The Prieuré Vegetal ID: a step forward for green terraces and roofs

 Green roofs are now an essential technical solution in urban development strategies.

An innovative horticultural company and supplier of green systems for flat roofs and facades, the company The Priory - Vegetal iD develops technical solutions to meet new economic, environmental and urban challenges.

With 20 years of experience, this company, based in Moisy (41), has become a major player in the green roofs, facades and walls. The Priory is one of the largest nurseries in Europe and exports its expertise throughout the world.

The Hydropack Le Prieuré water reserve tank and Toitures Vegetal iD solutions have obtained the CSTB Technical Opinion (no. 5/10 2120), issued in the category “Process for greening terraces and green roofs”.

This Technical Opinion rewards years of work in research and development, validated by numerous tests conducted by the ENIVL laboratory in Blois. Already awarded a Gold Medal at the Innovation Competition at the Batimat trade fair in 2005, The Priory also received support from ANVAR for the development of this innovative process which is protected by an international patent.

HYDROPACK

A major innovation for green roofs

The pre-cultivated tank HydroPack Le Prieuré is an innovative solution for greening roofs that perfectly meets the challenges of construction and sustainable development.

The HydroPack system has many advantages:

• it allows the building to be integrated into the landscape,

• it protects the waterproofing membrane against solar radiation,

• it improves the thermal and sound insulation of the building,

• it absorbs the majority of precipitation thanks to its water reserve which also allows very low irrigation.

Additionally, evapotranspiration linked to the presence of sedums generates localized cooling. The plants and bacteria present in the substrate capture CO2, release oxygen through photosynthesis, and contribute to air purification by filtering out the particles present.

HYDROPACK

An innovative concept for greening roofs

The pre-cultivated tank HydroPack with water reserve is an “all-in-one” product for quick and easy installation. HydroPack brings together in a single element all the components of a roof greening complex: drainage, filter, substrate and vegetation.

The pre-cultivated tray is made of recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) which combines several functions:

• very efficient drainage: 500 holes/m2,

• a permanent water reserve of 8 liters/m2,

• a distribution of the water reserve over the entire surface,

• pre-cultivated vegetation,

• a strong hanging system for easy installation.

Implementation: a single operation

Installation is quick and easy, requiring no horticultural expertise: simply place the containers on the waterproofing or waterproof support. The attachment system between modules ensures both easy installation and high tensile strength. Only one delivery and one intervention are required on site, which simplifies logistics.

The water reserve tank HydroPack fits perfectly with most architectures:

• flat roofs,

• sloping roofs,

• roofs exposed to strong winds.

The implementation of HydroPack is possible on many waterproof supports, thanks to the shape and rigidity of the tray: waterproofing membranes, asphalt, corrugated fiber cement sheets, steel trays, etc.

HydroPack offers a large and optimized water reserve

• the system increases water retention of green roofs thanks to the honeycomb base of the tray,

• “buffer effect”: during heavy rainfall, HydroPack reduces and delays the evacuation of rainwater. The flow rate is limited, which has the primary consequence of reducing the clogging of the pipeline networks.

• water circulates from cell to cell, and from tank to tank, thanks to an original system of channels which communicate with each other. The distribution of water is optimal.

• HydroPack has very effective drainage: 500 holes/m2 provide a large drainage surface. This drainage prevents plants from suffocating, particularly on flat roofs with zero slope.

An immediate green appearance

Packaged on 14,4 m2 pallets (60 trays), the trays, pre-cultivated for 12 to 18 months, are completely covered with vegetation upon delivery. The plants selected by The Priory are low in height (maximum 7-8 cm), resistant to drought and severe frosts, and flower in summer for a safe, immediate and long-lasting aesthetic result.

Easy maintenance

Pre-cultivated trays HydroPack allow maintenance to be limited to only 1 or 2 visits per year on the roof. These interventions are carried out by the Project Owner or subcontracted to a landscaping or specialist company. A 40 cm "sterile" zone is left all around the roof to allow for monitoring and maintenance of drainage and rainwater evacuations.

Some technical characteristics

• composition: pre-cultivated tray made from recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE)

• external dimensions per unit: l. 600 mm x w. 400 mm x h. 90 mm

• substrate thickness: 6 cm

• weight of dry bins: 12 kg (i.e. 50 kg/m2)

• weight of the water-saturated tanks: 21 kg (i.e. 88 kg/m2)