WORK PACKAGES


WP A- New Concepts for Active Roofs
WP B - Wind and Seismic Effects
WP C - Rain and Wind Driven Rain Effects
WP D - Condensation
WP E - Snow and Ice Load
WP F - Safety in Installation, Maintenance and Repair
WP G - Guidance
WP H - Pre-standardisation
WP I - Training activities

The work in EUR-ACTIVE ROOFer is divided in nine so-called Work Packages, numbered A to I. This section describes what will be done in each of these Work Packages.

WP A- New Concepts for Active Roofs

WP B - Wind and Seismic Effects

Non-traditional roof elements can be much more sensitive to wind and seismic loading than traditional products such as roofing tiles and can easily be blown off the roof or be damaged during earthquakes. Wind loading can be particularly sensitive to small changes in the form of a roof caused by Active Roof elements particularly where accessories, such as PV panels are mounted above the roof. There is currently no guidance available on these effects so research will be carried out into seismic effects on roof accessories, permeability, pressure equalizing, the position of the roof accessory on or in the building envelope, the duration of the wind load, the effect on wind pressure shape factors for various mounting methods and the possibility of the roof accessory increasing the wind loads on the existing roof structure (leader: TNO).

WP C - Rain and Wind Driven Rain Effects

Any non-traditional roof elements or accessories will be a potential source of leakage due to penetrations through the roof or at interfaces with the existing roof elements. On Active Roofs there will be many interfaces and penetrations through the waterproof roof envelope from ventilation devices, Photovoltaic systems, etc., which influence the performance of the roof and create leakages in many cases. Research will be carried out on the performance of Active Roofs under rain and wind driven rain and the causes of leakage such as capillary action, wind blown rain, flooding or overtopping of drainage channels, etc. Experimental and/or theoretical assessment procedures will be developed (leader: BRE).

WP D - Condensation

Various solutions for Active Roofs where a vapour tight outside layer is applied or where the roof element constitutes a highly vapour tight layer lead to problems under this layer. Warm, moist air under the layer will condense and consequently water is left in the roof structure, leading to the undermining of wooden structures and corrosion of metal parts. The use of very vapour tight materials like Photovoltaic systems is rather new and the existing knowledge in the roofing trade is not sufficient to design these and other Active Roof systems to adequately take the condensation risk into account. Research will be carried out to develop suitable methods for simulation of climatic impact related to condensation and the problems of moisture and humidity induced ageing. Theoretical models for the negative effects of water trapped in the insulation and wood of the roof construction will be developed and validated by experiments and practical applications (leader: BTI).

WP E - Snow and Ice Load

Active Roofs can be more sensitive to snow load and consequently increase the risk of damage. This work package will focus on several different roof coverings and installations used in Active Roofs. Snow and ice friction will be of special interest because this involves important safety issues such as snow avalanches from roofs caused by the low friction of, for example, Photovoltaic systems. Research into these and other related issues such as freeze-thaw cycles will be carried out leading to theoretical models and experimental testing (leader: NBI).

WP F - Safety in Installation, Maintenance and Repair

The majority of roof installation, maintenance and repair is carried out without built-in safety devices. EU demands for improved safety of workers on roofs require more accessible areas on the roofs. This will lead to new elements on the roofs such as safety hooks, ladders, walkways, etc. This WP will focus on providing innovative solutions and practical guidance for the use of these fixed or mobile devices and their integration into Active Roofs. Many of these safety devices could affect the function of the roof leading to for example wind damage, rain penetration or snow drift (leader: EMI).


As a result of the WPs B to F, both guidance tools and prestandardisation documents will be developed. This part of the project concerns the development of practical guidance for the roofer and the preparation of pre-standards.

WP G - Guidance

This WP will carry out a critical review of the results of WPs B-F and will develop simplified rules for design of Active Roofs, taking into account different climatic zones and different roof constructions in the member states. A catalogue of best practice examples will also be produced (leader: IFD).

WP H - Pre-standardization

This WP will prepare pre-standards for wind loading, seismic effects, driving rain, condensation and snow and ice loading for consideration by the appropriate CEN or EOTA committees. This work will accumulate in a set-up for labels on Active Roofs and Active Roofers, published and stimulated by the IFD (leader: TNO).

WP I - Training activities

WP I deals with all aspects of training. The training activities will be carried out on two levels: first training programmes will be developed by trainers who work for the training schools of the national roofing associations. They will be available in electronic form such as DVDs, in English, German and French. Then, the national associations will be responsible for adapting these for the country/region training roofers in their national language (leader: ZVDH).

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