Fire safete of vertical greenery systems

Abstract

Vertical Greenery Systems (VGS) show numerous advantages in terms of sustainability and a healthy living environment. Unfortunately it is found that current knowledge on the fire safety of these systems is lacking and can pose as a barrier for implementing the systems or can cause situations in which they are implemented which are unsafe. The current research aims to put a step forward into filling this knowledge gap. By literature research, interviews with different parties and a risk analysis on case-studies relevant parameters influencing the fire safety of VGS have been identified. A tool was developed which can analyse a façade design with VGS on its fire safety risks. The tool was tested on case-studies and evaluated by interviewees. The tool is to guide designers and raise awareness and understanding of what parameters in a design influence the risk. By raising the understanding on the topic of fire safety of designers, better informed and safer decisions can be made. During the research numerous mitigating measures have been found which can be used in a design to minimize the risk of using VGS. It was found that the type and amount of materials used in the system are of great influence of its fire safety performance, more so than the vegetation used. Furthermore the location of where on the façade the system is applied is of great impact on the risk the VGS causes. Concerns about fire safety of VGS are valid but there are plenty solutions and design considerations identified which help minimize the risks. A risk analysis tool can be helpful for designers to determine the fire risks of a design, increasing the understanding and awareness on the topic which empowers designers to make safe designs with VGS, thus enabling the safely greening of the building envelope.