Insulation Systems

for Flat Roof

www.foamglas.ae
Contents
Compact Roof – a promising future 4

Living spaces on the roof 7

Principal types of roof systems 8

Compact Roof, with limited access subject to foot traffic 9

Compact Roof, accessible to foot traffic 14

Green Compact Roof 20

Compact roof for Car Park decks 22

Standard Compact Roof (au natural) – with two-layer waterproofing 26

Roof structures covering heated and cooled rooms 27

Types of usage and construction layout 31

Economy, a win-win situation 35

Preventive fire protection 37

Excellent ecological profile 39

3
1

Compact roof – a promising future

The roof probably is the most important element of the Proven across the world for
outer skin of a building to provide protection against decades

weathering. Owners and specifiers alike demand a life- In the beginning of the 20th century
time of high performance. This means: The roof – in par- avant-garde architects in Europe got
ticular the flat roof – should provide protection against their teeth into new building design
using the flat roof. The renowned
cold, heat and rain for the entire service life of the build- architect Le Corbusier was one of its
ing. This means a roof must last for decades and for gen- most reputable advocates. In the fifties
erations of owners. It’s clear: Flat roofs have a promising this roof architecture became widely
accepted and there are flat roof con-
future. The right roof solution ensures lifetime perform- structions performing without failure
ance without degradation. The optimum system remains even today – many include FOAMGLAS®
effective in the most demanding situations; it meets Compact Roofs. An average lifetime of
40 – 50 years can be achieved.
aesthetic, financial and environmental requirements.
Compact Roof systems – using the inherent qualities of
FOAMGLAS® cellular glass insulation – are ideal for the
most demanding roof situations. 1 Museum of Islamic Art,
Doha, Qatar.
2 CSS Insurance Company,
Lucerne, Switzerland.
3 Voith centre of competence,
Technopark Dubai.

2 3

4
The excellent condition of the oldest
Structure Compact Roof
FOAMGLAS® Compact Roofs – accord- 6
4 5
ing to experts – supports the conclusion 1 Structural deck (for instance:
that FOAMGLAS® roofs will be effective 3 reinforced concrete)
2 Bituminous primer coat
for the next half century. 2
3 FOAMGLAS® insulation slabs
(if required: TAPERED Roof
1 System)
Unique system integrity – long 4 Two-layer bituminous
waterproofing
term weatherproofing
5 Separating /protection layer
6 Finish layer
A flat roof has undeniable advantages
and it offers a new dimension in per-
formance and economy. It extends not
only the cubical content but also offers
versatility of use for the roof area itself. as the insulation itself creates a water-
Choosing a FOAMGLAS® Compact Roof proof layer. FOAMGLAS® flat roof
assures best craftsmanship and safe means double the security and low
performance for the long-term; it maintenance demands.
reduces maintenance and replacement
costs and plays akey part in saving Design and accurate installation
energy and protecting the environ- method are the key to the outstanding
ment. No other system can claim simi- durability of the FOAMGLAS® Compact
lar application possibilities – covering Roof. Even if the weatherproofing lay-
terraces, rooftop gardens, non-accessi- er becomes damaged, moisture will
ble or accessible roofs (e. g. parking not spread across the roof, the insula-
decks and service decks). tion provides added protection. Any
specified slope for flat roofs can be
achieved by using the FOAMGLAS®
The perfect system Tapered Roof (a computerized cut-to-
fall system) that ensures effective
FOAMGLAS® thermal insulation requires drainage and full thermal protection.
only a few components to create the
Compact Roof: an exceptionally robust
and rainproof flat roof construction. Physical properties
Cellular glass slabs are bonded with
hot bitumen on to the structural deck. Due to its combination of unique prop-
The slabs are pushed into the adhesive erties, FOAMGLAS® is also called “Safety
and closely butted, staggered and the insulation”. It is unrivalled in perform-
joints filled with bitumen to achieve a ance. Manufactured from crushed glass
compact insulation layer. The water- and carbon, it forms closed glass
proofing is then fully adhered to the cells – containing an inert gas –, which
insulation surface using hot bitumen. provide excellent thermal effective-
In the FOAMGLAS® Compact Roof all ness. As a high-density insulation the
layers are perfectly bonded to each product shows good performance in 4 UBS Bank, Suglio,
other. Water ingress into the roof and airborne sound reduction and heat Switzerland.
5 UEFA Headquarters, Nyon,
interstitial moisture can be prevented protection in summer. Switzerland.
6 Mercedes Benz Arena,
Stuttgart, Germany.

4 5 6

5
FOAMGLAS® is totally impervious to
water and vapor, it will not absorb FOAMGLAS® insulation: unrivalled performance
water. An additional vapor barrier is
not required, as the all glass closed cell
insulation fulfills the function to keep
moisture out. FOAMGLAS® possesses
high compressive strength and is free
from deformation in the long-term.
Further qualities of the glass material
are: non-combustibility and dimensional
stability (no shrinkage, no swelling, no 1 2 3

warping); it is rot, insect, vermin and

acid proof. FOAMGLAS® is an environ-
mentally sound product and certified
to standards of health and indoor air
quality in buildings.

4 5 6

7 8 9

1 Waterproof FOAMGLAS® insulation is waterproof because it consists of pure glass.

Advantage: It will never absorb any moisture, so it remains dimensionally stable and
maintains R-value for life.

2 Pest resistant FOAMGLAS® insulation is pest-proof because it is inorganic. It is also resistant to

mold and mildew. Advantage: It can be used below grade without fear of infestation or
absorption.

3 High compressive strength FOAMGLAS® insulation has an extraordinarily high compressive

strength without deformation under load due to its unique cell geometry. Advantage: It can
be used as a load-bearing thermal insulation without risk on roofs, decks, and plazas, and for
below foundations.

4 Non-combustible FOAMGLAS® insulation will not burn because it consists of pure glass
(ASTM E 136). It does not contain any blowing agents or flame retardants. Fire behavior:
Classification according to ASTM E 84, smoke development and flame spread – zero.
Advantage: Storage and processing not hazardous. No propagation of flames in the event of
fire (chimney effect) in ventilation space.

5 Vapour-tight FOAMGLAS® insulation is air- and vapour-tight because it consists of 100%

7 Hamad International Airport, closed glass cells. Advantage: It is also a vapour barrier, so you can eliminate a layer of the
Doha, Qatar (former project assembly. R-value remains constant over time. no thermal aging. There is no chance off-gassing
name: New Doha Interna- or thermal aging. It can be used as a radon barrier below grade.
tional Airport), FOAMGLAS®
6 Dimensionally stable FOAMGLAS® insulation has a thermal coefficient of expansion similar to
TAPERED ROOF insulation on
that of concrete and steel, meaning there is very little movement differential. Advantage: It
steel deck.
will not swell, shrink, expand or contract. Using FOAMGLAS® can improve longevity of the roof
membrane.

7 Acid and chemical resistant FOAMGLAS® insulation is resistant to organic solvents and acids
because it consists of pure glass. Advantage: No destruction of the insulation by aggressive
mediums and atmospheres.

8 Easy to cut FOAMGLAS® insulation is easy to work with because it consists of thin-walled
glass cells. Advantage: It can be cut to any desired measurement using a simple handsaw.

9 Ecological FOAMGLAS® insulation is free of environmentally damaging flame retardants and

blowing agents and offers a low embodied energy compared to polymer-based insulation
materials. Advantage: After generations of use it can be recycled as filler in landscaping or
thermally insulating granulate. FOAMGLAS® can help meet your LEED and Living Building
7 challenges.

6
1

Living spaces on the roof

Contemporary flat roofs offer wide versatility in design green roof as the "zone of preference"
and usage. The roof landscape possibilities are limited in the house. And indeed, terrace roofs
as an outdoor living space have a great
only by your imagination. FOAMGLAS® Compact Roof attractiveness. The rooftop is an ideal
offers a wide range of building system solutions for the platform for a magnificent view over
most demanding situations. Designed with heavy protec- the environment. And the creation of
green areas adds greatly to the eco-
tion (roofing gravel), as a terrace or green roof, as car logical profile of the building and
park deck or as an industrial roof on steel deck: there is a improves the quality of living for the
FOAMGLAS® solution for every type of usage and for owner. As the design and construction
of a green roof or terrace is a very
every roof layout. demanding project, it is essential to
consider proven roof systems based on
Outdoor "living space" FOAMGLAS®, which enable architect’s
schemes to be realized.
In "Five Principles for New Architecture"
Le Corbusier stipulated the creation of
green areas with proud vegetation on
otherwise void flat roofs in order to 1 Bourgoin Jaillieu
create natural spaces in dense urban District Office, France.
2 Sport court as roof of Federal
areas for the improvement of ambient
School, Frauenfeld, Switzer-
conditions. He described the terrace or land.
3 Flat roof of a mosque, KSA.

2 3

7
Principal types of roof systems
Compact Roof with limited accessibility
Compact Roof with heavy protection
The Compact Roof with limited access subject to foot traffic
is a flat roof, which is only accessed for maintenance.
Washed roofing gravel is used as heavy protection against
mechanical impact and UV-attack. This roof layout is regu-
larly found on industrial roofs with steel decking.

Compact Roof accessible to foot traffic

Terrace roof with pavement area
Flat roofs are frequently used as extended outdoor living
rooms (terraces). Therefore the trend towards a wide variety
of aesthetic tiles and paving stones or wearing courses is
increasing. The range of products is wide: concrete pave-
ments, tiles, cast stone, natural stone, boardwalk, play-
ground flooring, court surfaces and others.

Green Compact Roof

Moisture conditions in green roofs
Green roof constructions have positive effects for the envi-
ronment and the microclimate. The plants keep the air fresh
and raise the level of humidity. They reduce fine dust pollution
and traffic noise. Green areas on the roof reduce the rain-
water load on the urban sewer systems by naturally storing
the water. They protect the roof structure from thermal
shock and transform the roof surface into a recreational area.
Dependent on type, height and care requirements of the plants
an extensive or intensive greening system can be used.

Compact Roof, trafficked /parking decks

Traffic accessed car park decks
Greater mobility and the need for individual transport char-
acterize the spirit of our times. It is obvious that traffic den-
sity is also increasing ‘at rest’ and requires flat roofs of many
building developments to be used as parking decks. This
also means that parking spaces should structurally be
designed to accomodate delivery, fire and rescue services.
Dependent on load assumptions and load distribution slabs,
road surfaces in granolithic concrete, asphalt, interlocking
pavers or timber paving are possible.

