UltraPly TPO and solar roofs: a winning combination for Belgian warehouse complex
Goodman is an international real estate group that develops, owns and manages high quality logistic and industrial real estate. A few years go, Goodman acquired a 7 ha. site in an industrial zone in Puurs (Belgium), in the heart of the strategic triangle Brussels-Antwerp-Ghent and in 2012 developed there a warehouse complex with a total roof surface of about 40,000 m². Roughly 20,000 m² were destined to the Duvel-Moortgat brewery, famous for its strong barley beer, and the remaining 20,000 m² were destined for Vandeputte Safety Materials.
| Project ID | |
|---|---|
| Location | Puurs, Belgium |
| Application | PV roofs |
| Project type | New build |
| Building type | Industrial building |
| Surface | 40,000 m² |
| Products | Elevate UltraPly TPO 1.5 mm (white) |
| System | Fully adhered |
Goodman wanted to guarantee their customers bespoke solutions, quality and strict delivery periods. They also pay much attention to sustainability, so this philosophy and approach extended to their choice of roofing system.
A PE vapor barrier was installed on top of the warehouse complex’s corrugated steel roof deck, followed by a layer of PIR insulation. About 40,000 m² of Elevate’s UltraPly TPO white 1.5 mm-thick thermoplastic roofing membrane were then mechanically attached on top of the insulation. The roofing contractor achieved a coverage rate of 800 m² per day using 2 m wide x 30.5 m long panels.
UltraPly TPO combines the flexibility of rubber membranes with the heat-weldability of thermoplastic membranes. Its seams are welded together using hot air: the upper and lower layers fuse together forming a uniform seam. This welding method provides an extremely strong, uninterrupted and swift seam connection, which can be used all year round in all types of weather conditions.
Solar panels were installed on top of the UltraPly TPO membrane, which is compatible with any type of PV installation due to its reflectivity, high temperature resistance and outstanding wear and tear resistance. The customer wanted to make use of the reflective properties of the white UltraPly TPO membrane to optimize the yield from the solar panels and contribute to reducing the temperature in the building during sunny and hot periods.
