Why does rooftop greening fail? | Structural causes of rooftop greening
A structural technology explanation site that does not conduct product comparisons for rooftop greening or evaluations of systems and methods.
Is that rooftop greening really being considered under the premise of "being established"? The failure of rooftop greening is determined before the planning of the rooftop greening and before the construction of the rooftop greening.
This site is not intended to introduce or recommend products, methods, or systems for rooftop greening. In the field of rooftop greening, failures such as "the condition deteriorated after a few years," "it hasn't died but hasn't achieved the expected greenery," and "it was neglected due to lack of ongoing management" continue to occur. Many of these issues arise not from specific rooftop greening systems, methods, construction techniques, or management practices themselves, but from discrepancies in the assumptions and judgments made in the early stages of consideration. This site organizes ten items to check before making a decision, such as whether deterioration will not occur if watering stops during high temperatures and dry conditions, whether the flow of water and soil during heavy rain can be explained, whether management remains realistic even with increased weeds, and whether a temporary halt in management will not be fatal. It also questions whether decisions are being made solely based on performance records, advertising claims, catalog figures, and long-term guarantees. If there is even one item that cannot be fully explained, it is recommended to pause and verify it in detail. These are simple checks to reconsider the assumptions before "choosing" rooftop greening. More specific explanations and supplementary information can be compiled into a one-page A4 PDF, which can also be used as shared material during discussions. It will also help clarify the understanding between designers and clients.
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basic information
Main points addressed on this site: - Understanding the environment of rooftops - Prerequisites to confirm before plant selection - The relationship between methods, plants, and operations - Misunderstandings regarding guarantees and inspections - Insufficient consideration of aging changes and updates - Where "failure" was determined *No numerical standards, specifications, or product performance comparisons are included. These should be confirmed "after judgment," as they hold no meaning if the premises for judgment are incorrect.
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This site is not intended for the sale of products, construction, or services. There is no price information available. However, we often hear feedback that through this site: - inappropriate method selection was avoided - unnecessary initial investments were not made - long-term maintenance burdens were reduced The purpose is to provide information to "organize your thoughts before comparing prices."
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Applications/Examples of results
**Main Use Cases of This Site** This site is intended to be used as supplementary material to organize prerequisite conditions and decision-making criteria during the initial consideration phase of rooftop greening or when selecting methods in the design phase. It can also be utilized in situations where discrepancies in understanding may arise between clients and designers, or when there is a need to align foundational considerations before making sales proposals, as well as for preliminary studies in administrative and public projects. This site intentionally does not publish specific project names, adoption records, or success stories. This is based on the premise that "success stories do not necessarily apply directly to the next project." Rooftop conditions, management systems, and required performance vary from project to project, and there are often cases where cross-utilizing examples can lead to erroneous judgments. This site serves as a technical explanation platform to pause before selecting examples or products and to organize thoughts, prerequisite conditions, and the very criteria for decision-making. It is positioned as a supportive tool to help users notice gaps in thinking and discrepancies in assumptions during the consideration process, rather than presenting conclusions or correct answers. It is expected to be used as a common foundation for stakeholders involved in rooftop greening to articulate, share, and confirm their grounds for judgment. Please use it as a tool to enhance the quality of your considerations.
Detailed information
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Green roofing is determined not "after construction" but "before decision-making." The success or failure of green roofing is not determined by the skill of construction or management. A review of many failed green roofing cases reveals that most of the causes stem not from after construction but from the assumptions and judgments made in the early planning and consideration stages. Before deciding which green roofing system or method to adopt, failing to correctly organize "what kind of environment the roof is" and "what prerequisite conditions are established" leads to irreversible failures. This site aims to structurally organize what has been overlooked before decision-making, rather than dismissing the failures of green roofing as construction defects.
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【2】Reasons Why Successful Cases Can Mislead Judgments In the consideration of rooftop greening, successful cases and performance photos are often used as judgment materials. However, successful cases only indicate "results that were achieved under those specific conditions" and do not guarantee that similar results will be achieved under different conditions. Rooftop greening is established only when multiple factors, such as building conditions, substrate composition, maintenance management systems, and renewal expectations, are combined. Judging solely based on successful cases ignores the differences in underlying conditions, resulting in the same failures being repeated. This site will question not the merits or demerits of the cases, but the very premises used in the judgments.