Compact Roof
Standard Compact Roof (au naturel) – with two-layer
waterproofing
For buildings without heavy protection layers or foot traffic
and requiring slight weight, a simple waterproofed roof is
the perfect solution. However the roof still needs to suffi-
ciently resist wind forces. The wind loads should safely be
transmitted to the building’s structure. In the standard
FOAMGLAS® Compact Roof this is achieved by bonding all
layers to each other. The Standard Compact Roof on steel
deck is ideal for lightweight industrial roofing.

8
 FOAMGLAS®
flat roof on
concrete deck

Voith centre of competence, Dubai

Client Voith Middle East FZ
Location Technopark Dubai
Consultant G.E.C. German Engineering Consultants, Dubai
Built 2010

Voith is following the philosophy of the jobsite. FOAMGLAS® is most eco- Top quality flat roof
sustainability and quality and sets stan- logical insulation with 60 % recycling for a top company!
dards in the markets energy, oil & gas, glass and using only renewable energy www.foamglas.ae
paper, raw materials and transporta- in the production.
tion & automotive. Founded in 1867,
Voith employs almost 40 000 people
and operates in about 50 countries. As
a "Centre of Competence", Voith Middle
East FZE supports and services its
customers within its region with pro-
fessional sales and service engineers.
The newly opened subsidiary in Dubai
is following a 2-year construction peri- Build-up
od and spans an area covering 12 000 1 Concrete roof deck
square metres. Following their own 7 2 Foam concrete for sloping
5 6 (can be included in
philosophy of quality and sustainability
FOAMGLAS®)
Voith decided for the FOAMGLAS® 4
3 Primer
compact roof in the new building. 3 4 FOAMGLAS® slabs fully
FOAMGLAS® thermal insulation is well 2 bonded with hot bitumen
5 Two layers of bitumen
known for the top quality and long
waterproofing membranes
term performance. Applied fully bond- 6 Separation / protection layer
ed in hot bitumen und filled joints no 7 Gravel
water infiltration is possible. Instead of
the used sloping screed Pittsburgh 1
Corning is offering the TRS Tapered
Roof System with already included
slope which will come prefabricated to

9
 Flat roof,
terraces

Cleveland Clinic, Abu Dhabi – UAE

Owner Mubadala
Architect Aedas / HDR
Built 2011-2012
FOAMGLAS® application Inverted roof; FOAMGLAS® T4+ TAPERED; 280 mm thick
on average, loose laid, single ply membrane (system for hot countries), 8 271 m2
Finish layer Raised prefab tiles

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is part of FOAMGLAS® is the decision for sustai- Sustainable in ecology
Al Suwwa Island and owned by nability in regards to ecology and and economy
Mubadala. CCAD has the objective of economy. www.foamglas.ae
bringing world-class healthcare to the
region and will be organized into the
five institutes of Digestive Disease, Eye,
Heart and Vascular, Neurological, and
Respiratory and Critical Care.
6

FOAMGLAS® is used as thermal

insulation on the flat roof. It’s never
5
degrading properties, combined with 4
highest ecological standard, was one
reason for the consultant to go with Roof structure
the world leader in cellular glass 3 1 Concrete roof deck
2 Single ply waterproofing
insulation.
membrane
Additionally the choice is backed by 3 FOAMGLAS® T4+,
the high compressive strength which TAPERED ROOF, double layer
2 loose laid, average thickness
enables any terrace build-up without
280 mm
thermal bridges and the ability to
4 Protection layer / geotextile
include the slope into the thermal 5 Single pedestal
insulation. 6 Prefab tiles
1

10
 Flat roof,
terraces

Museum of Islamic Art, Doha-Qatar

Architect I. M. Pei
Built 2007
FOAMGLAS® application on flat roof. Total area of FOAMGLAS® applied for flat
roof and facade behind stone cladding 22 000 m2.

The Museum of Islamic Art is situated bridges. Where thermal efficiency needs High load bearing
on the southern part of Doha’s to be combined with load bearing capacity combined
seafront on a manmade island about capacity, FOAMGLAS® cellular glass is with highest rigidity
60 meters off the coast of Doha. the key player. enable the perfect
Terraces and other roofs with people detail
traffic require a stable underground www.foamglas.ae
stone tiles to avoid any deformation or
cracks of the finish. FOAMGLAS® can
carry the highest load without being
flexible. The load can be placed on top
of the insulation without any thermal

Roof structure
1 Concrete roof deck
2 Primer coat
3 FOAMGLAS® slabs or
8 10 4 FOAMGLAS® TAPERED ROOF
7 9 slabs, laid in hot bitumen
5 6 5 Two layers of bitumen
waterproofing membranes
3 4 6 Separation / protection layer
7 Chippings or gravel
8 Interlocking paving stones
2 9 Support pads
10 Paving

11
 Compact roof,
accessible to
foot traffic

Stepped apartment buildings, Meilen, Switzerland

Architects Oliver Schwarz Architekten ETH / SIA / BSA, Zurich
Built 1996
FOAMGLAS® application Roof insulation, about 850 m2 type T4+,
120 / 80 mm thick, in hot bitumen
Finish layer Boardwalk in hardwood

An exclusive residence with wonderful qualities, FOAMGLAS® allows for a The insulation system
views across Lake Zurich is the perfect simple roof structure needing just a with superior
setting for the stepped apartment build- few basic components. The system is performance minimizes
ings with surrounding terraces. These designed to eliminate the risks of maintenance and
spacious accessible terraces, which form water ingress and leakage. refurbishment
the roof of the lower apartments, www.foamglas.ae
required a high performance insulation
solution: the FOAMGLAS® Compact
Roof. The robust and deformation-free
insulation is designed to ensure a rain- Terrace roof structure
proof construction for generations to 1 Concrete decking
come. Due to its outstanding physical 2 Bituminous primer coat
3 Emergency waterproofing
(basic protection during
construction)
7
9 4 FOAMGLAS® T4+ slabs in
hot bitumen, 120 mm thick
6 5 Two-layer bitumen roofing
5 sheets
10 8 6 Playground flooring screed
4 (Barfo screed)
7 Boardwalk
2 3 8 HEA-bearer
9 Angle bar
10 FOAMGLAS® edge element
1

12
 Compact roof,
accessible to
foot traffic

Atocha Station, Madrid, Spain

Architect Rafael Moneo, Madrid
Refurbishment 2010
FOAMGLAS® application Roof insulation, about 800 m2 type T4+ Tappered,
50 to 220 mm, bonded in hot bitumen
Finish layer Granite slabs
Building Contractor UTE Dragados Tecsa Atocha Ampliación Complejo Fase I
Project Management ADIF

Atocha Station was inaugurated in 1851 capacity of the station and were leaded Ecologically
under the name of "Mediodia Station", by architect Rafael Moneo. Those works Recommended
and was the first railway station at and the works finished in 2010 have building material
Madrid. This station was renewed after joint several stations in one: local trains, www.foamglas.ae
a fire under the direction of Alberto de medium and High range trains (including
Palacio, colleague of Gustav Eiffel, and the high speed AVE), buses, metro and
the works took 4 years. The structure of a Parking. The old station was con-
the roof was built in Belgium with De verted in a commercial mall including a
Dion beams and is the more important tropical garden. The Works that finished
element of "Atocha Station". Between in 2011 allows the new connection by
1985 and 1992 the refurbishment works high speed with Valencia renewing the
intended to increase the passenger’s "Puerta de Atocha" terminal.
Build-up
1 Concrete support
7 2 Bituminous primer ± 0,3 kg /m2
3 FOAMGLAS® TAPERED READY
6 BLOCK T4+ slabs fully
5 adhered with hot bitumen
4
± 4 – 5 kg /m2
4 Waterproofing membrane
3 (1ste layer a 2nd layer)
5 Geotextile membrane
6 Mortar layer
2 7 Granite slabs

13
 FOAMGLAS®
TAPERED for
all flat roofs
and terraces

Arzanah Medical Complex, Abu Dhabi

Client Mubadala Development Company
Consultant HDP Overseas Limited, HDR
Location Abu Dhabi, UAE
Built 2011

Just a few yards from the national soccer highest credits in all environment rat- Highest durability and
stadium, the Arzanah Sports Medical ings and is supporting with LEED and ecology provides best
Center is prominently located within a Estidama credits. The high compressive sustainablilty
new mixed-use community in Abu Dhabi, strength without creeping and deform- www.foamglas.ae
UAE. The project set out to design a ing makes it to the perfect solution
sustainable building which responded especially in roof areas with garden
to this very public site while balancing and terraces.
the need for a calming, healing envi-
ronment and a facility organized to
provide an integrated multi-disciplinary
healthcare facility to serve the commu-
nity and region. The new LEED Gold 7
designed, 78-bed medical centre will 6
form part of the US$6 billion Arzanah 4 5 Build-up
development near Zayed Stadium on 1 Concrete roof deck
3 2 Primer coat
Abu Dhabi Island. As thermal insulation
3 FOAMGLAS® TAPERED slabs
the consultant came to the decision to (160 ~ 240 mm), laid in hot
use FOAMGLAS® cellular glass insulation bitumen
for roof and some wall application. 4 Two layers of bitumen
waterproofing membranes
FOAMGLAS® is produced by Pittsburgh 2 5 Separation / protection layer
Corning and free of any harmful blow- 6 Gravel
ing agent. It’s well known for the 7 Paving
extreme long durability and the highest
resistance to any kind of moisture. Due 1
to the 60 % recycling glass content
and use of only renewable energy in
the production FOAMGLAS® gets the

14
 Compact roof

New Acropolis Museum, Athens, Greece

Architects Bernard Tschumi, Paris, New York – Michael Photiadis, Athens
Built 2004-2007
Thermal insulation FOAMGLAS® Compact Roof
Tapered Roof System (TRS), average thickness 116 mm, 2700 m2
Accessible concrete deck, FOAMGLAS® slabs, 50 mm thick, 1903 m2
Roof finish Marble slabs on adjustable BUZON® pedestals

A project much spoken of has been level 2, FOAMGLAS® slabs have been Ecologically
finalized as a building which has be- used. The coverage consists of marble recommended
come internationally famous for the slabs placed on adjustable pedestals. insulation material
Greek classical treasures it is exhibit- With unique technical characteristics – www.foamglas.ae
ing. The designers were consistent to dimensional stability without deforma-
their initial main concern for solutions tion, high pressure resistance, imper-
that would combine the integration of meability to water, water vapor and
the site’s excavations, the use of natu- longevity – FOAMGLAS® has met the
ral light as well as the balance bet- extremely high demands of the con-
ween the Museum and the Acropolis struction contributing at the same time
monument. to the ‘environmental character’ of the
On the accessible concrete deck of New Museum.

