Plantable sandwich panel

The Kaatop panels were tested by IPT (São Paulo Institute of Technology) and can withstand trampling for maintenance with a point load concentration of up to 120 kgf/m2 in the most unfavorable region (in the center of the tile), meeting the performance standard ABNT NBR 15575-5:2013.

Maintenance of the aerial part of plants (such as pruning, applying foliar sprays and harvesting flowers, fruits and grains) must be carried out exactly as maintenance is carried out on a plant grown in the ground or in conventional hydroponic systems, with the difference that work carried out on roofs constitutes work at height and is regulated by NR35 - a regulation of the Ministry of Labor that deals with occupational safety. If installed according to the technical guidelines, Kaatop can withstand trampling for maintenance with a maximum point load concentration of 120 kgf/m2.

The risk of mosquito proliferation is ZERO, as there is no access to stagnant water at any point in the system for insects to lay eggs. The system is closed, with constant water circulation.

The care required is basically the same as for conventional gardening, except for the need to use safety equipment: lifeline and safety belt. Work on roofs is carried out at height and is regulated by NR35 - the Ministry of Labor's Regulation on occupational safety.

When cultivated, there is no need to wash or sanitize the tiles or cultivation system, nor is there a need for control by health surveillance, since no chemical or biological agents are produced that could cause harm to public health.

If you choose to remove vegetation and ensure the benefits of the reflective white covering, cleaning dust and stains from leaves and substrate can increase the thermal efficiency of the system.

If you don't want to do the work often, just grow perennials that don't need pruning. Fertilization is done by controlling the nutrient content in the water reservoir, which is located in a technical area below the roof and can be monitored online.

The installation can be made as in a conventional roof. The fixing is done by screwing onto a wooden or metal structure, as for a conventional thermal tile (sandwich type). The side and front fitting is done by overlapping, requiring a maximum distance of 500 mm between the supports (3 supports per tile).

Kaatop can receive seedlings grown in pot 11. The diameter of the holes is 8cm. To receive seedlings in pots with a smaller diameter or seeds, it is necessary to fill the holes with rock wool cubes. 

Planting in this tile is actually easier than it seems. The product was designed to separate rainwater from hydroponic water. The volume of rainwater that enters the internal circulation system is practically zero, therefore, the quality of the nutrient solution is not significantly altered due to rain. 

Hydroponics water is collected separately from rainwater, so the two do not mix. You have a mandatory gutter to collect and recirculate the hydroponics water (inside the system) and you can also install another gutter to collect rainwater, which comes out clean over the system's roof tile.

Yes, but the volume absorbed is only 10 liters/m2. To be lightweight and save water, the growing substrate is enclosed within the tiles, forming a sandwich, so there is little absorption of rainwater. On the other hand, rainwater can be collected and stored in a cistern by installing a second gutter, separating the rainwater from the hydroponics or fertigation water.

We recommend applying it over the entire roof to obtain better thermal performance - but it can also be used in strips or according to a specific architectural and landscaping project. 

One option is to install hydroponic panels in the same way as photovoltaic solar panels: supported on an inclined support structure to take advantage of the best sunlight.

In order too compare prices, you need to take into account that the Kaatop system integrates the costs of 3 construction items into a single product: (1) waterproof roof, (2) thermal roof and (3) green roof. To calculate the costs of a green roof with a traditional system, take into account the cost of (1) slab or support roof + (2) anti-root waterproofing + (3) drainage + (4) filter + (5) substrate.

Fertilization should be carried out through irrigation water - this is called fertigation. To do this, you can work with a conventional, highly technological hydroponic system or, alternatively, you can use liquid organic biofertilizers.