method of establishment is green roof.
very common with extensive sedum
and meadow systems. Of course,
installing a pregrown lawn turf is also
a common method of creating an
intensive recreational area.

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BMI Canopia
Green Roof Systems

BMI CANOPIA ST SEDUM MAT SYSTEM 1

An extensive lightweight green roof system utilising a

pre-grown vegetation mat of 8 to 12 sedum species. 2 3
Provides an immediate green planting scheme for instant 4

impact. The vegetation mat is installed on a shallow depth

of specially formulated free-draining substrate and 5
6
drainage board.

System dry weight 80 kg/m2

1 Canopia Extensive Sedum Mat 4 Canopia Drainage Board
System saturated weight 100 kg/m2
2 Canopia Extensive Sedum 5 Canopia Protection Fleece
Substrate
System typical depth 104 mm 6 BMI Waterproofing System
3 Canopia Filter Fleece
Growing substrate depth 60 mm (settled)

Contouring Flat / level

BMI CANOPIA LIGHTWEIGHT SEDUM MAT SYSTEM 1

An extra lightweight green roof system utilising a

pre-grown vegetation mat of 8-12 species. The vegetation 2 3
mat is installed on a very shallow depth of a specially 4

formulated lightweight substrate with high water storage

capacity. 5
6

System dry weight Min. 25 kg/m2

1 Canopia Extensive Sedum Mat 4 Canopia Drainage Board 20 mm
System saturated weight Min. 53 kg/m2
2 Canopia Extensive Sedum 5 Canopia Protection Fleece
Substrate
System typical depth 50 mm 6 BMI Waterproofing System
3 Canopia Filter Fleece
Growing substrate depth 30 mm (settled)

Contouring Flat / level

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MoHo Apartments, Manchester.

BMI CANOPIA ST WILDFLOWER MAT SYSTEM

1
An extensive lightweight green roof system utilising a
2
pre-grown vegetation mat sown with a mix of thirty eight 3
wildflower and grass species. Meadow systems are 4

designed to create the look of a terrestrial wildflower

meadow and the use of a pre-grown mat creates a green 5
6
planting scheme with instant impact. The vegetation mat is
installed on a shallow depth of specially formulated
free-draining substrate and drainage board.

System dry weight 120 kg/m2

1 Canopia Extensive Wildflower Mat 4 Canopia Drainage Board 20 mm
System saturated weight 165 kg/m2
2 Canopia Extensive Biodiverse 5 Canopia Protection Fleece
Substrate
System typical depth 155 mm 6 BMI Waterproofing System
3 Canopia Filter Fleece
Growing substrate depth 100 mm (settled)

Contouring Flat / level

BMI CANOPIA ST WILDFLOWER SEEDED SYSTEM

1
An extensive green roof system utilising a specially
formulated free-draining substrate and drainage board. 2
3
A wildflower and grass seed mix is broadcast over the 4

surface of the substrate, and lightly worked in to

germinate and grow over time. 5
6

System dry weight Typically 100 kg/m2

1 Canopia Extensive Wildflower 4 Canopia Drainage Board 20FF
System saturated weight Typically 150 kg/m2 Seed Mix 5 Canopia Protection Fleece
2 Canopia Extensive Biodiverse
System typical depth 145 mm 6 BMI Waterproofing System
Substrate
Growing substrate depth 100 mm (settled) 3 Canopia Filter Fleece

Contouring Undulated 75 – 125 mm

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BMI Canopia
Green Roof Systems

BMI CANOPIA BIODIVERSE SEED & PLUG SYSTEM 1

An extensive green roof system designed to create a 2

biodiverse habitat utilising a specially formulated 3

4
free-draining substrate and drainage board. 5

The vegetation is created using both wildflower / grass

seed and plug plant mix which is allowed to grow and 6
7
develop over time.

System dry weight Typically 100 kg/m2

1 Canopia Extensive Biodiverse 4 Canopia Filter Fleece
System saturated weight Typically 150 kg/m2 Plug Plants 5 Canopia Drainage Board 60 FF
2 Canopia Extensive Biodiverse
System typical depth 145 mm Seed Mix
6 Canopia Protection Fleece

7 BMI Waterproofing System

Growing substrate depth 100 mm (settled) 3 Canopia Extensive Biodiverse
Substrate
Contouring Undulated 75 – 125 mm

BMI CANOPIA INTENSIVE SYSTEM

An intensive green roof system designed for ground cover, 1
shrubs and trees. The depth of topsoil can be varied to
accommodate the specific planting to be installed.
2
The system composes of a specially formulated
3
free-draining topsoil above a drainage board. 4