Build-up
6 1 Concrete deck
5 2 Primer coat
4 3 FOAMGLAS® slabs,
in hot bitumen
4 Two layers of bitumen
3
waterproofing membranes,
with polyester reinforcement
2 5 Adjustable support pads
6 Marble slabs

15
 Green
compact roof

The Home of Fifa, Zurich, Switzerland

Architect Tilla Theus und Partner, Zurich
Built 2006
FOAMGLAS® application Main building, roof insulation: about 3470 m2 type
T4+ slabs in hot bitumen, 160 mm thick. Cloakroom building, roof insulation:
about 1670 m2 type T4+ slabs in hot bitumen, 2 layers. Tapered Roof System
(cut-to-fall slabs), average thickness: 90 / 190 / 290 mm
Finish layers Extensive greening system

When building the new "Home of sion" building. By use of the most Flat roof construction
Fifa", the headquarters of the world’s energy efficient technologies it can be with the best scores
football/soccer governing body, maxi- operated without fossil energy sources. for economic and
mum performance was required at all A key element of this sustainable ener- ecological
levels. The building needed being con- gy concept is the use of FOAMGLAS® performances
structed in a record time and ‘fair play’ thermal insulation. Cellular glass insu- www.foamglas.ae
was required in all environmental mat- lation is an ecological building product
ters. New ideas were demanded for that provides important energy-
decorative art on the building to refer- savings. It is made from recycled glass
ence the world of football. The Fifa using renewable energy sources. Last Roof structure
headquarters is a so-called "zero emis- but not least, the Compact Roof is a 1 Concrete decking
very durable system, which is the best 2 Bituminous primer coat
3 Emergency waterproofing
bargain for the environment. (basic protection during
construction)
4 FOAMGLAS® T4+ slabs in hot
bitumen, 160 –200 mm thick,
and angle fillets
5 Bitumen roofing sheets,
2 layers
9 6 Protection layer PP-nonwoven
8 800 g / m2
7 7 Drainage gravel 8/16
5 6
8 Filter layer
9 Extensive roofing system

2 3

16
 Green
compact roof

Swarovski Group, Wattens, Austria

Art director Andre Heller
Architect Mag. Carmen Wiederin and Propeller Z, Vienna
Ing. Georg Malojer, Project Management GmbH & Co, Innsbruck
Built 1995 / 2003 / 2007
FOAMGLAS® application Roof insulation, about 5200 m2 type T4+
slabs in hot bitumen, 100 mm thick
Roof finish Intensive greening system

As with the first building of Swarovski principal selection criteria for thermal FOAMGLAS® –
Crystal Worlds, FOAMGLAS® insulation insulation was efficient, totally weather- Compact Roof, double
systems were chosen for the extension proof, failure-free roof system that security to prevent
"Sequel of Fairy Tales". "Crystal would last for decades. The high com- water ingress
Worlds" – an underground building – pressive strength of the insulation was www.foamglas.ae
was designed with a most demanding an additional reason. FOAMGLAS® was
roof structure. A critical concern was selected, since the filled ground top-
replacement and repair work on green ping the roof structure is meters thick
roofs of that scale and design could and the roof has to bear considerable
possibly require investment and shut soil pressure.
down the enterprise. Therefore, the

Roof structure
1 Concrete deck
2 Bituminous primer coat
3 FOAMGLAS® T4+ slabs,
100 mm thick, in hot bitumen
4 Bitumen roofing sheets,
2 layers
5 Building protection mat
6 Drainage layer
7 Filter layer
8 Intensive greening system

3 2
4 1

17
 Parking roof

Shopping Mall, Merter M1 Merkez Santiyesi, Istanbul, Turkey

Owner Metro Group
Contractor builder IS
Insulation Contractor ICS
Built 2009
Thermal insulation FOAMGLAS® T4 in 8 cm thickness

In Istanbul, the owner and the contrac- concrete slab. On top of FOAMGLAS® On the safe side.
tor decided to use FOAMGLAS® as two waterproofing membranes where www.foamglas.ae
thermal insulation on the parking roof 100 % adhered and a slip layer was
of the shopping mall. FOAMGLAS® loose laid before applying a finishing
was choosen not only because of his concrete.
high compression resistance but also
because the compact roof systems was
one of the best guarantee for the Real
Hypermarket underneath the roof. The
2000 m2 of roof where insulated with
FOAMGLAS® fully adhered to the

Parking roof description

1 Concrete support
6 2 Bituminous primer
~0.3 kg /m2
4 5 3 FOAMGLAS® Slabs fully
adhered with hot bitumen
3 ~5 –7 kg /m2
4 Two waterproofing
2 membranes
5 Slip layer, PE 0.2 mm
+ /- 200 g /m2
6 Concrete finishing for road
1 traffic

18
 Parking roof,
FOAMGLAS® S3
compact roof

Museu de Arqueologia de Foz Côa, Portugal

Architecture Pedro Lacerda Pimentel – Camilo Rebelo
Engineeering GOP – Gab. de Organização e Projectos Lda
Nunes da Silva and Ana Silva
Built 2007 -2009
Thermal Insulation FOAMGLAS® Compact Roof
Final Roof coverage asphalt

In 1989, E.D.P. (Electricidadede Portugal) itage items that would be submerged Ecologically
ordered an Environmental Impact Study or destroyed as a result of the construc- Recommended
to be caried out in the Côavalley, in tion of the dam. An important aray of building material
preparation for the construction of a archaeological sites was identified, www.foamglas.ae
large dam to be located near the including four rock-shelters with pre-
mouth of the river. In the framework historic paintings. In November 1995,
of that study, a team of archaeologists recognisingthe importance of the cultur-
made a preliminary survey of the area to al heritage of the region, the Portuguese
record and evaluate the cultural her- government decided to halt the con-
struction of the dam and to integrate
this ensemble of finds into a CôaValley
Archaeological Park, including this Parking roof description
1 Concrete support
museum. 2 Bituminous primer
2% ~0.3 kg /m2
3 FOAMGLAS® S3 Slabs fully
10 adhered with hot bitumen
9 ~5 –7 kg /m2
4 Waterproofing membrane
8
5 Polyethylene sheets
7 6 2 cm mortar
5 6
4 7 Acoustic layer
8 Light concrete
3 9 Waterproofing membrane
10 8 cm cold bituminous asphalt
2

19
 Compact roof
for car park
decks

Letzigrund Stadium, Zurich, Switzerland

Architect Betrix & Consolascio Architekten, Erlenbach
Frei & Ehrensperger Architekten, Zurich
Built 2007
FOAMGLAS® application Roof insulation, about 2680 m2 type F slabs in hot
bitumen. Tapered Roof System (cut-to-fall slabs), 130 mm average thickness
Finish layer Grouting asphalt pavement

The characteristic feature of the new thermal efficiency needs to be com- Peak performance:
Zurich Letzigrund Stadium is elegance bined with heavy duty (trafficked serv- compressive strength,
and not intrusion. Slim, slanting stays ice decks), FOAMGLAS® cellular glass safety, durability
support the stadium roof. The inner insulation is a key player. It is also a www.foamglas.ae
court and the stands are partially front-runner as an ecological building
embedded in the ground. It is a multi- product. It does not give off harmful
purpose event arena, where soccer / emissions (low-e product) and fulfills
football and athletic sports (Zurich all requirements regarding health and
World Championships in Athletics) indoor air quality in buildings. Finally, Roof structure
have excellent facilities and utilities. durability is one of the essential 1 Concrete deck
With respect to thermal insulation, requirements, and FOAMGLAS® insula- 2 Bituminous primer coat
FOAMGLAS® tops the league. Where tion gets the best score. 3 FOAMGLAS® F slabs in
hot bitumen, 130 mm thick,
10 Tapered Roof System
8 4 Bitumen roofing sheets,
2 layers
9 5 Separation layer
7
6 Protection layer in mastic
asphalt, 30 mm thick
6 7 HMT top layer, 100 mm thick
4 5
11 8 Grouting asphalt pavement,
35 mm thick
3 9 Gutter
10 Flashing strip
11 Parapet
2

20
 Parking deck
for heavy
traffic,
bus terminal

Shopping centre 'MERCURY', České Budějovice, Czech Republic

Architect Atelier 8000, České Budějovice
Built 2006
Build-up FOAMGLAS® compact roof, approx. 8500 m2 140 mm type S3,
with 2 layers of bituminous membranes fully adhered by hot bitumen
Surface finish Concrete redistribution slab on acoustic layer

The Architect’s task was to place the bus roof build-up. The bus terminal serves Ecologically
terminal of 100 000 citizens city České several hundreds of buses every day and recommended building
Budějovice on the roof of Shopping is located directly above the shopping material
centre located on the premises of old floor. The acoustic layer based on rubber www.foamglas.ae
ground Bus terminal. The FOAMGLAS® mat and gravel layer was adapted to
compact roof offered the unbeatable the design. The bus terminal build-up
compressive strength and most reliable is designed not only for bus passing or
solution compare to all competitive its short stops, but also for longer time
build-ups. The main advantages of parking and enables also to carry minor
FOAMGLAS® in this project are: high repairs – i.e. tyre exchange which requires
compressive strength and rigidity, use of the lifting jack and can cause
chemical resistance to oil products, heavy point loads.
Build-up
durability and water-tightness of entire 1 Concrete
2 Bituminous primer
3 Temporary waterproofing
4 FOAMGLAS® S3 140 mm,
9 compact roof system, in hot
8 bitumen
7
6 5 Two layers of bitumen
5 waterproofing membranes
6 Rubber mat
4 7 Fine gravel
8 PE-foil
2 3 9 Reinforced concrete deck

