Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association

Landscape Guidelines 2004 Edition

Chapter 13. Landscaping Over
Structures
CHAPTER 13. Landscaping over Rooftops and Structures
Rooftop gardens and landscaping over structure such as parking garages are an opportunity to
create green spaces in Ontario. This practice is common in Europe and is becoming more
accepted in Ontario.
13.1 General
13.1.1 Environmental Conditions: andscaped areas on roof slabs and in contained planters are
sub!ect to more severe drying conditions" the elements and potential drainage problems
than at ground level. To confront these issues gro#ing medium depth and type"
drainage system" membrane layers" plant selection" amount of direct and reflected
sunlight" #atering$irrigation" #ater storage and maintenance all re%uire special attention.
13.1.& Reference 'ublications and egislation:
.1 Rooftop gardens are considered to be an e(tension of the roof and are therefore
sub!ect to the )unicipal *y+la#s" local ,oning" Ontario *uilding Code and the
-ational *uilding Code.
.& .f the garden is accessible to the occupants or public then public+issues for
handicap access" rail spacing" parapet heights" lights" e(its and safety must be
addressed.
.3 C)/C Roof 0ecks 0esign 1uidelines.
.2 34T) 53merican 4ociety for Testing )aterials6 guidelines.
.7 8ire Codes: C3-$9C+41:; + 4tandard )ethods of 8ire Tests of Roof
Coverings< -ational 4tandard of Canada.
.1 34T) E 1:= + 4tandard Test )ethods for 8ire Tests of Roof Coverings.
.> 1eosynthetic 34T)?s : 0+2>3&$27@7$3;=>$2=33$2733$2377$2;71$22@1$7>&1
.1 CC)C + Technical 1uide for 'AC 4heet Baterproofing 5E(posed to ight
'edestrian Traffic6< -ational Research Council" Canada Construction
)aterials Centre 5CC)C6.
.& C14* 3;+1'+72 ) + Roofing and Baterproofing )embrane" 4heet 3pplied"
8le(ible" 'olyvinyl Chloride< Canadian 1eneral 4tandards *oard.
.3 C14* 3;+1'+77) + 3pplication of 4heet 3pplied 8le(ible 'olyvinyl Chloride
Roofing )embrane< Canadian 1eneral 4tandards *oard.
.; -ational *uilding Code of Canada Compliance: Comply #ith -ational *uilding
Code of Canada 1@@7" 'art @" Clause @.&>.&.15165h6
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Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association
Landscape Guidelines 2004 Edition
Chapter 13. Landscaping Over
Structures
.= 4ee 3ppendi( C*D for other applicable legislation.
Principle Component Laers of a Rooftop Garden
13.1.3 4cheduling: /oisting and moving of soil" plants and drainage material onto or through
buildings structures should be carefully coordinated #ith tenants and other trades on+site.
3ll re%uired permits and if applicable" building permits" shall be obtained.
13.1.2 oad Capacity: Beight is the primary limiting factor for most roof garden or structural
designs. Therefore the design of landscaped areas over structures shall be such that
loading is not in e(cess of the design loading for the structure. /oisting and moving
drainage material on structures shall be managed so as to avoid e(cessive loading. *oth
the intended landscape design loading and loading during construction shall be revie#ed"
approved and documented by a structural engineer.
13.1.7 1ro#ing )edium 0epths and Aolumes: The minimum recommended depths for gro#ing
medium over structures is sho#n in Table 13 + 1. 0esigns should take into account the
effect of on soil moisture+holding capacity small depths and volumes. 4mall" narro# or
shallo# planters #ill dry out very %uickly and re%uire e(tra care in plant selection"
irrigation design" monitoring and maintenance.
