Life Cycle Assessment and Maintenance Planning of an Innovative Flat Roof Solution

Abstract

This study analyses the potential of a high-energy efficient flat roof, relating sustainability to its costs, and, in conjunction, develops its maintenance strategy. Considering the common energy deficiency of flat roofs, the Smart Roofs System (SRS) project developed a new solution to the market. It combines traditional and innovative thermal insulation and waterproofing layers, to achieve a roof that provides thermal comfort to building users. This paper presents an analysis focusing on the maintenance needs and on the environmental impacts - based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach - of fifteen different combinations for this SRS. The sustainability assessment of the roof analysed combines cost data and environmental impacts, considering categories such as non-renewable primary consumption (PE-NRe) and global warming potential (GWP), in a cradle-to-gate analysis. The strategy used for the maintenance plan is proactive, focused on defining inspections, cleanings, repairs, and substitution actions, with their periodicity based on the prognosis process. The aim of this plan is the possibility of improving product quality in the long term, reducing expenses, and maximizing its efficiency over the time. Given the information and analysis presented, it is possible to make a holistic evaluation of the solution and deliver important data to decision-making, where the decision-maker can choose the most suitable combination taking into account the prioritized factors, such as environmental impact, expenses, and maintenance efforts.