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MULTIFUNCTIONAL ROOFS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD OF PASSIVE BUILDINGS

How do you imagine the residential neighborhood of the future? Design criteria aside, part of your answer is probably: it should be environmentally friendly. For La Petite Halle, a neighborhood of passive buildings near Luzarches, in France, the architect achieved energetic independence of buildings and efficient management of renewable resources by making the most of flat rooftop surfaces.

Project ID
Location

Luzarches, France

Application

Green roofs; PV roofs

Project type

New Build

Building type

Residential

Surface

2,300 m²

Products

Elevate RubberGard EPDM 1.1 mm and 1.5 mm + V-Gard + RESISTA AK

System

Fully adhered

There are many ways of activating the fifth façade: from green and blue roofs to solar panels, a roof lends itself to a wide variety of sustainable solutions. Jean-Marc Porche, the architect behind La Petite Halle, implemented all of them for maximum ecological efficiency. Thanks to its characteristics, Elevate’s RubberGard EPDM roofing membrane covers all of these needs. It remains uninfluenced by external conditions, has a service life of over 50 years and can be reused or recycled, and it significantly contributes to the overall carbon neutrality of the building.

CHARI ETANCHÉITÉ, an Elevate authorized contractor, was responsible for performing the waterproofing work of the building from February to June 2019, when a total of 2,300 m² of RubberGard EPDM was installed. Despite facing strong winds, heavy rain, and even snow during the winter of 2019, the installation was completed in just about twenty days by a team of three roofers. The large 5.8 m wide membrane panels made the installation faster and more efficient. Laurent Vyncke, Regional Sales Director of Holcim in France, confirms that the crew was able to complete an average of one roof per day.

It is also important to note that the use of RubberGard EPDM is not only efficient but its flame-free installation made it also safe. This was crucial as the houses were built using expanded polystyrene formwork blocks. The Elevate V-Gard vapor barrier membrane and the Elevate RESISTA AK PIR (polyisocyanurate) insulation boards with a thickness of 120 mm were also used in the project.

WHAT ARE THE KEY FUNCTIONS OF A ROOF?

In a conversation with Jean-Marc Porche, we broke down three key functions of the roofs at La Petite Halle. Green roofs regulate the temperature of the building and provide a habitat for insects and birds. Photovoltaic panels are connected to smart electric heaters that analyze the way residents live and manage the consumption accordingly. Rainwater-collecting functionalities provide water for plants in a community gardening area. View the gallery and read more about the design and building process of this eco-friendly neighborhood.

The Roof Assembly

01 Extensive green roof system/ solar panels
02 Elevate RubberGard EPDM roofing membrane
03 Elevate RESISTA AK insulation
04 Elevate V-Gard vapor control membrane
05 Expanded polystyrene/concrete roof deck

THERE IS A LOT TO DISCOVER ABOUT EPDM

EPDM is the most future-proof roofing solution when it comes to sustainabilityperformance and design freedom. Learn more about the role it played within this project and many others by discovering its benefits.

How did EPDM elevate this project?

GREEN ROOFS

 

Green roofs cool down and insulate. Reduce noise. Create habitats for birds and insects. All great features. However, it’s only made to last when it’s designed carefully and installed on the non-toxic root-and water resistant EPDM membrane.

SOLAR ROOFS

 

The UV resistance of EPDM is the highest among all available roofing solutions. It lasts longer than the solar panels, which allows to create sustainable, low-maintenance solar roofs that function for many decades.