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Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association
Landscape Guidelines 2004 Edition
Chapter 13. Landscaping Over
Structures
Ta!le 13"1# $inimum Gro%ing $edium &ept's after Settlement
(or )n"Sla! Applications* +ncluding Roof &ec,s and +nteriors
.rrigated la#n areas
-on+irrigated la#n areas
'lanting areas:
ground cover areas
4hrub areas:
small shrubs

large shrubs
Tree pits
small to medium trees
large trees
17: mm 5>E6
&&7 mm 5@D6
&&7 mm 5@E6
3::+7:: mm 51&+&:E6
7::+@:: mm 5&:+3>E6
27:+@:: mm 51=+3>E6
@::+1&:: mm 53>+2=E6
From: CMHC Roof Decks Design Guidelines
13.1.> 1ro#ing )edium 'roperties: The gro#ing medium consists of a speciali,ed soil mi(. The
gro#ing medium layer must be able to retain moisture and must provide firm anchorage
for plant roots" supply the plants #ith essential nutrients and allo# gaseous e(change.
.1 1ro#ing medium for roof slabs and contained planters shall be designed to avoid
plugging or caking at the filter cloth" and should therefore be lo# in content of
fines 5silts and clays6. This layer should not become easily compacted" #hich
could lead to acidification of the soil and ultimate degeneration of the plants.
.& 1ro#ing medium properties sho#n in Table 7+1. for E/igh Traffic )aintenance
evelsE may be applicable for use on roof slabs and in contained planters"
amended for planting areas by increasing the content of organic matter to 12+
&:F. The organic matter may be present in a homogenous mi(ture #ith the
mineral components or may be contained #ithin the top &: cm of gro#ing
medium.
.3 European ist: The physical and chemical properties of the gro#ing medium
satisfy relevant 8 guidelines for the chosen material. 58orschungsgesellschaft
andschaftsent#icklung andschaftsbau E. A." 3usgabe 1@@7: Research
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Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association
Landscape Guidelines 2004 Edition
Chapter 13. Landscaping Over
Structures
3ssociation for andscape 0evelopment and andscape Construction6 Table
13+&
Ta!le 13"-
E(tensive 4oil .ntensive 4oil 0rain )aterial
one layer multi+layered soil mi(ture bulk material
mi(ture
'/G4.C3 'RO'ERT.E4
Bater retention
5compressed condition6
min. &7F min. 37F min. 7:F min. 17F 5#ithout
#ater damming6
Bater permeability
5compressed condition6
min. >:
mm$min
min. :">
mm$min
min. :.3 mm$min min. 1=: mm$min
3ir Content
58ully 4aturated6
min. &7F min. 17F min. &:F
Beight 5density6
5fully saturated6
:.=+1.2 g$cm
3
1.:+&.& g$cm
3
1.2+&.& g$cm
3
1.:+1.= g$cm
3
:.=+1.= g$cm
3

dependent on the
material
C/E).C3 'RO'ERT.E4
p/+value >.7 H @.7 >.7 H =.: >.7 H ;.7 >.7 H =.:
4alt content of #ater
e(tract 5recommended"
if possible6
ma(. 1 g$liter
.nitial organic matter 3+=F 3.>F >+1&F
-itrogen 5-6 slightly
soluble
ma(. >: mg$liter ma(. >: mg$liter
'hosphorous 5'&O76 ma(. 17: mg$liter ma(. &:: mg$liter
'otassium 5I&O6 min. 17: mg$liter min. 17: mg$liter
)agnesium 5)g6 ma(. 1&: mg$liter ma(. 1&: mg$liter
13.1.; 'rotection of Baterproofing: 3ll slab areas" #alls and other surfaces to receive gro#ing
medium shall have an impermeable surface $ #aterproof membrane #ith a protective
cover 5protection board6.
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Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association
Landscape Guidelines 2004 Edition
Chapter 13. Landscaping Over
Structures
13.1.= 0rainage: 3ll soil areas on+slab shall be ade%uately drained by the follo#ing methods:
layers are designed to store #ater for plant use and regulate #ater runoff. 4election of
material based on structural load capacity of roof or structure" vegetative selection" #ater
permeability" storage capacity.
