C-beam environmental roof

Abstract

South Africa is experiencing great movements of people from rural areas to towns mainly because of the need to find work. Accommodation is limited and expensive, forcing many to live in informal homes. The municipalities, in an attempt to accommodate as much as they can, provide small plots, which basically can only accommodate a house and a very small garden. This country like other countries of the world has also embarked on numerous low-cost housing schemes to accommodate the homeless. Because of economic realities and because high-rise options are not considered acceptable, the most practical solution has resulted in large-scale low-density urban and suburban housing developments. Low-pitched metal-sheet roofs are provided because they are the most cost-effective. Lack of space within the homes and tiny surround-gardens are major problems to residents seriously limiting lifestyle. Other problems associated with these developments concern environmentally intrusive effects, the need for better security and other social concerns, and storm water runoff. This thesis discusses a usable flat urban and suburban roofing for existing and new houses by means of a system known as 'C-beam'. A usable greened concrete flat roof replaces the traditional pitched metal-sheet. The new roof provides sitting space for family members and is used to grow plants in pots. A construction manual is to be developed by which the constructors will build the roofing without the use of cranes and other expensive sophisticated construction machinery. The house owner can construct their own flooring/roofing; that is, the process will provide additional jobs, and hence positively affect economy. The manual includes the means of effective control by municipal authorities to ensure adequate and safe standards. Greening of the roofs will not only provide the potential for growing food from the plants, but it will also improve the environment of the area, including the reduction of storm water run-off, by retaining some water in the soil on rooftops.