21
 FOAMGLAS®
TAPERED and
void former
on metal deck

Hamad International Airport Package 18, Doha, Qatar

Architecture HOK, Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum
Engineering Bechtel
Built 2007-2012
FOAMGLAS® Roof Insulation 11000 m2 as TAPERED ROOF SYSTEM
(54 jet bridge roofs)

Hamad International Airport (former high rigidity without compression, Light, rigid, safe and
project name New Doha International non-combustibility and the light weight. durable. The most
Airport) replaces the old Doha Above the FOAMGLAS® TAPERED ROOF simple system on
International Airport as Qatar’s only SYSTEM with integrated slope is used, metal deck
international airport. It is the first air- to create the slop and providing the www.foamglas.ae
port worldwide to fully handle Airbus thermal protection. An additional gyp-
A380, the world’s biggest commercial sum board as protection layer is fully
aircraft. Qatar has witnessed a high bonded and covered with two layers of
growth in passenger and cargo traffic SBS elastomeric bitumen waterproof-
in the recent years, so the old terminal ing membrane fully torched, with
suffered from overcapacity. The plan- UV protection.
ning took place in 2003 and construc-
tion began in 2004. The first two
phases have opened in January, 2012. Build-up
The FOAMGLAS® roof system is used 1 Metal deck
2 Substrate board
on the metal roofs of the 54 roofs of
3 FOAMGLAS® T4+ 180 mm flat
the jet bridges. The build-up comprises 4 FOAMGLAS® T4+ TAPERED
on the corrugated metal deck a dense ROOF SYSTEM 50-350 mm
deck to span the gap between the big laid in bitumen
5 Roof cover board
support. This can be neglected if the
6 Two layers of bitumen
metal deck is chosen accordingly. The waterproofing membranes,
gypsum board is mechanically fixed. top layer UV-resistant
The first layer of FOAMGLAS® 180 mm
is applied as void former only because
of the upstanding parts of structural
beams. FOAMGLAS® is used instead of
light weight concrete because of the

22
 Roof upgrade
to high thermal
performance

Conversion to cold storage, Alsafi Danone, al Kharj, KSA

Planning ASG Contracting Riyadh
Built 2012
Application Roof, 3000 m2, FOAMGLAS® READY BOARD T4+, 70 mm thick and
T4+ slabs, 30 mm thick
Wall, 2000 m2, FOAMGLAS® T4+ slabs, 70 mm thick
Finish layer UV resistant bituminous layer waterproofing

The Alsafi farm in al Kharj KSA is the FOAMGLAS® systems which are FM Upgrade for the next
largest integrated dairy farm world- approved. lifetime with durable
wide with Guinness World Book of The existing PU-panels on the hall and fire safe
Records entry 1998. The farm is fully were the base for the application of FOAMGLAS®
integrated from the growing of forage the FOAMGLAS® on the roof. The insulation material
to the final distribution of milk and corrugation filler and the top layer are www.foamglas.ae
dairy products and includes factory executed with FOAMGLAS® cellular
and storage facilities. Due to the glass insulation. A double layer bitu-
adjustment of the daily need the men membrane is the waterproofing
upgrading of a storage to a cold and final finish of the roof.
storage needed to be done.
The client decided to follow a proposal Final performance testing of the client Roof system
1 Existing PU-panel, 50 mm
to upgrade the building envelope showed excellent performance to the 2 FOAMGLAS® T4+ filler,
on the roof and the wall with full satisfaction of Alsafi Danone. 30 mm, in corrugation glued
with PC® 11 adhesive
3 FOAMGLAS® READY BOARD,
70 mm, glued with PC® 11
4 adhesive and mechanical
fixation
4 Two layers of bitumen
3 waterproofing membrane;
top layer UV-resistant
5
5 Anchor F fixed into existing
PU-Panel
2

23
 Compact roof
on steel deck

Megasport Arena, Khodynka, Moscow, Russia

Owner Government of Moscow
Architect Bokov Andrey
Built 2005-2006
Thermal insulation 35 000 m2 FOAMGLAS® T4 140 mm
Finish PVC SIKA

The erection of the Ice Palace in Moscow, whole roof system. Non-combustibility Do it right the first
later renamed the Megasport Arena start- of FOAMGLAS® also plays also a key time with FOAMGLAS®
ed in November 2005 at the Khodynka role in preventing possible damage in www.foamglas.ae
Field. This beautiful multi-purpose are- the future. Warm indoor air with high
na was completed in December 2006. humidity – like a sport hall building –
Moscow Megasport is an unrivalled must not be allowed to condense within
construction, meeting all the modern the construction build up otherwise the
requirements needed to carrying out thermal integrity will not be maintained.
international sporting events. Basically it FOAMGLAS® with its closed cellular glass
is aimed at hosting hockey, figure skating structure is non hygroscopic, fully water
and short-track contests as well as over and vapor-proof, keeping moisture out in
20 other sports. The Megasport Arena long term. Insulating the roof of a high
radiates with its festive look. An unusual humidity building with FOAMGLAS® ful-
hovering ceiling is like a giant chande- fills all requirements regarding building
lier in the centre supporting a media physics and indoor air quality. Finally
Build-up
cube providing a large four sided visual this roof solution ensures a lifetime of
1 Steel deck
display which gives the 14 000 specta- performance without degradation. 2 Primer
tors a perfect view of the Ice surface. 3 FOAMGLAS® T4 140 mm in
The media cube provides a colorful two layers (2 x 70 mm)
6 4 Top coat of hot bitumen
backdrop to the multi-colored seating 4 5
5 One layer of bitumen
design around the arena. FOAMGLAS® waterproofing membrane
slabs were used in the Roof construction 6 Top layer of PVC membrane
and are adhesively bonded to the crowns 3
of the steel deck. The bonding tech- 2
nique, the high compressive strength &
the dimensional stability of the insula- 1
tion achieve an excellent rigidity of the

24
 Compact roof
non-accessible,
waterproofing
foil

CNIT, Paris (75), France

Client Unibail – Rodamco
Engineering Office B.E.T. SECC (94)
Contractors SNA (94) and Batecmo (78)
Refurbishment 2011

The CNIT (Centre for New Industries The refurbishment concept identified FOAMGLAS®,
and Technologies) was built in 1958 in FOAMGLAS® T4+ and S3 blocks (di- the thermal insulation
the Paris la Défense development zone mensions 45 cm x 60 cm and 22,5 cm x that fits to all shapes
in the Puteaux suburb. It was concei- 60 cm) as the optimal insulation soluti- of a construction
ved by architect Bernard Zehrfuss and on to meet the shape of the conti- www.foamglas.ae
the structural engineer Nicolas Esquil- guous arched concrete segments. The
lan. thermal insulation is finished with a
It has the world’s largest spanning fully adhered waterproofing foil, type
vaulted roof with a self-supporting RAL 9010.
shell and a central height of 50 m. The For the more vertical areas of the roof
roof rests on three supports at the cor- FOAMGLAS® READY BOARD is cold-
ners of an equilateral triangle of 218 m bonded to the concrete deck.
side length.

System
4 1 Concrete deck
2 Adhesive
3 FOAMGLAS® S3,
3 size 22,5 x 60 cm,
6 cm thick
2
4 2-layer waterproofing,
bitumen compatible foil
on bitumen membrane
1

25
 Compact roof
covered by an
expanse of
water

Walterboscomplex, Apeldoorn, Holland

Architect Neutelings Riedijk Architecten, Rotterdam, Holland
Built 2004
Application 11 000 m2 of FOAMGLAS® T4
Finishing Water

The Walterboscomplex houses one of the building & for sanitary water. Captive Roof’s,
the largest branches of the Netherlands Captive roof’s are being increasingly no risk if you chose
Central Tax Office. The original build- designed as a buffer for rainwater in FOAMGLAS®
ings wer built in the 1960s and con- order to relieve the drainage system www.foamglas.ae
sisted of four office towers surrounded during heavy rains. But they also offer
by parking bays and number of tempo- other options: Aesthetic beauty as well
rary buildings. By the late 1990s, the as a reservoir of water in case of fire!
site required modernization and a new With over 5 million liters above the head
master plan was commissioned to bring of this Green Complex, the FOAMGLAS®
complex up to date. The new main Compact Roof has been logically chosen
architectural element that can be seen by the specifier. The system is designed
by the public from the street is the to eliminate the risks of water ingress
large reflecting pool with a clutch of and leakage due to the impervious
stainless steel-clad cones rising from it. qualities of the cellular glass insulation.
Architects designed this plinth building Build-up
1 Concrete slab
as a sunken structure, which opens into 8 2 Bituminous Primer
two large underground patio gardens. 3 FOAMGLAS® glued with hot
The roof of the sunken building is cov- 7 bitumen 110 / 30
ered by an expanse of water, a reflecting 4 5 6 4 Coating of hot bitumen
5 Bitumen membrane
pool that gives the grounds a natural
6 EPDM / SBS membrane
aura and connects with the parkland 3 7 Tiles as protection in option
surrounding the complex. All central 8 Level of water
facilities are located beneath the pool. 2
The reflecting pool also works as a
security barrier to protect the grounds
1
from intruders. At the same time, the
water is a buffer tank used for cooling

26
1

1 Secondary school Weid,

Pfaffikon (Switzerland)
2 Lack of dimensional stability
Roof structures covering heated and cooled rooms of insulation materials can
cause warping and the
roofing felt joints to burst
Three variations exist in the construction of thermally open.
insulated flat roofs: the single skin flat roof (warm roof),
the inverted roof and the twin-skin flat roof (cold roof).
The design challenges associated with flat roofs can low-density and compressible insula-
easily be avoided by choosing a FOAMGLAS® solution. In tion. The compressive strength of the
insulation is quickly exceeded. Lack of
the following sections, some successful FOAMGLAS® dimensional stability of insulation mate-
solutions are outlined. rial when exposed to thermal shock
can also cause damage to the weath-
erproofing membrane.

Warm roof Dimensional stability and integrity

of FOAMGLAS® is absolute. It remains
Flat roofs, using insulation materials stable, and even under permanent
that are not stable when exposed to load, the roof system is fully sup-
the effects of rain or frost-thaw cycles ported by the high compressive
are at risk of thermal performance loss strength of FOAMGLAS®. The struc-
and need a 100 % effective water- tural integrity and puncture resist-
proofing membrane for moisture pro- ance of the system reduce the likeli-
tection. As the roofing sheets on top hood of leakage.
are generally very impermeable to water
vapor, a vapor control layer has to be
laid beneath the insulation layer.

