Green Roof Systems
Green roof structures bring the enriching and enlightening natural world closer to our everyday lives while helping to safeguard our environment and its fragile ecosystems. By introducing valuable pockets of diversity into new developments, green roof structures can secure additional BREEAM or Sustainable Housing Code value. Hundreds of plant and wildlife species can be established in a few square metres, reproducing varied ecosystems in areas where the habitat has been eroded by urbanisation.
External stores are ideally suited to support green roof systems, with the lower height and simpler construction reducing construction and ongoing maintenance costs. Maintenance requirements are minimal, with an annual visit to dead-head plants and remove self-sown weed species.
As well as reducing water run-off, green roofs help to reduce the amount of CO2 in the air, with 1m2 of green roof able to absorb 5 kg of CO2 yearly. As a perspective, 1m2 of green roof can absorb the same quantity of CO2 as a regular car would emit during a 80km drive. The green plants reduce the ‘urban heat island effect’, helping combat the effects of pollution, absorbing noise, trapping dust, recycling carbon dioxide, absorbing and breaking down many gaseous pollutants.
Such external structures often have a significant visual impact due to their size. Specifying a green roof can help stores blend with the landscape, and improve views from surrounding buildings to create a more pleasing environment.
The sedum type green roof specified on metroSTOR units is a lightweight system, with a growing medium substrate capable of supporting drought-tolerant species such as low-growing mosses and sedum. Installed as a pre-established turf, there are minimal establishment issues and ongoing maintenance requirements are limited to annual weed removal.
For larger green roof projects an intensive type system can be specified; boasting wildflowers, particularly those native to calcareous grassland, along with sedums, giving a more diverse sward and greatly extended flowering season. The spectacular flower display is very attractive to bees and butterflies, and leaving the vegetation uncut during the winter provides a food source for seed-eating birds and shelter for a wide range of invertebrates. The increased depth of growing medium and composite drainage reservoir for this type of green roof requires structural design specific to the application.
At metroSTOR we make the process of specifying products that reduce fire risk, reduce waste disposal costs, increase recycling and improve environments, as simple and straightforward as possible.
Detailed drawings for the product range are available to download in PDF and CAD formats with most metroSTOR products available for download as a BIM objects with NBS specification references for integration with your Building Information Model at every stage of the project lifecycle.
metroSTOR CPD resources include webinar formats to develop understanding and knowledge around the types of external storage and the legislation that affects these.
Our library of case studies is available for your inspiration, highlighting examples of best practice for external storage in social housing environments, as well as many other sectors where modular storage units are installed.
If you are putting a project out for tender with external storage requirements, NBS specification references are available for all units. These can be found on NBS Plus or are downloadable from our library. Our technical team can also create references for bespoke items to ensure exactly what you specify is installed on site.