13.1.@ 0rainage layer" consisting of" a manufactured product specifically designed for slab
drainage or minimum 1:: mm depth 52E6 of round drain rock.
.1 The drainage layer shall be installed immediately over the protective cover and
separated from the gro#ing medium #ith a filter fabric$geosynthetic te(tiles.
.& 8ilter fabric $geosynthetic te(tiles shall be designed or selected to meet the
strength" durability and permeability re%uirements of each application.
.3 Recommended minimum average roll test values for filter fabrics$geosynthetic
te(tiles for on+slab installations are:
Ta!le 13"3
'uncture 34T)+0+2=33 :.&2: I-
)ullen *urst 4trength 34T)+0+3;=>: greater than 1&;7k'a
3pparent Opening 4i,e 34T)+0+2;7 1: &1& um
'ermittivity 34T)+0+22@ 1: &.1 sec"+J
8lo# Rate 34T)+0+22@1: >3:: .$min.$)&
.2 The filter fabric$geosynthetic te(tiles shall be selected and designed to #ithstand
#ear and tear during construction #ithout deterioration of its strength and or
filtering properties. Bhere substantial traffic is envisioned over the filter
fabric$geosynthetic te(tiles during construction a heavier" more durable fabric
#ith high permittivity and flo# rate should be selected.
.7 0eck drains and planter drains #here re%uired to collect e(cess #ater. *i+level
drains should be used #here appropriate to accept #ater at both the surface
paving and the #aterproofed membrane level. 0rains shall be ade%uately
protected to prevent soil particles and roots from entering the drain.
.> 3ll drains should be accessible for inspection and cleaning via a capped cleanout
riser to finish grade. 3ll slabs shall have a sufficient slope to ensure runoff to
drain.
.; 0eck drains may not be re%uired immediately beneath the gro#ing medium"
provided that the e(cess #ater collected in the drainage layer beneath the
gro#ing medium is directed to flo# out of the soil area to deck drains located
outside the soil area.
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Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association
Landscape Guidelines 2004 Edition
Chapter 13. Landscaping Over
Structures
.= )anufactured drainage panels #ith filter fabric specifically designed for on+slab
drainage shall be installed such that a continuous drain course is established.
13.1.1: 0esign Conditions: 4tructural considerations such as: #ind load drag on trees" stress
reflected heat" rapid #inter free,ing" sno# load" medium and plant #eight are important
factors.
.1 0esigns over slab may re%uire earth forms and finish grades that could result in
e(cessive loading on the structural slab if the full depth consisted of gro#ing
medium.
.& ight#eight materials may be incorporated as voiding to reduce loading.
.3 Aoiding materials shall be of sufficient compressive strength to resist deformation
and settlement due to the #eights of gro#ing medium" traffic" plants" #ater and
other forces.
.2 Aoiding materials shall resist decomposition and shall not absorb more than 2F
#ater by volume at any time.
.7 )aterials commonly used for voiding are solid blocks or clean formed Eseedling
traysE of e(panded polystyrene 5E'46 #hich has a uniform cellular structure and
is free from voids resulting from un+e(panded components.
.> Bhere voiding materials are specified or approved for use" they shall be
arranged and installed such that the movement of #ater through the gro#ing
medium" filter fabric" voiding and drainage course to the drains is not impeded.
13.1.11 Batering: 0ue to rapid drainage in the gro#ing medium" absence of a #ater table" finite
amount of soil" and e(posure to the climatic conditions" soil areas on+slab #ill re%uire
more fre%uent #atering than at ground level.
.1 3 #ater supply should be conveniently located near all planting areas. 3n
automatic irrigation system #ith drip emitter should be installed to serve all
planted areas on slab" to ensure consistent #atering and prevent plant losses
due to drying.
13.1.1& )onitoring and )aintenance: andscape over structures re%uires a higher level of
monitoring and maintenance than other landscape areas. )aintenance practices as
stated in 4ection 1>" andscape )aintenance evel 1 is often appropriate for landscapes
over structures.
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