With rigid FOAMGLAS® being laid

on plain structural decking there is
no need to install an additional
vapor-barrier, because cellular glass
Compact Roofs are totally imper-
meable to diffusion.

The waterproofing is at serious risk

where point loads puncture the roof-
ing sheets that have been installed over 2

27
 In rare cases of water ingress, moisture
is generally kept at the surface of the
insulation. FOAMGLAS® forms an
7 Conventional roof structure
5 6 of a non-ventilated roof
impervious skin that protects the
4
3 ("warm roof") roof. All roof components and lay-
2 1 Structural deck (e. g. reinforced ers are bonded to each other so the
concrete) insulation will not absorb water
2 Vapor-barrier
1 3 Thermal insulation (tapered slabs,
and the system prevents the spread
if required) of water.
4 Separating layer, dependent on
type of roofing sheets With conventional systems, water which
5 Roofing sheets
6 Protection and separating layer has entered the roof, will find its way
7 Finish layer to any imperfection in the vapor control
layer, run on the concrete deck and
leak out inside the building. This makes
it difficult to detect the origin of the
damage, and is likely to have harmful
consequences for the insulation.

Inverted roof

5 Roof structure of a
4 non-ventilated roof
The waterproofing membrane is directly
3 ("Inverted roof") applied to the structural deck and then
2 1 Structural deck (in general covered with an insulation that is mois-
reinforced concrete) ture resistant when exposed to inter-
2 Waterproofing membrane
1 mittent water load. Often extruded poly-
3 Extruded polystyrene boards (XPS)
with shiplap edge profile styrene insulation (XPS) is used, in hot
4 Filter layer (permeable to countries FOAMGLAS® can be used as
diffusion) well considering manufacturer’s advice.
5 Finish layer

However, in many environments insu-

As in the FOAMGLAS® Compact lation boards are frequently soaked by
Roof moisture is kept away from
rainwater and XPS-boards become
the structural deck, as the
weatherproofing membrane is permeable to diffusion. Diffusion-tight
directly bonded on to the deck. covering layers can lead to increased
moisture content in the insulation,
and, wet insulation results in signifi-
cant heat loss as the heat is withdrawn
by the water flow beneath the insula-
tion boards. Permanently wet layers
have the same effect as a topside
8 Roof structure ventilated roof
6 7 ("cold roof")
vapor-barrier and should be avoided.
5
1 Structural deck (e. g. reinforced
4 concrete) For inverted green roofs, Green Roof
2 Vapor-barrier Building Regulations demand protec-
3
3 Thermal insulation
2 4 Ventilation space tion of the thermal insulation from
5 Outer shell ( e. g. timber deck) root penetration. This requires anti-
1 6 Separating layer root membranes, which are, totally
7 Roofing sheets
vapor-proof. Use of these special roof-
8 Finish layer
ing sheets is, however, contrary to the
requirement of using covering layers
permeable to diffusion.

FOAMGLAS® cellular glass is imper-

vious to the effects of moisture and
is not affected by heat loss or inter-
stitial condensation. A dry insulation
is the best protection against roots.

28
Deformation and irregularities in the The FOAMGLAS® Compact Roof is
structural deck can also be harmful to impervious with all insulation slabs
the weatherproofing sheets and can and layers being bound to each
even damage them. Irregularities in other, forming a water tight layer
the weatherproofing surface (e.g. side that prevents the ingress of water.
overlaps of bitumen roofing sheets, in As it is a sealed system, the prob-
particular with 5 mm thick torch-on lem tracking in case of leakage is
membranes) can create voids beneath very easy.
the insulation, which are likely to
haul concrete stone pavements of traf- Accessible or trafficked flat roofs, which
ficked roofs. FOAMGLAS® installa- must meet additional demands and
tion method is fast and easy. require appropriate building technolo- 3 Polystyrene insulation
Potential irregularities at the insu- gy, generally have no cold roof layout. damaged by roots.
lation surface, which may be 4 Investigation of an upside-
down roof: in large areas
passed on from the sub-construc-
the XPS insulation has
tion, can simply be levelled out absorbed moisture.
with a grinding tool. FOAMGLAS® 5 Wet insulation under paving.
thus provides an optimal, stable
and plane bearing surface for the
roofing sheets.

Cold roof

This construction is twin-skin based on

a thermally insulated sub-roof and an
outer shell with weatherproofing – and
in between a ventilated roof space. In
principal, the ventilation space helps to
prevent condensation from being
absorbed. In comparison with warm 3

roofs, cold roofs have the advantage

that wet insulation has the chance to
dry.

FOAMGLAS® roof systems do not

require a ventilation space, as cellu-
lar glass is resistant to moisture
absorption (water and vapor) and
acts as an efficient vapor-barrier.
The rainproof insulation does not
get wet from rain or mist. This elim-
inates the risk of wet insulation
being built in.
4

In a ventilated roof very small leaks

may not affect the construction, as
there is a chance for it to dry out. In
cases of more significant leakage, even
after repair, the problem may persist
unless all roof components are removed.
With an unpredictable leakage path,
resolving it may prove to be a futile
task.

29
Sloping roofs You should also be aware that accessi-
ble roofs – designed with thermal insu-
In the direction of the roof slope, the lation on top of the waterproofing –
weather-proofing level should present do not allow for a reverse gradient.
a falling gradient of at least 1.5 % to Unlike warm roofs, totally horizontal
the outlet or drainage gutter. If the inverted roofs cannot be designed
falling gradient is less, specific meas- (with regard to the constructional tol-
ures have to be taken. For instance, the erances).
drainage capacity needs to be improved
by lowering the outlet opening by at FOAMGLAS® Tapered Roof System
least 20 mm below the weatherproof- provides an intelligent solution.
ing surface. For balconies, accessible The insulation slabs are tapered for
roofs, terraces or roofs without protec- any specific project and specified
tion and mastic asphalt layers or for gradient. The construction of a
non-ventilated timber constructions a FOAMGLAS® Tapered Roof is recom-
falling gradient lower than the stipu- mended in all cases where an addi-
lated bare minimum is not allowed tional screed-to-fall on the structur-
(see Building Regulations). al deck is not practicable, either
because of stability and load limi-
With warm roof construction the tations or because of the roof
falling gradient can be created by a drainage pattern.
screed to fall on the concrete deck or
by using cut-to-fall insulation slabs. In order to prevent any water ingress
FOAMGLAS® Compact Roofs or invert-
Inverted roofs should not be designed ed roofs using FOAMGLAS® should not
with extruded polystyrene cut-to-fall be constructed with an additional
insulation slabs, as adaptation and lev- screed-to-fall layer on top of the insu-
eling out by grinding become neces- lation. This is to prevent the risk of
sary. The full integrity of the foamed leakage paths within the screed where
skin is essential to ensure the perform- flashings/connections to parapet walls,
ance of the roof system. In addition, doorsills or roof outlets may be fin-
the lowering of the rainwater outlets ished improperly.
(if the falling gradient is lower than
stipulated) becomes problematic, since
the waterproofing sheets are applied
to the structural concrete deck and
'soft' insulation is not well suited to
make recesses once installed.

1 Imperfections in the cap sheet

Weatherproofing – one- or minor imperfections in one of the 2 Imperfections in the underlay sheet
two-layer system? sheets does not allow water ingress
into the roof. Two layers of roofing sheet fully
A two-layer waterproofing system bonded to each other provide safer
rain proofing in case of bad spots in
is preferable to one, as two layers one layer or the other
applied to the insulation have bet-
ter puncture resistance and prod-
uct reliability in case of bad spots in
the roofing membrane. With sin-
gle-ply roofing membranes (and 1
felt joints) full imperviousness to
2
rainwater must be achieved. With 1
two or multiple layers of weather-
2
proofing bonded to each other,

30
1

1 Stadium 'Stade de Suisse'

Wankdorf, Berne.
Types of usage and construction layout
Compact Roofs are classified according to the type of Accessible Compact Roof
usage: Compact Roofs with limited accessibility, acces-
The accessible Compact Roof is fre-
sible Compact Roofs (terrace roofs), green Compact quently situated in close proximity to
Roofs, trafficked Compact Roofs and 'natural or naked' common rooms. It covers heated rooms
Compact Roofs. The following section outlines the different and can be used as outdoor living
space. The elementary structure up to
kinds of usage and the specific design principles. With the weatherproofing is identical to the
focus on failure-free performance, some planning rules Compact Roof with limited accessibility.
are provided how to avoid possible damage. In cases where no impact noise is also
an issue, sound insulation boards can
be laid to replace the fleece layer. The
flooring is generally made of ceramic,
concrete, cast stone or natural stone
Compact Roof with tiles, occasionally asphalt layers or
limited accessibility boardwalk finishes are laid. Tiles are
either set into a mortar screed, into a
The Compact Roof with limited access bed of fine gravel or placed on pres-
is a flat roof where accessibility is only sure distributing rubber pads.
allowed for maintenance. Thermal insu-
lation is FOAMGLAS® T4+ and the slabs
are fully bonded to the structural deck Green Compact Roof
using hot bitumen. A polymer bitumen
weatherproofing is applied in two lay- With green roofs, distinction is made
ers – and covered by a protection layer; between extensive and intensive plant-
for instance a synthetic fiber fleece ing systems. Typical coverings for the
that fulfills mechanical protection and extensive planting systems are low-level
filter functions. To ensure long mem- foliage and ground-cover plants, which
brane life, a heavy protective layer of are not very demanding regarding soil
washed roofing gravel (shingle) is thickness, nutrition and irrigation require-
placed, to offer resistance against ments. A soil thickness of 5 to 10 cm is
mechanical stresses and UV-attack. sufficient for these types of plants and
they can even grow on pitched or slop-
For details of the different FOAMGLAS® ing roofs.
roof systems see page 8.

