New Fire Design Standard Approved for Green Roofs

Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC), the green roof industry association, and SPRI Inc., the trade association representing the manufacturers of commercial roofing systems and component suppliers, announced that the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has accepted their VF-1, Fire Design Standard for Vegetative Roofs as an American National Standard. This document was created to provide a design and installation reference for roofing professionals to help eliminate the risk of fire on vegetative/green roofs.

"This was a true industry effort including manufacturers, green roofing professionals, testing organizations, contractors, design professionals and consultants," said Mike Ennis, technical director for SPRI.

“This new standard is the result of close collaboration between Green Roofs for Healthy Cities and the Single Ply Roofing Industry and it should help to open the doors to better design practices in the industry and allay overblown concerns about fire,” said Steven Peck, president of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities.

“The VF-1 Fire Design Guide establishes clear criteria for minimizing the risk of fire on green roofs through prudent design and a mandatory maintenance regiment. This milestone in the North American green roof movement facilitates future growth by securing a place in mainstream construction under the International Building Code. This is a great day for the green roof industry and the environment,” said Kelly Luckett, chair of GRHC’s Technical Committee and president, Green Roof Blocks.

Source: Green Roofs for Healthy Cities