Fire And Wind Protection For Green Roofs

Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC) will partner with the Single Ply Roofing Industry association (SPRI) to spearhead the development of wind and fire standards for green roofs.

While green roofs have been utilized for several decades without any known catastrophic losses attributed to wind or fire, concerns have been raised about the lack of standards associated with the prevention of losses due to fire or wind because of the diverse climate of North America.

In April 2007, Waltham, MA-based, SPRI initiated the development process by holding a meeting which brought together the key industrial players to plan for the development of the vegetative roof wind and fire standards. GRHC was in attendance along with other industry players including the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) for both this meeting and the second meeting held in August. They began their first canvass for industry opinions on the proposed wind standard in September 2007, with the next round of canvass for the fire standard beginning in early 2008.

“We are very pleased to have this opportunity to help SPRI – an organization that like GRHC is dedicated to promoting and cultivating professionalism and industry excellence – in the development of fire and wind standards for green roofs,” said Steven W. Peck, founder and president of GRHC.

“By acting now to establish these minimum design standards, we can relive the concerns voiced by the construction industry without placing regulatory barriers on environmental stewardship,” said Kelly Luckett, president of St. Louis, Miss.-based Green Roof Blocks and a member of the GRHC sub-committee that is helping develop the standards.

"SPRI was the logical choice to lead this standard development because of its diverse membership, technical expertise as well as being an approved ANSI canvasser,” said Dick Gillenwater, Carlisle SynTec Inc. and a member of both SPRI and GRHC. “GRHC brings to the team the niche knowledge of vegetative roofs establishing this team as the industry core for the project.”

Teaming with GRHC is the logical progression for SPRI as it continues to provide more to the construction industry than just keeping buildings watertight.

“With SPRI’s knowledge of multiple green roof solutions and GRHC green roof knowledge, this team can give the construction industry the best of both worlds,” said SPRI Technical Director, Mike Ennis.

GRHC was founded in 1999 as a small network of public and private organizations and is now a rapidly growing 501(c)(6), not-for-profit industry association for green roof experts in North America. The organization’s mission is to increase the awareness of the economic, social and environmental benefits of green roofs and green walls, and other forms of living architecture through education, advocacy, professionalism and celebrations of excellence.

SPRI Inc. was established in 1982. Its corporate members represent the supply side (materials and services) of the commercial roofing industry. Its purpose is to promote the exchange of ideas for the development of the highest standards and operating efficiencies within the flexible sheet membrane roofing systems manufacturers and to develop methods for improving the conditions and advancing the best interests of that industry.