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Are you correctly understanding the environment of "the rooftop"? In the consideration of rooftop greening, rooftops are often treated as an extension of the ground. However, rooftops have environmental conditions that are fundamentally different from those at ground level, such as strong winds, direct sunlight, temperature fluctuations, and drainage constraints. If rooftop greening is planned without fully recognizing these differences, it can lead to plants and rooftop greening systems experiencing loads they were not originally designed to handle, resulting in deterioration within a few years. This site re-evaluates the rooftop environment as a prerequisite and systematically organizes what can and cannot be established under that environment.
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What Should Be Organized Before Products, Methods, and Techniques The consideration of rooftop greening often begins with product selection or method comparison. However, it is essential to first organize "what conditions need to be met" before comparing products or methods. Rooftop greening systems and methods are designed under different prerequisite conditions. Selecting products or methods without confirming these prerequisites can lead to performance deficiencies or overdesign, ultimately resulting in the failure of rooftop greening. This site focuses on structural organization that serves as the foundation for judgment, without conducting product comparisons or method evaluations.
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"Not withered = success" is a misconception. In rooftop greening, the idea that "plants not withering" equates to success is often misleading. However, a lack of greenery, uneven growth, and excessive management burdens are signs of potential failure that could lead to future neglect or difficulties in renewal. Even if rooftop greening appears successful in the short term, without considering changes over time, problems will become apparent in a few years. This site organizes information not based on appearance or short-term conditions, but on how rooftop greening changes over time.
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Misunderstandings about management and guarantees lead to failures In rooftop greening projects, management systems and guarantee contents are sometimes advanced without sufficient consideration. Judgments like "It's safe because there's a guarantee" or "We can think about management later" are typical examples that lead to failures in rooftop greening. The scope of the guarantee and the actual deterioration or problems that occur do not necessarily align. This site systematically organizes how management and guarantees should be positioned during the planning stage, rather than viewing them as an all-encompassing safety device.
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Are you considering updates and removals? Rooftop greening is not just about installation; it is only considered a "valid plan" when future responses such as updates, repairs, and removals are included. If updates or removals are not anticipated in the initial plan, it can lead to situations where, after a few years, it becomes impossible to respond, resulting in the rooftop greening being neglected. This site organizes the prerequisites for judgment from the perspective of whether the plan holds throughout the entire lifecycle of the rooftop greening, not just at the time of installation.
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Be cautious of words that can mislead your judgment. In the consideration of rooftop greening, words like "proven track record," "lightweight," and "maintenance-free" simplify the decision-making process. The issue is not that these words are inherently wrong, but rather that they are used without clarifying the underlying conditions under which they hold true. This site organizes words that can easily mislead judgment and presents a perspective to differentiate between the conditions under which these words are valid and those under which they are not.
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【9】Perspectives for Pausing with a Checklist This site provides a checklist that organizes points to confirm during the consideration phase of rooftop greening. This is not for selecting products or deciding on construction methods, but rather a supplementary organizational tool to check whether one is rushing their judgment or overlooking prerequisite conditions. To prevent failures in rooftop greening, it is important to pause once during the consideration process and reorganize structurally. The purpose of this site is to provide perspectives for that.
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In manufacturing, there are people, and in projects, there is drama. The "passion" of three individuals transcends the boundaries of the company, leading to "co-creation" and "hope." In April 2007, at an exhibition, a project team was born. They wanted to create new solutions originating from the field to solve customers' problems. Three professionals who shared such passionate thoughts met, and the Evergreen Kiri-Sou Promotion Association was established. Professionals in plants, architecture, civil engineering, and facilities breathe new life into the city. Moments of inspiration are continuous. The opportunities to experience moments where the heartbeat never stops are becoming fewer. Why is that? Perhaps it is because of the increase in fakes and deceptions. We aim to remain professionals involved in plants, architecture, civil engineering, and facilities, and we operate the Evergreen Kiri-Sou Promotion Association. The professionals have developed new greening methods and greening systems. That is the Evergreen Kiri-Sou bag method.