5
6

System dry weight 200 – 1100 kg/m2

System saturated weight 300 – 1500 kg/m2

System typical depth 250 – 1200 mm 1 Canopia intensive plant scheme 4 Canopia Drainage Board 60 mm
2 Canopia lightweight topsoil / 5 Canopia Protection Fleece
Growing substrate depth 200 – 1000 mm (settled) intensive substrate 6 BMI Waterproofing System
3 Canopia Filter Fleece
Contouring To requirements

10
Design Considerations
for a Successful
Green Roof
For a green roof to flourish it requires suitable amounts of The waterproofing system is paramount to the success of
sunlight, water, sufficient drainage and aeration to the green roof, as it is fundamental to prevent water
encourage healthy plant growth. To deliver a successful ingress into the building. Many BMI waterproofing systems
green roof the designer must consider the building’s are suitable for use beneath a green roof and it is essential,
position and location, along with the orientation of the when designing the roof details, that all adjacent building
roof during the day and any shade from surrounding elements and interfaces are considered.
buildings. The roof’s height can have an affect due to wind
Green roofs will require water and provision for irrigation
action, and can cause wind scour of the substrate. Pebble
should be considered at the planning stage. All Green
borders are generally used to avoid this.
roofs will require irrigation during the establishment
The additional weight loading from a green roof is a major period and so a temporary water source should be
factor to consider as the structure must have sufficient provided. Intensive roof planting and lawns will require a
load bearing capacity to support a water saturated green permanent irrigation system to keep them supplied with
roof system. The roof must have sufficient drainage which water during hotter, drier, summer months. Extensive
will help reduce the imposed loads and prevent excessive roofs will only need irrigating during the establishment
saturation of the growing substrate which can lead to phase, and very little subsequently except during longer
deterioration of the planting. periods of drought. Pitched roofs retain less water and
therefore a permanent irrigation system should be
A green roof will require regular safe access for
considered.
maintenance and it is important that adequate fall
protection measures are put in place to allow for safe
COMPARISON
inspection and maintenance of the roof.
The table below provides a comparison of some of the
differences between extensive and intensive green roof
systems.

Intensive Systems Extensive Systems

Usage Generally as a recreation space. Generally for visual / environmental / biodiversity.
Landscaping Trees, shrubs, lawn turf, hard landscaping. Sedums, wildflowers, grasses, mosses.
Maintenance Regular maintenance required. Minimal requirement.
Only generally required during the establishment
Regular irrigation required.
Irrigation phase, or in times of prolonged drought
Usually dedicated systems installed
conditions.
Build-up depth Typically around 200 – 1000 mm. Typically around 80 – 200 mm.
System weights Typically 150 – 1000 kg/m2. Typically 100 – 180 kg/m2.
Suitable for flat or pitched roofs (with suitable
Roof slopes Less suited to sloped roofs.
retention systems in place).
Water Greater water attenuation due to deeper Less water attenuation due to shallower
Attenuation substrate depths. substrate depths.

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BMI Blue Roofs

Cannon Place, City of London.

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BMI Blue Roof Solutions

Horbury Academy, Wakefield.

The BMI Blue Roof Systems are designed to explicitly store rainwater over a
period of time, with each system designed specifically for each project.

BENEFITS OF A BLUE ROOF TECHNICAL EXPERTISE SINGLE SOURCE RESPONSIBILITY

There are many benefits of a blue roof, Our Technical Advisors can assist BMI as a single source provider
depending on design: with the design, specification and eliminates the significant risk of

temporary storage of rainfall to supporting calculations required for a problems occurring over liability
mitigate run-off impacts; BMI Blue Roof system or hybrid should the integrity of the
system in conjunction with a Canopia waterproofing be comprised.

reducing flow rate of the roof;
Green Roof. Combining extensive Our multi-product portfolio includes

storage of water for reuse, such as roofing and waterproofing knowledge reinforced bitumen systems,
irrigation; and and expertise with sustainability, single-ply and solvent-free liquid

make up the drainage and support water management and attenuation applied waterproofing which allows us
layer for green roofs. recommendations. to specify without any bias the correct
solution for the roof in question.
The BMI approach to any roof is
well proven over many thousands
of successful projects and
ensures success from the initial
design and consultation to
project sign-off.

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BMI Blue Roofs: Water
Retention Solutions

BMI BLUE ROOF PROTECTION & STORAGE

FLEECE – RMS 900

Protects root barrier membrane or roof
membrane from damage and stores water.

BLUE ROOF SUCTION & CAPILLARY FLEECE

– RMS 500K

100 % PES needle fleece.