31
Typical possibilities for the intensive As the source of the damage and the
planting systems are conventional roof damage caused by leakage are not
gardens, where time is spent and which located together, it is highly recom-
are kept immaculate. Plant and land- mended to use materials, that limit or
scaping choices are nearly unlimited. prevent the moisture penetration inside
The plant species require a soil thick- the insulation: therefore fully bonded
ness from 15 cm to 1.5 m. Depending and impervious FOAMGLAS® Compact
on the type of plantings and their Roof systems are the best choice.
maintenance / nutrition requirements a
distinction is made between "simple
intensive plantings" (grasses, herba- Trafficked Compact Roof
ceous perennials, low-growing bushes)
and "intensive plantings" (including In this application preference is given to
bushes and trees, needing space for the FOAMGLAS® system due to the high
development). The layout of a green compressive strength and the higher
Compact Roof from the waterproofing resistance to edge pressure of cellular
level upward generally includes the glass. This is true also for heavy traf-
following functional layers (from top fic – for instance, heavy goods vehicles
to bottom): (HGV). The allowable stresses can be
applied without any deformation of
Soil: or the planting medium for the the insulation. The result is total secu-
plants rity with a slim roof construction.
Filter layer: to prevent fine particulate
soil from obstructing the drainage layer In rooftop car park decks, roofing
Drainage layer: to carry off rainwater membranes are directly applied to the
or for water retention insulation layer. To protect the water-
Building protection mat: to offer pro- proofing skin a load distribution layer
tection against mechanical damage of is required. The thickness / reinforce-
the anti-root membrane and the roof- ment of the pressure distribution slab
ing sheets is dependent on the load assumptions
Anti-root membrane: to protect the and the wheel load. If an asphaltic
waterproofing against root penetration wearing course is demanded, a mat
(not required as an additional layer, if the reinforced concrete slab of about 8 cm
roofing sheets themselves are anti-root) must be laid beneath the two-layer
mastic asphalt topping. This reinforced
For extensive planting systems a falling concrete slab must be used for areas that
gradient of at least 1.5 % is recommend- are exposed to weathering and not
ed. With intensive planting systems the sheltered by a roof. In these exposed
rainwater is generally used to feed the areas, heating and softening of the
2 Insulation penetrated by
plants and the installation of a water mastic asphalt may be considerable. In
roots.
retention irrigation system on top of a addition, it has to be taken into consid- 3 Spreading / deformation of
zero degree waterproofing level meets eration that, compared to non-accessed the pavement in consequence
the requirements. flat roofs, car park decks are subject to of a soft, resilient substrate.
4 Breakage of tiles and tilt up
various additional stresses, which can
of sleepers as a result of
The planting system protects the build- be quite high and induced by: deflecting insulation in
ing’s waterproofing against thermal sub-construction.
stresses. However, risks of damage
may come from activities as:
horticultural work and outdoor
leisure (risks of mechanical damage)

With extensive planting systems the

effort to detect possible leakage and
to complete repair work are as compli-
cated as on terrace roofs with tiles in a
bed of fine gravel. With intensive plant-
ing systems (thick soil layers etc.) these
efforts and expenses can be much more
significant. 2

32
 Mechanical stresses on the system must ensure full wind load Bonded system: particular require-
waterproofing caused by the resistance. The wind forces have to be ments: With profiled steel decking for
pavement and the traffic load passed on to the structure without any lightweight construction the trend
By braking and acceleration, risk. In the standard Compact Roof au towards particularly thin steel sheets,
shear forces around curves natural this is accomplished by means wide spans and wide troughs are
On the joints / transition zones of of bonding all layers to each other; observed. This is where the use of
large paving slabs or on joints of from structural deck to insulation, to FOAMGLAS® adds to the structural sta-
the load distribution slab the weather-proofing. Since this is in bility of the roofing design.
Stresses on the waterproofing general, the layout of industrial light-
due to the deformation of the weight roofs on steel deck, this appli- FOAMGLAS® Boards and slabs are
supported load distribution slab cation is examined in more detail in adhesively bonded to the crowns
(changes in temperature) the following. of the steel deck. The bonding
Stresses at fissures in the load technique, the high compressive
distribution slab (caused for Industrial lightweight roof: strength and the dimensional stabil-
instance by insufficient or lacking Lightweight construction is increasingly ity of the insulation achieve an
joint cutting) being used for commercial and indus- excellent rigidity of the whole roof
Stresses on the waterproofing trial buildings. This means that flat system.
due to deformation of the structural roof systems without any protection or
deck under the traffic loads finish layers are being built. Where the Non-combustibility and the impervi-
Stresses on the waterproofing indoor use requires thermal insulation, ousness to water and water vapor of
during construction (for instance requirements for stability and the con- cellular glass play a key role in prevent-
during laying of the concrete or trol of interactions in building have to ing possible damage as explained in
the pavement blocks) be met as well. Conventional insula- the following.
Stresses on the borders of the tion systems often do not provide the
overlay in front of rising walls same efficiency and safety in the long
(in particular with rigid topping). term as FOAMGLAS® systems can
ensure. An insulation made of high
The above inventory of stress factors compressive and non-combustible cel-
makes it obvious that the choice of a lular glass has proven advantages.
high-grade waterproofing and thermal
insulation system is essential for the serv-
ice life of a car park deck. Particularly
critical is that the weatherproofing
membrane be both robust and flexible.

Dependability of car park deck lay-

outs: Leakage detection on warm roofs
with reinforced concrete pavement is
rather difficult because of the long
leakage paths and repair work requires
extensive effort and money. That being
the case, FOAMGLAS® solution is the
first choice. Cellular glass thermal insu-
lation slabs fully adhered and bound to
each other with hot bitumen (and the
waterproofing applied by pour and 3

roll) ensures system integrity and pro-

vides protection against water ingress.

Standard Compact Roof (au

natural) – with two-layer
waterproofing

Where roofing efficiency and minimal

dead load are key requirements, the
standard Compact Roof without any
protection layers or specific use finishes
provides the ideal solution. The roof 4

33
Damage symptoms and the joint connections to form an air- where all layers are adhesively bonded,
how to prevent them tight layer. In many cases this is not including steel deck, FOAMGLAS® insu-
done, even with good workmanship. lation and the weatherproofing mem-
Typical defects on flat steel deck con- brane, there is no need for mechanical
structions can be categorized in four FOAMGLAS® with its closed cellular fasteners. In addition, the load-depend-
groups: glass structure is non hygroscopic, fully ent vibrations and deflections of the
Leakage (rainwater ingress from water-and vapor-proof and keeps mois- steel deck are considerably reduced as
outside) – e. g. because of a combi- ture out in the long term. Because of its FOAMGLAS® stiffens the roof system.
nation of different materials, insuf- all glass closed cell geometry the vapor- Residual dynamic stresses can be sup-
ficient fixing at connections and barrier function is automatically incor- ported by the FOAMGLAS® roof system
edges, imperfect butt- and side- porated. without problems.
joints on the roofing sheets.
Construction and functional Deterioration in thermal performance
deficiencies – due to non- caused by water or water vapor can be
observance of building physics avoided. Even in case where there are
(permeability to water-vapor and deficiencies in the weatherproofing
thermal insulation), installation membrane, the insulation performance
of wet insulation material remains unaffected. And: the roof sys-
Storm damage – due to insuf- tem layout keeps potential leakage
ficient anchoring of canopies or confined to a limited area.
poor workmanship in sealing /
bonding technology
Ageing of materials, failure of No risks of corrosion
materials: no weather-resistant
top coatings, crack formation The long-term behavior of a roof may
due to UV-attack, unsuitable substantially be compromised by cor-
roofing felts. rosion when mechanical fixing of the
thermal insulation and the vapor-barri- 5 Obvious folds in the vapor-
"A flat roof is as efficient as its con- er to the steel deck is required. For a barrier The consequence:
moisture is carried by airflow
nection joints": In addition to damage 5000 m2 roof area, using 4 mechanical into the insulation layer.
from physical interactions in building fasteners per m2 surface area, this 6 Corrosion damage on a steel
the second contributory damage factor means that the steel deck has 20,000 deck roof.
7 Perforated steel deck sheets
is faulty connection joints. perforations. Furthermore, the fasten-
on the soffit side. Each
ers create cold bridging and can be mechanical fastener forms
harmed by condensation water. The a cold bridge and is at risk
Building physics FOAMGLAS® Compact Roof solution of corrosion.
8 Condensation and shear
on steel deck avoids these difficulties.
stresses contribute to the
Steel decks, contrary to heavy concrete Using the compact construction method destruction of fasteners by
decks, have very low thermal mass. corrosion.
Fluctuation in temperature has a direct
effect on the indoor climate. In addi-
tion, steel decks will not absorb mois-
ture from ambient air. Condensation
forming on the soffit from dripping
water is likely to appear more frequent-
ly, if thermal insulation is insufficiently
designed.

It must be ensured that the insulation 5 6

layer is adequately dimensioned and

remains dry to ensure thermal per-
formance after installation. An essen-
tial consideration is moisture transport
related to vapor diffusion. Warm air
with high humidity must not be
allowed to condense moisture into the
insulation structure. To prevent the
passage of vapor, full vapor barriers
must be used with bonding tape on 7 8

34
1

A win-win situation
Construction should be assessed for the long-term. The
building owner wants to use their real estate for decades
and seeks sustainable performance without expensive
replacement or refurbishment. The guiding principle for
investment should be "Once and for all". This strategy will
pay off: The FOAMGLAS® Compact Roof system is likely to
provide a service life of 50 years or more. Be it residential,
commercial, industrial or public construction: the quality
of the insulation system is critical for the service life of
the roof and the sound structure of the building over the
long-term. It plays a key part in the overall cost efficiency!

Good investments help you

save money
1 National Convention Center
Cark Park, Doha, Qatar.
Escalating prices for energy make 2 Migros Distribution Center,
"investment in thermal insulation" the Neuendorf, Switzerland.
order of the day, and probably for many
decades to come. In considering the
profitability in construction, it’s clear
that excellent thermal insulation is the
key to optimal efficiency. The axiom,
"a penny saved is a penny earned" is
valid. The best solution is not the low-
cost one, but the one that steadily saves
energy costs and eliminates expensive
replacement or refurbishment. It pays
off to invest in high-quality materials and 2

35
systems. FOAMGLAS® Compact Roof economic environment, the need for
design ticks all the boxes. Compact energy-efficient house building and the
Roofs bring a new dimension in struc- use of ecological construction materi-
tural performance and economy. als is vital to our future.

