Air depolluting roofing systems: NOx-Activ® Membranes

Depolluting waterproofing membranes for non-accessible roofs

• Depolluting effect: destruction of nitrogen oxides (NOx).
  
• Simple and safe installation: traditional laying of membranes
  of Styrene Butadiene Styrene (SBS) bitumen.
• Multipurpose solution: welded or mechanically fixed laying, in single-ply
  or double-ply versions.
• Proven solution: patented protection and Pass Innovation of CSTB(1).
  (1) CSTB: Building Scientifical & Technical Center, French Institute member of UEAtc

Main uses

• In plains climate (altitude < = 900 m).
• Bearing elements: masonry (slope > = 1%), steel (slope >= 3%), timber (slope >= 3%).
• Substrates: bearing element (masonry, steel, timber), heat insulation, old waterproofing.
• Flat roofs, non-accessible with visible roof waterproofing covering.
  

After selecting among 2 options: mechanicaly fixed application or torched application you will be directed to waterproofing solutions using NOx-Activ membranes. Each solution is illustrated in a diagram indicating the products used.

Application	System
Mechanicaly fixed	PARAFOR SOLO GFM NOx-Activ Access to the solution
Torched-applied	PARADIENE SR4 + PARADIENE 30.1 GS NOx-Activ Access to the solution

Atmospheric pollution, implications for the planet

Natural air, mainly composed of nitrogen and oxygen, is indispensable for life. Each human being breathes about 10 mÂł of air per day.
Since the beginning of the industrial epoch, human activity has been modifying the atmosphere, disturbing the climate and degrading the quality of the air that we breathe by introducing more and more substances which are harmful to the health.
Among these harmful substances are the nitrogen oxides (NOx), irritating gases that penetrate into the thinnest branches of the lungs, causing breathing difficulties for sensitive persons, bronchial hyperactivity and, for children, an increase in the sensitivity of the branches (bronchia) to infections, particularly due to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), the atmospheric pollutant that is most harmful to the health.
The NOxs facilitate the formation of ozone in the atmosphere’s lower layers.
In the summer, the thresholds established to protect health are often exceeded* in large conurbations (urban and suburban zones). The main sources of the emission of NOx are road transportation, manufacturing industry and the power production sector.
Moreover, the heating power of NO2 - 310 times that of CO2 – accentuates climatic heating of the planet by increasing the greenhouse effect. Fighting against pollution and its deleterious effects entails regulation of road traffic or reduction of gas emissions. But today, it is also possible to destroy the pollution generated. This is thanks to the depolluting elements introduced in building materials.

NOx-Activ®: An aid to the protection of your environment

The contribution of NOx-Activ® membranes to air depollution fits within the framework of an HQE Standard (targets 1 and/or 13 according to the ad hoc QEB Certivéa reference documents) but at a broader level, in all the projects that respect the principles of Sustainable Development. The NOx-Activ® range corresponds to the wishes of the contracting authorities oriented, very practically, into « Activ » type eco-construction.
* Recommendation from the World Health Organisation (WHO): 40 mg/mÂł per year. European Directive, precaution threshold fixed at 200 mg/mÂł per hour, warning threshold set at 400 mg/mÂł per hour.

NOx-Activ® line, Siplast’s answer to depollution by the roof

Principle: The NOx-Activ® membranes are self-protected by Noxite®, a material based on TiO2 (titanium dioxide, in its anatase form), an element with depolluting properties by auto-catalysis (see Picada European study).
So this is a depolluting system, actuated by the sun’s light, and demonstrated in the laboratory and by in situ tests as well as being validated by the “Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique” (CNRS) (French National Scientific Research Centre). The resulting depolluting effect is permanent, throughout the life of the waterproofing membrane.

Example: during one year, for 10 000 m² of NOx-Activ® roofing, the depollution of the NOx represents the pollution generated by:
- a diesel vehicle driving 200 000 km;
- a petrol (gasoline) vehicle driving 625 000 km.