The LRWA (Liquid Roofing and Waterproofing Association) is once again leading the liquid waterproofing industry forwards as it worked closely with the BRE to develop a generic Ecopoint rating for three types of liquid waterproofing – polyurethanes, PMMA’s and polyesters.
“Previously there has been no specific rating for cold applied liquid waterproofing, so architects and specifiers have had to use mastic asphalt as a default, which can be misrepresentative,” comments Mike Bradbury of the LRWA. “We believe the generic ratings allow specifiers to more accurately include cold applied liquids in building designs where a BREEAM rating is required."
Liquid waterproofing is the fastest growing sector in the flat roofing industry, and therefore it is critical that specifiers have the comprehensive information they need in order to appropriately specify what can be highly sustainable waterproofing systems.
The Green Guide to Specification uses Life Cycle Assessment to provide environmental ratings for building products. These ‘Ecopoints’ contribute towards a building element’s overall BREEAM rating, which can be from A+ to E. The results of the LRWA’s programme of work with BRE show that liquid roofing systems can typically help achieve the highest A+ rating.
“We felt it was important to work with BRE to ensure that our members’ products were accurately represented in the Green Guide,” continues Mike.
“As individual companies it can be a difficult and arduous process to achieve an Ecopoint score but by working together as a group we have succeeded in establishing three new generic ratings, which will be to the benefit of all of our members as well as to the people who specify them.”