Puncture resistance 2,600 N ( EN ISO 12236).

Vertical water permeability 37 L/s x m² (EN ISO 11058).

Mechanically strengthened and detector tested.

Rotproof.

PES hydrophilic.

Recyclable.

BMI BLUE ROOF PROTECTION & STORAGE

FLEECE – RMS 300

Protects roof membrane against damage
and stores water.

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BMI BLUE ROOF WATER RETENTION BOX – 150 mm

Cavity suitable for water retention.

High pressure stability.

Adjusted to specific project requirements.

With capillary columns.

BMI BLUE ROOF WATER RETENTION BOX – WRB 85v


100% recycled PP (polypropylene).

Approx. 95 Vol. % cavity volume for water retention.

Coordinated via super structure above .

High water storage volume.

Low weight.

With capillary columns.

Recyclable.

BMI BLUE ROOF WATER RETENTION BOX – WRB 85i


Cavity suitable for water retention.

High pressure stability.

Adjusted to specific project requirements.

With capillary columns.

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BMI Blue Roofs: Water
Retention Solutions

BMI BLUE ROOF WATER RETENTION BOX – WRB 80F


High cavity volume for water retention.

Water retention adjustable to the green build up above.

High water storage capability.

With capillary columns.

BMI BLUE ROOF FILTER FLEECE – FIL 300


Prevents fine particles from forming sludge in the
drainage layer, high water permeability.

BMI BLUE ROOF FLOW CONTROL SYSTEM

– ASF 70/100/125

Flow control hole can be fitted at a defined height according
to the property-related calculation via the waterproofing,
through which rainwater can be collected.

ACO spin flat roof gully lower section is to be installed by a
professional (e.g. roofer) according to the manufacturer’s
specifications.

ACO spin flat roof gully lower sections can be purchased
directly from ACO.

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BMI BLUE ROOF FLOW CONTROL SYSTEM – ALD 100-110

Flow control hole can be fitted at a defined height according
to the property-related calculation via the waterproofing,
through which rainwater can be collected.

The roof drainage outlet is to be installed by a professional
(e.g. roofer) according to the manufacturer’s specifications.

BMI BLUE ROOF INSPECTION CHAMBER


Chamber walls and cover with inlet slots, possible to connect
2 lengths triangle water conduit plus on three sides.

Chamber cover with inlet slots, compressive strength
approximately 150 kg.

Insensitive to humic acid.

Reverse releasable 80 mm high.

Accessories: 50 mm and 100 mm height extensions available.

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Waterproofing Systems

Eastleigh House, Totnes, UK

The waterproofing is paramount to the success of a green roof. It has a fundamental

requirement to prevent water ingress into a building and resist damage from root
penetration. The roofing system also provides thermal performance, roof drainage
falls, air tightness and vapour control to the building.

BMI’s experience in waterproofing SINGLE PLY MEMBRANES HOT MELT STRUCTURAL

technology allows us to deliver the Sureplan FPO and Monarplan PVC WATERPROOFING
correct specification of roof single-ply membranes provide a The Parabit Hot Melt Structural
membrane and system to suit the lightweight high performance Waterproofing System offers a
criteria of the green roof project waterproofing option. The nature of seamless highly elastomeric
based on the choice of landscaping, single-ply membranes makes them bitumen waterproofing option ideally
performance and robustness more suited to extensive roof suited to large scale applications
required. systems. Green roof waterproofing such as intensive roof systems and
systems using Icopal Universal WS podium decks.
REINFORCED BITUMEN
combine the benefits of a single layer
MEMBRANES
membrane with the robustness of a
A multi-layer elastomeric Reinforced bitumen membrane.
Bitumen Membrane (RBM) system
incorporating the Rootbar Capsheet LIQUID APPLIED ROOFING
provides a high performance and Sealoflex cold applied liquid
extremely robust waterproofing waterproofing offers environmentally
system suitable for use under a wide considerate and flexible solutions to
range of green roof systems. previously frustrating and difficult
waterproofing problems.

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BMI UK & Ireland BMI UK & Ireland is part of the world’s largest roofing and waterproofing
BMI House manufacturer. A global business specialising in building materials for
2 Pitfield today’s and tomorrow’s needs. BMI is a new name, backed-up with over
180 years of experience and knowledge. Bringing together the roofing
Kiln Farm
expertise of industry leading Icopal and Redland and their experience
Milton Keynes
in the specification, manufacture and supply of flat and pitched roofing
MK11 3LW solutions. United to deliver excellence for our customers.
+44 (0) 843 224 7400
[email protected] Learn more at www.bmigroup.com/uk

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