Alwitra: Advanced Flat Roof Systems for Longevity and Durability
The company alwitra from Trier has been known for over 60 years on the flat roof market for high-quality products and sealing systems from roof edge to roof edge. The guiding theme for alwitra at the Dach+Holz 2024 trade fair is sustainability. At the trade fair stand, the company will be highlighting the ecotoxicological safety of roof waterproofing, i.e. the question of how much hazardous pollutants may be washed out of a roof tile, and the topic of roof-integrated photovoltaic systems with the Evatec system.
Water next major milestone in the sustainable operation of green roofs
Using a special model, Mr. Christian Deckert shows us how much alwitra is concerned with the topic of water. On the left-hand side of the stand is a green roof model with the root-resistant ewalon and ewalastic roof tiles, which have been tested according to the strict FLL criteria. According to alwitra, water is the next major milestone in the sustainable operation of green roofs. In the future, there will be more and more demands for urban gardening and urban farming, which means that if an ecotoxicologically harmless product such as ewalastic is offered, it will be possible to grow crops or, if necessary, special herbs on a roof surface and use them in the kitchen.
Any additional costs are a sensible investment in the future
A roof can also be used as a recreational area with an appropriate variety of plants. The rainwater that is drained off via the roof surface proves to be harmless, which means that nothing stands in the way of planting, even with useful plants. Of course, the cost factor is an important question for building owners. However, in terms of a sustainable building project and a sustainable flat roof, the durability of a product plays a particularly important and sensible role. If a roof waterproofing system remains on the roof for 35 to 40 years and can ideally be dismantled after use, it is a sensible investment in the future, even if the additional costs are initially somewhat higher.
Evatec anchoring element for fastening photovoltaic systems
At the Dach+Holz 2024 trade fair, alwitra will be presenting the evatec module, which has been developed in recent years as an anchoring element for fastening photovoltaic systems on roofs with waterproofing. The fastening has received all the necessary approvals for Germany from the Institute for Building Technology. Mr. Helmut Remmels explains that many tests on many different substrates were necessary before approval was granted. It is also important to mention that this is a roofing product. With this product, a roofer can install PV systems very easily, even on roofs with a slope. Forces such as snow, wind or downslope forces are absorbed.
Simple installation by the roofer
Installation is quite simple: the roofer simply has to position the evatec panel on the standard roof structure with base layer, dam barrier, insulation and roof waterproofing where it is needed by the PV generator. In practice, he places the module on the finished waterproofing, screws 4 screws through and welds the whole thing to the alwitra roofing membrane using the roof waterproofing element. The long screw goes through the insulation and into the base layer.
Careful development with the support of appraisers and experts
During development, an expert accompanied the tests on a wide variety of base layers and insulations and at different heights. Design values were produced for all these constellations, which were also evaluated by an expert and submitted to the German Institute for Building Technology, which approved the approval. With the evatec panel, a great deal of concrete planning is carried out. alwitra carries out the roof layout and does the static pre-dimensioning. On this basis, the roofer can carry out the fine-tuning and then build the PV generator safely.
