The chosen insulation laid on top of this should be able to take the weight of anything put above it on the roof without compression or protected from compression by further sheeting.
Warm flat roof insulation thickness.
Cold roofs and warm roofs.
Cold flat roofs are typically avoided as you d need to install ventilation which can prove problematic for many reasons relating to space labour costs etc.
There are two types of flat roof.
A warm roof has the insulation above the structural deck which is thus kept warm.
This is placed over the roof joists and a board normally external ply is laid on top.
Warm deck the type of insulation for this is usually of a rigid type and the thickness will vary depending on the manufacturer s specifications.
It should be of the maximum available thickness.
Cold deck this is where the insulation is placed between the joists rafters or in between the ceiling joists in the case of a pitch roof.
Cold roofs have the waterproof layer placed directly onto the roof deck and the insulation inside the roof just above the ceiling.
The insulation material for a warm flat roof should.
In this case ventilation is required and the roof can still become wet with condensation which may cause materials to decay.
There are two basic categories of roof design.
A flat roof where the insulation sits below the waterproof membrane and above the structural deck is a warm roof deck.
Warm flat roofs do not need to be ventilated as the insulation is.
The waterproof layer is above the insulation and a vapour control layer is placed below the insulation.
Ventilation is required for these roofs.
Thickness varies according to the manufacturer s specifications.
A cold roof has the insulation placed below the structural deck which thus remains cold.
Insulation in a warm roof.
Flat roof insulation thickness.
The typical u value of an existing uninsulated flat roof is 1 5w m2k.
This means that the insulation should be highly resistant to water absorption for example an extruded polystyrene based product which will not be affected by water or repeated freeze thaw cycles.
With a flat roof this issue does not arise but the u value constraint and the amount of insulation needed is just the same.
These are can be supplied with rebated edges which interlock reducing the risk of uplift.
Flat roof u value 0 18 w m2k 2 warm deck flat roof the type of insulation for this is usually of a rigid type and the thickness will vary depending on the manufacturer s specifications.
Achieving a u value of 0 20w m meaning your roof will be better insulated than your walls will need 120mm thickness of rigid foam or 200mm of mineral wool or natural insulation.