Durability Optimal protection for your

building investments
Particularly for flat roofs, thermal insu-
lation is the key to long-term preserva- Well-engineered FOAMGLAS® insula-
tion of value of the building. Thermal tion technology – for the protection of
insulation makes part of the construc- the fabric of the building from the
tion elements difficult to access so the effects of cold, heat and rain – is a
repair or replacement can even be cost booming market, particularly for flat
prohibitive. It is thus essential to pay roofs. Cellular glass insulation ensures
great attention to the choice of mate- that thermal performance remains effec-
rials and workmanship. It is without tive for the long-term and protects the
doubt, that high-end FOAMGLAS® building against serious damage from
Compact Roofs set the course for a all sorts of catastrophes. This adds up
bright future. to an all-inclusive value proposition,
that smart architects and clients appre-
ciate and choose.
For good and all

With 50 years of experience in flat roof

insulation it’s a fact: FOAMGLAS®
Compact Roofs offer solutions for the
most demanding roof situations, with
performance that remains totally effec-
tive for the lifetime of the building. This
has been acknowledged by many build-
ing-professionals. The trend towards
quality, according to the principle "Once
and for all", is increasing on construc-
tion projects. In today’s challenging

3 Armed Forces Officers Club,

3 Abu Dhabi, UAE.

36
1

1 The propagation of fire across

the roof can cause total
damage on the building.
Preventive fire protection
After fire strikes intense discussions take place regarding ment – in particular the spread of fire
responsibilities and fire precautions. The part played by across voids and flammable materials –
can be reduced significantly. In many
insulation materials is a frequent issue. Studies provide cases FOAMGLAS® cellular glass insula-
clear evidence: FOAMGLAS® contributes to efficient pre- tion, especially the Compact Roof
ventive fire protection. Cellular glass is non-combustible system, can help avert disaster.

and does not give off fumes or toxic gases.

Smoldering fires – extraneous
perils

Fires of this nature generally spread

inside construction elements where they
may go undetected for a long time.
Sometimes there are hours between
undetected ignition and blazing up of
a fire.
Preventive action starts with the
choice of materials The specific structural and chemical
characteristics of some insulants increase
"Fire disaster", "There is evidence that the risk of smouldering fires. This is
fire safety regulations have not been not the case with FOAMGLAS®. The all
followed", "Rapid propagation of the glass closed cell structure of the insula-
fire has been encouraged", "Sea of tion forms a shield.
flames" ...
Foam insulation, for instance poly-
These headlines make evident: To fight styrene or polyurethane, are com-
a fire in a building – in particular at bustible. During combustion, liquefied
roof level – is rather difficult, even if and blazing parts of the material drip
fire regulations have been followed. down, causing fire to spread. In particu-
lar for public buildings, in conference
All the more care and attention has to and exhibition halls, office buildings,
be given to preventive fire protection. hotels, restaurants and catering build-
By choosing adequate materials and ings the use of combustible / flamma-
roof systems the risk of fire develop- ble materials is not recommended.

37
FOAMGLAS®: Neither fumes General protection with To play safe
nor toxic gases FOAMGLAS® in case of fire:
Melt Shield-Effect A series of fire testing concluded that
Fire disasters may not always exhibit cellular glass has excellent fire control
"a sea of flames". Flashback to the Comparable as a thermal protection attributes. Relevant test certificates
events at Düsseldorf Airport (1995), shield the melted glas surface of the are available from the national
with 17 casualties or the fire in the flame treated area is protecting the FOAMGLAS® subsidiaries. With regard
Montblanc Highway Tunnel (1999), lower cell structure. The temperature to recent findings in preventive fire pro-
which caused the death of 39 people. on bearing structure is remaining low. tection, architects and clients should
In both cases toxic gases from insula- FOAMGLAS® is defending the building redefine their safety requirements,
tion materials, that were not fire safe, structure in case of fire. which should be geared towards low-
were considered responsible for the risk management for the roof construc-
fatality (polystyrene in Düsseldorf, tion under fire conditions.
polyurethane at Montblanc). Superimportant for roof
construction
4 FOAMGLAS® cellular glass
ASTM
is non-combustible.
By contrast FOAMGLAS® does not give The need for structural measures to 5 Conclusion after test
off fumes or toxic gases. In respect to improve protection against fire in roofs procedure: FOAMGLAS®
fire safety FOAMGLAS® performs unlike cannot be over-stated. The propagation melting point > 1000 °C.
6 The propagation of fire across
all other insulation materials, classified of fire across a roof can cause total the roof can cause total
as "non-combustible". damage to a building. Combustible / damage on the building.
This is established according to flammable insulation materials and
ASTM E 136 and Euroclass A1. vapor control layers make up an
FOAMGLAS® provides real benefits in important fire load in the roof and
terms of fire safety. ASTM E 84 attests influence the intensity and duration of
a smoke development of 0 and the fire – vapor control layers and insu-
UL Building Materials Directory, a lation can soften and burn. The fire
flame spread of 0. can rapidly spread across the whole
roof and the prevention of total
destruction is likely to be difficult. This
FOAMGLAS® does not apply to FOAMGLAS®. The
melting point > 1000 °C FOAMGLAS® Compact Roof stops the
spread of fire across the roof and pre-
4
According to german DIN 4102-17 the vents complete combustion at roof
melting point of FOAMGLAS® was test- level. A decelerated development of a
ed at MPA Braunschweig Institute (D). fire is a precious gain of time for fire
More than 50 % of the insulation fighting – the property damage can be
thickness lasted the 90 minute fire reduced and there is more time to
period without significant damage. As rescue people in danger.
an official result the melting point is
> 1000 °C.

FOAMGLAS® offers superior performance

regarding preventive fire protection.

FOAMGLAS® is a safer product as it is pure and non-combustible cellular

glass insulation. Reaction to fire classification: EN standard. Euro Class A1.
Closed cell FOAMGLAS® insulation prevents oxygen from passing through
the material to tease the trouble spot.
FOAMGLAS® is gas-tight. The transfer of hot gases through the insulation
and their development inside the insulation is avoided. FOAMGLAS® is a
safety insulation that forms a barrier against the propagation of the fire. 6

38
1

Excellent Ecological profile

FOAMGLAS® insulation systems are stable under all con- Typically 60 %+ of the raw material is
ditions of use and protects the owner from unexpected recycled glass. A very low percentage
of carbon is added during manufactur-
expenditures for heating or expensive replacement of the ing which makes the charcoal grey
insulation or repair. FOAMGLAS® systems safeguard the color of the insulation. In the cellulat-
environment one way or another. They allow for energy ing furnace the soft, viscous glass is
foamed through release of carbon
saving and, from the cradle to the grave, they do not dioxide (CO2) and forms millions of air-
contribute to environmental pollution, a safe product tight glass cells enclosing the gas. This
consistent with the principles of building physics. Cellular closed cell glass structure ensures full
resistance to the transmission of vapor
glass is certified to standards of health and indoor air (resistance to water vapor transmission
quality. Ecologically viable product recycling is possible in μ = oo).
the case of building demolition.

1 Renewable energy sources

are increasingly used in
FOAMGLAS® production.
Production and composition 2 FOAMGLAS®: millions of
airtight glass cells.
FOAMGLAS® manufacturing is two
sub-processes. In the first part of the
process the recycled glass is melted
and subsequently batched with the
remaining raw materials and crushed
in a mill. In the second sub-process the
powder mix passes in the cellulating
furnace at high temperature where
FOAMGLAS® cellular glass is foamed –
comparable to the process of fermen-
tation in bread baking. 2

39
Environmentally friendly
production FOAMGLAS® manufacturing
(Tessenderlo Plant, Belgium)
The raw materials used in the
1
FOAMGLAS® production are inherently
mineral and thus environmentally
friendly. Principal raw material is recy-
cled glass. Further raw materials are
2
feldspar, sodium carbonate, iron oxide,
manganese oxide, carbon, sodium sul-
fate and sodium nitrate. By the intro- 3
duction of recycled glass into the pro- 4
duction FOAMGLAS® makes a relevant
contribution to the protection of the 9
environment.

5
Minimal environmental pollution
6
Due to improvements in process engi-
neering and in the energy supply (com-
7
ing from hydro electric energy and
wind turbines) significant progresses
9
have been achieved in recent years
regarding air pollution, greenhouse 10 8
gas emissions, consumption of energy
and resources:
The demand for non-renewable
energy was reduced 4.24 kWh /kg.
Greenhouse gas emissions have
been halved. 13
11
The percentage of recycled glass
was progressively increased from
0 % to 30 and to 60 %.
The environmental pollution
score (UBP97) was reduced from 12

1619 to 743 points.

The eco-indicator (EI99 H, A)
dropped from 0.13 to 0.09 points.
1 Mixing and batching of the raw materials: Recycled glass, feldspar, sodium carbonate,
iron oxide, manganese oxide, sodium sulphate, sodium nitrate.
Reduction of the production energy 2 The melting furnace has a constant temperature of 1250° C.
means that the time period for energy
3 Molten glass is drawn out of the furnace.
amortization of the investment in ther-
4 Control room for monitoring the production.
mal insulation – as an important evalu-
5 The glass is drawn off and falls onto the conveyor band where it cools down before entering
ation unit – is considerably reduced.
into the ball mill.
6 Addition of “carbon black”.
7 Ball mill grounds all ingredients into a fine powder before putting into stainless steel moulds.
8 The filled moulds pass through a cellulating oven (Foaming furnace) with a temperature of 850° C.
This is where the material gains its unique cell structure.
9 Energy recovery of heat.
10 The FOAMGLAS® blocks pass through an annealing oven to allow carefully controlled cooling
of them without thermal stress.
11 The blocks are cut to size and sorted by batch. Production waste is recycled.
12 FOAMGLAS® slabs are then packaged, labelled and palletized.
13 Finished FOAMGLAS® products are stored and prepared for transport.

40
 FOAMGLAS® stands comparison
The environemental pollution score (UBP 2006**) for the production and waste disposal of FOAMGLAS® is 903 points / kg
(insulation). This puts FOAMGLAS® into the pole position in eco-balance. Other insulation products show points between
2020 (stone wool) and 8490 (Extruded polystyrene).

