Extensive Green Roof Irrigation Systems
Extensive green roof irrigation systems provide many benefits, but with their exposed position and shallow root zones, it is vital that they are irrigated.
Improving Biodiversity
“Living Roofs can deliver benefits throughout the city for individuals and for society as a whole, by creating new outdoor spaces and enhancing biodiversity.
They can also help us adapt to the challenge of climate change by reducing flood risk (through absorbing heavy rainfall) and providing cooling”
Mayor of London’s website
Extensive Irrigation
Access have been supplying green roof irrigation solutions for over 25 years, and have considerable expertise in the design and supply of extensive green roof watering systems. Extensive green roofs have surged in popularity and, although the plants selected are drought tolerant, some form of drip irrigation is still necessary.
Without irrigation the carefully selected biodiversity will give way to a monoculture as the hardiest species take over. For extensive green roofs, Access lay high quality commercial grade drip irrigation line on sedum or meadow grass mats. This is connected to the water supply via a break tank to comply with the Water Regulations.
Green Roof Irrigation Control
Sedum-type roofs often only need to be watered during very dry weather, which is beyond the capabilities of most irrigation controllers. To solve this problem, Access have developed the ‘DroughtGuard’ controller, which is designed to supply water only when there has been a prolonged period without rainfall.
DroughtGuard’ allows you to select trigger points for maximum flexibility. For example, you can set the irrigation system to operate only when rainfall is less than a certain amount. This ensures that water is not wasted, and that your green roof plants receive consistent precipitation, regardless of weather.
Our Expertise
Access Irrigation advise the architect at the start of the project on the most suitable type of irrigation and provide information on compliance with the Water Regulations. Using scale plans, we are able to produce designs and costings for the project, along with the relevant information for specifiers and contractors.
Once the project commences we provide project management services. Once commissioned, Access Irrigation also offer service visits to ensure that the irrigation system keeps operating as intended.
