This TECHnote highlights design and construction issues for consideration and suggests suitable NATSPEC worksections for the documentation of living walls and roofs. Also referred to as green walls and roofs, these are building walls or roofs, partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, over a waterproofing membrane and/or rigid insulation. Additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems may also be included.

Whilst living walls and roofs have been used for centuries, the current focus on energy conservation and the protection of the natural environment has seen an increased need for designers to comprehensively document and specify their designs.