When Polypipe Building Services’ offices in Aylesford, Kent, required roofing renovations, the decision to create a blue-green roof was an easy one, and provided the opportunity for the design and development of a new, intelligent water management system.

Green roofs, particularly in urban environments, offer several advantages: the capture and controlled release of rainwater into drainage systems, creating a habitat for wildlife and reducing urban air temperatures through evaporation.

Recognising that the health and survival of a green roof can be dependent upon unpredictable weather patterns and require ongoing maintenance, the Polypipe CGU team worked to create a system that automatically manages water supplies to provide optimum soil moisture conditions, allowing the green roof to flourish – maximising its benefits.

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Controlled and monitored remotely online via a smartphone, tablet or computer, the cloud water control system combines monitoring sensors, remote valve operation technologies and cloud computing software to provide adaptive irrigation, creating the ideal conditions for plant life, while maximising water usage efficiency.

Using capillary cones, which draw water upwards and are unique to Polypipe CGU geocellular systems, stored rainwater irrigates the green roof, while sensors within the cells monitor available water levels. If a pre-determined ‘low set-point’ is reached, the system will open a solenoid valve to add water from the rainwater recovery tank until the correct level is reached.

During high-rainfall events, excess water in the wet cell spills over into the raft. When the tank reaches capacity, this water overflows to the drain.