composite / System / Living System
Green roof system with drainage composite (80mm-300mm system depth)
Layered green roof assemblies with drainage and growing media; extensive systems typically 90-150 mm deep with saturated weights around 95-155 kg/m2.
Atlas code
COM-SYS-LIV-002
At-a-glance signals
Layered green roof assemblies with drainage and growing media; extensive systems typically 90-150 mm deep with saturated weights around 95-155 kg/m2.
Overview
Executive summary
Green roof systems combine waterproofing protection, drainage, filter fabric and growing media to support vegetation on roofs. System build-ups vary from extensive (shallow) to intensive (deep) depending on planting requirements.
Best when…
- Temperature reduction: 4-6°C in buildings, 3.6-11.3°C local cooling
- Energy savings: 9-50% reduction in consumption
- Stormwater retention: 60-70% water capacity
- Acoustic benefits: 3-8dB sound reduction
- Extended waterproofing life through UV protection
- 50-year design life with proper maintenance
- Carbon sequestration: Up to 15 kg CO2/m² over life
- Biodiversity habitat creation in urban areas
- Green Star credits contribution potential
- Urban heat island mitigation
Top advantages
- 01 Temperature reduction: 4-6°C in buildings, 3.6-11.3°C local cooling
- 02 Energy savings: 9-50% reduction in consumption
- 03 Stormwater retention: 60-70% water capacity
- 04 Acoustic benefits: 3-8dB sound reduction
- 05 Extended waterproofing life through UV protection
Top limitations
- 01 High upfront costs: $155-835/m² depending on type
- 02 Structural load requirements: 60-500kg/m² saturated
- 03 Drought stress requiring irrigation in dry summers
- 04 Limited suitable native species palette
- 05 Annual maintenance costs: $2,000-5,000
Technical
Physical ·7
- Density
- 800 kg/m³
- Specific gravity
- 1.2
- Porosity
- 40 %
- Water absorption
- 60 %
- UV resistance
- Excellent // Protected by vegetation
- Chemical resistance
- Good // pH tolerant system
- pH tolerance
- 5.5-8.5
Mechanical ·4
- Tensile strength
- 7 MPa
- Compressive strength
- 150 MPa
- Impact resistance
- Moderate // Vegetation provides cushioning
- Creep resistance
- Good // Drainage materials stable
Sustainability & Health
Embodied carbon & energy ·7
- Embodied carbon
- 25
- Carbon footprint
- -15
- Embodied energy
- 180 MJ/kg
- Water footprint
- 500 L/kg
- Recycled content
- 50 %
- Renewable content
- 20 %
- Circular score
- 7
Compliance & Fire
Fire performance ·1
- Combustibility class
- Non-combustible // With <20% organic content
Cost & Lifecycle
Capex & lead time ·6
- Material cost (range)
- 155-835 // AUD/m² (extensive to intensive)
- Material cost (per unit)
- 400
- Lead time
- 1-3 weeks // Standard systems
- Lifecycle cost
- 600
- Annual maintenance
- 35
- Market availability
- Good // Multiple suppliers
Service life & durability ·3
- Expected lifespan
- 50
- Maintenance interval
- Bi-annual // Inspection frequency
- Warranty period
- 10
Layer D
Where it's used
Commercial office buildings (CBD focus)
Apartment buildings for amenity spaces
Shopping centres and industrial buildings
Institutional buildings (schools, hospitals)
Water authority buildings for WSUD compliance
Corporate headquarters with sustainability targets
Retrofits on existing buildings with adequate structure
Carpark rooftops in urban developments