Cellular glass 14.9

888
903

Stone wool 26.9

1990
2020

Expanded 2000
3220
polystyrene (EPS) 5210

Polyisocyanurate (PUR) 1800

4300
6100

Extruded 2000
6490
polystyrene (XPS) 8490

UBP / kg 0 2000 4000 6000 8000

Waste disponal Production total

Compared to surfaces, with a specified insulation value of 0,20 W /m2K, FOAMGLAS® performs very well. The environ-
mental pollution score (UBP 2006**) of cellular glass is 17 157 points (FOAMGLAS® W+F), 21 807 points (FOAMGLAS®
T4+) per square meter. Other insulation products show 23 790 points (PUR), 26 571 points (EPS), 46 056 points (stone
wool) and 53 232 points (XPS) for an identical U-value (see table).

FOAMGLAS® W+F 17 157

FOAMGLAS® T4+ 21 807
Polyisocyanorate (PUR) 23 790
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) 26 571
Stone wool 46 056
Extruded polystyrene (XPS) 53 232
UBP / m2 0 20 000 40 000

? ?D * d weight UBP* UBP

Insulation per m2 per kg per m2

kg / m3 W / mK m kg / m2 UBP / kg UBP / m2

FOAMGLAS® T4+ 115 0.041 0.21 24.15 903 ~ 21 807

FOAMGLAS® W+F 100 0.038 0.19 19.00 903 ~ 17 157

Polyisocyanorate (PUR) 30 0.026 0.13 3.90 6100 ~ 23 790

Stone wool 120 0.038 0.19 22.80 2020 ~ 46 056

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) 30 0.034 0.17 5.10 5210 ~ 26 571

Extruded polystyrene (XPS) 33 0.038 0.19 6.27 8490 ~ 53 232

* The data are taken from building database KBOB / EMPA, june 2009.
** The environemental pollution score (UBP 2006) quantifies the pollution coming from resources, water consumption, emissions into air, water and
ground and also for the waste disposal. The environment pollution through grey energy and global warming are included in the UBP score.

41
World resources Emissions / nuisance during thermal combustion of polystyrene
installation and use insulation, which clearly indicated that
The principal raw material of released fumes are acutely toxic. Serious
FOAMGLAS® production today is select- Cellular glass does not release harmful adverse health effects in the long-term
ed recycled glass (in the past the main or toxic components into the environ- cannot be excluded. Even with com-
raw material was silica sand). The sup- ment. It does not contain green house bustion in a waste incineration plant,
plies of recycled glass are ample, as in gases or ozone depleting products, no there is high impact to the environ-
the construction and other industries flame retardant and no con-taminative ment, as annually several thousand tons
large quantities amass and have to be or carcinogenic particles and fibers. of slag and filter residue have to be
disposed of as waste. Plastic foam When recommended installation instruc- transported to special disposal sites.
insulation, however, is produced from tions are followed, cellular glass insula- The non-combustibility of cellular glass
crude oil, which is a non renewable tion does not produce emissions that makes the toxicity issues irrelevant.
fossil fuel. degrade the environment or health, at
production, installation nor use.

FOAMGLAS® cellular glass

insulation products now with Emissions in case of fire
natureplus label
Dumping and burning of construction
Natureplus, an international organisa- waste is most critical for the environ-
tion for the development of a culture ment, even in small quantities. In par-
of sustainability within the building ticular plastic foam materials are classi-
sector, has selected cellular glass ther- fied as harmful. In the case of burning
mal insulation from Pittsburgh Corning of these materials high levels danger-
Europe SA as a green building product ous emissions are released than in com-
and awarded the natureplus quality bustion in an incineration plant. Studies natureplus – The European quality seal
label. "Cellular glass thermal insulation have been conducted in Germany on for approved green building products.
by Pittsburgh Corning Europe SA ideally
meets the quality requirements for a
sustainable construction product", noted Ecological assessment for different thermal insulation materials
Uwe Welteke-Fabricius, president of
natureplus e.V., when handing-in the

Long-term performance
Emissions in case of fire
certificate. The natureplus quality seal is
Nuisance for workers

Disposal / Recycling
Production energy

the symbol of recognition for building

Emissions during

products with a high level of quality in

production

the areas of health, the environment

Resources

and functionality. Pittsburgh Corning’s

FOAMGLAS® types W+F, T4+, S3 and F
from the Tessenderlo plant (Belgium)
Glass wool
are tested and certified successfully.
Stone wool

Service life Cellulose insulation

Pure expanded cork

Having outstanding qualities (mineral,
impermeable to water and vapor, resist- Expanded polystyrene
ant to acids, non-combustible, high-
temperature resistant), cellular glass is a Extruded polystyrene
very durable material. The long service
Polyurethane (PUR)
life of the material has very positive
effects, ecologically and financially, on FOAMGLAS ®
the service-life of the construction and,
consequently, on the life of the build-
ing. Maintenance and replacement Very good Acceptable Critical Very critical
cycles can significantly be reduced by
the use of durable materials.
Positive ecological assessment for FOAMGLAS®: Source: Cellular glass insulation, a cost-effective
and environmentally sustainable solution. [Schaumglas-Dämmstoff, Wirtschaftlich und umweltver-
träglich Dämmen.] Markus Welter, Lucerne, Switzerland

42
Waste disposal FOAMGLAS® – a valuable contribution to the
In the assessment of insulation materi-
protection of the environment.
als one consideration is repercussions Today FOAMGLAS® is made from about 60 % recycled glass. The FOAMGLAS® manu-
facturing concept is waste reduction and green energy utilisation.
on the environment from waste dis-
For the FOAMGLAS® production only energy from renewable sources is used.
posal. There are significant differences Environmental pollution during manufacturing has halved when compared to 1995.
between the various insulation prod- FOAMGLAS® insulation meets all environmental and health requirements for construc-
ucts. In total evaluation – and consid- tion products.
At the end of its service-life FOAMGLAS® disposal is simple. One option is the use of
ering the scarcity of raw materials – as recycled cellular glass as infill in trenches or back-up for buried pipes.
documented in eco-balance data sheets FOAMGLAS® has an outstanding service-life, which is clearly the best for the
for the building industry, plastic foam environment.
insulation receives poor ratings for envi- On balance: FOAMGLAS® is an insulation concept fit for the future that gives an
answer to the genuine concerns for the environment. The system ensures that all
ronmental pollution. demands on performance, durability, environmental integrity and sustainability are
fulfilled.

Recycling

Cellular glass being non-combustible,

combustion in a waste incineration plant
is not a possibility. An option is the 6
recycling of cellular glass as crushed
stone (for bedding in road construc- 3 The percentage of recycling
3 glass in the FOAMGLAS®
tion) or infill material for noise barriers.
production has gone up from
Recycled FOAMGLAS® is a safe and 30 to 60 %.
suitable product for these applications, 4 Crushed FOAMGLAS® – a
5 recycled filler material for
as it is dimensionally stable, neutral for
trenches.
the environment, inorganic, rot-proof 5 FOAMGLAS® Environmental
and without any risks for the ground Product Declaration
water (meets ELUAT-test requirements). (according to ISO 14025).
If crushed and recycled FOAMGLAS® is 6 FOAMGLAS® is Masdar A
4 rating.
not used as bedding or infill material,
it can be taken to an inert waste dis-
posal site, like crushed concrete or building or community was designed can contribute toward earning LEED®
brick. and built using strategies aimed at points on a project. While no one pro-
improving performance across all the duct or material alone can earn LEED®
metrics that matter most: energy credit points, FOAMGLAS® can be
LEED® and FOAMGLAS® insulation savings, water efficiency, CO2 emis- used as part of a strategy to earn
sions reduction, improved indoor points in several credit categories.
LEED® is an internationally recognized environmental quality, and steward- FOAMGLAS® is also eligible for Living
green building certification system, ship of resources and sensitivity to Building Challenge™ Projects because
providing third-party verification that a their impacts. FOAMGLAS® insulation it contains no red-listed materials.

Sustainable Sites – Vegetated Roof Materials & Resources – Recyclable, Recycled Content and
LEED-NC Credit 6 – stormwater management Regional Material
LEED-NC Credit 7.1 – roof heat island effect LEED-NC Credits 2.1 and 2.2 – construction waste management
FOAMGLAS® insulation can be part of a vegetated roof design, which is FOAMGLAS® insulation scrap waste can be recycled.
one sustainable strategy that can be used to earn both of these
Sustainable Sites credits. LEED-NC Credit 4 – enhanced refrigerant management

Energy & Atmosphere – Energy Performance and Indoor Environmental Quality – Low-Emitting Materials
Refrigerant Management LEED-NC Credit 4 – low-emitting materials
LEED-NC Prerequisite 2 – minimum energy performance Though insulation is not considered in this section, using
LEED-NC Credit 1 – optimize energy performance FOAMGLAS® insulation eliminates another potential source of VOCs in a
In the LEED® rating system, up to 19 points can be awarded for building. Low-VOC sealants and adhesives sold by Pittsburgh Corning
improved energy efficiency. FOAMGLAS® insulation can be used as one could be used as part of this strategy.
strategy to help achieve the required energy performance and to further
reduce the amount of energy consumed. Pittsburgh Corning FOAMGLAS® is committed to conducting its business
in an environmentally responsible manner that protects the public, its
LEED-NC Credits 4.1 and 4.2 – recycled content employees, and a country’s natural resources. Therefore, Pittsburgh
FOAMGLAS® insulation that incorporates recycled materials can be Corning’s environmental practices are in compliance with all applicable
included in this calculation of the total recycled content in all environmental laws and regulations.
building materials.

43
www.foamglas.com

Pittsburgh Corning Europe

Rep. Office Middle East
Arenco Tower, Media City
P.O. Box 213345
Dubai, U.A.E.
Phone + 971 4 434 7140
Fax + 971 4 432 7109
info@foamglas.ae
www.foamglas.ae

Pittsburgh Corning Europe NV

Headquarters Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA)
Albertkade 1, B-3980 Tessenderlo
www.foamglas.com

Copyright Oct 2013. The product information and technical details contained in this brochure are
accurate, according to our research and technical programme, at the point of going to press. We
reserve the right to make any changes to the construction or product range, which seam technically
appropriate, in view of our high standards for product advancement and development. All up-to-
date data can be found under the button products on our website:
www.foamglas.com

DFG-ISRA-1000-1013 B-UAE-en-BRO-0002b