The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has adopted RP14, a wind design standard for vegetative roofing systems. RP14 was developed over several years in a collaboration between two trade associations, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC) and the Single Ply Roofing Industry (SPRI). Manufacturers, contractors, designers, green roofing professionals, and testing agencies were tapped to help create a comprehensive wind safety standard for this rapidly-growing segment of the roofing market.
The standard was developed to provide a design and installation reference for builders and installers to avoid the risk of uplift on green roofs in high wind areas. Kelly Luckett, Chair of GRHC’s Technical Committee, said in a statement, “The RP-14 Wind Design Guideline combines established design principles of conventional roofing systems with the wind tunnel testing conducted at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to set minimum requirements aimed toward reducing the risk of wind damage to vegetative green roof systems. The standard provides clear design criteria that will help pave the way for growth of the green roof industry in even the most challenging wind zones of North America.”
A PDF of RP14—Wind Design Standard for Vegetative Roofs is available for free download at greenroofs.org/resources/ANSI_SPRI_RP_14_2010_Wind_Design_Standard_for_Vegetative_Roofing_Systems.pdf