ASTM_E_2400_-_E_2400M_-_06_2015e1.pdf

Designation:E2400/E2400M06(Reapproved 2015)1Standard Guide forSelection,Installation,and Maintenance of Plants for GreenRoof Systems1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2400/E2400M;the number immediately following the designation indicates the yearof original adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A superscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1NOTEUnits information was editorially corrected in January 2015.1.Scope1.1 This guide covers the considerations for the selection,installation,and maintenance of plants for green roof systems.1.2 This guide is applicable to both extensive and intensivegreen roof systems.1.3 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound unitsare to be regarded separately as standard.The values stated ineach system may not be exact equivalents;therefore,eachsystem shall be used independently of the other.Combiningvalues from the two systems may result in non-conformancewith the standard.1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and to determine theapplicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2E631 Terminology of Building ConstructionsE2114 Terminology for Sustainability Relative to the Perfor-mance of Buildings3.Terminology3.1 Definitions:3.1.1 For terms related to building construction,refer toTerminology E631.3.1.2 For terms related to sustainability relative to theperformance of buildings,refer to Terminology E2114.4.Summary of Guide4.1 This guide covers the selection criteria for plants to beused on green roofs.Primary considerations are as follows:4.1.1 Design intent,4.1.2 Aesthetics,4.1.3 Climate;includingbothmacroclimateandmicroclimate,4.1.4 Plantcharacteristics,includingtherateofestablishment,longevity,and disease and pest resistance,and4.1.5 Media composition and depth.4.2 This guide covers the installation of plants for greenroofs.Installation methods include:4.2.1 Precultivation,and4.2.2 Direct planting on roof(seeds,root cuttings,andplugs).4.3 Guidance is also provided for the maintenance of plantsfor green roofs.5.Significance and Use5.1 This guide addresses performance characteristics forgreen roof systems with respect to the planting.A rooftop is anextreme environment with strong and variable wind patternsand little or no protection from the suns intense heat andultraviolet radiation.Selection of plant material can be crucialfor success of the green roof system.5.1.1 This guide provides general guidance only.It isimportant to consult with a professional horticulturist,greenroof consultant,or work with similar professionals that areknowledgeable,experienced,and acquainted with green rooftechnology and plants.5.2 Determining these performance characteristics of greenroof systems provides information to facilitate the assessmentof engineering aspects of the facility.Such aspects may includestructural design requirements,mechanical engineering andthermal design requirements,and fire and life safety require-ments.5.3 Determining these performance characteristics of greenroof systems provides information to facilitate assessment ofthe performance of one green roof system relative to another.1This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D08 on Roofing andWaterproofingand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D08.24 on Sustain-ability.Current edition approved Jan.1,2015.Published February 2015.Originallyapproved in 2006.Last previous edition approved in 2006 as E2400-06.DOI:10.1520/E2400_E2400M-06R15E01.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 6.Selection6.1 In general,green roofs can be categorized into twotypes,intensive or extensive,depending on the plant materialand planned usage for the roof area.6.1.1 Intensive green roofsIntensive green roofs utilize awide variety of plant species that may include trees and shrubsand are generally limited to flat roofs.Use of large plantsrequires deeper media layers,possibly 25 cm 10 in.or more,which results in more weight and a need for an increasedstructural load capacity of the building.Intensive green roofsusually have higher requirements for water,labor and otherresources than extensive green roofs.6.1.2 Extensive green roofsExtensive green roofs use anarrow range of species limited to herbs,grasses,mosses,anddrought tolerant succulents such as sedum,a succulent plantknown for its tolerance for extreme conditions.These types ofplants can potentially be sustai