Product category:
Floors
News Release from: Zoontjens | Subject: Zoontjens Pardak system
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 06 April 2007
Transformation of unused flat roofs
High density concrete slabs, such as those used in Zoontjens' Pardak system, provide a highly durable, immediately trafficable surface with exceptional dimensional and lateral stability.
The dramatic transformation of many city centre roofscapes owes much to the dearth of land left to develop It's perhaps not surprising, therefore, that use of systems designed to transform previously wasted flat roof areas is growing
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 14 Dec 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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But despite awareness of the obvious environmental value of green roofs, research has shown that among UK building owners at least, understanding of the diverse refurbishment options available remains poor.
In the case of rooftop car parks this may be understandable given the relatively small target audience for the product.
Mastic asphalt has also been overwhelmingly favoured for such projects for decades.
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Many of the problems associated with it have been with us throughout, its susceptibility to extreme weather commonly resulting in standing water for us to wade through.
Environmental stresses combine with tyre wear and accidental damage, so that even for a private commercial development with low traffic intensity, risk of high maintenance costs and limited design life is significant.
High density concrete slabs, such as those used in Zoontjens' Pardak system, provide a highly durable, immediately trafficable surface with exceptional dimensional and lateral stability.
Water can drain around the edge of slabs into existing rainwater outlets, while a patented tensioning system allows for their controlled movement as cars pass over them.
Working on a similar principle to an access floor, they can be replaced easily if damaged or inspection of the insulation or membrane is necessary.
Long-term effectiveness can be judged at a glance by looking down the line as a vehicle passes over them.
Pardak 90 in the car park illustrated has already been in use since 1996 and shows no sign of movement or deterioration.
Failure of the original asphalt and subsequently overlaid polyurethane waterproofing systems on Newcastle's Eldon Square shopping centre car park resulted in installation of Pardak 90 over a 7200m2 area.
High density insulation boards were laid prior to 400mm circular rubber support pads, tensioning elements and 900mm square slabs.
In the absence of problems associated with screed curing times, the requirement to keep at least 50% of the car park open throughout the 16 week refurbishment was not a problem.
In this case, the upper layers of asphalt were removed, but the system's flexibility also provides for height adjustment for Pardak to be applied over an existing deck.
If development of a car park has a somewhat limited audience, quite the opposite applies to transformation of unused space into valuable pedestrian or living areas.
The smaller Dreen slabs provide a similar free flow of drainage to Pardak, but offer scope for greater design sophistication on both heavy commercial and smaller domestic projects.
Varied colours, textured finishes and even bespoke designs can therefore meet the most exacting architect's requirements.
Sizes range from 300 to 600mm square, locking discs again being used to prevent lateral displacement.
The variety of potential uses Dreen can be used for ranges from a simple pedestrian walkway adjoining a footbridge to recreation of paved areas on different levels.
One such walkway was created by Tesco at its Altrincham Express outlet, where the store is above the car park.
Beattie's, by contrast, used Dreen in a design for an outdoor dining area at its Telford store, again above a car park.
At the other extreme, Leicester University used the system with careful landscaping on various levels in order to integrate buildings within areas of natural planting.
Here the other main consideration for use of the product was a need to overcome previous problems with lifting and distortion.
As for residential environments, in the housing development shown below you might even forget you are walking on a roof.
Where used on a height adjustable basis, such as roofs laid to falls, a completely level surface can be created.
The void below then becomes available to accommodate and conceal services.
Supporting locking discs are preformed to be snapped easily to create a straight edge around perimeters, while on domestic fixed height systems, cut slabs at edge details are supported using 15mm rubberised pads.
But whether for cold, warm or inverted roof constructions, use of products such as Pardak and Dreen in the UK looks set to follow their widespread use in mainland Europe.
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